Mk 46 torpedo

The Mk 46 torpedo is the primary lightweight torpedo of the United States Navy.

The development for the Mk 46 torpedo began in 1960. The first production version was the Mk 46 Mod 0 air dropped variant. The Mk 46 Mod 0 could dive to 1500 feet and has a top speed of 45 knots while traveling to a maximum range of 6.8 miles. The new Mk 46 utilized a new propulsion system that more than doubled the range of its predecessor, the Mk 44. The Mod 0 used a solid fuel that led to maintenance problems, so the Mk 46 Mod 1 was launched, being equipped with a Thermo-chemical cam engine. The Mod 1 entered ASROC (Anti-Submarine ROCket) service in 1967. The next variant of the Mk 46 to be introduced was the Mk 46 Mod 4, which was specifically designed to be the payload of a CAPTOR mine. Due to advances in Soviet submarine technology, the Mk 46 was again upgraded to the Mod 5 standard which boasts a longer and more accurate detection range. The replacement for the Mk 46 is the Mk 50 Barracuda, which is currently undergoing testing and trials.

Top Speed: 45 knots
Range: 6.8 miles
Maximum Depth: 1500 feet
Warhead: 95-lbs High Explosive