Q&A ยท 5:05:41-5:06:19

Why torpedoes should not use chlorine trifluoride

A stronger oxidizer is useless if it makes an already dangerous torpedo lethal to its own crew.

Question

Why not use chlorine trifluoride as an even stronger oxidizer for a torpedo?

Short answer

Because it would make an already dangerous torpedo even more lethal to the crew carrying it.

Notes

Replacing pure oxygen with chlorine trifluoride is rejected because of the danger to submarine crews. Oxygen torpedoes were already hazardous, and a stronger oxidizer would make that safety problem worse. The proposed performance benefit does not justify carrying a weapon judged likely to kill its own crew.