Mark 46 torpedo

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox weapon

The Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the United States Navy's lightweight anti-submarine warfare torpedo inventory and is the NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes are designed to attack high-performance submarines. In 1989, an improvement program for the Mod 5 to the Mod 5A and Mod 5A(S) increased its shallow-water performance. The Mark 46 was initially developed as Research Torpedo Concept I (RETORC I), one of several weapons recommended for implementation by Project Nobska, a 1956 summer study on submarine warfare.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Design details

Variants

  • Mod 0: One of the original versions of 1960 (production started 1963). Solid propellent piston engine. Gyro/wire guidance with passive/active homing.<ref name="joliehist"/>
  • Mod 1: Based on Mod 0. 1967. Uses liquid Otto fuel piston engine. Laminar search guidance.<ref name="joliehist"/> Phase 1 of 1968 uses stronger hull to resist deeper waters. Phase 2 of 1971 uses a new homing program able to detect submarines near the surface.<ref name="ws46"/>
  • Mod 2: Based on Mod 1 phase 2. More powerful Mk 103 Mod 1 warhead. Improved computer with snake search pattern capability.<ref name="ws46"/> Known to have been captured by China in 1978.<ref name="janes_dragon" />
  • Mod 4: Version for use as Mark 60 CAPTOR mine payload.<ref name="ws60">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web ADA081111.pdf</ref>
  • Mod 5: 1979 upgrade kit for Mod 2, also known as NEARTIP (near-term improvement program). New passive/active sonar, liquid fuel and two speed engine for low speed search and high speed attack.<ref name="ws46">Template:Cite web</ref>
    • Mod 5A: Cheaper NEARTIP upgrade kit for Mod 1 and Mod 2 with improved shallow-water performance. 1980s.<ref name="ws46" />
    • Mod 5A(S): Variant of 5A that allows use in water as shallow as 40 m.<ref name="ws46" />
    • Mod 5A(SW): Latest variant from 1996 Service Life Extension Program.<ref name="ws46" /> Boasts improved counter-countermeasure performance, enhanced target acquisition, provides a bottom-avoidance preset, and improved maintainability and reliability.<ref name="navy" />
  • Mod 6: Version for Mark 60 CAPTOR, with some NEARTIP components.<ref name="ws60" />
  • Mod 7: Cancelled. Not funded by Congress.<ref name="unoff">Template:Cite web</ref>

For most variants there is also an inert REXTORP (recoverable exercise torpedo) version.

Specifications

Mark 46, Mod 5
  • Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo<ref name="1987 almanac">Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) Template:ISBN pp.190-191</ref>
  • Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
  • Power Plant: Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion; Mono-propellant (Otto fuel II)
  • Length: Template:Convert tube launch configuration (from ship),<ref name="proceedings">Polmar, Norman "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes" United States Naval Institute Proceedings November 1978 p.160</ref> Template:Convert with ASROC rocket booster<ref name="1987 almanac"/>
  • Weight: Template:Convert<ref name="1987 almanac"/> (warshot configuration)
  • Diameter: Template:Convert<ref name="proceedings"/>
  • Range: Template:Convert<ref name="1987 almanac"/>
  • Depth: > Template:Convert
  • Speed: > Template:Convert<ref name="1987 almanac"/>
  • Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing<ref name="proceedings"/>
  • Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
  • Warhead: Template:Convert<ref name="1987 almanac"/> of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
  • Date Deployed: 1967 (Mod 0);<ref name="1987 almanac"/> 1979 (Mod 5)

Yu-7 variant

The Chinese Yu-7 torpedo is said to be based on the Mk 46 Mod 2. The Chinese Navy used the Yu-7 ASW torpedo, deployed primarily on ships and ASW helicopters,<ref name="chinese">(Chinese language) Template:Webarchive</ref> but it started to be replaced by the Yu-11 in 2012.<ref name="janes_dragon">Template:Cite web</ref>

Operators

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See also

References

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Template:Mark-series torpedoes

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