A44 Torpedo (Modified Mk.44 for South Africa)

[FrangibleCover]

DB Selector

DB3K

Baseline

DB3k Weapon 1025

Hypothetical

No

Name

A44

Length (m)

as basis

Width/Span (m)

as basis

Diameter (m)

as basis

Weight (kg)

as basis

Range (nm)

2?

Target Altitude / Depth (ft)

as basis

Target Speed (kts)

Torpedo speed improved to 32kts

Launch Altitude / Depth (ft)

No response

LaunchSpeed (kts)

No response

Warhead

New 45kg shaped charge

Targets

Submarine

CEP (m)

improved

Sensors

1x torpedo seeker, early 80s, 0.5nmi

Weapon Codes

Search Pattern, Bearing-Only Launch (BOL), Re-Attack Capability

Comments

Could receive surface vessel tag, on the basis of the marketing brochure? Are surface vessels a usual thing to quote range and lethality against for lightweight torpedoes?

Annoyingly, no date beyond 'during the 1980s'.

Sources

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/south-african-indigenous-naval-projects.8895/page-3#post-207347 https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/49/mk-44-torpedo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_44_torpedo - totally unsourced but has a bit on the South African upgrade

[PygmalionOfCyprus]

I'll bet the "surface target" is primarily for snorkelling/surface-travelling submarines, esp. with an ASW-optimized warhead. Handled 501.