Torpedoes
Mk 44
| |
| Guidance | Active sonar |
|---|---|
| Weight | 196 kilograms196,000 g 0.196 t 432.106 lb 6,913.697 oz |
| Length | 2.5 metres250 cm 0.0025 km 0.00155 mi 8.202 ft 98.425 in |
| Range | 5.5 kilometres5,500 m 550,000 cm 3.418 mi 18,044.619 ft 216,535.433 in |
| Speed | 56 kilometres per hour15.556 m/s 0.0156 km/s 3,062.111 ft/min 51.035 ft/s 1,020.709 yd/m |
The Mk-44 torpedo is an active homing torpedo using a salt water-activated electric battery and can be launched from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Once in the water, the torpedo begins a spiral search pattern for target acquisition.
Mk 46
| |
| Guidance | Homing mode - Active or passive/active acoustic homing |
|---|---|
| Weight | 234.5 kilograms234,500 g 0.235 t 516.984 lb 8,271.744 oz |
| Length | 2.6 metres260 cm 0.0026 km 0.00162 mi 8.53 ft 102.362 in |
| Range | 7.3 kilometres7,300 m 730,000 cm 4.536 mi 23,950.131 ft 287,401.575 in |
| Speed | 83 kilometres per hour23.056 m/s 0.0231 km/s 4,538.486 ft/min 75.642 ft/s 1,512.836 yd/m |
The MK-46 torpedo is designed to attack high performance submarines, and is presently identified as the NATO standard. The MK-46 torpedo is designed to be launched from surface combatant torpedo tubes, ASROC missiles and fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Mk 48
| |
| Guidance | Wire guided and passive/active acoustic homing |
|---|---|
| Weight | MK-48 1545.3 kilograms (3,411 pounds), MK-48 ADCAP 1662.75 kilograms (3,671 pounds) |
| Length | 5.79 metres579 cm 0.00579 km 0.0036 mi 18.996 ft 227.953 in |
| Range | 8 kilometres8,000 m 800,000 cm 4.971 mi 26,246.719 ft 314,960.63 in |
| Speed | 52 kilometres per hour14.444 m/s 0.0144 km/s 2,843.389 ft/min 47.39 ft/s 947.801 yd/m |
The MK-48 is designed to combat fast, deep-diving nuclear submarines and high performance surface ships. The MK-48 has been in service in the U.S. Navy since 1972. MK-48 ADCAP entered service in 1988.
MK-48 and MK-48 ADCAP torpedoes can operate with or without wire guidance and use active and/or passive homing. When launched they execute programmed target search, acquisition and attack procedures. Both can conduct multiple re-attacks if they miss the target.
These slide show images show the awesome power of a Mark 48 war-shot torpedo fired at the hulk of the old destroyer-escort, TORRENS. The plume of water and fragments shot some 150 metres skywards as the blast of the torpedo cut the ship in two. The submarine was over the horizon and submerged when it fired the torpedo.
MU90
| |
| Guidance | Passive/active acoustic homing |
|---|---|
| Weight | 304 kilograms304,000 g 0.304 t 670.205 lb 10,723.284 oz |
| Length | 2.850 metres285 cm 0.00285 km 0.00177 mi 9.35 ft 112.205 in |
| Range | 12-25 kilometres |
| Speed | 53-93 kilometres per hour |
The MU90 torpedo is a fire-and-forget weapon designed to counter any type of nuclear or conventional submarine, acoustically coated, deploying active or passive homing.
