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Information About

Mark 50 Torpedo




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The Mark 50 torpedo is a U.S. Navy advanced lightweight Torpedo for use against the faster, deeper-diving and more sophisticated Submarine s. The Mk-50 can be launched from all ASW aircraft, and from torpedo tubes aboard surface combatant ships. The Mk-50 was intended to replace the Mk-46 as the fleet's lightweight torpedo. Instead it will be replaced with the Mark 54 LHT .

The torpedo's Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System (SCEPS) uses a small tank of sulphur hexafluoride gas which is sprayed over a block of solid Lithium , which generates enormous quantities of heat, in turn used to generate steam from seawater. The steam propels the torpedo in a closed Rankine Cycle .


GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS, MK-50


  • Primary function: air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo

  • Contractor: Alliant Techsystems , Westinghouse

  • Power Plant: Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System

  • Length: 2.84 m (112 in)

  • Weight: 340 kg (750 lb)

  • Diameter: 324 mm (12.75 in)

  • Speed: > 40 kn (46 mi/h, 74 km/h)

  • Guidance system: Active/passive acoustic homing

  • Warhead: approximately 45 kg (100 lb) high explosive (shaped charge)