Mark 46 torpedo explained

Mark 46 torpedo
Origin:	United States
Type:	Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo^[1]
Is Ranged:	y
Is Explosive:	y
Is Missile:	y
Service:	• Mod 0: 1963 • Mod 5: 1979
Used By:	See operators
Designer:	Naval Ordnance Test Station Pasadena Aerojet Alliant Techsystems
Design Date:	1960
Manufacturer:	Aerojet Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park Honeywell Raytheon^[2]
Variants:	Mod 0 Mod 1 Mod 2 Mod 5 Mod 5A Mod 5A(S) Mod 5A(SW)
Weight:	508lb
Length:	8feet
Diameter:	12.75abbr=on1abbr=on
Filling:	PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
Filling Weight:	96.8lb
Engine:	Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion
Propellant:	Otto fuel II
Vehicle Range:	12000abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Depth:	>1200feet
Speed:	>40abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Guidance:	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.^[3]

Design details

Mark 46, Mod 5

Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo^[4]
Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
Power Plant: Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion; Mono-propellant (Otto fuel II)
Length: 8feet tube launch configuration (from ship),^[5] 14feet with ASROC rocket booster^[4]
Weight: 5080NaN0^[4] (warshot configuration)
Diameter: 12.75inches^[5]
Range: 12000yd^[4]
Depth: > 1200feet
Speed: > 40knots^[4]
Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing^[5]
Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
Warhead: 96.81NaN1^[4] of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
Date Deployed: 1967 (Mod 0);^[4] 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,^[6] but it started to be replaced by the Yu-11 in 2012.^[7]

Operators

References

Citations

External links

Notes and References

Web site: Jolie . E.W. . A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk46 . 15 September 1978 . 24 June 2013.
Web site: The US Navy Fact File: Mark 46 Torpedo . 27 November 2012 . August 9, 2018 . 20 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190320025704/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=900&ct=2 . dead .
Book: Friedman, Norman . Norman Friedman . U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History . Naval Institute Press . 1994 . . 109-114 . limited . 1-55750-260-9 .
Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) pp.190-191
Polmar, Norman "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes" United States Naval Institute Proceedings November 1978 p.160
http://mil.jschina.com.cn/huitong/missile1.htm (Chinese language)
Web site: Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance . Jane's . 2017 . 23 July 2019.
Web site: Frigate Lot 3A - Torpedoes Acquisition Project of the Philippine Navy . www.phdefenseresource.com . 3 April 2021.
Web site: Mk 46 torpedo - Weaponsystems.net. www.weaponsystems.net.