this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
966 points (99.3% liked)
Progressive Politics
4359 readers
361 users here now
Welcome to Progressive Politics! A place for news updates and political discussion from a left perspective. Conservatives and centrists are welcome just try and keep it civil :)
(Sidebar still a work in progress post recommendations if you have them such as reading lists)
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Except for on submarines, where there isn't a deck, deck-launched torpedoes have been normal for about as long as torpedoes have been used. It's much more of a nuisance to do things underwater than above the surface, so unless you've got a good reason, like being a submarine, generally we don't.
Back when battleships carried torpedoes (WWI era) they were generally launched from underwater tubes. TBF arming battleships with torpedoes was easily one of the worst ideas in military history. It accomplished absolutely nothing (as best I can remember, the only time battleships ever hit another ship with torpedoes was when the already-crippled Bismarck was being demolished by Rodney) and just added large, indivisible spaces prone to asymmetrical flooding as well as more stuff to explode when you're hit yourself.
Does any benefit at all remain? What about stealth if they somehow have some kind of radar thing?
If you're a boat that's close enough to use a torpedo, they know you're there.