Mark 48 ADCAP Torpedo

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The Mark 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) Torpedo is a heavyweight submarine-launched torpedo; which is the primary weapon of all U.S. Navy submarines. According to FAS Military Analysis Network, The primary goal of this weapon is to be able to “combat fast, deep-diving nuclear powered submarines and high performance surface ships.” The Mark 48 torpedo has gone through many phases of modifications over the past four decades; which have shaped this weapon in to what it is today. Throughout its history the Mark 48 Torpedo has been a revolutionary weapon. Its greatest contribution to modern naval warfare is its ability to give all U.S. Navy submarines a universal weapon to combat the world’s largest naval powers better than any previous torpedo has been able to achieve.

The original Mark 48 Torpedo was designed during the height of the Cold War, in order to combat the Soviet Union submarine threat. Throughout the 1960s many advances were made to the Soviet Navy’s submarine technology; which the U.S. Navy countered with the development of the Mark 48 torpedo. It was officially released and became operational in 1972. The Mark 48 Torpedo was able to replace both the Mark 14 and the Mark 37 torpedoes. The Mark 37 Torpedo was the primary anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon for U.S. Navy submarines from the early 1950s, when it initially became operational, until it was replaced by the 1970s when it was phased out. The Mark 14 Torpedo was the primary anti-surface warfare (ASuW) torpedo for U.S. Navy submarines from the early 1930s, throughout the World War II era, and up until 1980 when it was completely phased out. The Mark 48 torpedo was revolutionary because it gave U.S. Navy submarines the capability to perform both ASW and ASuW missi...

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...counter any possible naval threat, big or small.

Works Cited

"Aussie Sub Sinks US Warship." SMH.com.au The Sydney Morning Herald. The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 July 2008. Web. 7 Apr 2011. .

"Heavyweight Torpedo-MK 48." Navy.mil. Naval Sea Systems Command, 13 Sep 2010. Web. 7 Apr 2011. .

"MK 48 CBASS." Deagel.com. Deagel.com, 25 Mar 2011. Web. 7 Apr 2011. .

"MK 48 Torpedo." Navysite.de. Thoralf Doehring, 07 Apr 2011. Web. 7 Apr 2011. .

"MK 48 Torpedo." FAS Military Analysis Network. FAS, 12 Dec 1998. Web. 7 Apr 2011. .

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