Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Jack Harkness
Well if you're into stretching reality, anyhow... The Mk 37C was basically competing for the contract that the Mk 48 won, and they were still in development by the time the Mk 48 Mod 1 entered service in '72.
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This is kind of true but the two were never really put head to head against each other. The Mk 48 Mod 0 and Mod 2 which lost to the Mod 1 version used a Sunstrand turbine similar to what would eventually power the British Spearfish and other than that (and some differences with their respective sonar system) the three were broadly similar.
The 37C has a bit more of a humble beginning starting as improvements suggested by the Mk 37 manufacturer (Westinghouse or Honeywell) who had become quite aware of how much it was lagging behind. They did a demonstration for the navy of an Otto powered Mk 37 and development continued.
Something to add to all of this as well, I've so far not really been able to find many details about the the Mk37C / D / NT-37 in USN service, other than the fact that they were used. The Mk 37 was kept around until 1985 when the USS Darter was decommissioned. Prior to this the weapons were in service aboard all remaining submarines with rear-torpedo tubes (remaining Tang class, USS Darter and the Skate class) as these were the only weapons that could be used by their aft-tubes.