DISCONTINUED Attack Squadron 72008 MK XIII Torpedo

The Mark XIII torpedo (another designation: Mark 13 or Mk.13) is an American air torpedo from the interwar period and World War II. Its first prototypes appeared as early as 1925, but the weapon entered service only in 1936! The mass of the torpedo was approx. 1,005 kg, and the mass of the warhead was approx. 272 kg. The length of the torpedo was approximately 409 centimeters with a diameter of 533 millimeters. In turn, the maximum speed reached 33-34 knots. The Mark XIII torpedo was the first torpedo in the history of the US Navy to be developed from scratch as an aerial torpedo. It also turned out to be the torpedo used on the most extensive scale by the American on-board aviation during World War II. It was used by machines such as TBD Devastator, TBF Avenger or Curtiss Helldiver. It is worth remembering, however, that the first versions of this torpedo were highly unreliable and many torpedoes of this type failed during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. After this battle, however, a number of technical fixes and modifications were introduced, and the tactics of its use were changed, which in total improved the combat properties of the Mark XIII torpedo. It is worth noting that it was also used as an armament for PT-type torpedo boats. These weapons remained in the line until 1950.