Are the mk46 mk50 designed to do that or are they just designed for anti submarine
2007-03-26 16:24:20 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
the big problem is the size of the warhead...the Mk 46 and 50s carry a small warhead ( so they can be carried by helio or ASROC), ( I seem to remember 40 or 60 pounds but that might not be right) and a shaped charged designed to punch a small hole in a sub's pressure hull and sink it. Unless the torp hit a surface ships' props, it would do only minimum and containable damage.......not like the old days when the Japanese Long Lance had a 600 pound warhead !
2007-03-28 02:22:42 · answer #1 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes torpedoes can be launched from ships. Generally, nowadays, it is an anti-submarine torpedo on a rocket. The rocket propels the torpedo up to many miles through the air. Then the torpedo hits the water and attempts to acquire a target. I don't think there is any reason the target could not be a surface vessel. I believe the ASROC can also carry a nuclear depth charge.
2007-03-26 23:50:50 · answer #2 · answered by Vernon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about now, but I served on a surface ship in the early '80s that was equipped with torpedo tubes, three to a side. Those could be used on other surface ships. You might try looking at "Jane's Fighting Ships"
2007-03-27 13:32:14 · answer #3 · answered by rich k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightweight torpedoes carried on ships are for ASW purposes only. Most ships no longer launch via tubes, but use LAMPS to air drop torpedoes. A submarine has the range advantage over ships. A ship will never get close enough to tube launch their fish. Ships are now used as ASW command centers for air assets.
2007-03-27 00:12:26 · answer #4 · answered by Richard B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surface launched torpedos are used only to attack submarines. Surface launched torpedos come in two varieties: fired directly into the water from torpedo tubes (MK 32 SVTT) and Vertical lauched ASROC (a rocket propelled torpedo.)
2007-03-27 01:57:21 · answer #5 · answered by Rich C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
cruise exocet missles that fly 30 ft above water going 500 mph are more likely,,,,,,torpedoes can be used,,,,,unless other vessel has phalanx machine guns
2007-03-26 23:38:07 · answer #6 · answered by quackpotwatcher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ship to ship missles are more effective.
2007-03-26 23:27:48 · answer #7 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
absolutely,
2007-03-26 23:38:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋