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