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18 inch Mark XV (450 mm)

2024-04-09T15:47:13Z

U48087608: /* History */ Added history of the Mark XV torpedo

{{DISPLAYTITLE:18-inch Mark XV Torpedo}}
[[File:Torpedo Mark XV.jpg|thumbnail|right|x250px|]]

== Description ==


The '''18-inch Mark XV''', or simply '''Mark XV''', is a British torpedo. It is used as both an aerial torpedo on some torpedo bombers and as a ship launched torpedo on some Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs).

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|b_48_firecrest}}
* {{Specs-Link|firebrand_tf4}}
* {{Specs-Link|wyvern_s4}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_fairmile_d_697_800}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_fairmile_d_5001_5029}}

== General info ==

The Mark XV is a mid-war torpedo. It was deigned for both aerial use and use on torpedo boats. Being an aerial torpedo it is smaller than the 21 inch (53.3 mm) torpedoes designed exclusively for use on ships.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="9" | Torpedo characteristics
|-
! Torpedo Mode !! Mass (kg) !! Maximum speed in water (km/h) !! Travel distance (km) !! Depth stroke (m) !! Arming distance (m) !! Explosive type !! Explosive mass (kg) !! TNT equivalent (kg)
|-
| {{Annotation|No|'Torpedo Mode' modification uninstalled}} || 817 || 61 || 3.20 || 1 || 50 || Torpex || 247 || 395.2
|-
| {{Annotation|Yes|'Torpedo Mode' modification installed}} || 817 || 54 || 5.02 || 1 || 50 || Torpex || 247 || 395.2
|}

The naval version of the torpedo has an optional "Torpedo Mode" modification which increases the range from 3.2 km to 5 km, but reduces the speed by 7 km/h, bringing it to 54 km/h.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Torpedo mode specification changes
|-
! Max distance (m)
! Max speed (m/s)
|-
| +1828 || -7
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The increased warhead size compared to the [[Mark XII]], means that the it is capable of killing just about any player controlled ships with a single hit. It is sometimes possible for some cruisers to survive a hit from a Mark XV, but this is rare.

=== Comparison with analogues ===

Compared to the earlier [[Mark XII]] torpedo the Mark XV is slower but has a much more powerful warhead (more than twice the size).

== Usage in battles ==

When dropped from aircraft the Mark XV has a much better speed range than the [[Mark XII]], being able to be dropped at speeds up to 443 km/h (compared to 281 km/h), however the max drop altitude is only marginally improved to 122 m.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Large warhead for a 45 cm torpedo
* Better airdrop characteristics than the [[Mark XII]]

'''Cons:'''

* Slower than the [[Mark XII]]

== History ==


The Mark XV entered service in 1942 with the Fleet Air Arm, RAF Coastal Command and Royal Navy. It was the first 18-inch torpedo to use Torpex (short for torpedo explosive) instead of TNT. Torpex is 50% more powerful than TNT by mass.

The Mark XV was the standard airborne torpedo during the last years of the war, and an approximated 591 torpedoes was expended in September 1944. The Mark XV was heavily based on the earlier [[18 inch Mark XII (450 mm)]] torpedo, and therefore had some resemblances with it. The Mark XV used the same burner cycle engine as the Mark XII, but with a higher air vessel pressure. This gave the Mark XV a greater range at 40 knots, compared to the Mark XII at the same speed setting. Further improvement was also made to the constructional strength of the torpedo, allowing for water entry at up to 270 knots. Land-based torpedo aircraft and motor torpedo boats had a heavy warhead load of 247 kg of Torpex, which dramastically increased the impact power of the torpedo. However, for wartime carrier-based torpedo aircraft this warhead load proved too heavy, so they were initally carrying a warhead of 176 kg TNT. Later in the war this was increased to 196 kg of Torpex.

While the torpedo carried by aircraft had one speed-setting of 40 knots, the torpedoes used by the navy had a second speed setting at 33 knots. This enabled the torpedoes to have a greater range.

To increase the probability of a succesfull drop from aircraft, the Mark XV improved the anti-roll gear from the Mark XII by replacing the drum-control gear (DCG) wire drum with a Monoplane Air Tail Mark IV (MAT). The MAT mk4 had ailerons which were gyro-controlled. The gyro equipment was actually stored within the MAT, meaning that for aircraft that had limited space for a torpedo, could use the Mark XV torpedo with the earlier MATs and the DCG.

The Mark XV torpedo was succeeded by the Mark XVII torpedo, which was further strengthened and modified to sustain a drop at 350 knots. This was possible due to the MAT mk5, which was a MAT mk4 with a parachute to slow down the torpedo. The Mark XVII torpedo could either have a warhead of 272 kg or 196 kg Torpex.

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:British_18-inch_torpedo|[Wikipedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> British 18-inch torpedo]]
* https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal_45_Seminar_conventional_weapons.pdf
* "Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell

{{Torpedoes}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]
[[Category:Naval special armaments]]

21 inch Mk.20 Bidder (533 mm)

2024-04-09T14:35:13Z

U48087608: /* History */ Added some history from the development of the mk20 bidder

== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|uk_frigate_whitby_blackpool}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the torpedo.''

=== Effective damage ===
''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of torpedo (high explosive, splash damage, etc)''

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of torpedoes that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe situations when you would utilise this torpedo in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very long travel distance

'''Cons:'''

* Slow torpedo
* No Torpedo mode to influence distance and speed.
* Small warhead size

== History ==
The Mark 20 Bidder was designed around the 1950s. It was intended to become the designated torpedo for both new submarines and surface ships. The Mark 20S was intended to equip the submarines, while the Mark 20E was to be used on surface ships. Both types of torpedoes was passive-seeking battery powered. However, the Mark 20S was smaller than the Mark 20E. The S had a single-speed setting at 20 knots, while the E had a dual-speed mode for target search and attack. The velocity of the E was, respectively, 15 knots and 24 knots. At 15 knots the torpedo had a range of 18000 m, while when running in attack mode at 24 knots it had a range of 5500 m.

The torpedo was to be equipped on the Rothesay and Whitby ([[HMS Blackpool]]) class frigates, and some of these ships had torpedo tubes fitted and was ready to receive them. However, due to problems with the programming of the torpedo, the weapon was never fitted nor used by any of these classes. Some years after, the Mark 20E was proposed for the Leander class destroyers, but that consideration was eliminated in the 1960s.

The Mark 20S remained operational in the submarine service up until the 1980s.

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_21-inch_torpedo#Mark_20_Bidder<nowiki/>{{Torpedoes}}

[[Category:Naval special armaments]]

21 inch Mk.20 Bidder (533 mm)

2022-09-11T21:50:51Z

U48087608: /* Pros and cons */

== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|uk_frigate_whitby_blackpool}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the torpedo.''

=== Effective damage ===
''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of torpedo (high explosive, splash damage, etc)''

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of torpedoes that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe situations when you would utilise this torpedo in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)''

=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''

'''Pros:'''

Advanced torpedo

*

'''Cons:'''

Advanced torpedo not implemented

In-game, the torpedo uses TNT instead of Torpex

*

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Torpedoes}}

[[Category:Naval special armaments]]