How big was a ww2 torpedo?
By the end of World War II, the Mark 14 torpedo was a reliable weapon ultimately remaining in service for almost 40 years in the U.S. Navy, and even longer with other navies….
| Mark 14 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Mass | Mod.0:3,000 lb (1,400 kg) Mod.3:3,061 lb (1,388 kg) |
| Length | 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) |
| Diameter | 21 in (530 mm) |
How does the Whitehead torpedo work?
Whitehead developed what he called the Minenschiff (mine ship): an 11-foot-long (3.3 m), 14-inch-diameter (35.5 cm) torpedo propelled by compressed air and carrying an explosive warhead, with a speed of 7 knots (13 km/h) and the ability to hit a target up to 700 yards (640 m) away.
Who invented the electric torpedo?
During the 19th century some naval vessels used the spar torpedo, which was simply an explosive charge attached to the end of a long pole or spar; it exploded when it touched the hull of an enemy vessel. The modern torpedo was developed by Robert Whitehead, a British engineer.
How heavy is a small torpedo?
At 6.5 inches in diameter is easily dwarfed by the Mark 48 in both size and weight, and weighs a mere 220 or so pounds.
How are torpedoes launched?
When the tube is flooded and the pressure is equalized, the muzzle door can be opened and the torpedo is ready to fire. In actual practice the tube is flooded from tanks within the ship rather than the sea itself. The compressed air valve is opened and the torpedo is ejected from the tube.
How were early torpedoes propelled?
It was propelled by a three-cylinder Brotherhood radial engine, using compressed air at around 1,300 psi (9.0 MPa) and driving two contra-rotating propellers, and was designed to self-regulate its course and depth as far as possible. By 1881, nearly 1,500 torpedoes had been produced.
What is the smallest torpedo?
The 10″ Mark 43 torpedo was the first and smallest of the United States Navy light-weight anti-submarine torpedoes….
| Mark 43 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 10 inches |
| Effective firing range | 4500 yards (Mod 3) (6-minute search duration) |
| Warhead | Mk 100, HBX (Mod 3) |
| Warhead weight | 54 pounds (Mod 3) |
How much did a ww2 torpedo cost?
14s. They were supposed to use their deck guns as much as possible, since they carried a limited number of torpedoes and each cost ,000 (about 1,000 in today’s money).
What is a mark 18 torpedo?
The Mark 18 torpedo was an electric torpedo used by the United States Navy during World War II. The Mark 18 was the first electric storage battery torpedo manufactured for the US Navy and it was designed primarily for use as a submarine -launched torpedo.
How many Mark 18 torpedoes were fired in the Pacific War?
Some 30% of torpedoes fired by U.S. submarines in the Pacific War were Mark 18s. The design was dropped from service in 1950 in favor of faster and more reliable later types.
What are the disadvantages of the Mark 14 torpedo?
The disadvantages were the low speed compared to the Mark 14’s 45 kn (83 km/h; 52 mph), the need to regularly withdraw the torpedoes from their tubes for recharging, sensitivity of the batteries to water temperature, and onerous maintenance procedures.
What was the first submarine to use the Mark 18?
The first submarines to use Mark 18s (still not perfected) were Eugene Sands’ Spearfish and Mush Morton’s Wahoo in September 1943.