Mk 54
Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo
Overview
Mark 54
Close-up of an exercise variant of the Mark 54 lightweight torpedo in the air during launch from a Mark 32 torpedo tube in 2014.
Source: US Navy -
© Public domain
Origin
United States
Type
Lightweight torpedo
Entered service
2004
Status
In service
Development
Late 1990's - Early 2000's
Developer
United States
-
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
United States - US Navy
United States - US Navy
Production
2003 - Present
Producer
United States
-
Raytheon
Unit cost
US $ 839.000 in 2014
Number produced
Produced new and as conversion kits for Mk 46
Designations
LHT / Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo
MAKO
MAKO
Notable users
United States
Australia
Canada
Australia
Canada
Details
Facts
Mark 54
General
Origin
United States
Type
Lightweight torpedo
Launch platform
Aircraft, helicopters, surface vessels, VL-ASROC
Target platform
Submarines
Dimensions
Diameter
324 mm
Length
2.72 m
Weight
276 kg
Warhead
Filler
43.9 kg PBXN-103 with 108 kg TNT equivalent
Guidance
Homing
Active or passive acoustic homing
Wire guidance
No
Propulsion
Engine type
Reciprocating external combustion
Power source
Otto II liquid fuel
Propulsion
Twin contra-rotating propeller
Performance
Speed
Over 40 knots
Range
Over 9 km
Depth
Over 450 m (estimate)
Platforms
RUM-139 VL-ASROC
The RUM-139C variant of the VL-ASROC carries the Mark 54 torpedo as its payload.
Media
Mark 54
Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross load a Mark 54 lightweight torpedo into the torpedo tubes in 2008.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Mark 54
Exercise version of the Mk 54 lightweight torpedo being installed on a MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter in 2017.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Mark 54
US Navy personnel handles an inert Mark 54 torpedo during an Otto II fuel spill exercise in 2020.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Mark 54
US Navy personnel with Mark 54 lightweight torpedo which is to be loaded into a P-8A Poseidon aircraft in 2019, with a P-3C Orion shown in the background.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Mark 54
An exercise Mark 54 Mod 0 torpedo is launched from the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt in 2014.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
Related articles
Mk 46
The Mk 54 uses the propulsion section of the late production model Mark 46 lightweight torpedo.
Existing stocks of Mk 46 can be upgraded to Mk 54 with a conversion kit.
