The Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo was a Whitehead torpedo adopted by the United States Navy for use in an anti-surface ship role in 1910. The Mark 5 was the first torpedo to be manufactured by a foreign company, the Whitehead facility in the United Kingdom,[4] and in 1908, by the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island. It was also the first torpedo to allow the firing ship to vary the torpedo's speed and range.[2]
| Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Type | Anti-surface ship torpedo[1] |
| Place of origin | Austria-Hungary |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1910–1922[1] |
| Used by | United States Navy[2] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Robert Whitehead |
| Designed | 1901[1] |
| Manufacturer | Torpedofabrik Whitehead & Co.[3] Naval Torpedo Station[1] Vickers Limited |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1452 pounds[1] |
| Length | 204 inches (5.18 meters)[1] |
| Diameter | 17.7 inches (45 centimeters)[1] |
| Effective firing range | 1000–4000 yards[1] |
| Warhead | wet guncotton[1] |
| Warhead weight | 200 pounds[1] |
Detonation mechanism | War Nose Mk 5 contact exploder[1] |
| Engine | 4-cylinder reciprocating[1] |
| Maximum speed | 27–40 knots[1] |
Guidance system | gyroscope[1] |
Launch platform | battleships, torpedo boats and submarines[1] |
Characteristics
editThe Mark 5 was a "hot-running" (powered by heated air) torpedo, as opposed to previous Whitehead designs, which were "cold-running". It was similar in performance to the Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes of that era. Around 500 units were produced by the Naval Torpedo Station and Vickers Limited. The Mark 5 had variable speed; at a high speed of 40 knots, it had a range of 1000 yards. A low speed of 27 knots allowed the weapon a range of 4000 yards; at medium speed of 36 knots, its range was 2000 yards. This variable speed was set before loading the torpedo in its tube by adjusting the reducing valve.[2]
The Mark 5 was, however, overshadowed by the increasing efficiency and range of Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes. In 1922, all torpedoes prior to the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 torpedo in the US Navy's inventory were condemned in favor of more modern versions.[2]
The Mark 5 was launched from destroyers, torpedo boats and other small ships.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Chronology: Torpedo in Word and Picture". Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
- ^ "United States of America, Torpedoes Pre-World War II". Retrieved 25 June 2013.