Author |
Topic: Tube launched torpedo MK's? |
|
|
Jeff D
Moderator
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 11:22am
|
Will, Frank, here's a shot from At Close Quarters showing a tube being loaded. Although shown here as being simple cradles with the crane doing the lifting, they look like they could have rollers and lifts as Frank said:
|
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined:
Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP
Logged
|
|
Donald Shannon
Full Member
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 11:24am
|
Yes Gene I agree with the notion that they wanted to use up the older inventory of Mark-8 torpedoes early on in WWII. I also believe that the type of torpedoes that were stockpiled in a certain location would also dictate who got what types as you will still see Higgins PT's in the Mediterranean theater as late as 1944 with torpedo tubes. I also think that the Higgins boats with the air-compressed tubes were more likely to retain their tubes longer verses/ the Elco powder charge tubes, with the danger of giving your location away with the powder flash. Also with the lend lease I would imagine they sent a lot of Mark-8 torpedoes over to Europe. Later in the war in the pacific theater you see the conversion of tubes to racks quickly and a better supply of Mark-13 torpedoes.
On a side note: In typical PT Boat field adaptation fashion I do recall seeing either a Mark-8 or Mark-14 in a torpedo roll off rack on an 80 foot Elco somewhere in the Pacific.
FYI the following references from:
The Devil's Device Robert Whitehead and the History of the Torpedo by Edwyn Gray
Naval Institute Press
The Mark-8 torpedo was a 1913 design.
The Mark-13 torpedo was a 1938 design intended for aircraft.
The Mark-14 torpedo was a 1938 design. It was the main submarine weapon in 1941, but faults in the Mk-VI magnetic exploder made it unreliable. In service some 40 years after successful modifications.
Donald Shannon |
Total Posts: 47 | Joined:
Apr 24, 2009 - 10:07am | IP
Logged
|
|
|
Jeff D
Moderator
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 11:49am
|
Hey Don, At Close Quarters also has this shot of a Mark VIII being launched from a roll off rack:
|
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined:
Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP
Logged
|
|
alross2
TOP BOSS
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 12:04pm
|
Nope - MK13. Note the length of the warhead in relation to the flask body.
Al
|
Total Posts: 994 | Joined:
Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm | IP
Logged
|
|
Donald Shannon
Full Member
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 12:21pm
|
Thanks Al and Jeff great website info/ images on the torpedoes.
Jeff on the image in " At Close Quarters" that's a mistake in At Close Quarters under the photo, that is actually a Mark XIII or Mark 13 aircraft torpedo. It is listed correctly in the illustrations index at the beginning of the book. I never noticed the mistake in the book until now it is in both the old and the new reprint.
Donald Shannon |
Total Posts: 47 | Joined:
Apr 24, 2009 - 10:07am | IP
Logged
|
|
Jeff D
Moderator
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 12:26pm
|
Doh, thanks guys.
You were right Frank, the cradles can be used to roll the torpedos in. Note the height adjusters:
|
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined:
Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP
Logged
|
|
Donald Shannon
Full Member
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 12:28pm
|
Jeff I made the same mistake it is correct in At Close Quarters just have to read the entire caption. It is a Mark XIII Aircraft torpedo though.
Donald Shannon |
Total Posts: 47 | Joined:
Apr 24, 2009 - 10:07am | IP
Logged
|
|
Jeff D
Moderator
|
Posted on: Mar 2, 2012 - 12:50pm
|
Well shoot, you're right. It says Mark XIII plain as day. I've confused the two in the past but this time it was poor caption reading.
|
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined:
Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP
Logged
|
|