Mk-48 Hit

Launching a torpedo at surface ship.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• torpedo
• military
• explosion

[sublimeLBC866]

@AUWarEagle122 That's all true for a MK-48 ADCAP, but the most amazing thing imho is that the wire-guidance lets both the torpedo and sub communicate securly back and forth, not just sub to torpedo. That means the torpedo can use its own more accurate active SONAR, while the sub itself stays quiet. If the sub it using a towed array (which it almost certainly would be in wartime), it can use both the torpedo and the towed SONAR-buoys to triangulate a target without giving away its own position.

[AUWarEagle122]

@cageordie I am man enough to admit when I make an error. I simply mis-read the manual. Thank you for pointing out the error. I am not familiar with the MK14 at all and read the manual. Search "Mk 14 Torpedo manual" to read it at hnsa.org. I became familiar with the MK48 when I was in Submarine Squadron 4 in Charleston, SC in the 1980s. By the way, the new MK50 advanced lightweight torpedo that does, in fact, have a 100lb "shaped charge" in the traditional sense. Tip of the hat ol' man!

[AUWarEagle122]

@cageordie You are right. I mis-read the WWII MK14 torpedo manual. On page 19 of the manual it states: "The war head contains a charge of high explosive, either TNT or Torpex, which is poured into the shell in the molten state".... "The War Head Mk 16, when loaded with Torpex, has a cavity in the after end of the charge in order to give the war head proper trim characteristics." So, I was right that is shaped but not for explosive purposes. You are right that isn't a traditional shaped charge.

[cageordie]

@AUWarEagle122 Cobblers. Shaped charges weren't used in WWII torpedoes. They don't blast the water out from under the keel, the primary blast effects destroy the ship, the explosion punches up through the ship. You listen to too many people down at the pub.

[NobleKorhedron]

@dalesalsa: Bar sinking the sub, probably not.

[AUWarEagle122]

@dalesalsa Here are some unclassified stats for this deadly torpedo: Max Speed: 55kts (63.2mph) Range: MK-48 (ADCAP)  54,685 yd (31miles) at 40kts or 42,530 yd (24.7miles) at 55kts. Reported Depth: 3000ft

650 lbs (292.5 kg) high explosive, has built-in defenses against countermeasures and decoys. This torpedo is a ship killer for vessels destroyer class and smaller. One would cripple a carrier, two or three would kill it.

[AUWarEagle122]

@dalesalsa MK-48 torpedoes operate with or without wire guidance using active or passive homing. After launch, a thin wire spools out linking the submarine and torpedo electronically. An operator in the submarine initially to guides the torpedo toward the target. This helps the torpedo avoid decoys and jamming devices deployed by the target. The wire is severed and the torpedo's high-powered active/passive sonar guides the torpedo during the final attack. It's difficult to defend against it.

[dalesalsa]

@AUWarEagle122 Holllyy fucking shit.. That is fucking hard core.. didn't have a clue.. That is fucking bad ass. Is there any defense to that..? Maybe throw depth charges like a motherfucker..?

[gnarkillkicksass]

@AUWarEagle122 Ah thanks! I have heard they are good ships - here thy are FFGs.

[AUWarEagle122]

@dalesalsa Prior to modern torpedo design, torpedoes impacted the armored hulls of WWII ships with an armor-piercing shaped charge to punch holes in the hull requiring several to kill an armored vessel.

Modern Torpedoes like the MK48 dive under the hull and detonate very close to the keel at amidships to blast the water out from under the keel leaving no buoyancy support for the ship's hull causing it to collapse under its own weight. Then comes that steel-cutting water jet. One Dead Ship.