Mark 44 torpedo

Mark 44 torpedo
A Japanese built Mk44 torpedo at the Kanoya Air Base Museum, Japan
Type	Antisubmarine torpedo[1]
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1957-1967[1] (with United States Navy)
Used by	See Operators
Production history
Designer	Naval Ordnance Test Station Pasadena[1] General Electric
Designed	1953[1]
Manufacturer	General Electric[1] Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park American Machine and Foundry
Variants	Mark 44 Mod 1[1]
Specifications
Mass	432 pounds (196 kg)
Length	8.2 feet (2.5 m)
Diameter	12.75 inches (32.4 cm)
Muzzle velocity	123 metres per second (400 ft/s)
Effective firing range	123 metres (135 yd)
Warhead	Mk 101 Mod 0, HBX-3[1]
Warhead weight	75 pounds (34 kg)
Detonation mechanism	Mk 19 type Mod 12 contact exploder[1]
Engine	Electric[1] 30 horsepower (22 kW)
Operational range	3.4 miles (5.5 km)
Maximum depth	1,000 yards (910 m)
Maximum speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Guidance system	Helix search[1]
Launch platform	Destroyers and aircraft[1]

The Mark 44 torpedo is a now-obsolete air-launched and ship-launched lightweight torpedo manufactured in the United States, and under licence in Canada, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, with 10,500 being produced for U.S. service. It was superseded by the Mark 46 torpedo, beginning in the late 1960s. The Royal Australian Navy, however, continued to use it alongside its successor for a number of years, because the Mark 44 was thought to have superior performance in certain shallow-water conditions.

It has been deployed by many navies and air forces including the USN, Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Air Force from various launch vehicles. These include long-range maritime patrol aircraft, e.g. P-3 Orion, RAF Nimrod, Canadair Argus, LAMPS and other embarked naval helicopters, ASROC missiles, Ikara missiles.