Q&A · 1:57:15-1:58:11

How reliable Mark 14 torpedoes could shorten the Pacific War

Fixing the Mark 14 before combat would turn numerous documented dud hits into early sinkings with cumulative effects on the war.

Bureau Of Ordnance Mark 14 Torpedo Pacific War Submarine Warfare US Navy Weapon Reliability

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Question

Would solving the US Navy's Mark 14 torpedo problems before the war have shortened it?

Short answer

Yes; ships hit by historical duds would be lost earlier, creating cumulative operational and logistical effects.

Notes

Reliable Mark 14 torpedoes would have turned more early American submarine attacks into sinkings. Ships historically hit by duds provide the basis for the comparison. The additional early losses are expected to accumulate across the campaign and shorten the war.