Mark 16 torpedo

The weapon was considered the United States' standard anti-shipping torpedo for twenty years; despite significant numbers of Mark 14 torpedoes left over from wartime production. This hydrogen peroxide propelled, 21 in torpedo was 6.25 m long and weighed 1800 kg. The Mod 0 warhead contained 1260 lb of Torpex (TPX) explosive and at the time was the most powerful conventional submarine torpedo warhead in the world. The TPX explosive in use by the US Navy during WWII was about 75% more powerful by weight (7,405 J/g) than the Japanese Type 95 and Type 97 torpedo explosives (4,370 J/g). The Mod 1 Variant of the Mk 16 only contained 960 lb of TPX explosive but could run around 4,500 yards longer as a result. The torpedo could be set for both straight or patterned running. After World War II, the Mod 0 and Mod 1 variants were developed into a common torpedo. Designed to keep the longer range from Mod 1 and larger warhead of Mod 0, this upgrade was called the Mark 16 Mod 8 and incorporated a 1,260 pound HBX (7,552 J/g) warhead in the place of the TPX. This weapon was used as the US Navy's main anti-ship torpedo until it was phased out in 1972, at which point both the Mark 16 and Mark 37 ASW torpedoes had been fully replaced by the dual-purpose Mark 48 in 1975.

• Name — Mark 16 torpedo • Origin — United States • Type — Anti-surface ship torpedo • Is Ranged — yes • Is Explosive — yes • Is Missile — yes • Service — 1943–1975 • Used By — United States Navy • Wars — World War II • Designer — Naval Torpedo Station Naval Research Laboratory • Manufacturer — Naval Torpedo Station Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park • Design Date — 1943 • Production Date — 1943 – post-World War II • Number — > 1,700 • Weight — *3895 lb mod 0 • 3922 lb mod 1 • 4155 lb mod 8 • Length — 246 in • Diameter — 21 in • Range — *7000 yd Mod 0 • 11000 yd to 12500 yd Mod 1-8 • Filling — *Mk 16, Mod 0/1, TPX • Mk 16 Mod 7/8, HBX • Filling Weight — 1260 lb on Mod 0 and 8 746 lb on Mod 1 • Detonation — Mk 9 Mod 4 contact/influence exploder • Engine — Turbine • Propellant — "Navol", concentrated hydrogen peroxide • Speed — 46.2 kn • Guidance — Gyroscope • Launch Platform — Submarines