Mark 18 info

[Bubblehead1980]

Did they improve the Mark 18 during the war so that is was faster or had a longer range or even a larger warhead? Could change this with S3D.Wouldnt mind a Mark 18 with rang eof 5,500 yards and 36 knot speed but want to be historically accurate.

[WernherVonTrapp]

As far as I know, historically, the Mark-18 had (only) a top speed of 29 knots and a top range of (only) 4000yds.
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/torpedomk18/index.htm

[Gibus]

His speed has been improved from August 1944, I think : 40 kts.

[DaveyJ576]

The Mk 18-1 was the original production model and was full of bugs. It had battery problems, control problems, and it tended to hit the outer edge of the tube on its way out, damaging the rudder. The Mk 18-2 corrected many of these issues and by the end of the war was a reasonably reliable weapon. However, it performance characteristics did not change: 29 knots for 4000 yards.

For additional info see:

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_WWII.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_18_torpedo

[Gibus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_18_torpedo
Yet I read in this link in July 1944, the Mk-18 speed was 40 knots (74 km: hour).

[WernherVonTrapp]

Though Wikipedia is a great general reference, it's not a source of reliable information since just about anyone can contribute to it. I always double/triple check any references from Wikipedia.

[Rip]

Though Wikipedia is a great general reference, it's not a source of reliable information since just about anyone can contribute to it. I always double/triple check any references from Wikipedia.


Well when it agrees with every other credible source then you can believe it.

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/torpedomk18/index.htm

http://www.eugeneleeslover.com/USNAVY/CHAPTER-12-I.html

I know of no credible information indicating a higher speed version. If you know of somewhere that says otherwise, please enlighten us. :sunny:

Rip

[DaveyJ576]

The Wikipedia article has a reference to the 40 knot figure from Clay Blair's Silent Victory. I had missed this earlier when reviewing the Wiki article. I pulled my copy and verified that it is in the book just like Wiki said. Blair is a very reliable source, but remember even the best author is only as good as his sources. Never in all my time researching have I ever come across anything that backs up his assertion that the Mk-18 speed was increased to 40 knots. Therefore, I would tend to question this account.

Blair explains it by stating that work done on the batteries increased the speed to as high as 40 knots, depending on the water temperature (which effected the electrical output of the battery). I can verify this. Water temp did effect the battery and this was one of the prime weaknesses of this weapon. Imagine the difficulty of determining a correct firing solution if you did not know precisely how fast the weapon was moving! So, yes, the speed of the Mk-18 tended to be slightly variable, but I have never come across another account which put it as high as 40 knots.

Blair was a very thorough researcher and maybe he came across a little known source that no one else had. This is entirely possible, but it stretches believability a little. I say the jury is out on this one for now.

BTW, the rest of the Wiki article on the Mk-18 is spot on.