American 18-inch torpedo

There have been a number of 18-inch torpedoes in service with the United States. These have been used on ships and submarines of the US Navy. American "18-inch" torpedoes were actually 17.7 inches (45 cm) in diameter, beginning with the "Fiume" Whitehead torpedo of 1890.

Ship classes that carried 18-inch torpedoes include:

Name Country In service date Platform / target Dimensions Warhead Propulsion Performance
"Fiume" Whitehead torpedo  US 1894 Surface / Surface Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 140 in (360 cm)
Weight: 845 lb (383 kg)
54 kg (119 lb)
Guncotton
Compressed air Speed: 26.5 kn (49.1 km/h)
Range: 800 yd (730 m)
Mark 4 (Bliss-Leavitt)  US 1908–1922 Submarine / Surface ship Diameter: 17.72 in (450 mm)
Length: 197 in (5,000 mm)
Weight: 1,500 lb (680 kg)
Vertical Turbine
Mark 6 (Bliss-Leavitt)  US 1911–1922 Surface / Surface ship Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 204 in (520 cm)
Weight: 1,800 lb (820 kg)
Turbine Speed: 35 kn (65 km/h)
Range: 2,000 yd (1,800 m)
Mark 7 (Bliss-Leavitt (Short)  US 1917 Submarine / Surface ship Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 144 in (370 cm)
Weight: 1,036 lb (470 kg)
281 lb (127 kg)
TNT
Turbine Speed:35 kn (65 km/h)
Mark 7 (Bliss-Leavitt)(long)  US 1912–1945 Submarine & Surface / Surface ship Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 204 in (520 cm)
Weight: 1,682 lb (763 kg)
326 lb (148 kg)
TNT
Turbine Speed: 35 kn (65 km/h)
Range: 3,500 yd (3,200 m)
or 6,000 yd (5,500 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.1 (short)  US 1894–1913 Surface / Surface ship Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 140 in (360 cm)
Weight: 845 lb (383 kg)
118 lb (54 kg)
Guncotton
Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Speed: 26.5 kn (49.1 km/h)
Range: 800 yd (730 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.1 (long)  US 1894–1922 Surface / Surface ship Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 197 in (500 cm)
Weight: 1,160 lb (530 kg)
220 lb (100 kg)
Guncotton
Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Speed: 27.5 kn (50.9 km/h)
Range: 800 yd (730 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.2 (short)  US 1896–1913 Surface / Surface Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 140 in (360 cm)
Weight: 845 lb (383 kg)
118 lb (54 kg)
Guncotton
Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Speed: 27 kn (50 km/h)
Range: 800 yd (730 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.2 (long)  US 189?–1922 Surface / Surface Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 197 in (500 cm)
Weight: 1,232 lb (559 kg)
132 lb (60 kg)
Guncotton
Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Speed: 28.5 kn (52.8 km/h)
Range: 1,500 yd (1,400 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.3  US 1898–1922 Surface / Surface Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 140 in (360 cm)
Weight: 845 lb (383 kg)
118 lb (54 kg)
Guncotton
Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Speed: 26.5 kn (49.1 km/h)
Range: 800 yd (730 m)
Whitehead torpedo Mk.5  US 1910–1922 Surface & Submarine / Surface Diameter: 17.7 in (45 cm)
Length: 204 in (520 cm)
Weight: 1,452 lb (659 kg)
200 lb (91 kg)
Guncotton
Heated Air-flask Brotherhood pattern engine Low: 27 kn (50 km/h)
Range: 4,000 yd (3,700 m)

Medium: 36 kn (67 km/h)
Range: 2,000 yd (1,800 m)

High: 40 kn (74 km/h)
Range: 1,000 yd (910 m)

See also

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