Journal of the Royal Naval Scientific Service. Volume 27, Number 2 ...

Torpedo History: Kirhy 101
a similar line to that in Britain and
resulted in the Mk. 39 torpedo; this being a
wire-guided version of the Mk. 27. This was
eventually replaced by the 19 in. Mk. 37 which
is the present standard submarine-launched
weapon. The companion to the Mk. 39 is the
Mk. 45, or ASTOR, which is capable of carrying
a nuclear warhead.
Lightweight torpedoes appeared early in the
U.S.A. with the Mk. 32 introduced in 1945
which weighed 1,200 lbs. The Mk. 43 introduced
in the early 1950's was even smaller
being 10 in. diameter and weighing less than
300 lbs. Its performance, especially its speed
left much to be desired against the threat of
the nuclear submarine and, although a higher
speed modification was introduced the weapon
was soon replaced by the Mk. 44.
Hydrogen peroxide was developed as a propulsion
system and this eventually resulted in
the Mk. 16 torpedo which was similar to the
British FANCY weapon. The development of
Mk. 16 was one of the most expensive torpedo
projects yet evolved.
The present U.S. armoury of torpedoes
includes:
(a) lightweight (560 lb.) Mk. 46/0 torpedo
which can be delivered from a drone,
Fig. 45, or ASROC. Fig. 46, the Orion
P3 aircraft and from deck-mounted
tubes, Fig. 47.
(b) The Mk. 44 lightweight torpedo. This is
electrically propelled (in contrast to the
Mk. 46/0 which is driven by hot gases
generated by the burning of a solid
charge).
TABLE 14. Summary of German non-electric torpedo developments
Type Propulsion R V Remarks
Klippfisch
Peroxide/piston
engine 7,100 40 Used Tl engine. Tested 1942.
Mondfisch Peroxide/jet 1,310 40 Coastal defence.
Steinfisch Peroxide/turbine 7,650 45 Forerunner of Steinbutt.
Goldfisch Peroxide/turbine 3,750 45 Small type for midget submarines.
Steinbutt Peroxide/turbine 8,750 45 100 produced for service.
Goldbutt Peroxide/turbine 3,390 50 Similar to Goldfisch.
Zaunbutt Peroxide/turbine 9 7 Homing version. All plans
lost in bombing.
Steinbarsch Peroxide/turbine 7,100 50 100 produced for service.
K-butt Peroxide/turbine 3,280 45 60 produced for midget submarines.
Launched from external frame.
Steinwal Peroxide/turbine 24,000 45 Nearly completed mid-1945.
Schildbutt Peroxide/turbine 15,300 45 Sea water injection used.
LT 1500 Peroxide 2,200 40 Air-dropped, jet propelled.
LT 1000 Peroxide/turbine 5,500 50 Air-dropped.
M-5 Oxygen/piston 26,000 40 29 in. X 36 ft. Huge warhead.
G7a or Tl Air/radial 6,600 44 The standard war weapon.
(See table in previous ai tide for furtl ter weapons)