Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes

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A crewman closes the breach of a Mark 32 12.75-inch torpedo launcher aboard the guided missile frigate USS Curts (FFG-38) during anti-submarine warfare operations off the coast of Southern California

Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes (SVTT). The Mk 32 system consists of a pair of launchers fitted to warships, each launcher carries three tubes capable of discharging a lightweight torpedo such as the MK 46, MK 50 or MK 54. Designed for close-in anti-submarine action, the weapon is propelled from its tube by compressed air contained in a flask at the rear of the tube which also acts as the tubes breech door. Depending on the Modification (MOD) number of the particular tubes, the mount may be manually or remotely operated from stowed to firing positions and may also be within the structure of the ship. Normal launch is electrically initiated by the Fire Control Panel located in the Combat Information Center of the ship. All of the torpedoes launched are fire and forget weapons.

Constructed of fiberglass and aluminum the MK 32 SVTT was originally intended to be weatherproof and capable of protecting the loaded torpedoes from the elements but the tubes required extensive maintenance to do so. Beginning with the Spruance Class destroyer, designers began putting the MK 32's inside the superstructure, usually within their own spaces which allowed for storage of additional weapons. In a fully ready condition these tubes could be trained and fired remotely without any direct contact.

The breech device on the MK 32 consisted of a high pressure airflask that could be charged and stowed either on the tube or separately (inside mounts only). When installed and with the muzzle cover removed, the tube was fired either remotely (electrical) or manually by opening the firing valve and allowing the flask to discharge its "air slug" directly into the tube. A small portion of this air operated a retraint latch and the torpedo was ejected clear of the side of the ship where gravity took it into the water.