Mark 46 torpedo

Mk 46 is also the designation of the Mk 46 Mod 0 variant of the M249 light machine gun

Mark 46 torpedo
A Mk 46 exercise torpedo launched from USS Mustin.
Type	Lightweight antisubmarine torpedo^[1]
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	• Mod 0: 1963^[1] • Mod 5: 1979
Used by	See operators
Production history
Designer	Naval Ordnance Test Station Pasadena^[1] Aerojet^[1] Alliant Techsystems
Designed	1960^[1]
Manufacturer	Aerojet^[1] Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park Honeywell Raytheon^[2]
Variants	Mod 0^[1] Mod 1 Mod 2 Mod 5 Mod 5A Mod 5A(S) Mod 5A(SW)^[2]
Specifications
Weight	508 lb (230.4 kg)
Length	8 ft 6 in (2.6 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 (10,972.8 m)
Maximum depth	>1,200 ft (365.8 m)
Speed	>40 kn (74.1 km/h; 46.0 mph)
Guidance system	Active or passive/active Acoustic homing
Launch platform	Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes, ASW Aircraft, RUM-139 VL-ASROC

A Mark 46 Mod 5A torpedo is inspected aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Mustin

A French Lynx helicopter carrying a Mk 46 torpedo

The Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the United States Navy's lightweight anti-submarine warfare torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes are designed to attack high-performance submarines, and current variants, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until 2015. In 1989, a major upgrade program for the Mod 5 began to improve its shallow-water performance, resulting in the Mod 5A and Mod 5A(S).

Design details

Mark 46, Mod 5

Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo^[3]
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),^[4] 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m) with ASROC rocket booster^[3]
Weight: 508 lb (231 kg)^[3] (warshot configuration)
Diameter: 12.75 in (324 mm)^[4]
Range: 12,000 yd (11 km)^[3]
Depth: > 1,200 ft (365 m)
Speed: > 40 knots (46 mph, 74 km/h)^[3]
Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing^[4]
Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
Warhead: 96.8 lb (44 kg)^[3] of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
Date Deployed: 1967 (Mod 0);^[3] 1979 (Mod 5)

Yu-7 variant

The Chinese Yu-7 torpedo is said to be based on the Mk 46 Mod 2.^[5] Currently, the Chinese Navy use the Yu-7 ASW torpedo, deployed primarily on ships and ASW helicopters.^[6]

Operators

Map with former Mark 46 operators in red

References

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk46". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
1 2 "The US Navy Fact File: Mark 46 Torpedo". 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
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 Defence Today, “YU-7 Anti-Submarine Torpedo”
↑ (Chinese language)
↑ Weapon - Mk. 46 torpedo

External links

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 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 43 torpedo Mark 44 torpedo Mark 45 torpedo Mark 46 torpedo Mark 48 torpedo Mark 50 torpedo Mark 54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedo

Related topics	Bliss-Leavitt torpedo Schwartzkopff torpedo Whitehead torpedo

See also: AUM-N-2 Petrel, Mark 60 CAPTOR, RUR-5 ASROC, RUM-139 VL-ASROC and UUM-125 Sea Lance

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