Mark 46 torpedo
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Lynx_mk46.jpg/220px-Lynx_mk46.jpg)
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. The Mark 46 Mod 5 is expected to remain in service until the year 2015. In 1989, a major upgrade program for the Mod 5 began to improve its shallow-water performance, resulting in the Mod 5A and Mod 5A(S).
General characteristics, Mark 46 Mod 5
- Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo
- Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
- Power Plant: Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion; Mono-propellant (Otto fuel II)
- Length: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) tube launch configuration (from ship)
- Weight: 234.8 kg (517.6 lb) (warshot configuration)
- Diameter: 32.4 cm (12.75 in)
- Range: 7.3 km (8,000 yd)
- Depth: > 365 m (1,200 ft)
- Speed: > 28 knots (32 mi/h, 52 km/h)
- Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing
- Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
- Warhead: 44.5 kg (98 lb) of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
- Date Deployed: 1966 (Mod 0); 1979 (Mod 5)