In reply address Bureau of Ordinance,
Navy Department, and refer to No.
 
 
                         NAVY DEPARTMENT
                        BUREAU OF ORDNANCE
S75-1(85)
                       WASHINGTON, D. C.
(A)                                                       December 17, 1941
 
Memorandum for Captain Beardall:
 
Subject:         Aircraft Torpedo Situation.
 
                       1.     On November 30, 1941, the Navy had 768 aircraft torpedoes. Production at
Newport will continue on this type until next month, bringing the total at that time up to 972,
except of course for expenditures and losses.
 
                       2.     After next month, no more aircraft torpedoes are due to come off the
assembly lines until June, though we hope to cut this gap shorter if possible. The reason for this
hiatus is that the Navy has three distinct types of torpedoes, as follows:
 
                    Mark 13 - for aircraft
                    Mark 14 - for submarines
                                        Mark 15 - for destroyers and cruisers, and for a few of the later                              submarines especially designed to carry them.
 
Until the last six months, the Newport Torpedo Station was the
only source of production for torpedoes. It has been found most
economical, both in time and money, to produce only one type at a
time. Hence the Station makes a long run on one type and then
shifts to another. At present, Newport is manufacturing parts
for the mark 15 destroyer torpedo, while finishing up assembly of
aircraft torpedoes. As soon as sufficient castings, forgings,
etc., are available from outside sources, machining of parts
for the Mark 23 will be resumed and assembly will start again in
the late spring. The Naval Torpedo Station at Alexandria, Va.,
is now making the Mark 14 submarine torpedo.
 
                       3.     Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a universal torpedo, suitable for use
by all naval craft. The requirements vary widely, and a universal torpedo would be a "jack of all
trades and master of none". I have been experimenting for some time at Newport with launching
the Mark 14 and Mark 15 types from patrol planes, but with little success to date.