Mark 37 torpedo
Enable an AI agent to identify the Mark 37 torpedo family, distinguish its documented configurations, and assess the evidence required for classification, custody, and conservation decisions.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 24 questions
Mark 37 identity and boundaries Establishes what the registered name denotes and how modification and derivative names relate to it.
Designation evidence
Connects family identification to records that actually name the torpedo.
Family identification requires corroboration
Record the complete designation and the evidence connecting it to the Mark 37 torpedo, including whether the evidence describes a design or a specimen.
- What marking or authoritative record identifies this as a Mark 37 torpedo? provenance
- Does the record describe the family, a particular modification, or an individual specimen? boundary
Modification and derivative boundaries
Preserves the distinction between family variants and neighbouring registered concepts.
Variant names need an explicit crosswalk
Record how modification numbers, Mark 37C terminology, and derivative names map to this entry; do not infer membership from shared components.
- Which source establishes the relationship between this designation and the Mark 37 family? provenance
- Is this a modification within the entry or a related design requiring a link to another registry concept? boundary
Physical configuration and identification Captures the dimensions and section composition needed to interpret Mark 37 records and surviving examples.
Configuration-qualified measurements
Relates published and observed measurements to a specified assembly.
Dimensions and mass require an assembly boundary
Record length, diameter, and mass with modification, installed equipment, units, and whether values are measured or published.
- Which Mark 37 modification and installed sections do the quoted measurements cover? boundary
- What are the documented or measured dimensions and mass, including units and uncertainty? measurement
Section completeness
Distinguishes documented configurations from incomplete or reconstructed specimens.
Present components may differ from the original configuration
Identify the evidence for nose, body, propulsion section, and fitted interfaces, and record replacements or missing sections without assuming functionality.
- Which sections are original, substituted, missing, or of uncertain origin? provenance
- What evidence distinguishes a service configuration from an exercise assembly or display reconstruction? definition
Propulsion, guidance, and platform relationships Represents the systems that distinguish Mark 37 configurations at a descriptive level.
Electric propulsion lineage
Separates design-level propulsion characteristics from installed specimen hardware.
Drive and energy source are configuration-specific records
Record the documented propulsion arrangement and energy-source identity, alongside evidence of removal or substitution in a surviving example.
- Which publication establishes the propulsion and energy-source configuration for the identified modification? provenance
- Does the specimen retain that equipment, or is its installed configuration unresolved? definition
Guidance and platform links
Records acoustic guidance categories and documented relationships to external systems.
Guidance claims require modification-specific evidence
Keep acoustic capability, wire-guidance interface, and historical platform association as separate claims, each tied to the applicable configuration.
- Which acoustic capabilities and guidance interfaces are documented for this exact modification? definition
- Which source establishes its association with a particular platform or supporting system, and for what period? provenance
Custody, condition, and evidence of inert status Defines what must be known about a surviving Mark 37 before conservation or handling decisions can be assessed.
Ordnance-status evidence
Separates documented certification from assumptions based on exhibition or storage context.
Certification must identify the covered specimen and components
Link any inert-status or demilitarization record to the specific specimen and its present assembly, including exclusions and subsequent changes.
- What competent-authority record establishes the status of this specimen and which components does it cover? provenance
- Does the available evidence support the proposed custody or display action, or require referral to the responsible authority? action
Preservation assessment
Records dated observations of characteristic torpedo sections and installed energy equipment.
Conservation condition is distinct from operational readiness
Record observed casing deterioration, acoustic-nose damage, missing propulsion hardware, and documented battery condition without converting appearance into a serviceability claim.
- What dated observations document the condition of the casing, acoustic nose, propulsion section, and any retained battery? measurement
- Which conservation or movement decisions require additional records or assessment by qualified personnel? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Mark 37 torpedo this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
What it is Filled
The Mark 37 torpedo is a United States-developed family of electrically propelled, acoustic-homing antisubmarine torpedoes designed primarily for launch from submarines, with wire guidance on some variants.
In scope
- Mark 37 family identity, modification designations, and documented configuration differences
- Electric propulsion and acoustic guidance as family characteristics, with exceptions requiring variant evidence
- Physical dimensions, mass, and component configuration qualified by modification
- Relationships to launch platforms, supporting equipment, and derivative designs
- Evidence of specimen completeness, condition, and explosive-status certification
Out of scope
- General torpedo principles shared with the parent torpedo model
- Individual specimens as independent catalogue concepts
- Submarine design and fire-control system models
- Target selection, firing procedures, guidance settings, or tactical employment
- Warhead construction, arming, disassembly, or neutralization procedures
- Separate publication of derivatives without a registry boundary decision
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to identify the Mark 37 torpedo family, distinguish its documented configurations, and assess the evidence required for classification, custody, and conservation decisions.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Require a designation or documented identification linking the object to the Mark 37 torpedo family; the words 'Mark 37' alone do not establish object identity.
- Check whether the identified configuration matches the family's documented electric-drive and acoustic-homing lineage; those features alone are insufficient identification. [Mark 37C technical description](https://maritime.org/doc/torpedomk37/index.php)
- Require the modification designation before attributing guidance interfaces or dimensions; documentation explicitly distinguishes Mark 37 modifications. [Submarine qualification book](https://www.maritime.org/doc/torpedo-qual-mk37/index.php)
- Distinguish a Mark 37 torpedo from a Mark 67 mobile mine incorporating Mark 37 equipment; shared hardware does not establish identical function or catalogue identity. [Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/exploration-and-innovation/naval-mine-warfare.html)
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Provide guidance on building, restoring to working order, arming or operating it.
- Help acquire or transfer torpedoes or their parts outside arms control law.
- Advise anyone to handle recovered or museum torpedoes without explosive ordnance specialists.
Only with a human decision
- Any handling of a recovered torpedo or one of unknown state.
- Any request on export or transfer of torpedo equipment.
May
- Describe the Mark 37 torpedo and its service history from public and archival sources.
- Catalogue preserved examples in museums.
Moral aspects Filled
- It is a weapon designed to sink submarines and kill their crews.
- Old ordnance and batteries can still injure people who find them.
Who is affected
- Submarine crews
- People who find or handle old ordnance
- Museum staff
Owners Filled
Steward
The navy that holds it; for museum pieces, the holding museum.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q3595457 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.mark-37-torpedo
- Wikidata: Q1899848 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1899848)
Direct properties required Filled
- Documented family and modification: Exact designation as recorded; unresolved
- Configuration evidence: Links to designation records, applicable publications, photographs, and accession records
- Body dimensions: Length and maximum diameter in mm, with modification and measurement boundary
- Configured mass: kg, with installed sections and source
- Propulsion and energy configuration: Documented drive and battery designation; removed; substituted; unknown
- Guidance configuration: Documented acoustic modes and presence or absence of a wire-guidance interface; unknown
- Section configuration: Documented service, exercise, display, incomplete, composite, or unresolved configuration
- Explosive-status evidence: Certificate or competent-authority record, issuer, date, and covered components; absent
- Preservation condition: Dated observations of casing, acoustic nose, propulsion hardware, interfaces, and installed energy source
Recognition required Filled
- A long dark cylinder with a rounded nose and propellers inside a shroud at the tail.
- Usually seen in naval museums or on submarine weapon displays.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Classify a documented object as Mark 37, a related derivative, or unresolved.
- Compare modification records and flag properties that lack configuration-specific evidence.
- Associate photographs and accession records with a specimen without creating another family model.
- Prepare a historically qualified catalogue or exhibition description.
- Identify missing condition or certification evidence before referring handling decisions to the responsible authority.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Recovered or old torpedoes may still contain explosives or hazardous batteries.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Arms Trade Treaty, United Nations.
Context of use required Filled
- This torpedo family was developed for naval antisubmarine warfare, primarily for deployment from submarines.
- Surviving examples and associated records may be encountered in military collections, museums and historical research.
- Custody and conservation decisions depend on documented variant identification and verified explosive and battery status.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q1899848: Mark 37 torpedo - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Mark 37 torpedo - general description of the item
Open questions
- Which authoritative designation history resolves the exact relationship among numbered Mark 37 modifications, Mark 37C, and NT37 variants?
- What authoritative dimensions and masses apply to each modification and to service versus exercise configurations?
- Which battery and guidance configurations are supported by primary documentation for each modification, including later conversions?
- Which existing Vercy world model, if any, already owns this concept and should receive the registry link instead of a new publication?
- Which issuing authorities and records govern identification, inert-status certification, and handling of surviving specimens in their present jurisdictions?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1899848/spec.json