Mark 23 torpedo

Anti-surface ship torpedo

Maximum speed 46.3 knots^[1]

Guidance
system

Gyroscope^[1]

Launch
platform

Submarines^[1]

The Mark 23 torpedo was a submarine-launched anti-surface ship torpedo designed and built by the Naval Torpedo Station for the United States Navy in World War II. It was essentially a Mark 14 torpedo, modified via the removal of its low-speed, long-range setting, leaving the high-speed, short-range feature in place.^[2]

It was developed with the high-speed feature of the Mark 14 torpedo in mind, as earlier in the war, the low-speed feature of the Mark 14 was rarely used. However, during the latter stages of the war, fewer targets and better tactics necessitated firing from longer ranges and the Mark 14, with its low-speed, long-range feature, became the preferred weapon. Many of the Mark 23s were scrapped or converted to Mark 14s, while other units were cannibalized for spare parts.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Jolie, E.W. (15 September 1978). "A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development: Torpedo Mk23". Retrieved 19 June 2013.
^ ^a ^b Torpedoes Mark 14 and 23 Types. United States Navy. 24 March 1945.