Mark 48 torpedo
| Mark 48 torpedo | |
|---|---|
Technicians perform maintenance on a Mark 48 torpedo in 1982. | |
| Type | Heavyweight dual-purpose ASW and ASuW torpedo |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present (Mod 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 | |
| Designer | Gould, Inc. Naval Surface Warfare Center |
| Designed | 1967 |
| Manufacturer | Gould/Honeywell (Mod 1) Hughes Aircraft (ADCAP) Westinghouse Naval Systems Cleveland Ohio |
| Unit cost | $894,000 (1978 USD) $3,500,000 (ADCAP) (1988) $3,800,000 (CBASS)(2005 USD) $5.39m (2022) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3,434 lb (1,558 kg) (original), 3,695 lb (1,676 kg) (ADCAP) |
| Length | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Diameter | 21 in (530 mm) |
| Effective firing range | 38 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), officially "greater than 5 miles [4.3 nmi; 8.0 km]" |
| Warhead | high explosive plus unused fuel |
| Warhead weight | 647 lb (293 kg) |
Detonation mechanism | proximity fuze |
| Engine | swash-plate piston engine; pump jet |
| Propellant | Otto fuel II |
| Maximum depth | 500 fathoms, 800 m (2,600 ft) (estimated), officially "greater than 1,200 ft" |
| Maximum speed | 55 kn (63 mph; 102 km/h) (estimated) 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.