"Forward Torpedo Room, Conn. Load MK48 Torpedo in Tube 1"

As has been previously mentioned, the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport has loaned AIMM the tail section of a torpedo for loading into one of our forward torpedo tubes.

We were very pleased to receive a modern MK48 torpedo tail section. This kind of torpedo is carried by American submarines and is one of the most modern torpedoes in the world.

The MK48 can be fired by a submarine at another submarine and the torpedo can dive as deep as 2,600 feet! It travels at up to 55 knots, or about 60 miles per hour and has a range of 27 nautical miles.

In addition, the MK48 can be fired at surface ships as well. It is carried by Canadian, Australian and Dutch submarines.

On 14 June, 1999, the Australian submarine HMAS Farncomb fired a single MK48 torpedo at the destroyer HMAS Torrens.

These three photographs are from a series of eleven photographs released by the Australian Navy.
1 destroyer + 1 MK48 torpedo = 1/2 of a destroyer!

Photographs courtesy of the Royal Australian Navy.