Description

A redesign of the U.S. Navy's successful Mark 14 torpedo, the Mark 16 was developed during WWII but not available until early 1945 and never saw combat. The Mark 16's design incorporated the best aspects of the Mark 14, and some features of German torpedoes. During twenty years of the Cold War, the Mark 16 served as the Silent Service's standard anti-ship weapon. The Mark 16 was powered by a Navol hydrogen-peroxide and alcohol engine. The warhead carried 732 pounds of HBX-3 Torpex explosive, making it the most powerful non-nuclear torpedo in the U.S. arsenal. Launched from a depth between 10 and 200 feet, the torpedo had a running depth between 10 and 50 feet. It weighed 3782 pounds in war-shot configuration, and was 246 inches in length and 21 inches in diameter. This handbook was created to train torpedomen about the use, maintenance, and handling of the Mark 16. It provides anunprecedented look at the most deadly conventional weapon in the submarine's arsenal. Originally confidential, this handbook is now considered obsolete, and no longer classified.