British weapon used by ships, submarines, and aircraft
There have been a number of 18-inch (45cm) torpedoes in service with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
These have been used on ships of the Royal Navy and aircraft of both the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force , while Royal Navy surface ships and submarines use 21-inch torpedoes .
The British 18-inch torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter, beginning with the "Fiume" Whitehead torpedo of 1890.
45 cm "Fiume" (Whitehead) torpedo First introduced into British service in 1894.[1]
Year : about 1888 Weight : 845 lb (383 kg) Length : 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) Warhead : 118 lb (54 kg) wet gun-cotton Performance : 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph) for 800 yd (730 m) Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark V Used on the River-class and 1905 Tribal-class destroyers.
Year : about 1899[1] Weight : 1,353 lb (614 kg) Warhead : 296 lb (134 kg) including pistol Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark VI Used on destroyers of the early 1900s.
Year : about 1904[1] Performance : 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph) for 4,000 yd (3,700 m) or 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 1,000 yd (910 m) Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark VII and VII* Introduced on the 1908 members of the 1905 Tribal class destroyers. Used by torpedo boats built before the First World War and destroyers. Used by RAF flying boats in the 1920s.
Year : 1907[1] Warhead : 320 lb (150 kg) TNT Performance :Mark VII : Mark VII* : Propulsion : Wet-heater
Mark VIII Year: 1913 Role: Submarines and aircraft (Note: During World War II and after the Mk.VIII was a 21-inch torpedo) Warhead: 320 lb (150 kg) TNT Propulsion: Wet heater Performance: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark XI Year: 1934 Aircraft carried Dimensions: 17.72 in (450 mm) dia. Warhead: 465 lb (211 kg) TNT Propulsion: Burner cycle Performance: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark XII Aircraft launched , used by Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command .
Mark XIV The Mark XIV was an aircraft-launched torpedo. Stocks were lost with the fall of Singapore .
Mark XV Year: 1942 Operators: Fleet Air Arm, RAF Coastal Command, Royal Navy Role: Aircraft and Motor Torpedo Boats , 1943 onwards Dimensions: 17.69 in (449 mm) × 17 ft 2.7 in (5.250 m) Warhead: 545 lb (247 kg) Torpex Propulsion: Burner cycle Performance: 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m) or 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) for 3,200 yd (2,900 m)[2]
Mark XVI Electric torpedo project not completed.
Mark XVII United Kingdom, 1944 Aircraft launched Operated by FAA, RAF Coastal Command, Blackburn Firebrand Dimensions: 17.72 in (450 mm) × 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m) Warhead: 600 lb (270 kg) Torpex Propulsion: Burner cycle Performance: 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark 30 Mk 30 Torpedo An air-dropped passive acoustic homing torpedo known as "Dealer" and "Dealer B".[3]
Length: 8 ft (2.4 m)[4] Weight: 646 lb (293 kg) Performance: 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) for 3,000 yd (2,700 m) or 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) for 830 yd (760 m)
See also
Notes ^ a b c d "British Torpedoes Pre-World War II". navweaps.com . Retrieved 7 July 2010 . ^ Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two . Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 87. ISBN 0-87021-459-4 ^ "British Torpedoes after World War II". navweaps.com . Retrieved 7 July 2010 . ^ "Mk 30 Torpedo". saairforce.co.za . Retrieved 7 July 2010 .
References Tony DiGiulian, Pre Second World War torpedoes Tony DiGiulian, Torpedoes of the Second World War
External links
