It was the first American-built torpedo to feature counter-rotating turbines, each driving a propeller.
This design eliminated the unbalanced torque that contributed to the tendency of its predecessor (the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1 torpedo) to roll.
The single-stage turbine engine drove a single propeller, which had a tendency to develop unbalanced torque and thus to roll in the water, affecting its accuracy.
This problem was corrected by Navy Lieutenant Gregory Davison in the Mark 2 by using a twin-turbine engine driving twin propellers, thus steadying the torpedo's trajectory.
The Bliss-Leavitt Mark 2 was launched from battleships, torpedo boats and cruisers.