Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 18:52-19:27

Why the Mark IV followed the Mark II

A viewer asks whether the British 21-inch Mark IV was meant to replace the Mark III. It effectively replaced the Mark II because the Mark III did not become the expected intermediary.

Naval ProcurementRoyal NavyTorpedo DevelopmentTorpedoes
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Question

Was the British 21-inch Mark IV torpedo intended to replace the Mark III?

Short answer

It effectively replaced the Mark II because the Mark III did not become the expected operational intermediary.

Notes

The question assumes that numbered torpedo Marks followed one another cleanly into service. The Mark IV effectively replaced the Mark II. In the sequence described, the Mark III never became the operational step its number suggests. Development numbers do not necessarily map to an uninterrupted service chronology.