Weapons - U.S. Navy Owner's & Operator's Manual 2004

All Hands, Jan, 2004

Depth: Greater than 1,200 ft.

MK-48

The MK-48 Torpedo is a long-range, high-speed, deep-depth, wire-guided acoustic homing weapon designed to combat slow diesel submarines, fast, deep diving nuclear submarines and high-performance surface ships and can be carried aboard all Navy submarines. Developed by the Applied Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Baltimore, the MK-48 and its subsequent variants have been in service with the Navy since 1972.

Additional efforts resulted in development of the digital advanced capability (ADCAP) MK-48 MOD 5 that is carried by Los Angeles and Seawolf-class attack submarines and some Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The MK-48 MOD 5 became operational in 1988 and was approved for production a year later. The newest variant is designated the MK-48 MOD 6.

Dimension: 19 feet long, 21 in. diameter

Weight: 3,434 lbs. (MK 48) 3,695 (MK-48 ADCAP)

Range: Greater than 8 nm

Speed: Greater than 28 Knots

Propulsion: Positive displacement Piston type engine with OTTO fuel 11

MK-50

The MK-50 torpedo began low-rate initial production in 1987. The MK-50 can be launched from all ASW aircraft and from torpedo tubes aboard surface combatants. It is an advanced lightweight digital torpedo designed for use against faster, deeper-diving and more sophisticated submarines.

The stored chemical energy propulsion system develops full power at all depths and is capable of multi-speed operations required by the tactical situation. Although full-up torpedoes have not been produced since 1993, the Block I software upgrade program has enhanced the MK 50's shallow water and countermeasure capability. Also a new longer-lasting, safer and cheaper stored chemical energy propulsion system is currently being introduced.

Dimension: 9.3 ft. long, 12.75 in. diameter

Weight: 750 lbs.

Range: In excess of 14,000 yds.

Speed: Multiple speeds with a top speed in excess of 40 knots

Propulsion: Close-cycle Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System

Warhead: Approximately 100 lbs. high explosive shaped charge

Depth: 3,600 ft.

MINES

MK-67 Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM)

Based on the MK 37 torpedo, the SLMM is a submarine-deployed mine used for covert mining in hostile environments, The MK-67 began active service in 1987.

Type: Submarine-laid bottom mine,

Dimensions: 13.4 ft. long; 19 in. diameter

Detection System: Magnetic/seismic target detection

Depth Range: Shallow water

Weight: 1,735 pounds

Explosives: 515 pounds of high explosive

MK-65 Quickstrike

The Quickstrike is a family of shallow-water, aircraft-laid mines used primarily against surface ships. The MK 65 mine is a thin-walled mine. MK-62 and MK-63 mines are converted, general-purpose bombs. All were approved for service use in the early 1980s.

Type: Aircraft-laid bottom mine.

Dimensions: MK-65 mine is 10.7 ft. long; 21 in. diameter (29 in. across fins; MK-62 and MK 63 mines vary in length depending on flight gear used

Detection System: Magnetic/ seismic/or magnetic/seismic/ pressure target detection devices (TDDs) are used on various models.