Fire! The US Navy’s Mark 48 Torpedo Keeps Getting Better

The US Navy’s Mk 48 (or Mark 48) is a heavyweight acoustic-homing torpedo designed to destroy enemy warships and service provider vessels. It has a classy sonar, an all-digital steerage and management system, a digital fusing system, and a sturdy propulsion system.

The Mark 48, A Historical past 

The Navy’s submarine power assault and missile boats are constructed across the Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo.

Launched in 1972, the Mk 48 was designed to permit SSNs with sufficient stealth and pace to defeat the Soviet Navy within the open ocean by closing with and destroying even essentially the most succesful Soviet capital warships and antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platforms.

The warhead is designed to strike the keel of a warship, breaking its again, as proven within the video. The Navy was conducting a SINKEX, the place they studied the weapons’ results by sinking retired US warships.

The Mark 48 torpedo is the ultimate weapon that hits the warship within the video. And it breaks the ship in half. 

The torpedo has undergone a number of modifications and enhancements throughout its service lifetime, establishing itself because the common torpedo for US submarines.

Conceived within the mid-Nineteen Fifties in the course of the pre-digital period, the Mk 48 was pioneering in its use of multi-speed propulsion. This revolutionary design allowed the torpedo to attain excessive transport speeds whereas wire-guided after which scale back pace to successfully dwelling in on its goal.

Mark 48: Lockheed Martin Will get $245 Million Contract For Upgrades

The Navy prolonged Lockheed Martin’s MK 48 Steerage and Management (G&C) program contract by $245 million.

This contract extension, introduced in December, focuses on enhancing the Mod 7 model of the MK 48 submarine-launched torpedo, broadly considered one of the succesful weapons on the planet.

The Mark 48 Torpedo Is a Beast 

The Mod 7 variant, developed collectively by the US and Royal Australian Navies, incorporates a high-explosive 650-pound warhead able to sinking floor ships and submarines.

At excessive pace, the torpedo can attain speeds of 65 mph.

The Mk 48’s modular design permits simpler digital steerage system software program updates. This is a crucial characteristic, because it permits weapons methods to stay in mission-capable service for prolonged durations.

The 21-inch (533 mm) submarine-launched weapon is likely one of the most advanced torpedoes ever developed. The Superior Functionality (ADCAP) variant stays the US Navy’s sole submarine-launched torpedo deployed throughout all US submarines, together with strategic missile submarines, as a important self-defense weapon.

Internally, it consists of a nostril group, warhead group, management group, gas tank group, and afterbody.

The nostril group consists of the Mark 72 transducer, the Mark 83 transmitter, the Mark 68 receiver, and the Mark 1 Homing Management Logic (HCL). The transducer unit is within the entrance of the nostril to transmit and obtain acoustic indicators, the acquisition vary being two nautical miles (3600 m).

The receiver within the decrease half of the nostril group processes acoustic information and determines the goal location to generate steering instructions.

The HCL on the rear of the nostril group and above the receiver accommodates the pc that directs torpedo maneuvers within the search, homing, and re-attack modes. It’s also used to investigate all acoustic indicators for legitimate goal returns.

The warhead group consists of the Mark 107 PBXN warhead, the Mark 21 exploder, the Mark 2 arming machine, and the Mark 12 digital meeting. The 292.5 kg warhead has the Mark 21 and the Mark 2 inside it, the fuze possessing contact and long-/short-range proximity features. The Mark 12 digital meeting on the compartment’s rear accommodates goal detection electronics that detonate the warhead.

The command management unit within the decrease third of the management group compartment implements fireplace management directions, maintains the torpedo’s pace, and ensures the weapon stays throughout the most and minimal depth limits.

The gyro management unit within the middle of the compartment converts steering instructions into fin deflection indicators whereas the PCU controls the torpedo’s pace.

The gas tank group homes the Otto monopropellant gas (968 kilos) and the wire dispenser used for command steerage after launch.

The afterbody accommodates the 500-horsepower exterior combustion gasoline piston engine, steering management surfaces, and engine equipment.

The MK 48 is operational throughout the US submarine fleet and utilized by Canadian, Netherlands, Brazilian, and Taiwanese navies, demonstrating its world influence.

Creator Info and Experience 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive Nationwide Safety Columnist. He served as a US Military Particular Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. Along with writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA). His work was usually featured in lots of army publications.