Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo
system
platform
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]
Characteristics
The 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
- American 18 inch torpedo
References
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- Howell Mark 1 torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 1B torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 2 torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 3 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 2 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 3 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 4 torpedo
- Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 6 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 torpedo
- Short Mark 7 torpedo
- Bliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedo
- Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo
- Mark 10 torpedo
- Mark 11 torpedo
- Mark 12 torpedo
- Mark 13 torpedo
- Mark 14 torpedo
- Mark 15 torpedo
- Mark 16 torpedo
- Mark 17 torpedo
- Mark 18 torpedo
- Mark 19 torpedo
- Mark 20 torpedo
- Mark 21 Mod 0 torpedo
- Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo
- Mark 22 torpedo
- Mark 23 torpedo
- Mark 24 mine
- Mark 25 torpedo
- Mark 26 torpedo
- Mark 27 torpedo
- Mark 28 torpedo
- Mark 29 torpedo
- Mark 30 torpedo mine
- Mark 31 torpedo