Place of origin Austria-Hungary Used by United States Navy Designed 1901 | In service 1910–1922 Designer Robert Whitehead | |
Type Anti-surface ship torpedo | ||
The Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo was a Whitehead torpedo adopted by the United States Navy for use in an anti-surface ship role in 1910. The Mark 5 was the first torpedo to be manufactured by a foreign company, the Whitehead facility in the United Kingdom, and in 1908, by the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island. It was also the first torpedo to allow the firing ship to vary its speed and range.
Characteristics
The Mark 5 was a "hot-running" (powered by heated air) torpedo, as opposed to previous Whitehead designs, which were "cold-running". It was similar in performance to the Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes of that era. Around 500 units were produced by the Naval Torpedo Station and Vickers Limited. The Mark 5 had variable speed; at a high speed of 40 knots, it had a range of 1000 yards. A low speed of 27 knots allowed the weapon a range of 4000 yards; at medium speed of 36 knots, its range was 2000 yards. This variable speed was set before loading the torpedo in its tube by adjusting the reducing valve.
The Mark 5 was, however, overshadowed by the increasing efficiency and range of Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes. In 1922, all torpedoes prior to the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 torpedo in the US Navy's inventory were condemned in favor of more modern versions.
The Mark 5 was launched from battleships, torpedo boats and submarines.