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The Golden Age of Torpedo Warfare took place during World War Two. Torpedoes were used extensively by all combatants and by all means possible; land-based, submarines, aircraft and surface ship.

The Japanese enjoyed a significant advantage in torpedo warfare for the first two years of the war. Their primary torpedo was both larger and more capable than that of any other combatant.

Type 8: 24-inch diameter. An older (1920s) design used by older cruisers and destroyers. Weighed 5,207lbs with a 761lb warhead. When set for 38 knot speed, had a range of 10km. When set for 32 knot speed, range went up to 15km.

Type 89: 21-inch diameter. Another 1920s design, used by submarines. Weighs 3,677lbs with a 661lb warhead. At 45 knots, range was 5.5km; at 35 knots range was 10km.

Type 90: 21-inch diameter. A 1930s design used by some cruisers. Weighed 5,743lbs and carried a 827lb warhead. At 46 knots had a 7km range; at 35 knots, range was 15km.

Type 95: 21-inch diameter. The submarine version of the Long Lance torpedo. Weighed in at 3,671lbs and had a warhead of 893lbs. At 50 knots, range was 9km; at 46 knots, range was 12km.

Type 93: 24-inch diameter. The (in)famous Long Lance torpedo. Weighed 5,952lbs and carried a 1,080lb warhead. At 49 knots had a range of 20km; at 36 knots, range was 40km.

Type 97: 17.7-inch diameter. Used by midget submarines, only known use was at Pearl Haarbor. Weighed in at 2,094lbs, with a 772lb warhead. At 45 knots had a 5.5km range.

Type 91-1: 17.7-inch diameter. The standard aerial torpedo at the start of the war, by 1941 was replaced by the Type 91-2. Weighed in at 1,728lbs with a 331lb warhead. At 42 knots, range was 2km. Could be launched at a maximum altitiude of 100ft and a max speed of 200knots

Type 91-2: 17.7-inch diameter. Replaced the 91-1 by early 1942. Weighed 1,841lbs with a 452lb warhead. At 42 knots, range was 2km.

Type 91-3: 17.7-inch diameter. Replaced the 91-2 by 1943, could be dropped at 350 knots and from a max altitude of 200ft. Weighed in at 1,872lbs with a 529lb warhead. At 42 knots had a 2km range.

Type 04: 17.7-inch torpedo. The final version of the aerial torpedo, entered service in 1944 and could be dropped at speeds of up to 400 knots and 250ft. Weighed in at 2,169lbs with a 670lb warhead. At 42 knots, range was 1.5km.

On the other side of the coin....these were the primary US torpedoes of WWII.

Mark 10: 21-inch diameter. A WWI torpedo used on the S-class submarines. Weighed in at 2,215lbs with a 497lb warhead. At 36 knots, had a 3.2km range.

Mark 15: 21-inch diameter. The standard destroyer torpedo. Weighed 3,841lbs and had a 825lb warhead. At 45 knots, had a 5.5km range; at 26 knots had a 13.7km range.

Mark 14: 21-inch diameter. The standard submarine torpedo of WWII, in the early years suffered major failures due primarly to the new magnetic-field-detecting detonator. When set for contact mode, the detonator fired to fire due to the firing pin being made of cheap, easily bendable metal. The problems were finally solved in 1943 and it enjoyed a decent reputation afterwards. Continued in service until the 1970s. Weighed in at 3,280lbs with a 643lb warhead. At 46 knots, range was 4.1km; at 31 knots range was 8.2km.

Mark 13: 17.7-inch diameter. The standard aerial torpedo (also used by late-war PT boats). At first could only be dropped from a max altitude of 50ft and at a speed no greater than 110 knots. By late war could be dropped from 1,000ft and at speeds of over 200 knots. Weighed 2,216lbs with a 600lb warhead. At 33 knots had a 6.7km range.

Mark 18: 21-inch diameter. An unsuccessful copy of the German G7e torpedo. Did not leave a wake. Weighed 3,154lbs with a 575lb warhead. At 29 knots it had a 3.6km range.

Mark 24: 19-inch diameter. The first effective homing torpedo, it was used by ASW aircraft from 1943 onwards against submerged subs. Weighed 680lbs with a 92lb warhead. At 12 knots it had a 3.6km range.

Mark 27: 19-inch diameter. The sub-launched version of the Mark 24. It appeared in 1944. Weighed 720lbs with a 95lb warhead. At 12 knots it had a 4.5km range.