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.
Design details
- Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo
- Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
- Power Plant: Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion; Mono-propellant (Otto fuel II)
- Length: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) tube launch configuration (from ship), 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m) with ASROC rocket booster
- Weight: 508 lb (230 kg) (warshot configuration)
- Diameter: 12.75 in (324 mm)
- Range: 12,000 yd (11,000 m)
- Depth: > 1,200 ft (370 m)
- Speed: > 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph)
- Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing
- Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
- Warhead: 96.8 lb (43.9 kg) of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
- Date Deployed: 1967 (Mod 0); 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, but it started to be replaced by the Yu-11 in 2012.
Operators
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
Mark 46 torpedo | |
---|---|
Type | Lightweight antisubmarine torpedo |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | • Mod 0: 1963 • Mod 5: 1979 |
Used by | See operators above |
Production history | |
Designer | Naval Ordnance Test Station Pasadena Aerojet Alliant Techsystems |
Designed | 1960 |
Manufacturer | Aerojet Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park Honeywell Raytheon |
Variants | Mod 0 Mod 1 Mod 2 Mod 5 Mod 5A Mod 5A(S) Mod 5A(SW) |
Specifications | |
Mass | 508 lb (230 kg) |
Length | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
Diameter | 12.75 in (323.8 mm) |
|
|
Warhead | PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge) |
Warhead weight | 96.8 lb (43.9 kg) |
|
|
Engine | Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion |
Propellant | Otto fuel II |
Operational
range |
12,000 yd (11,000 m) |
Maximum depth | >1,200 ft (370 m) |
Maximum speed | >40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph) |
Guidance
system |
Active or passive/active acoustic homing |
Launch
platform |
Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes, ASW Aircraft, RUM-139 VL-ASROC |
References
- Citations
- ^ Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). “A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk46”. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 109-114. ISBN 1-55750-260-9.
- ^ Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) ISBN 0-9610724-8-2 pp.190-191
- ^ Polmar, Norman “The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes” United States Naval Institute Proceedings November 1978 p.160
- ^ (Chinese language) Archived 2006-11-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ “Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance” (PDF). Jane’s. 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- ^ “Frigate Lot 3A – Torpedoes Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy”. www.phdefenseresource.com. 3 April 2021.
- ^ “Mk 46 torpedo – Weaponsystems.net”. www.weaponsystems.net.