Torpedoes of the Royal Netherlands Navy
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Since 08-24-02

Torpedoes

Book Marks

XIIa

XIIb

I45

II45

IV45

II53

III53

IV53

V53

VI45

Mark 13 aerial torpedo

Mark 8**

Mark 9

Mark 9 2nd

Mark 7

Other Links

Sources

Below are the types used by aircraft and surface craft listed. The submarine torpedoes can be found by clicking on the off-link on the bottom of the page. Additions and feedback will be highly appreciated. All types have been ordered by the year they entered service with the Dutch navy.

XIIa

Still in use in the Caribbean in the shore batteries on Curaçao until 1942.

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 18 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead
Charge 60 kg gun-cotton
Overall weight 556 kg
Range 1000 m @ 31,1 knots
Service 1901 - 1942
Total number purchased 62

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XIIb

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 18 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead
Charge 60 kg gun-cotton
Overall weight 558 kg
Range 1000 m @ 30,8 knots
Service 1903 - 1942
Total number purchased 20

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I45

Still in use in the Caribbean in the shore batteries on Curaçao until 1942.

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 18 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Fiume
Engine 4-cylinder
Charge 85 kg gun-cotton
Overall weight 624 kg
Range 1000 m @ 30 knots
2000 m @ 24 knots
Service 1906 - 1942
Total number purchased 77

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II45

Originally used by the Roofdier-class destroyers, later also the Z- and G-classes torpedo boats. The torpedo mounts of the former were used aboard the TM-4 class MTBs in 1940, and these antiquated torpedoes were used. These torpedoes were mostly used in exercises, but the shortages pressed them into service with Dutch submarines too.

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 18 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Fiume
Charge 85 kg trotyl
Overall weight 745 kg
Range 1000 m @ 40 knots
3000 m @ 28 knots
Service 1909 - 1946
Total number purchased 115

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IV45

Used aboard submarines, and kept in reserve for the new Fokker T-8W torpedo aircraft

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 18 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Horten, Norway
Length 5,43 m
Engine 4-cylinder radial
Charge 180 kg trotyl
Overall weight 820 kg
Range 2500 m @ 40 knots
6000 m @ 28,5 knots
6700 m @ 28 knots
7500 @ 26,5 knots
Service 1928 - 1946
Total number purchased 64

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II53

Used aboard Admiralen-class destroyers and the K-11 and K-14 classes submarines

Specifications
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead, Weymouth
Charge 300 kg trotyl
Overall weight 1525 kg
Range 4000 m @ 42 knots
10.000 m @ 28 knots
Service 1928 - 1946
Total number purchased 200

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III53

Originally purchased for the O-12 class submarines, but also used by K-class submarines and the Admiralen-class destroyers

Specifications
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Fiume
Charge 300 kg trotyl
Overall weight 1534 kg
Range 4000 m @ 41 knots
10000 m @ 28 knots
Service 1929 - 1946
Total number purchased 60

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IV53

Originally purchased for the submarine O-16, but also used by the Admiralen-class destroyers and other submarines

Specifications
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead, Weymouth
Charge 300 kg trotyl
Overall weight 1560 kg
Range 3000 m @ 46 knots
10000 m @ 29 knots
Service 1935 - 1946
Total number purchased 22

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V53

Used aboard the cruiser Tromp and the O-19 class submarines. Possibly known in the Royal Navy as the Mark 10.

Specifications
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead, Weymouth
Length 7,2 m
Engine 2-cylinder horizontal engine
Air vessel volume 583 litres
Pressure 200 kg/cm2
Charge 300 kg trotyl
Overall weight 1650 kg
Range 4000 m @ 45 knots
12000 m @ 28 knots
Service 1937 - 1946
Total number purchased 252

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VI45

Aerial torpedo intended for use by the new Fokker T-8W torpedo bombers. 17 were delivered, 12 of which after May 1940. The were then shipped to the Netherlands East Indies. On April 2 1940, an additional 100 were ordered with the torpedo factory in Fiume, but the torpedoes (although 4 million dollars had been paid in advance) were never delivered due to the involvement of Italy in the war, from June 10 onwards.

Specifications
Diameter 45 cm ( 17.7 inch )
Origin British
Manufacturer Whitehead, Weymouth
Charge 170 kg trotyl
Overall weight 745 kg
Range 1500 m @ 45 knots
2500 m @ 41 knots
Service 1937-1942
Total number purchased 17

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Mark 13 aerial torpedo

This was the standard aerial torpedo for the US Navy in the early years of World War II. They were ordered in September 1941 for the new Douglas Havoc DB-7C torpedo planes. Some may have been delivered in late February 1942

Specifications
Origin American
Diameter 57 cm
Range 6300 m @ 33,5 knots
Service -
( 1930 in US Navy )
Total number ordered 120

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Mark 8**

Used aboard Dutch motor torpedo boats in the Channel area, and also aboard various submarines

Specifications
Origin British
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Power 3-cylinder steamengine
Total Weight 1560 kg
Charge 365 kg HBX-1
Range 5000 m @ 45,5 knots
Service 1940-1978
Total number purchased 84

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Mark 9

Used by the destroyers Van Galen and Tjerk Hiddes from 1943, the cruiser Tromp from 1945, submarines and British destroyers taken over after the war. Possibly also in use by the destroyer Isaac Sweers.

Specifications
Origin British
Diameter 53,3 cm ( 21 inch )
Length 7,2 m
Power Burner-cycle
Total Weight 1725 kg
Charge 365 kg
Range 15000 m @ 40 knots
17000 m @ 35 knots
Service 1943 - 1962
(1930 Royal Navy)
Total number purchased 68

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Mark 9 (2nd)

These old torpedoes dated back from World War I, and were lent to the Dutch to replace the type XIIa and type I45 in the coastal batteries on Curaçao. Accidentally dumped outside Willemstad in 1944 or 1945.

Specifications
Origin British
Diameter 45 cm (17.7 inch)
Service 1943-1944
Total number acquired 97

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Mark 7

These old torpedoes also dated back from WW I, and were used in the coastal batteries of Curaçao from 1943 onwards. Returned to the US after 1944.

Specifications
Origin American
Diameter 45 cm (17.7 inch)
Engine Bliss-Levitt turbine
Service 1943-1944
Total number acquired 98

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Other Links

Related Links
Dutch submarine torpedoes (off-site link)
(link updated 09-30-03)

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Sources

John Campbell "Naval Weapons of WW II"
J.M. Mohrmann
"Marine-torpedodienst 1875-2000"

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