There have been a number of 18-inch (45cm) torpedoes in service with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
These have been used on ships of the Royal Navy and aircraft of both the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force, while Royal Navy surface ships and submarines use 21-inch torpedoes.
The British 18-inch torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter, beginning with the "Fiume" Whitehead torpedo of 1890.
45 cm "Fiume" (Whitehead) torpedo edit
First introduced into British service in 1894.[1]
- Year : about 1888
- Weight : 845 lb (383 kg)
- Length : 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
- Warhead : 118 lb (54 kg) wet gun-cotton
- Performance : 26.5 knots (49.1 km/h; 30.5 mph) for 800 yd (730 m)
- Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark V edit
Used on the River-class and 1905 Tribal-class destroyers.
- Year : about 1899[1]
- Weight : 1,353 lb (614 kg)
- Warhead : 296 lb (134 kg) including pistol
- Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark VI edit
Used on destroyers of the early 1900s.
- Year : about 1904[1]
- Performance : 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph) for 4,000 yd (3,700 m) or 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 1,000 yd (910 m)
- Propulsion : Compressed air
Mark VII and VII* edit
Introduced on the 1908 members of the 1905 Tribal class destroyers. Used by torpedo boats built before the First World War and destroyers. Used by RAF flying boats in the 1920s.
- Year : 1907[1]
- Warhead : 320 lb (150 kg) TNT
- Performance :
- Mark VII :
30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) for 6,000–7,000 yd (5,500–6,400 m)
41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 3,000 yd (2,700 m) - Mark VII* :
29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) for 7,000 yd (6,400 m)
35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for 5,000 yd (4,600 m)
- Mark VII :
- Propulsion : Wet-heater
Mark VIII edit
- Year: 1913
- Role: Submarines and aircraft (Note: During World War II and after the Mk.VIII was a 21-inch torpedo)
- Warhead: 320 lb (150 kg) TNT
- Propulsion: Wet heater
- Performance: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark XI edit
- Year: 1934
- Aircraft carried
- Dimensions: 17.72 in (450 mm) dia.
- Warhead: 465 lb (211 kg) TNT
- Propulsion: Burner cycle
- Performance: 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark XII edit
| 18-inch Mark XII | |
|---|---|
 A Mark XII torpedo fitted to a Bristol Beaufighter | |
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1937-1945 |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1935 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,548 lb (702 kg) |
| Length | 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m) |
| Diameter | 17.72 in (450 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 388 lb (176 kg) |
| Engine | Burner cycle 140 hp (at 40 knots) |
| Maximum speed | 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 1,500 yd (1,400 m) or 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) for 3,500 yd (3,200 m) |
Aircraft launched, used by Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command.
Mark XIV edit
| 18-inch Mark XIV | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Designed | around 1938 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,630 lb (740 kg) |
| Diameter | 17.72 in (450 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 375 lb (170 kg) |
| Engine | Whitehead wet heater (methyl fuel) |
| Maximum speed | 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) for 1,650 yd (1,510 m) or 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 2,950 yd (2,700 m) |
The Mark XIV was an aircraft-launched torpedo. Stocks were lost with the fall of Singapore.
Mark XV edit
| 18-inch Mark XV | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Designed | around 1942 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,801 lb (817 kg) |
| Diameter | 17.69 in (449 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| Engine | Whitehead wet heater (methyl fuel) |
| Maximum speed | 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m) or 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) for 3,200 yd (2,900 m) |
- Year: 1942
- Operators: Fleet Air Arm, RAF Coastal Command, Royal Navy
- Role: Aircraft and Motor Torpedo Boats, 1943 onwards
- Dimensions: 17.69 in (449 mm) × 17 ft 2.7 in (5.250 m)
- Warhead: 545 lb (247 kg) Torpex
- Propulsion: Burner cycle
- Performance: 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m) or 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) for 3,200 yd (2,900 m)[2]
Mark XVI edit
Electric torpedo project not completed.
Mark XVII edit
- United Kingdom, 1944
- Aircraft launched
- Operated by FAA, RAF Coastal Command, Blackburn Firebrand
- Dimensions: 17.72 in (450 mm) × 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
- Warhead: 600 lb (270 kg) Torpex
- Propulsion: Burner cycle
- Performance: 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m)
Mark 30 edit
An air-dropped passive acoustic homing torpedo known as "Dealer" and "Dealer B".[3]
- Length: 8 ft (2.4 m)[4]
- Weight: 646 lb (293 kg)
- Performance: 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) for 3,000 yd (2,700 m) or 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) for 830 yd (760 m)
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 87. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- ^ "British Torpedoes after World War II". navweaps.com. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
- ^ "Mk 30 Torpedo". saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
References edit
- Tony DiGiulian, Pre Second World War torpedoes
- Tony DiGiulian, Torpedoes of the Second World War
External links edit