Mark 15, U.S. Torpedo


Photograph of Mark 15 torpedo being launched from destroyer

National Archives #80-G-413484. Cropped by author.

Specifications:

Dimensions     
21" by 24'0"
53.3cm by 7.315m
Weight
3841 lbs
1742 kg
Range 6000 yards (5500m) at 45 knots
10,000 yards (9150m) at 33.5 knots
15,000 yards (13,700m) at 26.5 knots
Warhead 825 lbs Torpex
374 kg Torpex
Propulsion       Alcohol-air wet heater turbine


The Mark 15 was the standard destroyer torpedo during the war. It initially suffered from the same detonator problems as the Mark 14: Two destroyers put 16 torpedoes into Hornet in October 1942 but still failed to scuttle her. Like the Mark 14, it became much more reliable later in the war, but never came close to matching the Long Lance.

References

Campbell (1985)

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional