Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:35:10-2:35:46

Future torpedoes may change internally more than externally

Asked whether torpedoes will become larger or smaller, the answer expects familiar dimensions but suggests faster weapons and payloads that divide into several smaller attack bodies.

Future TorpedoesHeavyweight TorpedoesSpearfish TorpedoTorpedo Design
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Question

Will future torpedoes get bigger or smaller?

Short answer

Probably neither by much; greater speed or a payload that divides into smaller attack bodies may matter more than a major change in diameter.

Notes

A simple trend toward much larger or smaller torpedo bodies seems unlikely. Future weapons will probably remain around their present size. Change may instead come through speed or a weapon that separates into several smaller torpedoes near the target. The resumed Spearfish program is offered as evidence that high-speed heavyweight torpedoes remain attractive.