The Mark 20 torpedo was a US
torpedo
A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...
designed in 1943 but never used in service.
Design was by
Naval Torpedo Station Newport, the
Electric Storage Battery Company
Exide was originally a brand name for batteries produced by The Electric Storage Battery Company and later became Exide Corporation doing business as Exide Technologies, an American multinational corporation, multinational lead–acid battery, ...
and
General Electric
General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...
. This project was a continuation of the development of a submarine-launched, anti-surface ship torpedo originally designated Mark 2 in 1941 which was the second attempt to develop a torpedo of this type. The earlier effort, designated Mark 1, in post-
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
years (1919–1931), was terminated after the torpedo produced proved unsatisfactory in speed and range.
The Mark 20 never progressed beyond the development stage due to the success of the
Mark 18 torpedo
The Mark 18 torpedo was an electric torpedo used by the United States Navy during World War II. The Mark 18 was the first electric storage battery torpedo manufactured for the US Navy and it was designed primarily for use as a submarine-launched ...
, however, 20 units were produced by General Electric for testing purposes.
See also
*
American 21 inch torpedo
There have been a number of 21-inch torpedoes in service with the United States. These have been used on ships and submarines of the U.S. Navy. American 21-inch torpedoes are in diameter.
Ship classes that carried 21-inch torpedoes include:
* '' ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark 20 torpedo
Torpedoes of the United States
Unmanned underwater vehicles