OVERVIEW: The Mk 44 Mod 1 is a lightweight U.S. Navy anti-submarine torpedo introduced in 1958 as the first production version. It is electrically powered with active acoustic homing and is launched by surface ships, aircraft, or helicopters.

DETAILS: “Mark 44” categorizes it in the lightweight torpedo series; “Mod 1” denotes the initial production model refined from the Mod 0 prototype. It is 8.2 ft (2.5 m) long, 12.75 in (324 mm) in diameter, and weighs approximately 433 lb (196 kg). It carries a 75 lb (34 kg) HBX‑3 warhead with a Mk 19 Mod 12 contact exploder. Powered by a seawater-activated silver-chloride/magnesium battery driving a 30 hp electric motor, it achieves ~30 kn and ~3.4 mi (5.5 km) range, effective to depths around 1,000 yd. Guidance is via an onboard active sonar helix-search pattern with selectable depth settings and programmable search modes.

TYPE: Lightweight ship/air-launched active acoustic homing torpedo

FUNCTION: Upon water entry, the Mk 44 runs a helical active sonar search pattern at preset depths and depth floors. When it detects a submarine target, it homing-in to intercept and detonates on contact.

NOTE:
IOC: 1958–1959 (production start and fleet entry)
Manufacturer: Naval Ordnance Test Station Pasadena and General Electric (with additional contractors), USA
Operators: United States; exported under Military Assistance Program; license-built in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, UK, South Korea, South Africa
Platforms: Destroyers (Mk 32 launchers), maritime patrol aircraft (e.g., P‑3 Orion, RAF Nimrod), anti-submarine helicopters (e.g., LAMPS), and ASROC/Ikara missile systems
Conflict used in: No confirmed combat deployment

SOURCE: Mark 44 torpedo (Wikipedia); A Brief History of US Navy Torpedo Development – Part 1 & 2; Weaponsystems.net “Mk 44 Mod 1” specifications; GlobalSecurity.org “Mk 44 Specifications”