British 18 inch torpedo

There have been a number of 18 inch torpedoes in service with 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.

Note that 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

Main article: Whitehead torpedo

First introduced into British service in 1894.[1]

18 inch Mark V

Used on the River class and 1905 Tribal class destroyers.

18 inch Mark VI

Used on Destroyers of the early 1900s.

18 inch 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.

18 inch Mark VIII

18 inch Mark XI

18 inch Mark XII

18 inch Mark XII

A Mark XII torpedo fitted to a Bristol Beaufighter
Type Torpedo
Place of origin United Kingdom
Service history
In service 1937-1945
Production history
Designed 1935
Specifications
Weight 1,548 lb (702 kg)
Length 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Diameter 17.72 in (450 mm)

Warhead TNT
Warhead weight 388 lb (176 kg)

Engine Burner cycle
140 hp (at 40 knots)
Speed 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 1,500 yd (1,400 m) or
37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) for 3,500 yd (3,200 m)

Aircraft launched, used by Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command.

18 inch Mark XIV

18 inch Mark XIV
Type Torpedo
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Designed around 1938
Specifications
Weight 1,630 lb (740 kg)
Diameter 17.72 in (450 mm)

Warhead TNT
Warhead weight 375 lb (170 kg)

Engine Whitehead wet heater (methyl fuel)
Speed 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) for 1,650 yd (1,510 m) or 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 2,950 yd (2,700 m)

The Mark XIV was an aircraft-launched torpedo. Stocks were lost with the fall of Singapore.

18 inch Mark XV

18 inch Mark XVI

Electric torpedo project not completed.

18 inch Mark XVII

18 inch Mark 30

Main article: 18" Mark 30 torpedo
Mk 30 Torpedo

An air-dropped passive acoustic homing torpedo known as "Dealer" and "Dealer B". "Dealer" did not see service use, but its successor, "Dealer B" (the Mark 30 Mod 0), was issued from June 1954. Considered very successful with approximately 1,200 being built, it served in both the Royal Navy and RAF until 1970. The Mark 30 Mod 1 had several improvements, but this program was cancelled in 1955 in favour of purchasing Mark 43 Mod 3 torpedoes from the USA.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 "British Torpedoes Pre-World War II". navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  2. "British Torpedoes after World War II". navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  3. "Mk 30 Torpedo". saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 7 July 2010.

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, August 04, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.