[TorpX]

Ok, I don't know why people are assuming my comments about the Mk. 18 are based on ignorance, and that I've never read anything about torpedoes before. I'll just state that that is not the case.

They wanted a wakeless electric torpedo. They accepted that there would be problems, but the wakeless torpedo was needed.

I'm not sure who wanted the wakeless torpedo. Certainly, many liked the idea, but it is not clear to me that there was any pre-existing yearning, much less need, for such. The problems written about, seemed to come as a rude surprise, and I question whether either the Navy or it's skippers, would have accepted the electric torpedo, if they had known of the disadvantages that came with it.

I think most of the impetus for the Mk. 18 came from the extraordinary frustration with the Mk. 14, and perhaps, a certain amount of German-envy. (I'm talking about the common, prejudiced idea that any German weapon/technology was superior to the Allied counterpart.) If you have been stuck depending on a defective tool (whatever the reasons), you would naturally be looking around for something else to try.

Of course, that is just my opinion. I'm sure others will disagree.