The Mark 14 Torpedo: Problem Child of the US Navy

The Mark 14 Torpedo: Problem Child of the US Navy, is one of the most fascinating yet challenging stories in naval history. This weapon, intended to be the backbone of the US submarine fleet during World War II, instead became a source of frustration and disappointment for American submariners. In the critical early months of the war, the Mark 14’s numerous design flaws nearly jeopardized the effectiveness of the US Navy’s submarine force against Japanese ships.

The Mark 14 was designed to outshine its predecessor, the Mark 10, but it quickly earned a reputation as a problem child. Lieutenant Commander Frederick B. Warder of the USS Seawolf (SS-197) was one of the first to document its failures. During six patrols, Warder noticed that the Mark 14 struggled to strike its targets.

One particularly frustrating incident occurred near Christmas Island. Warder launched a spread of torpedoes at the Japanese light cruiser Naka. While one torpedo hit its mark, the remaining failed to explode, allowing the cruiser to escape for repairs. On several occasions, the Seawolf crew heard explosions after firing, only to discover no damage had been inflicted on the enemy. A return to the older Mark 10 torpedoes dramatically increased the Seawolf’s success rate, raising serious questions about the reliability of the Mark 14.

To solve the mystery behind the Mark 14’s failures, the Navy conducted a series of tests. The first issue identified was the torpedo’s running depth. Designed to strike its target with precision, the Mark 14 was diving 10 feet deeper than intended, often passing harmlessly beneath enemy ships.

This was only the beginning. The magnetic detonator, which was supposed to trigger explosions near the target, often went off prematurely or failed entirely. Worse still, the contact detonators jammed on impact, rendering the torpedo ineffective even when it hit its target. These flaws made the Mark 14 a liability in critical engagements.

Fixing the Mark 14 was no small task. Adjusting the depth control valve resolved the depth issue, but the magnetic detonator proved too unreliable and was ultimately abandoned in favor of the contact mechanism. However, even the contact detonator posed problems.

During the Pearl Harbor attack, the US military recovered several downed Japanese aircraft. Engineers examining the planes discovered that their propeller blades were made of a lightweight metal. This material inspired the redesign of the Mark 14’s firing pin, solving the issue of it being too heavy to function correctly.

By the end of 1943, the revamped Mark 14 torpedo was battle-ready. The improvements quickly paid off; the USS Haddock (SS-231) demonstrated the torpedo’s newfound effectiveness by sinking two Japanese ships with four successful hits.

The upgraded Mark 14 torpedo went on to become a reliable weapon for the US Navy, remaining in service until 1980. Although its early flaws nearly undermined the submarine fleet’s efforts, the Mark 14’s eventual transformation into a highly effective torpedo stands as a testament to innovation and resilience during wartime.

The Mark 14 Torpedo’s story is not just about failure but also about overcoming adversity through ingenuity. From its troubled beginnings to its ultimate success, the Mark 14 played a vital role in the US Navy’s ability to dominate the seas during World War II.