There have been a number of 18-inch (45cm) torpedoes in service with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
These have been used on ships of the Royal Navy and aircraft of both the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force, while Royal Navy surface ships and submarines use 21-inch torpedoes.
The British 18-inch torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter, beginning with the "Fiume" Whitehead torpedo of 1890.
First introduced into British service in 1894.[1]
Used on the River-class and 1905 Tribal-class destroyers.
Used on destroyers of the early 1900s.
Introduced on the 1908 members of the 1905 Tribal class destroyers. Used by torpedo boats built before the First World War and destroyers. Used by RAF flying boats in the 1920s.
| 18-inch Mark XII | |
|---|---|
A Mark XII torpedo fitted to a Bristol Beaufighter
| |
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1937-1945 |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1935 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,548 lb (702 kg) |
| Length | 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m) |
| Diameter | 17.72 in (450 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 388 lb (176 kg) |
| Engine | Burner cycle 140 hp (at 40 knots) |
| Maximum speed | 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 1,500 yd (1,400 m) or 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph) for 3,500 yd (3,200 m) |
Aircraft launched, used by Fleet Air Arm and RAF Coastal Command.
| 18-inch Mark XIV | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Designed | around 1938 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,630 lb (740 kg) |
| Diameter | 17.72 in (450 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 375 lb (170 kg) |
| Engine | Whitehead wet heater (methyl fuel) |
| Maximum speed | 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph) for 1,650 yd (1,510 m) or 41 knots (76 km/h; 47 mph) for 2,950 yd (2,700 m) |
The Mark XIV was an aircraft-launched torpedo. Stocks were lost with the fall of Singapore.
| 18-inch Mark XV | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Production history | |
| Designed | around 1942 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,801 lb (817 kg) |
| Diameter | 17.69 in (449 mm) |
| Warhead | TNT |
| Warhead weight | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| Engine | Whitehead wet heater (methyl fuel) |
| Maximum speed | 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) for 2,500 yd (2,300 m) or 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) for 3,200 yd (2,900 m) |
Electric torpedo project not completed.
An air-dropped passive acoustic homing torpedo known as "Dealer" and "Dealer B".[3]
|
Royal Navy torpedoes
| |
|---|---|
| |
See also: Brennan torpedo |
