Mark 24 mine
| Mark 24 | |
|---|---|
Mark 24 acoustic torpedo | |
| Type | Acoustic torpedo |
| Place of origin | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1942–1948 |
| Used by | |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Western Electric Company Bell Telephone Laboratories Harvard University Underwater Sound Laboratory |
| Designed | 1942 |
| Manufacturer | General Electric Company Western Electric Company |
| No. built | 4000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 680 pounds (310 kg) |
| Length | 84 inches (2.1 m) |
| Diameter | 19 inches (48 cm) |
| Effective firing range | 4,000 yards (3.7 km) (10 minutes search duration) |
| Warhead | HBX |
| Warhead weight | 92 pounds (42 kg) |
Detonation mechanism | Mk 142 fuze, contact exploder |
| Engine | Electric, secondary battery |
| Maximum speed | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
Guidance system | preset circle search, passive acoustic |
Launch platform | Aircraft |
The Mark 24 mine (also known as FIDO or Fido) is an air-dropped anti-submarine (ASW) acoustic torpedo developed by the United States during World War II; it was called a mine to conceal its capabilities. The torpedo entered service with the Allies in March 1943 and was used by the United States Navy (USN) until 1948. Approximately 4,000 were produced. Of the 340 deployed during the war, 204 were fired, sinking 37 and damaging 18 Axis submarines.