Letter 21033

"Parkerizing" on WWII electric torpedoes [Florida] 

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Dear webmaster:

I am trying to obtain information regarding the "painted" finish of the U.S. Navy's WWII MK18 electric torpedo, which was manufactured by the Westinghouse Corp. at Sharon, PA in mid-1943. While attending the Navy's torpedo school in Newport, RI, we were told by the instructor that the inner and outer shell of the torpedo was Parkerized. This glossy coating had a sligthy greenish-yellow and very durable finish. This coating was used on a subsequent torpedo, the MK 27and Mods. well into the late 1950s. What I need is verification that the "Pakerizing" process was used on these torpedoes, so I can include this info in a booklet that I'm working on, describing the types and specifications of pre and post-war U.S. Navy torpedoes.

Thanking you in advance,

Robert F. Marble
- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

True the inner and exterior of the tubes were phosphated (parkerized) but the exterior was also painted to prevent corrosion. The exterior paints vary as to colour but what you are describing sounds like a zinc chromate primer which is a greenish yellow over phosphate.

Wayne McKee
- Mississauga, Ont., Canada

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I want to post a new question or inquiry of my own on a different subject.