Mk 13 Air Dropped Torpedo

You might drop it 1000 yds out, but it still has to run down the target.
This can be a long chase if the target is even semi quick.

Al


"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
...
I just finished the book "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" and it
raised some questions about the air dropped torpedoes (the Mk 13) in use by
the US Navy in WWII.

What drove the range/speed trade-offs for the Mk 13? According to the
spec's I've found, it had a range of ~6,000 yards and a speed of 33 knots.
With a likely launch range of 1,000 yards or less, wouldn't it have made
sense to sacrifice the 6,000 yard range to get an increase in speed?
Wouldn't a 45 or 50 knot torpedo with a 1,500 or 2,000 yard range have
been a better compromise? I'd certainly think the higher speed would have
increased the probability of a hit, because it would have reduced the
deflection at launch by 1/3 or so. Also, it would have given the target
1/3 less time to maneuver to avoid the torpedo.

A second question addresses launch speed. Early in the war, drop speed
and altitude were in the 110 knot, 150' range. Later, a couple of plywood
fairings were added to increase drag, lift, and stability, and these
add-ons improved the drop parameters for the torpedo. The sources I've
found have contradictions about the launch envelope after these fairings
were added. Can someone point me to a reputable source for this
information?

Thanks,

KB

"Al" wrote in message
. ..
You might drop it 1000 yds out, but it still has to run down the target.
This can be a long chase if the target is even semi quick.

Al

You're right and in a sideways way you bring up another problem with a 33
knot torpedo. If it gets in a chase situation, the torpedo can't catch the
enemy, regardless of the torpedo's range. Destroyers, some cruisers, some
carriers, and some battleships are as fast or faster than 33 knots. A
faster torpedo gives the enemy less time to avoid the attack in the first
place.