National Affairs: Homing Torpedo

All through World War II, submariners complained about the torpedoes issued to them. The men of the Silent Service hung up their impressive record with erratic "fish" that were seldom as good as those used by the enemy. Unpredictable U.S. torpedoes sometimes went off prematurely or never exploded at all. They were known to porpoise or to dive under targets, and at least two circled about with diabolical accuracy to sink the subs that had launched them. Last week the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance announced that, as part of a $500 million research and development program, it had developed a new homing torpedo that was the answer to submariners' dreams.

The new torpedo is said to be almost twice as fast as earlier models, and able to travel accurately to the operating depth of any known submarine. Small and maneuverable, it has its own Sonar for seeking out enemy craft that have killed their engines to ride out an attack in silence. No telltale wake of bubbles comes up from its chemically fueled motor, said the Navy, and it can be launched not only by submarines, but also by surface ships and airplanes. The Navy now expects to reinstall torpedo tubes on all warships smaller than heavy cruisers.