Mark 48 torpedo

Mark 48 torpedo
Technicians perform maintenance on a Mark 48 torpedo in 1982.
TypeHeavyweight dual-purpose ASW and ASuW torpedo
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1972–present (Mod 1)[1]

1988–present (ADCAP)

2008–present Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS)
Used byUnited States Navy
Brazilian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
Republic of China Navy
Production history
DesignerGould, Inc.[1]
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Designed1967[1]
ManufacturerGould/Honeywell (Mod 1)
Hughes Aircraft (ADCAP) Westinghouse Naval Systems Cleveland Ohio
Unit cost$894,000 (1978 USD)[2]
$3,500,000 (ADCAP) (1988)[3]
$3,800,000 (CBASS)(2005 USD)[4]
$5.39m (2022) [5]
Specifications
Mass3,434 lb (1,558 kg) (original), 3,695 lb (1,676 kg) (ADCAP)
Length19 ft (5.8 m)[6]
Diameter21 in (530 mm)[6]

Effective firing range38 km (24 mi; 21 nmi) at 55 kn (102 km/h; 63 mph) or 50 km (31 mi; 27 nmi) at 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph) (estimated),[6][7]
officially "greater than 5 miles [4.3 nmi; 8.0 km]"
Warheadhigh explosive plus unused fuel
Warhead weight647 lb (293 kg)[6]
Detonation
mechanism
proximity fuze

Engineswash-plate piston engine; pump jet
PropellantOtto fuel II
Maximum depth500 fathoms,[6] 800 m (2,600 ft) (estimated),[7] officially "greater than 1,200 ft"[8]
Maximum speed 55 kn (63 mph; 102 km/h)[6] (estimated)[7]
officially "greater than 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)"
Guidance
system
Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System
Launch
platform
Submarine

The Mark 48 and its improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant are American heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships.

  1. ^ a b c Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mine Mk48". Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. ^ Polmar, Norman. "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, November 1978, p. 159.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference fas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Mark 48 CBASS". www.deagel.com.
  5. ^ "New Look at Air Force's Ship-Killing Smart Bomb in Action, Seeker Details Revealed". 22 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987. Navy League of the United States (1987). ISBN 0-9610724-8-2. p. 190.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference janes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "US Navy Fact File: Heavyweight Torpedo - Mark 48 Archived 2020-07-02 at the Wayback Machine", US Navy, 17 January 2009, Retrieved 10 March 2010.