Mark 16 torpedo

Mark 16 torpedo
Mark 16 torpedo
Type	Anti-surface ship torpedo
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1943–1975
Used by	United States Navy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Naval Torpedo Station Naval Research Laboratory
Designed	1943
Manufacturer	Naval Torpedo Station Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park
Produced	1943 - post-World War II
No. built	> 1,700
Specifications
Weight	4,000 pounds (1,810 kg)
Length	246 inches (6.2 m)
Diameter	21 inches (533 mm)
Effective firing range	11,000 yards (10,060 m)
Warhead	Mk 16 Mod 7, HBX
Warhead weight	746 pounds (338 kg)
Detonation mechanism	Mk 9 Mod 4 contact/influence exploder
Engine	Turbine
Propellant	"Navol", concentrated hydrogen peroxide
Speed	46.2 knots (85.6 km/h; 53.2 mph)
Guidance system	Gyroscope
Launch platform	Submarines

The Mark 16 torpedo was a redesign of the United States Navy standard Mark 14 torpedo to incorporate war-tested improvements for use in unmodified United States fleet submarines. The torpedo was considered the United States standard anti-shipping torpedo for twenty years; although significant numbers of Mark 14 wartime production remained in inventory. This hydrogen peroxide propelled, 21 inch (53 cm) torpedo was 246 inches (6.25 m) long and weighed 2 tons (1800 kg). The Mod 0 warhead contained 1260 lb (572 kg) of TPX explosive and was the most powerful conventional submarine torpedo warhead ever used by any Navy. The United States used TPX explosive which was about 75% more powerful (7405 J/g.) than the Type 97 explosive in the larger Japanese Type 93 Mod 3. (780 kg of Type 97, 4370 J/g.) The Mod 1 warhead contained 960 lb (435 kg) of TPX or HBX (7552 J/g.) explosive. The torpedo could be set for straight- or pattern-running.