18-inch Mark XII torpedo
Contents
Description
The 18-inch Mark XII, or simply Mark XII, is a British torpedo. Although designed for use as a aerial launch torpedo, it is used on some early Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs), such as the MTB-1 1 series.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
| Vehicles equipped with this weapon | |
|---|---|
| Twin-engine fighters | Beaufighter Mk VIc · Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21 |
| Bombers | Beaufort Mk VIII · Hampden TB Mk I · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · Swordfish Mk I · Swordfish Mk II |
| Wellington Mk Ic · Wellington Mk Ic/L · Wellington Mk III · Wellington Mk X | |
| Motor torpedo boats | MTB-1(1) · MTB-1(2) |
General info
The Mark XII is a relatively early torpedo. Designed for aerial use, it has a lower weight and explosive mass than some other torpedoes, however it is relatively fast in the water.
| Torpedo Characteristics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torpedo Mode | Mass (kg) | Maximum speed in water (km/h) | Travel distance (km) | Depth stroke (m) | Arming distance (m) | Explosive type | Explosive mass (kg) | TNT equivalent (kg) |
| No | 702 | 50 | 3.20 | 1 | 50 | TNT | 176 | 176 |
| Yes | 702 | 74 | 1.37 | 1 | 50 | TNT | 176 | 176 |
The naval version of the torpedo has an optional "Torpedo Mode" modification which decreases the range from 3.2 km to 1.37 km, but increases the speed by 7 m/s, bringing it to 74 km/h.
| Torpedo mode specification changes | |
|---|---|
| Max distance (m) | Max speed (m/s) |
| -1829 | +7 |
Effective damage
Like other torpedoes, when launched from a ship, the Mark XII can destroy just about anything smaller than a destroyer with a single hit (or even a near miss). It is possible for some destroyers to survive a hit from a ship launched Mark XII torpedo, and cruisers can almost always take multiple hits from a Mark XII without being destroyed (the torpedo will still start major fires and hull breaches, but won't instantly hull-break the ship).
Air launched Mark XIIs seem to be more powerful and can often destroy cruisers (of the player controlled variety) in a single hit.
Comparison with analogues
The closest comparison to the Mark XII (with regards to naval battles) is the German LT 1A/1 (also a 45 cm torpedo found at reserve rank). By comparison, the Mark XII is much faster, however the German torpedo has a larger warhead. The Japanese Type 2 (a 45 cm torpedo found on the Japanese reserve ship) is an all round better torpedo, being both faster and having a larger warhead.
Compared to the larger American Mk.8-3 C/D 53 cm torpedo (found at reserve rank), and German G7a the Mark XII has much better speed but a smaller warhead.
Usage in battles
The Mark VII is relatively fast compared to other low rank torpedoes in naval battles and has a compatible range, allowing you to hit further away targets easier.
When dropped from aircraft the characteristics of the Mark XII are not ideal. You are required to drop below 105 m and decrease your speed to below 281 km/h. Contemporary counterparts, such as the US' Mk.13-1 Case or the USSR 45-36AN (450 mm) have better airdrop characteristics; however, when it comes to aerial torpedoes, its successor, the 18 inch Mark XV (450 mm) solves this by incrementing its drop speed maximum to 443 km/h, but its altitude maximum is only incremented to 122 m.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good speed, enhanced when Torpedo Mode is used.
- Average range, allowing for having a bit of distance towards a target.
Cons:
- Poor airdrop characteristics, meaning the aircraft needs a slower (under 281 km/h) and lower (under 105m) approach towards its target if there is a need to aim, being vulnerable to defensive fire.
- Slowest in comparison to other air-dropped torpedoes.
- Below average explosive mass, may not always guarantee full destruction of a bigger player vessel.
History
The Mark XII was designed in 1935 (and entered service in 1937) as an aerial torpedo for use by the Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command. It was a development of the 18-inch Mark XI, which had a larger 211 kg warhead (compared to 176 kg on the Mark XII), but a shorter 2,300 m range and lower speed of 35 knots (65 km/h). The Mark XII reduced the warhead size, but increased the speed and range to 69 km/h at 3,000 m range or 74 km/h at 1,400 m range.
The torpedo was 4.95 m long, 450 cm wide and weighed 702 kg. It was powered by a 140 hp burner-cycle engine.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
