Mark 46 torpedo

Mark 46 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
	A Mk 46 exercise torpedo launched from USS Moosbrugger.
Type	Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	• Mod 0: 1963; • Mod 5: 1979
Used by	See operators
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

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

Variants

Mod 0: One of the original versions of 1960 (production started 1963). Solid propellent piston engine. Gyro/wire guidance with passive/active homing.
Mod 1: Based on Mod 0. 1967. Uses liquid Otto fuel piston engine. Laminar search guidance. 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.
Mod 2: Based on Mod 1 phase 2. More powerful Mk 103 Mod 1 warhead. Improved computer with snake search pattern capability. Known to have been captured by China in 1978.
Mod 4: Version for use as Mark 60 CAPTOR mine payload.
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.
- Mod 5A: Cheaper NEARTIP upgrade kit for Mod 1 and Mod 2 with improved shallow-water performance. 1980s.
- Mod 5A(S): Variant of 5A that allows use in water as shallow as 40 m.
- Mod 5A(SW): Latest variant from 1996 Service Life Extension Program. Boasts improved counter-countermeasure performance, enhanced target acquisition, provides a bottom-avoidance preset, and improved maintainability and reliability.
Mod 6: Version for Mark 60 CAPTOR, with some NEARTIP components.
Mod 7: canceled. Not funded by Congress.

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
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

Gallery

A Mark 46 Mod 5A torpedo is inspected aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Mustin.
A French Lynx helicopter carrying a Mk 46 torpedo.
A P-8A Poseidon of VP-16 dropping a Mark 46 torpedo

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk46". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
1 2 3 "The US Navy Fact File: Mark 46 Torpedo". 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
↑ 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.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mk 46". Weaponsystems.net.
1 2 "Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance" (PDF). Jane's. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
1 2 "Mark 60 CAPTOR". Weaponsystems.net.
↑ Simeral, R. T. (1978). "Torpedo MK 46 Physical Characteristics". Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA.; Government-Industry Data Exchange Program. ADA081111.pdf
↑ "MK-46 Torpedo". www.navysite.de.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) ISBN 0-9610724-8-2 pp.190-191
1 2 3 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
↑ "Frigate Lot 3A - Torpedoes Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy". www.phdefenseresource.com. 3 April 2021.
↑ "Mk 46 torpedo - Weaponsystems.net". www.weaponsystems.net.

External links

[joliehist-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk46". Retrieved 24 June 2013.

[navy-2] 1 2 3 "The US Navy Fact File: Mark 46 Torpedo". 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2018.

[3] 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.

[ws46-4] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mk 46". Weaponsystems.net.

[janes_dragon-5] 1 2 "Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance" (PDF). Jane's. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

[ws60-6] 1 2 "Mark 60 CAPTOR". Weaponsystems.net.

[7] Simeral, R. T. (1978). "Torpedo MK 46 Physical Characteristics". Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA.; Government-Industry Data Exchange Program. ADA081111.pdf

[unoff-8] "MK-46 Torpedo". www.navysite.de.

[1987_almanac-9] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) ISBN 0-9610724-8-2 pp.190-191

[proceedings-10] 1 2 3 Polmar, Norman "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes" United States Naval Institute Proceedings November 1978 p.160

[chinese-11] (Chinese language) Archived 2006-11-02 at the Wayback Machine

[12] "Frigate Lot 3A - Torpedoes Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy". www.phdefenseresource.com. 3 April 2021.

[weaponsystems-13] "Mk 46 torpedo - Weaponsystems.net". www.weaponsystems.net.

v t e U.S. Navy torpedoes
Pre-World War II	Howell Mark 1 torpedo Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo Whitehead Mark 1B torpedo Whitehead Mark 2 torpedo Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo Whitehead Mark 3 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 2 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 3 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 4 torpedo Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 6 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 torpedo Short Mark 7 torpedo Bliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedo Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo Mark 10 torpedo Mark 11 torpedo Mark 12 torpedo
World War II	Mark 13 torpedo Mark 14 torpedo Mark 15 torpedo Mark 16 torpedo Mark 17 torpedo Mark 18 torpedo Mark 19 torpedo Mark 20 torpedo Mark 21 Mod 0 torpedo Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo Mark 22 torpedo Mark 23 torpedo Mark 24 mine Mark 25 torpedo Mark 26 torpedo Mark 27 torpedo Mark 28 torpedo Mark 29 torpedo Mark 30 torpedo mine Mark 31 torpedo
Post-World War II	Mark 32 torpedo Mark 33 torpedo Mark 34 torpedo Mark 35 torpedo Mark 36 torpedo Mark 37 torpedo Mark 39 torpedo Mark 41 torpedo Mark 43 torpedo Mark 44 torpedo Mark 45 torpedo Mark 46 torpedo Mark 48 torpedo Mark 50 torpedo Mark 54 lightweight torpedo
Related topics	Bliss-Leavitt torpedo Schwartzkopff torpedo Whitehead torpedo
See also: American 18-inch torpedo, American 21-inch torpedo, Project Kingfisher, Mark 60 CAPTOR, RUR-5 ASROC, RUM-139 VL-ASROC, UUM-44 SUBROC, UUM-125 Sea Lance, Liberator (mine), and Hammerhead (mine)