Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo
| Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo | |
|---|---|
Whitehead torpedo mechanism, published 1891 | |
| Type | Anti-surface ship torpedo |
| Place of origin | Austria-Hungary |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1894–1913 |
| Used by | United States Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Robert Whitehead |
| Designed | 1892 |
| Manufacturer | Torpedofabrik Whitehead & Co. E. W. Bliss Company |
| No. built | 100 |
| Variants | Whitehead Mk 1B |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 845 pounds |
| Length | 140 inches (3.55 meters) |
| Diameter | 17.7 inches (45 centimeters) |
| Effective firing range | 800 yards |
| Warhead | wet guncotton |
| Warhead weight | 118.5 lbs |
Detonation mechanism | War Nose Mk 1 contact exploder |
| Engine | 3-cylinder reciprocating |
| Maximum speed | 26.5 knots |
Guidance system | depth control |
Launch platform | battleships, cruisers, and torpedo boats |
The Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo was the first Whitehead torpedo adopted by the United States Navy for use in an anti-surface ship role after the E. W. Bliss Company of Brooklyn, New York secured manufacturing rights in 1892. The US Navy made an initial acquisition of 100 Mark 1s, which, by the time they entered American service, were faster, had longer range and carried a larger warhead than Robert Whitehead's earlier models.