Mark 16 torpedo

The Mark 16 torpedo was a redesign of the United States Navy standard Mark 14 torpedo to incorporate war-tested improvements for use in unmodified United States fleet submarines. The torpedo was considered the United States standard anti-shipping torpedo for twenty years;[2] although significant numbers of Mark 14 wartime production remained in inventory. This hydrogen peroxide propelled, 21-inch (53 cm) torpedo was 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 m) long and weighed 2.0 short tons (1,800 kg).[2] The Mod 0 warhead contained 1,260 pounds (570 kg) of TPX explosive and was the most powerful conventional submarine torpedo warhead ever used by any Navy. The United States used TPX explosive which was about 75% more powerful (7,405 J/g) than the Type 97 explosive in the larger Japanese Type 93 Mod 3. (780 kg of the Type 97, 4,370 J/g) The Mod 1 warhead contained 960 pounds (440 kg) of TPX or HBX (7,552 J/g) explosive.[2] The torpedo could be set for straight- or pattern-running.[2]

Mark 16 torpedo
Mark 16 torpedo
Type	Anti-surface ship torpedo[1]
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1943–1975[1]
Used by	United States Navy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Naval Torpedo Station[1] Naval Research Laboratory
Designed	1943[1]
Manufacturer	Naval Torpedo Station[1] Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park
Produced	1943 – post-World War II[1]
No. built	> 1,700[1]
Specifications
Mass	4,000 pounds (1,810 kg)[1]
Length	246 inches (6.2 m)[1]
Diameter	21 inches (533 mm)[1]
Effective firing range	11,000 yards (10,060 m)[1]
Warhead	Mk 16 Mod 7, HBX[1]
Warhead weight	746 pounds (338 kg)[1]
Detonation mechanism	Mk 9 Mod 4 contact/influence exploder[1]
Engine	Turbine[1]
Propellant	"Navol", concentrated hydrogen peroxide[1]
Maximum speed	46.2 knots (85.6 km/h; 53.2 mph)[1]
Guidance system	Gyroscope[1]
Launch platform	Submarines[1]