12.75 inch Mark 46 (324 mm)

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12.75 inch Mark 46 (324 mm) captured in-flight

Description

The 12.75 inch Mark 46 is an American lightweight anti-submarine torpedo introduced in 1963 (in Mod 0 variant), which was quickly replaced in 1967 by Mod 1, addressing initial issues with the propulsion system. Torpedo has seen a series of upgrades until the replacement arrived in 1990 - the Mark 50 Barracuda. Still, struggling with high cost, the Mark 46 received Service Life Extension Programme, and eventually new, cheaper, derivative, the Mark 46 Mod 8, was being developed in 1994 merging the two torpedoes into what eventually became the Mark 54 torpedo, finally replacing the Mark 46 series in 2004.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the torpedo.

Effective damage

Describe the type of damage produced by this type of torpedo (high explosive, splash damage, etc)

Comparison with analogues

  • SET-40 (400 mm) - A Soviet lightweight anti-submarine torpedo. Compared to the Mark 46, it is much slower but has almost double the explosive mass and a slightly longer range
Name Country
of origin
Diameter
(mm)
Mass (kg) Explosive
type
TNT equivalent
(kg)
Max speed
(km/h)
Max range
(km)
12.75 inch Mark 44 USA flag.png 324 235 HBX 54.4 56 5.49
12.75 inch Mark 46 USA flag.png 324 235 TNT 44.5 91 7.30
18 inch Mark XII Britain flag.png 450 702 TNT 176 74 1.37
18 inch Mark XV Britain flag.png 450 817 Torpex 395.2 61 3.20
18 inch Type 38 No.2 B Japan flag.png 450 663 Shimose 104.5 59 2.00
18-inch Mk.7 USA flag.png 450 720 TNT 93 59 3.65
21 in Mk.8 USA flag.png 533 1,252 TNT 146 50 9.14
21 inch Mark I Britain flag.png 533 1,270 TNT 102 56 11.00
21 inch Mk.20 Bidder Britain flag.png 533 821 TNT 89 37 11.00
21 inch Type 43 (1910) Japan flag.png 533 1,187 Shimose 143 50 8.00
45-36NU USSR flag.png 450 951 TNT 200 76 4.00
53-38 USSR flag.png 533 1,615 TNT 300 82 4.00
53-39 USSR flag.png 533 1,780 TNT 317 94 4.00
53-56 USSR flag.png 533 2,000 TNT 400 93 8.00
53-57 USSR flag.png 533 2,000 TNT 306 83 18.00
53-65 USSR flag.png 533 2,070 TNT 300 126 12.00
Bliss-Leavitt Mk.1 USA flag.png 533 680 TNT 91 50 3.66
C/06D Germany flag.png 450 810 TNT 122.6 50 5.90
G6c Germany flag.png 533 1,008 TNT 160 50 5.00
G7 Germany flag.png 500 1,365 TNT 249.6 69 4.00
G7a Germany flag.png 533 1,528 SW39a 358.4 81 6.00
H/8 Germany flag.png 600 2,160 SW39a 268.8 67 6.00
LT 1A/1 Germany flag.png 450 812 TNT 250 74 2.00
Mark 35 USA flag.png 533 803 Torpex 196 50 13.71
Mk.8-3 C/D USA flag.png 533 1,373 TNT 174.2 50 12.35
Mk.13 USA flag.png 569 884 TNT 178 56 5.21
Mk.15 USA flag.png 533 1,559 TNT 224 83 5.50
Mk.16 USA flag.png 533 1,766 Torpex 915.2 85 6.40
Mk.IV Britain flag.png 533 1,454 TNT 234 65 7.30
Mk.IX Britain flag.png 533 1,693 TNT 340 67 9.60
Mk.IX** Britain flag.png 533 1,693 Torpex 587.2 76 10.00
Mk.V Britain flag.png 533 1,736 TNT 305 74 4.57
Mk.VIII Britain flag.png 533 1,566 TNT 327 84 4.57
1909R France flag.png 450 716 TNT 144 61 2.00
Model 1919V France flag.png 550 1,358 Picric acid 261.8 80 2.00
Model 1923DT France flag.png 550 2,100 TNT 308 72 9.00
1926V France flag.png 400 674 TNT 144 81 2.00
L3 France flag.png 550 910 TNT 200 46 5.00
Pattern 1910 USSR flag.png 450 665 TNT 100 54 3.00
Pattern 1912 USSR flag.png 450 810 TNT 100 80 2.00
R.G.F. Mark VI** Britain flag.png 450 700 TNT 134 56 5.49
S.I.170/450X5,25 Italy flag.png 450 860 TNT 170 76 4.00
S.I.270 Italy flag.png 533 1,715 TNT 270 74 4.00
S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A Italy flag.png 533 1,781 TNT 250 76 4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo I Italy flag.png 533 1,700 TNT 270 89 4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo M Italy flag.png 533 1,715 TNT 270 93 4.00
S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L Italy flag.png 533 1,700 TNT 270 93 4.00
Seal DM2A1 Germany flag.png 533 1,370 TNT 250 61 20.00
SET-40 USSR flag.png 400 550 TNT 80 54 8.00
SET-53M USSR flag.png 533 1,480 TNT 100 54 14.00
SET-65 USSR flag.png 533 1,740 TNT 205 74 16.00
SET-72 USSR flag.png 400 730 TNT 80 74 8.00
Type 2 Japan flag.png 450 1,000 Type 97 448 72 3.00
Type 6 Japan flag.png 533 1,432 Shimose 223.3 65 7.00
Type 8 No.2 Japan flag.png 610 2,362 Shimose 380.6 70 10.00
Type 43 Japan flag.png 450 663 Shimose 104.5 48 5.00
Type 44 No.2 Japan flag.png 450 750 Shimose 121 65 4.00
Type 54 model 3 Japan flag.png 533 1,600 TNT 100 44 6.00
Type 72 mod.1 Japan flag.png 533 1,760 TNT 300 120 10.00
Type 89 Japan flag.png 533 1,660 Type 97 384 83 5.50
Type 90 Japan flag.png 610 2,540 Type 97 480 85 7.00
Type 93 Model 1, Mod 2 Japan flag.png 610 2,700 Type 97 627.2 91 20.00
Type 93 Model 3 Japan flag.png 610 2,800 Type 97 998.4 91 15.00
W.200/450X5,75 Italy flag.png 450 930 TNT 200 81 3.00
Whitehead A 110/450 Italy flag.png 450 936 TNT 110 56 4.00

Usage in battles

Characteristic blunt nose of the Mark 46, and a triple launcher on Chikugo (here in the Sea Biathlon event camouflage)

As submarines are not in War Thunder, the Mark 46 will have to be used against surface ships, which with its pathetic explosive mass of 44.5 kg means it will only be effective on boats or sub-chasers. Because it cannot destroy most ships in a single hit, it should be used in conjunction with gun fire to destroy ships. You can soften up targets first by setting them on fire and disabling weapons, before launching a few torpedoes to finish it off, or use it to disable a ship's engines first, and then dissect it with the main battery.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very fast speed of 91 km/h, can be somewhat reliably used against fast vessels

Cons:

  • Tiny explosive mass of 44.5 kg, a destroyer can tank a full salvo of 3 torpedoes

History

The Mark 46 was born out of the need for a torpedo that could handle latest soviet submarines, something Mark 44 couldn't. Feasibility studies begun in December 1956, leading to the requirements being issued in November 1960. After 3 years of development, the production of the Mark 46 Mod 0, has begun in 1963.

The Mark 46 Mod 0 was manufactured by the Aerojet-General Corporation and was notable for being the first high-performance, thermal-powered torpedo in US Navy service. It was "thermal powered" for the solid fuel it used, which burned releasing high-pressure gasses that powered the torpedo and proved to be more energy-dense than the battery-electric propulsion. The system, however, proved very difficult to maintain.

The Mark 46 Mod 1 introduced in April 1967 aimed to address the maintainability concerns. The Mod 1 switched to using a monopropellant fuel based on propylene glycol dinitrate, named Otto fuel, which was an oily substance that could burn without any oxidiser, being more energy-efficient than either the battery-electric or even the previously used solid fuel, leading to an increased the range and speed of the torpedo, while also being much cheaper to maintain. Honeywell Incorporated was asked to become a second production source for the torpedo.

Further enhancements led to the development of the Mark 46 Mod 2, which entered service in 1972. This version incorporated a new course gyro and presetter, and most Mod 1 torpedoes were upgraded to Mod 2 standard by 1975. The Mod 2 featured improved performance for ship-launched versions and was optimised for use from helicopters equipped with dipping sonars, allowing operations within a 360-degree radius. It also became the standard of torpedoes used by the ASROC launchers at the time. Together with the launching component it was designated RUR-5A ASROC Mod. 4. Overall, Mod 2 was adopted by 23 countries, de-facto becoming NATO's standard anti-submarine warfare torpedo at the time.

One of the Mark 46 Mod 2 torpedoes was recovered by a Chinese fishermen in 1978, and over the next decade its design was reverse-engineered into a Yu-7 torpedo (鱼-7, meaning Fish-7), which entered testing in 1988 and production in 1990. It used Otto fuel II for propulsion.

Attempts to develop a Mark 46 Mod 3 variant were abandoned in 1972. The Mark 46 Mod 4 was developed in 1973 as the payload for the CAPTOR anti-submarine mines, with an improved version becoming the Mod 6.

In October 1972 the Near-Term Improvement Programme (Neartip) was initiated. This programme aimed to enhance the torpedo's acoustic performance, countermeasure resistance, and guidance systems by incorporating CMOS integrated circuits. It culminated in the Mark 46 Mod 5, which entered production in July 1979. From 1981 onwards, the Mod 5 became the main version of the torpedo, available both: as new-builds and as upgrades for existing Mod 2 torpedoes. The Mod 5 introduced an advanced digital computer control system and a new passive/active sonar, significantly improving its capabilities in various acoustic environments, including shallow waters. Production under licence began in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1982, and the Mod 5 was selected by nine additional countries.

With the further increase of the importance of engaging slow-moving or littoral targets, the Mark 46 Mod 5A and Mod 5A(S) were developed in the mid-1980s, entering service in 1989. The Mod 5A(S) was capable of operating in waters as shallow as 40 metres. In October 1996 the Mod 5A(SW) was introduced, being an upgrade of the older torpedoes to the standards set by the new Mod 5A(S).

Mark 46 Mod 7 was planned to improve the passive sensors, but it was cancelled before completing the development.

Mark 49 received Service Life Extension Programme, and eventually new, cheaper, derivative, the Mark 46 Mod 8, was being developed in 1994 merging the two torpedoes into what eventually became the Mark 54 torpedo, finally replacing the Mark 46 series since 2004 in the US service. Overall, over 26,000 units of Mk 46 were produced, operated by 37 countries and deployed from various platforms, including ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. The torpedo became a worldwide success and will likely remain in use for a significant amount of time, even as the Mark 54 becomes increasingly widely adopted.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links


Torpedoes
USA 
450 mm  Mk.7
533 mm  Bliss-Leavitt Mk.1 · Mark 35 · Mk.8 · Mk.8-3 C/D · Mk.15 · Mk.16
569 mm  Mk.13 · Mk.13-6 · Mk.13-6 Case
Germany 
324 mm  Mark 44
450 mm  C/06D · LT 1A/1 · F5W · F5b
500 mm  G7 · G6c
533 mm  G7a · Seal DM2A1
600 mm  H/8
USSR 
400 mm  SET-40 · SET-72
450 mm  Pattern 1910 · Pattern 1912 · 45-36NU · 45-36AN · 45-36MAN
533 mm  53-38 · 53-39 · 53-56 · 53-57 · 53-65 · SET-53M · SET-65
Britain 
450 mm  R.G.F. Mark VI** · Mark XII · Mark XV
533 mm  Mark I · Mk.IV · Mk.V · Mk.VIII · Mk.IX · Mk.IX** · 21 inch Mk.20 Bidder
Japan 
324 mm  Mark 46
450 mm  Type 2 · Type 38 No.2 B · Type 43 · Type 44 No.2 · Type 91 Model 2 · Type 91 Model 3
533 mm  Type 6 · Type 43 (1910) · Type 54 Model 3 · Type 72 Model 1 · Type 89
610 mm  Type 8 No.2 · Type 90 · Type 93 Model 1, Mod 2 · Type 93 Model 3
Italy 
450 mm  F200/450 · S.I.170/450X5,25 · W.200/450X5,75 · Whitehead A 110/450
533 mm  S.I.270 · S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A · S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo I · S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L · S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo M
France 
400 mm  1926DA
450 mm  1909R
550 mm  L3 · Model 1919V · Model 1923DT
Sweden 
450 mm  m/38 · m/41
  † = Aerial torpedo
‡ = Aerial and ship-launched torpedo