| Mark 20 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-surface ship torpedo[1] |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | never in service[1] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Naval Torpedo Station Newport[1] Electric Storage Battery Company General Electric |
| Designed | 1943[1] |
| Manufacturer | General Electric |
| No. built | 20[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | approx. 3100 pounds[1] |
| Length | 246 inches[1] |
| Diameter | 21 inches[1] |
| Effective firing range | 3500 yards[1] |
| Warhead | Mk 20, TNT[1] |
| Warhead weight | 500 pounds[1] |
Detonation mechanism | none assigned[1] |
| Engine | Electric[1] |
| Maximum speed | 33 knots[1] |
Guidance system | Gyroscope[1] |
Launch platform | Submarines[1] |
The Mark 20 torpedo was a US torpedo designed in 1943 but never used in service.
Design was by Naval Torpedo Station Newport, the Electric Storage Battery Company and General Electric. This project was a continuation of the development of a submarine-launched, anti-surface ship torpedo originally designated Mark 2 in 1941 which was the second attempt to develop a torpedo of this type. The earlier effort, designated Mark 1, in post-World War I years (1919–1931), was terminated after the torpedo produced proved unsatisfactory in speed and range.[1]
The Mark 20 never progressed beyond the development stage due to the success of the Mark 18 torpedo, however, 20 units were produced by General Electric for testing purposes.