Mark 48 torpedo

Last updated
Mark 48 torpedo
Mk 48 torpedo maintenance 1982.JPEG
Technicians perform maintenance on a Mark 48 torpedo in 1982.
TypeHeavyweight dual-purpose ASW and ASuW torpedo
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1972–present (Mod 1) [1]

1988–present (ADCAP)

2008–present Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS)
Used by United States Navy
Brazilian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
Republic of China Navy
Production history
DesignerGould, Inc. [1]
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Designed1967 [1]
ManufacturerGould/Honeywell (Mod 1)
Hughes Aircraft (ADCAP) Westinghouse Naval Systems Cleveland Ohio
Unit cost$894,000 (1978 USD) [2]
$3,500,000 (ADCAP) (1988) [3]
$3,800,000 (CBASS)(2005 USD) [4]
$5.39m (2022) [5]
Specifications
Mass3,434 lb (1,558 kg) (original), 3,695 lb (1,676 kg) (ADCAP)
Length19 ft (5.8 m) [6]
Diameter21 in (530 mm) [6]

Effective firing range38 km (24 mi; 21 nmi) at 55 kn (102 km/h; 63 mph) or 50 km (31 mi; 27 nmi) at 40 kn (74 km/h; 46 mph) (estimated), [6] [7]
officially "greater than 5 miles [4.3 nmi; 8.0 km]"
Warhead high explosive plus unused fuel
Warhead weight647 lb (293 kg) [6]
Detonation
mechanism
proximity fuze

Engine swash-plate piston engine; pump jet
Propellant Otto fuel II
Maximum depth500 fathoms, [6] 800 m (2,600 ft) (estimated), [7] officially "greater than 1,200 ft" [8]
Maximum speed 55 kn (63 mph; 102 km/h) [6] (estimated) [7]
officially "greater than 28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)"
Guidance
system
Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System
Launch
platform
Submarine

The Mark 48 and its improved Advanced Capability (ADCAP) variant are American heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships.

Contents

History

The Mark 48 was initially developed as REsearch TORpedo Concept II (RETORC II), one of several weapons recommended for implementation by Project Nobska, a 1956 summer study on submarine warfare. [9] The Mk-48 torpedo was designed at the end of the 1960s to keep up with the advances in Soviet submarine technology. Operational since 1972, it replaced the Mk-37, Mk-14 and Mk-16 torpedoes as the principal weapon of U.S. Navy submarines. [3] With the entry into service of the new Soviet Alfa-class submarine in 1977, the decision was made to accelerate the ADCAP program, which would bring significant modifications to the torpedo. Tests were run to ensure that the weapon could keep up with the developments and the weapon was modified with improved acoustics and electronics. The new version of the weapon, also known as Mk-48 Mod 5, was extensively tested and production started in 1985, with entry into service in 1988. From then on, various upgrades have been added to the torpedo. As of 2012 Mk-48 Mod 6 was in service; a Mod 7 version was test fired in 2008 in Exercise RIMPAC. The inventory of the U.S. Navy in 2001 was 1,046 Mk-48 torpedoes. [7] In 2017 Lockheed's production was approximately 50 per year. [10]

Deployment

The Mk-48 torpedo is designed to be launched from submarine torpedo tubes. The weapon is carried by all U.S. Navy submarines, including Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and Seawolf-, Los Angeles-, and Virginia-class attack submarines. It is also used on Canadian, Australian, and Dutch submarines.

Mk-48 and Mk-48 ADCAP torpedoes can be guided from a submarine by wires attached to the torpedo. They can also use their own active or passive sensors to execute programmed target search, acquisition, and attack procedures. The torpedo is designed to detonate under the keel of a surface ship, breaking the keel and destroying its structural integrity. In the event of a miss, it can circle back for another attempt. [11]

Propulsion

The swashplate piston engine is fueled by Otto fuel II, a monopropellant which combusts to drive the engine. The thrust is generated by a propulsor assembly.

Sensors and improvements

The torpedo's seeker has an active electronically steered "pinger" (2D phased array sonar) that helps avoid having to maneuver as it approaches the target. Unconfirmed reports[ by whom? ] indicate that the torpedo's sensors can monitor surrounding electrical and magnetic fields. This may refer to the electromagnetic coils on the warhead (at least from 1977 to 1981), used to sense the metallic mass of the ship's hull and detonate at the proper stand-off distance.

The torpedo has been the subject of continued improvement over its service lifetime. In the 1990s, a Mod 6 variant of the ADCAP provided much improved noise isolation for the engine, which makes this torpedo more difficult to detect for a potential target.

The Mk48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is optimized for both the deep and littoral waters and has advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities. The MK48 ADCAP Mod 7 (CBASS) torpedo is the result of a Joint Development Program with the Royal Australian Navy and reached Initial Operational Capability in 2006. [8] The modular Mod 7 variant increases sonar bandwidth, enabling it to transmit and receive pings over a wider frequency band, taking advantage of broadband signal processing techniques to greatly improve search, acquisition, and attack effectiveness. This version is much more resistant to enemy countermeasures. [12]

On July 25, 2008 a MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo fired by an Australian Collins-class submarine, HMAS Waller, successfully sank a test target during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC) exercises. [13] [14]

In 2015 the USN announced plans to restart production and seek a more modular design. [15] Lockheed Martin is to upgrade existing Mark 48s to include a new guidance-control system known as the Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS), in addition to improving propulsion and resistance to electronic countermeasures. [16]

Starting in 2003, the US Navy began the Stealth Torpedo Enhancement Program which aims to upgrade the capability of the existing Mk 48 design by implementing alternative fuel sources including electric fuel cells, and a "swim out" capability, a capability that allows a torpedo to leave the tube under its own power without using a torpedo tube's noisier compressed air launch system. The program is ongoing, with many details yet classified. [17]

Torpedo Mark 48 Evolution.gif

Operators

Map with Mark 48 torpedo operators in blue Mark 48 torpedo operators.png
Map with Mark 48 torpedo operators in blue


Current operators

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Los Angeles</i>-class submarine Class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines of the United States Navy

The Los Angeles class of submarines are nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy. Also known as the 688 class after the hull number of lead vessel USS Los Angeles (SSN-688), 62 were built from 1972 to 1996, the latter 23 to an improved 688i standard. As of 2024, 24 of the Los Angeles class remain in commission—more than any other class in the world—and they account for almost half of the U.S. Navy's 50 fast attack submarines.

<i>Sturgeon</i>-class submarine Class of fast attack nuclear submarine by US Navy

The Sturgeon class was a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN) in service with the United States Navy from the 1960s until 2004. They were the "workhorses" of the Navy's attack submarine fleet throughout much of the Cold War. The boats were phased out in the 1990s and early 21st century, as their successors, the Los Angeles, followed by the Seawolf and Virginia-class boats, entered service.

The Mark 24 Tigerfish was a heavyweight acoustic homing torpedo used by the Royal Navy (RN) during the 1980s and 90s. Conceptual development dates to the mid-1950s, and formally started in 1959 with a target introduction date in 1969. A lengthy development process led to a greatly reduced performance requirement, including the removal of anti-surface capabilities. The first prototype "Tiger Fish" examples were delivered in 1967.

The Spearfish torpedo is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability. Spearfish development began in the 1970s, with production starting in 1988, and deployment in 1992. By 2004, the new weapon had completely replaced the older Tigerfish torpedo.

HMCS <i>Victoria</i> (SSK 876) Royal Canadian Navy hunter-killer submarine

HMCS Victoria is a long-range hunter-killer (SSK) submarine of the Royal Canadian Navy, the lead ship of her class. She is named after the city of Victoria, British Columbia. She was purchased from the Royal Navy, and is the former HMS Unseen (S41). The class was also renamed from the Upholder class.

HMAS <i>Farncomb</i>

HMAS Farncomb is the second of six Collins-class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named for Rear Admiral Harold Farncomb, the submarine was laid down in 1993 and launched in December 1995—the first submarine to be completely constructed in Australia. A combination of factors led to Farncomb being the only vessel of her class in operational condition in mid-2009.

HMAS <i>Waller</i>

HMAS Waller is the third of six Collins-class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Sheean</i> Submarine of the Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Sheean is the fifth of six Collins-class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Rankin</i> Diesel-electric submarine of the Australian navy

HMAS Rankin is the sixth and final submarine of the Collins class, which are operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named for Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin, the boat was laid down in 1995, and commissioned into the RAN in March 2003, following major delays.

<i>Permit</i>-class submarine US Navy fast attack submarines

The Permit-class submarine was a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy from the early 1960s until 1996. They were a significant improvement on the Skipjack class, with greatly improved sonar, diving depth, and silencing. They were the forerunners of all subsequent US Navy SSN designs. They served from the 1960s through to the early 1990s, when they were decommissioned due to age. They were followed by the Sturgeon and Los Angeles classes.

USS <i>Fletcher</i> (DD-992) Spruance-class destroyer

USS Fletcher (DD-992), the thirtieth Spruance-class destroyer, was part of the first major class of United States Navy surface ships to be powered by gas turbines. She was commissioned in July 1980 and was deployed mainly in the western and southern Pacific, but also voyaged to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. She was the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear this name but the first to be named after Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. After her decommissioning in 2004, she was sunk in a torpedo test exercise in 2008.

<i>Halifax</i>-class frigate Class of Canadian frigates

The Halifax-class frigate, also referred to as the City class, is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992. The class is the outcome of the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project, which dates to the mid-1970s. HMCS Halifax was the first of an eventual twelve Canadian-designed and Canadian-built vessels which combine traditional anti-submarine capabilities with systems to deal with surface and air threats as well. Ships of the class are named after capital cities of Canadian provinces, the capital of Canada, Ottawa, and the major cities of Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RUM-139 VL-ASROC</span> Anti-submarine missile

The RUM-139 vertical-launch anti-submarine rocket is an anti-submarine missile in the ASROC family, currently built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Navy.

HMCS <i>Vancouver</i> (FFH 331) Royal Canadian Navy frigate

HMCS Vancouver is a Halifax-class frigate, of the Royal Canadian Navy launched on 8 July 1989, as the second vessel of her class. She is based at CFB Esquimalt on the west coast of Canada, and is the third vessel to be named after Vancouver, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-submarine weapon</span> Weapon to be used in anti-submarine warfare

An anti-submarine weapon (ASW) is any one of a number of devices that are intended to act against a submarine and its crew, to destroy (sink) the vessel or reduce its capability as a weapon of war. In its simplest sense, an anti-submarine weapon is usually a projectile, missile or bomb that is optimized to destroy submarines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark 54 lightweight torpedo</span> American torpedo

The Mark 54 lightweight torpedo is a standard 12.75-inch (324 mm) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo used by the United States Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sting Ray (torpedo)</span> British, acoustic homing, light-weight

The Sting Ray is a British acoustic homing lightweight torpedo (LWT) manufactured by GEC-Marconi, who were later bought out by BAE Systems. It entered service in 1983.

<i>California</i>-class cruiser Nuclear guided-missile cruiser class of the US Navy

The California class was a pair of nuclear-powered guided-missile cruisers operated by the United States Navy between 1974 and 1998. Other than their nuclear power supply and lack of helicopter hangars, ships of the California class were comparable to other guided-missile cruisers of their era, such as the Belknap class. The class was built as a follow-up to the nuclear-powered Long Beach, Bainbridge, and Truxtun classes. Like all of the nuclear cruisers, which could steam for years between refuelings, the California class was designed in part to provide high endurance escort for the navy's nuclear aircraft carriers, which were often limited in range due to their conventionally powered escorts continuously needing to be refueled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark 37 torpedo</span> American acoustic torpedo

The Mark 37 torpedo is a torpedo with electrical propulsion, developed for the US Navy after World War II. It entered service with the US Navy in the early 1950s, with over 3,300 produced. It was phased out of service with the US Navy during the 1970s, and the stockpiles were sold to foreign navies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HSM-73</span> A US Navy maritime squadron

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM-73) is a United States Navy Maritime Strike helicopter squadron based on Naval Air Station North Island, California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mine Mk48" . Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. Polmar, Norman. "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, November 1978, p. 159.
  3. 1 2 "MK 48". Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network. www.fas.org. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  4. "Mark 48 CBASS". www.deagel.com.
  5. "New Look at Air Force's Ship-Killing Smart Bomb in Action, Seeker Details Revealed". 22 September 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987. Navy League of the United States (1987). ISBN   0-9610724-8-2. p. 190.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Mk 48 ADCAP". Jane's Naval Forces News. www.janes.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2001. Retrieved 2011-04-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. 1 2 "US Navy Fact File: Heavyweight Torpedo - Mark 48 Archived 2020-07-02 at the Wayback Machine ", US Navy , 17 January 2009, Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  9. Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History . Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp.  109–114. ISBN   1-55750-260-9.
  10. Osborn, Kris (24 November 2017). "Navy Engineers New Lethal, Super High-Tech Mk 48 Torpedo". Scout.com . Retrieved 27 November 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. D'Costa, Ian. "This is what makes the Mark 48 one of the deadliest torpedoes ever built". We are the mighty. Mighty Networks. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  12. The U.S. Navy's New Lethal Torpedo Is Almost Ready for War - Nationalinterest.org, 31 May 2016
  13. "Aussie sub sinks US Warship". The Sydney Morning Herald . 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. An Australian submarine has fired a new heavy torpedo for the first time and sunk a US warship. But, rest easy, the dramatic event was part of an exercise and not a sudden deterioration in relations with the US. [...] The new heavyweight torpedo, jointly developed by Australia and the US, was fired yesterday during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) exercise. Multiple navies are taking part in the exercise off the coast of Hawaii, which featured the planned sinking of a retired US warship. The MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is considered the world's premier submarine-launched torpedo.
  14. "BBC Video: Torpedo test sinks US ship". BBC. July 24, 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
  15. Eckstein, Megan (29 October 2015). "Navy Planning Torpedo Restart, Would Be Modular Design With Multiple Payloads". news.usni.org. USNI. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  16. Mizokami, Kyle (December 27, 2016). "The U.S. Navy is Getting a More Lethal Torpedo". Popular Mechanics . Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin is upgrading existing Mark 48s to a new standard. A new, upgraded torpedo will run quieter, have an improved propulsion system, be more resistant to electronic countermeasures, and have an all-new guidance control system known as Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System, or CBASS. The new system should allow for locking onto enemy vessels at even longer ranges. In addition to upgrading older torpedoes, Lockheed will deliver 250 more brand new Mark 48s to the U.S. Navy.
  17. An Assessment of Undersea Weapons Science and Technology. 9 June 2000. doi:10.17226/9863. ISBN   978-0-309-06926-7.
  18. "Armed with a heavyweight torpedo made to 'break ships in half,' Taiwan's first homemade submarine represents a new threat to China's navy". Business Insider. 23 Oct 2023.