The Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the United States Navy's lightweight anti-submarine warfare torpedo inventory and is the NATO standard.
These aerial torpedoes are designed to attack high-performance submarines.
In 1989, an improvement program for the Mod 5 to the Mod 5A and Mod 5A(S) increased its shallow-water performance.
The Mark 46 was initially developed as Research Torpedo Concept I (RETORC I), one of several weapons recommended for implementation by Project Nobska, a 1956 summer study on submarine warfare.
Design details
;Mark 46, Mod 5
Primary Function: Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedoThomas, Vincent C.
The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987)  pp.190-191
Contractor: Alliant Techsystems
Power Plant: Two-speed, reciprocating external combustion; Mono-propellant (Otto fuel II)
Length:  tube launch configuration (from ship),Polmar, Norman "The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Torpedoes" United States Naval Institute Proceedings November 1978 p.160  with ASROC rocket booster
Weight:  (warshot configuration)
Diameter:
Range:
Depth: >
Speed: >
Guidance System: Homing mode: Active or passive/active acoustic homing
Launch/search mode: Snake or circle search
Warhead:  of PBXN-103 high explosive (bulk charge)
Date Deployed: 1967 (Mod 0); 1979 (Mod 5)
Yu-7 variant
The Chinese Yu-7 torpedo is said to be based on the Mk 46 Mod 2.
The Chinese Navy used the Yu-7 ASW torpedo, deployed primarily on ships and ASW helicopters,(Chinese language)  but it started to be replaced by the Yu-11 in 2012.
Operators
thumb|400px|Map with  Mark 46 operators in red
See also
CAPTOR mine (a sea mine which incorporates a Mk 46 torpedo)
MU90 Impact torpedo
Mark 50 torpedo
Mark 54 MAKO Lightweight Torpedo
Stingray torpedo
Advanced Light Torpedo Shyena
References
;Citations External links
DiGiulian, Tony, Navweaps.com: USA Torpedoes
Unofficial U.S. Navy Site: MK-46 Torpedo
FAS: MK-46 Torpedo
