Mark VIII (torpedo)
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| Mark VIII torpedo | |
| Developed: | 1925 |
| Control: | Gyroscope stabilized |
| Diameter: | 21 in (53.34 cm) |
| Length: | 6.579 m |
| Weight: | 1,566 kg |
| Drive: | 4 cylinder star steam gas engine 320 HP |
| Warhead: | 365 kg Torpex |
| Detonator: | magnetic / surcharge |
| Speed / range | 45.5 kn - 4.5 km 41 kn - 6.4 km |
The Mark VIII - Torpedo was in the UK developed the mid-1920s and was in the Second World War the standard torpedo the Royal Navy . It was powered by a 4-cylinder star-head steam gas engine with 320 hp. The torpedo was initially equipped with a simple depth control and gyroscope stabilization and a Torpex warhead of 365 kg with an impact fuse. Later, more modern controls and magnetos were used.
After the Second World War, the Mark VIII remained in use until the Falklands War . The submarine Conqueror sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano with Mark VIII torpedoes, as the more modern torpedoes of the Mark XXIV (torpedo) type were considered unreliable.
After the remaining stocks of German G7a torpedoes from the war were used up, the Mark VIII became the standard equipment of the German Federal Navy until the introduction of wire-guided torpedoes.
