Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes

History

The Mark 32 has been the standard anti-submarine torpedo launching system aboard United States Navy surface vessels since its introduction in 1960, and is in use aboard the warships of several other navies.

During the FRAM Program, Fletcher, Allen M. Sumner and Gearing-class destroyers were modernized and fitted with two Mark 32 torpedo tubes on each side of their midship. The torpedo tubes' service extended to multiple other countries such as Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Egypt and many more due to the fact that decommissioned American ships were bought or transferred over to them throughout the years, notably Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.

Japan uses the HOS-301 torpedo tubes which are redesignated version of the Mark 32.

Design

Most versions (referred to as modifications or mods) are triple-tube sets that can be rotated or trained to face a target. The exception is the Mod 9 sets, which only have two tubes and are fixed in position. The Mark 32 can fire 12.75-inch (324 mm) torpedoes of the Mark 44, Mark 46, Mark 50 (from the Mod 17 tubes onwards), and Mark 54 designs, and can be modified to use other torpedoes (such as the MU90 Impact aboard Royal Australian Navy frigates, or Royal Navy units using Sting Ray torpedoes). The tubes are designed to be fired remotely, but manual firing controls are fitted as a backup to all but the Spruance-class destroyer's Mod 15 sets, as all aspects of the tubes' operation are controlled remotely. The launch is powered by compressed air in a rear flask, which doubles as each tube's breech, and the torpedoes are fire-and-forget weapons.

The launcher can be made from fibreglass, or with a fibreglass liner encased in metal. The tubes were designed to be weatherproof and capable of storing torpedoes for long periods, but this is only practical with regular maintenance. Each triple-tube set weighs around 2,230 pounds (1,010 kg) unloaded, with variations between mods.

On board ships

United States

Fletcher-class destroyer
Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
Gearing-class destroyer
Mitscher-class destroyer
Forrest Sherman-class destroyer
Farragut-class destroyer
Charles F. Adams-class destroyer
Spruance-class destroyer
Kidd-class destroyer
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Claud Jones-class destroyer escort
Knox-class frigate
Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

Long Beach-class cruiser
Leahy-class cruiser
Bainbridge-class cruiser
Belknap-class cruiser
Truxtun-class cruiser
California-class cruiser
Virginia-class cruiser
Ticonderoga-class cruiser
Hamilton-class cutter
Treasury-class cutter

Japan

Tachikaze-class destroyer
Hatakaze-class destroyer
Ayanami-class destroyer
Akizuki-class destroyer (1959)

Yamagumo-class destroyer
Takatsuki-class destroyer
Minegumo-class destroyer
Hatsuyuki-class destroyer
Asagiri-class destroyer
Murasame-class destroyer
Takanami-class destroyer
Kongō-class destroyer
Atago-class destroyer
Maya-class destroyer
Akizuki-class destroyer (2010)
Asahi-class destroyer
Isuzu-class destroyer escort
Chikugo-class destroyer escort
Ishikari-class destroyer escort
Yūbari-class destroyer escort
Abukuma-class destroyer escort
Kashima-class training ship
Asuka-class experimental ship

Canada

St. Laurent-class destroyer
Restigouche-class destroyer
Mackenzie-class destroyer
Annapolis-class destroyer
Iroquois-class destroyer
Halifax-class frigate

Taiwan

Kee Lung-class destroyer

Chi Yang-class frigate
Cheng Kung-class frigate

Italy

Audace-class destroyer
Durand de la Penne-class destroyer
Centauro-class frigate
Bergamini-class frigate

Alpino-class frigate
Lupo-class frigate
Maestrale-class frigate
Albatros-class corvette

Australia

Perth-class destroyer
Hobart-class destroyer
Anzac-class frigate

South Korea

Ulsan-class frigate
Donghae-class corvette
Pohang-class corvette
Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer
Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer
Sejong the Great-class destroyer
Incheon-class frigate
Daegu-class frigate

Indonesia

Claud Jones-class destroyer escort
Ahmad Yani-class frigate
Fatahillah-class corvette