OVERVIEW: The Mk 48 Mod 5 ADCAP is a heavyweight U.S. Navy submarine-launched torpedo fielded in 1988–1991, optimized for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It introduced advanced digital guidance, improved propulsion, and is the foundational variant for current Mk 48 upgrades.

DETAILS: “Mark 48” denotes the U.S. Navy’s 21-inch heavyweight torpedo family; “Mod 5 ADCAP” refers to the Advanced Capability upgrade applied to the Mod 4 baseline, entering service in 1988 with full operational capability by 1991. It retains the same 5.79 m length, 533 mm diameter, and 1 662 kg weight, with a 295 kg high-explosive warhead. Mod 5 adds digital signal processors, a Common Broadband Active Sonar System, and expanded fuel capacity, yielding a speed up to 55 kn, depth capability over 1 200 ft, and a range exceeding 38 km. The upgrade included new guidance-and-control systems and propulsion improvements pending the Mod 6 and Mod 7 follow-ons.

TYPE: Heavyweight submarine-launched wire-guided dual-purpose acoustic homing torpedo (ADCAP)

FUNCTION: Launched from 21-inch submarine tubes, it uses two-way wire linkage (TELCOM) for mid-course command guidance and switches to advanced active/passive sonar homing in the terminal phase. Its high-speed pump-jet and deep-diving capability enable engagements against fast, deep-diving nuclear submarines and surface ships.

NOTE:
IOC: 1988 (initial), full sustained service by 1991
Manufacturer: Gould/Honeywell; Hughes Aircraft; Westinghouse Naval Systems, USA
Operators: United States; also used by Australia, Canada, Brazil, Netherlands, Taiwan
Platforms: U.S. Navy submarines with 21-inch torpedo tubes (e.g., Los Angeles- and Ohio-class) and allied submarines
Conflict used in: No confirmed combat deployment

SOURCE:
Mark 48 torpedo (Wikipedia); Post‑World War II Torpedoes of the United States (NavWeaps); Mk 48 ADCAP Torpedo (U.S. Naval Undersea Museum); Mk 48 ADCAP – GlobalSecurity/Naval support data