Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo

Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo
Whitehead torpedo mechanism, published 1891
Type	Anti-surface ship torpedo[1]
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service	189?–1922[1]
Used by	United States Navy[2]
Production history
Designer	Robert Whitehead
Designed	1893[1]
Manufacturer	Torpedofabrik Whitehead & Co.[3] E. W. Bliss Company
Specifications
Weight	1232 pounds[1]
Length	197 inches (5.0 meters)[1]
Diameter	17.7 inches (45 centimeters)[1]
Effective firing range	1500 yards[1]
Warhead	wet guncotton[1]
Warhead weight	132 pounds[1]
Detonation mechanism	War Nose Mk 1 contact exploder[1]
Engine	3-cylinder reciprocating
Speed	28.5 knots[1]
Guidance system	depth control[1]
Launch platform	battleships and torpedo boats[1]

The Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo, also designated Torpedo Type C^[4] was a Whitehead torpedo adopted by the United States Navy for use in an anti-surface ship role after the E. W. Bliss Company of Brooklyn, New York secured manufacturing rights in 1892.^[2] It was probably based on the Whitehead Mark 1B, rather than a modification of the Whitehead Mark 2.^[1]

Characteristics

The Type C was ordinarily assembled into three sections: the warhead, the air flask and the after-body. The warhead's charge of wet guncotton weighed 132 pounds. The Type C was what was known as a "cold-running" torpedo.^[1] The three-cylinder reciprocating engine ran on cold, compressed air which was stored in the air flask at 1500 pounds per square inch. The after-body carried the engine and the tail, which contained the propellers.^[5]

The Type C guidance component included the Pendulum-and-hydrostat control device which was called the "Whitehead Secret". This version of the Whitehead torpedo lacked the gyroscope gear designed by Ludwig Obry, which was incorporated in another Whitehead model, the Mark 3.

The Mark 2 Type C was launched from battleships and torpedo boats.

References