Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:39:13-1:39:46

How First World War torpedo triggers compared with the Mark 14

The US Mark 14 provides an exceptionally low reliability benchmark: First World War mechanisms were less advanced than later Allied weapons, though not necessarily worse than the Mark 14's faults.

Mark 14 TorpedoTorpedoesWorld War IWorld War II
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Question

How would a First World War torpedo trigger compare with the US Mark 14?

Short answer

It was less advanced than reliable later Allied systems, though the troubled Mark 14 is an unusually low benchmark.

Notes

The question compares a First World War torpedo trigger with the US Mark 14. The joke is that the Mark 14 is the benchmark against which almost every alternative appears better. Early mechanisms were still far behind the reliable British and American systems reached during World War II. The useful distinction is between normal technological immaturity and an unusually troubled later weapon.