The Mark 32 has been the standard anti-submarine torpedo launching system aboard United States Navy surface vessels since its introduction[3] in 1960,[citation needed] and is in use aboard the warships of several other navies.[3]
During the FRAM Program, Fletcher, Allen M. Sumner and Gearing-classdestroyers were modernized and fitted with two Mark 32 torpedo tubes on each side of their midship. The torpedo tubes' service extended to multiple other countries such as Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Egypt and many more due to the fact that decommissioned American ships were bought or transferred over to them throughout the years, notably Oliver Hazard Perry-classfrigates.
Japan uses the HOS-301 torpedo tubes which are redesignated version of the Mark 32.
Design
Most versions (referred to as modifications or mods) are triple-tube sets that can be rotated or trained to face a target.[3] The exception is the Mod 9 sets, which only have two tubes and are fixed in position.[3] The Mark 32 can fire 12.75-inch (324mm) torpedoes of the Mark 44, Mark 46, Mark 50 (from the Mod 17 tubes onwards),[3][4] and Mark 54[citation needed] designs, and can be modified to use other torpedoes (such as the MU90 Impact aboard Royal Australian Navy frigates, or Royal Navy units using Sting Ray torpedoes).[5][6] The tubes are designed to be fired remotely, but manual firing controls are fitted as a backup to all but the Spruance-class destroyer's Mod 15 sets, as all aspects of the tubes' operation are controlled remotely.[3] The launch is powered by compressed air[3] in a rear flask, which doubles as each tube's breech, and the torpedoes are fire-and-forget weapons.[citation needed]
The launcher can be made from fibreglass, or with a fibreglass liner encased in metal.[3] The tubes were designed to be weatherproof and capable of storing torpedoes for long periods, but this is only practical with regular maintenance.[citation needed] Each triple-tube set weighs around 2,230 pounds (1,010kg) unloaded, with variations between mods.[3]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Friedman, Norman (2006). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems (5thed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp.754–5.
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