- Yes
- No
- Change armament on existing ship
- New armament on new ship
- I don’t want to see it
Mk 17 Torpedo
High performance, long range torpedo issued in limited numbers around and after the end of WW2
Depiction of the Mk 17 torpedo
Background
In the late 1910s, research was started on new propulsion methods for torpedoes. These resulted in two experimental patents that featured the use of solid, liquid, and gaseous substances as fuel, to sustain exothermic (heat producing) reactions for torpedo propulsion. Initially a private venture by Westinghouse Engineering Co. (WECO), it was soon contracted by the USN around 1920.
By 1927, the project had been transferred from WECO to the Naval Research Laboratory. The NRL subsequently recommended the discontinuation of chemical propulsion research in favor of oxygen propulsion. In 1929, development of an oxygen torpedo was approved, and dynamometer tests had been completed by 1931. The torpedo was then test run on the torpedo ranges at USNTS Newport, where difficulties were encountered with both control and propulsion.
Despite promising initial results, the Department of the Navy lost interest in the oxygen torpedo, but had maintained an interest on the chemical torpedoes still being developed.
From 1929, NRL studied various chemical energy sources for torpedoes, eventually selecting “Navol,” highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as the propellant in 1934. In 1937, experimentation began with a Mk 10 torpedo converted to use Navol. This torpedo would be brought to USNTS Newport and tested in September, 1937. The resulting tests showed a 275% increase of range for the Navol torpedo compared to the standard Mk 10, increasing from 3,500yds (3.2km) to approximately 9,500yds (8.6km). The tests convinced the Bureau of Ordnance that serious consideration should be put into the use of Navol in future torpedo designs.
NRL was then tasked to implement Navol into a modified Mk 14 torpedo, then the torpedo being used on US submarines. After tests in the dynamometer, the torpedo was properly run tested, achieving a range of 16,500yds (15km) at 46kts (85kph); standard range for a Mk 14 was 4,500yds (4.1km) at 46kts. Manufacture of six pre-production torpedoes was approved around this time, ~1940.
In 1940, development of a destroyer-launched 50kt torpedo with a range of 16,000yds and 600lb warhead was approved. 50 new torpedoes were ordered, designated Mk 17.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor, and the entry of the US to the war, put pressure to manufacture more Mk 13 and Mk 14 torpedoes. The pressure was so great that BuOrd would postpone the manufacture of the Mk 17 torpedo, despite the new torpedo being selected to arm new build destroyers.
In 1943, the Mk 17 torpedo program was revived, but it was determined there was not enough production of Navol, so a new facility had to be constructed. This facility began construction in 1944, and would be operational in mid-1945. Despite this, production of the Mk 17 was resumed in 1944, even though the torpedo itself had not finished development. By the end of the war, 450 Mk 17 torpedoes had been produced, along with 520 of the related, submarine-launched, Mk 16. Neither torpedo would be used in combat, however in September, 1945, a few were shipped to Pearl Harbor.
The Mk 17 would be in limited service post-war, and was issued to the fleet in limited quantities. It was phased out around 1950, as requirements for destroyers changed from surface warfare to anti-submarine warfare. The related Mk 16 would remain in limited service aboard select USN submarines, until it was phased out in 1975.
Specifications
| Mk 17 | Mk 15 Mod 0 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Currently in game | Mk 15 included for comparison | |
| Range | 18,000yd (16.5km) | 6,000yd (5.5km) | |
| (at) Speed | 46kts (85kph) | 45kts (83kph) | |
| Weight | 4,800lbs (2,177kg) | 3,841lbs (1,742kg) | |
| Length | 24ft (7.315m) | 24ft (7.315m) | |
| Diameter | 21in (533mm) | 21in (533mm) | |
| Explosive Charge | 880lbs (399kg) HBX | 494lbs (224kg) TNT | |
| Propulsion | Turbine | Steam Turbine | |
| Propellant | Navol | Methanol |
Conclusion
The Mk 17 torpedo could provide a potent increase in select USN destroyer firepower. I envisioned it as the USN’s answer to the long ranged torpedoes in the game, such as the Japanese Type 93 and the Russian 53-56/57 types. While long range American torpedoes do exist in the form of the Mk 35 on board the Mitscher-class destroyer leaders, they are lacking in power compared to contemporary torpedoes. These weapons would be very useful in Naval EC, and I think that’s where they would shine. I hope to find an equivalent surface-launched torpedo for the Germans, Italians, British, and French, but I’m honestly not sure if they exist.
During my research for this suggestion, I was barely able to find any information on the Mk 17 torpedo. As far as I could tell, despite being produced and shipped, there are no records of if it was actually used by any single ship. Which leads to the question of, if it were to be added, what ship should carry it?
Personally, I would put it on a Fletcher-class destroyer, as it would be “weaker” than an Allen M. Sumner or a Gearing, at least in terms of armament and sensors. The addition of the Mk 17 to a Fletcher would somewhat balance out the worse sensors and bigger weak points of the Fletcher, and probably put it on a comparable level to either of the other two destroyers. I personally would add them to a new destroyer, specifically USS Schroder (DD-501), an otherwise unchanged 1945 Fletcher which passed through Pearl Harbor at around the same time as the Mk 17 torpedoes would have been shipped and present (September, 1945). I may cover her at a later time.
But, for the Mk 17 torpedo, I think it would be a good addition to the game that would be useful in Naval EC modes.
Sources
Wikipedia - Mk 17 Torpedo
Wikipedia - American 21-inch Torpedo
Navweaps - Torpedoes of the USN
Navweaps - WW2 Torpedoes of the USN, Mk 17
Stanford - A Brief History of USN Torpedo Development (E.W. Jolie, 1978)
San Francisco Maritime - Development of USN Torpedoes, Part 1
San Francisco Maritime - Descriptions of USN Torpedoes, Part 2
San Francisco Maritime - Timeline of USN Torpedo Development
San Francisco Maritime - OP 764, 21-inch Above Water Torpedo Tubes
History.Navy - NH 88449, Mk 17 “Chemical” Torpedo
ResearchGate - A History of the Torpedo
Defense Technical Information Center - AD A227-714, History of Naval Underwater Systems Center
Defense Technical Information Center - Torpedoes and Their Impact on Naval Warfare (Arthur E. Burke, 2017)
Defense Technical Information Center - The History of Naval Torpedo Tracking Ranges at Newport (1998)
Defense Technical Information Center - Milestones of Innovation, Naval Torpedo Station to Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Meyers, Robinson, 2017)
Designation-Systems - Mark Series of Torpedoes
NavalSubLeague - USN Torpedoes Propulsion (Milford, 1997)
NavalSubLeague - Submarine Review (1997)
Ibiblio - BuOrd in WW2
Geocities - USN Torpedoes (Milford)
Prc68 - Timeline of USN Torpedoes