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===History===
The problem of aiming a [[torpedo]] has occupied military engineers since [[Robert Whitehead]] developed the modern torpedo in the 1860s. These early torpedoes ran at a preset depth on a straight course (consequently they are frequently referred to as "straight runners"). This was the state of the art in torpedo guidance until the development of the [[homing torpedo]] during the latter part of [[World War II]].<ref name=othertorps>There were other forms of torpedo guidance attempted throughout WWII. Notable are the Japanese human-guided ''[[Kaiten]]'' and German [[G7e#G7e/T3|pattern running]] and [[acoustic homing]] types for attacking convoys. Today, most submarine-launched torpedoes are wire-guided with terminal homing.</ref> The vast majority of submarine torpedoes during World War II were straight running, and these continued in use for many years after World War II.<ref name=USMk14his>{{cite web|url = http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1592/ustorp5.htm|title= Part Five: Post WW-II Submarine Launched/ Heavyweight Torpedoes|access-date=2006-07-26|author= Frederick J Milford|date= October 1997|work= US Navy Torpedoes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523064716/http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1592/ustorp5.htm|archive-date=2006-05-23}}</ref> In fact, two World War II-era straight running torpedoes — fired by the British nuclear-powered submarine {{HMS|Conqueror|S48|6}} — sank
During [[World War I]], computing a target intercept course for a torpedo was a manual process where the fire control party was aided by various [[slide rule]]s<ref name=fleetsub>{{cite web | title = Torpedo Data Computer | work = FleetSubmarine.com | year = 2002 | url = http://www.maritime.org/tdc.htm | access-date = 2006-07-03 }}</ref> (the U.S. examples were the [[Mark VIII Angle Solver]] (colloquially called the "banjo", for its shape), and the "Is/Was" circular sliderule ([[Nasmith Director]]), for predicting where a target will be based on where it is now and was)<ref>Holwitt, Joel I. ''"Execute Against Japan"'', Ph.D. dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005, p.147; Beach, Edward L., Jr. ''Run Silent, Run Deep''.</ref> or mechanical calculator/sights.<ref name = dread>{{cite web |title = Firing a Torpedo Using A Mechanical Computing Sight |work=The Dreadnought Project |url =http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Torpedo_Director|year=2000
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During World War II, Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/virtualtour/photo_tour/contower.html |title=U-505 | Virtual Tour | Photo Tour | Conning Tower |access-date=2006-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050608024538/http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/virtualtour/photo_tour/contower.html |archive-date=2005-06-08 }}</ref> Japan,<ref>[http://web.ukonline.co.uk/chalcraft/sm/attack.html Britain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619061752/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/chalcraft/sm/attack.html |date=2006-06-19 }}</ref> and the United States each developed [[analog computer]]s to automate the process of computing the required torpedo course.<ref name=JapanTechnology>{{cite book | last = Jackson, USNR | first = Lt.(jg) J.G. | url = http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200F-0086-0124%20Report%20O-32.pdf | title = Japanese Torpedo Fire Control | date = February 1946 | publisher = US Naval Technical Mission to Japan | id = Fascicle O-1, Target O-32 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070720142332/http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/gvt_reports/USNAVY/USNTMJ%20Reports/USNTMJ-200F-0086-0124%20Report%20O-32.pdf | archive-date = 2007-07-20 }}</ref>
In 1932, the [[Bureau of Ordnance]] (BuOrd) initiated development of the TDC with [[Arma Corporation]] and [[Ford Instruments]].<ref name="Holwitt, p.147">Holwitt, p.147.</ref> This culminated in the "very complicated" Mark 1 in 1938.<ref name="Holwitt, p.147"/> This was retrofitted into older boats, beginning with
The first submarine designed to use the TDC was {{USS|Tambor|SS-198|2}},<ref name=Tambor>{{cite web | last = Mohl | first = Michael | title = Tambor (SS-198) | work = NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive | year = 2006 | url = http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08198.htm | access-date = 2006-08-01 }}</ref> launched in 1940 with the Mark III, located in the [[conning tower]].<ref name="Holwitt, p.147"/> (This differed from earlier outfits.)<ref>Beach, Edward L., Jr. ''Dust on the Sea''.</ref> It proved to be the best torpedo fire control system of [[World War II]].<ref>Holwitt, p.147; {{harvnb|Friedman|1995|p=195}}.</ref><!--This appears to conflict with the Technical Mission assessment.-->
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