America Mark-48 Torpedo: America has recently released a video revealing the incident of sinking of Iran’s warship. The video shows that the Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo fired from an American submarine targeted and destroyed Iran’s modern Moudge class frigate IRIS Dena. It is being told that this attack took place in the Indian Ocean, in which more than 80 sailors of the Iranian Navy died and the ship sank into the depths of the sea. According to American officials, this is the first time since World War II that an American submarine has directly sunk an enemy warship. The Mark-48 torpedo used in the attack is the US Navy’s main submarine-launched weapon. This heavy torpedo is equipped with state-of-the-art sensor and guidance system, which can accurately target the enemy ship or submarine even in depth. This incident has made the growing military tension in the Middle East more serious. American Torpedo Mark-48 is considered to be the most advanced and dangerous torpedo in the world.

What is Mark-48 Torpedo?
Mark-48 is a heavyweight torpedo, which is used by attack submarines of the US Navy. Its main objective is to destroy enemy warships and submarines. It is considered the main offensive weapon of American submarines in modern maritime warfare. Due to its lethality and accurate shooting, it is counted among the most deadly underwater weapons in the world.

When was Mark-48 Torpedo developed?
Mark-48 Torpedo was first inducted into the US Navy in the year 1972. After this, many technical improvements were made in it from time to time. Modern versions, such as the Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability), add improved electronics, advanced guidance systems, and more effective propulsion technology. Due to these upgrades, this torpedo is still included in the modern naval weapons.

How powerful is the Mark-48 Torpedo?
This torpedo weighs approximately 3,800 pounds i.e. about 1,700 kilograms. It is equipped with a high explosive warhead, which has the capability to seriously damage or sink even the largest warship. Its explosive power is so high that it can break the structure of even heavy naval ships. For this reason it is considered a very deadly weapon of modern naval warfare.

How does the Mark-48 torpedo track its target?
This torpedo uses a combination of active and passive sonar technology. With active sonar, it detects the target by sending sound waves, while with passive sonar, it tracks them by listening to the sounds emanating from the enemy ship or submarine. With the help of this technology, it continues to pursue the target, even if the enemy ship tries to change direction or take cover.

Why does this torpedo explode under the ship?
The Mark-48 is designed to explode beneath the ship rather than directly hitting it. When it explodes beneath the ship, the explosion creates a huge gas bubble that rapidly expands and then contracts. Due to this process the keel of the ship i.e. the main structural beam at the bottom breaks. This is called the “keel-breaking effect,” which can cause a ship to sink rapidly by breaking it into multiple pieces.

What speed and distance can this torpedo attack?
Mark-48 Torpedo can move at a speed of more than 55 knots i.e. more than 100 km per hour. Its striking distance is also very high and it can attack targets located dozens of kilometers away. Due to this capability, submarines can target enemy ships from a safe distance.

Which American submarines are equipped with Mark-48?
This torpedo has been deployed in many modern attack submarines of the US Navy. These submarines are specifically designed for advanced maritime warfare and operations against enemy ships or submarines. Mark-48 is the main offensive weapon of these submarines, which gives them the ability to carry out deadly attacks from under the sea.

Why is the sinking of IRIS Dena considered significant?
US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth described this attack as “quiet death”. According to him, this is the first time after World War II that American torpedoes have sunk an enemy warship. This incident also highlights the role of naval power in the growing conflict in the Middle East. Besides this, new concerns regarding regional tension and maritime security have also emerged.