Volume ll Issue 132

Published by
Orbis Publlshing Ltd
@ Aerospace Pub ishing Ltd 1986
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John Bidyard
Falklands campaign.

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 r\ /cffer
The
(Ipons
technologicalrcvolutionof the tast fow decadesfias
Themodern
ligh tw eight torped o, in
combination with the
dedicated anti-
submarine helicopter,
ftasexfendedllIe
capabilityof ASW
vesse/s loan enormous
extent. This is an
seen a profomd change in the waging of war at sea, withthe AmericanMk46
torpedo rcplacing the depth charge as the major anti- torpedo attached to an
5H-3^SeaKrng
submarine weapon and the torpedo itself being helicopter, a
complemented, or in some cases replaced in the anti-shipping combination common
toseveralNATO
role by the guidedmissile. navies.

With the advent into service of the British Strngray lightwerght ASW
torpedo in the early 1980s, the era of the intelligent (or 'smart,) weapon
arrived in the fleld of torpedo technology. Already the Americans are
moving fast to close the gap by replacing their outmoded Mk 46
weapons by the 'smart' Mk 50, whilst both the Royal and US Navies are
working to fleld as early as possible new heav)-werght torpedoes (in the
form of the Spearfish and Mk 48 ADCAP respectively) to counter the
new generation of faster and deeper-dtving Sovret nuclear submarines
that have jusL entered service.
At the same trme the Soviets took the opportunity of springing their
own surprise in torpedoes rn the form of therr Type 65 long-range
wake-homing anti-ship weapon of 609.6-mm (24-in) cahbre aboard
attack vessels. Such weapons are backed by a wide range oi standard
533-mm (2l-in) calibre steam- and electric-powered models (with
speeds ranging from 28 kts up to 45 kts or so) including the only nuclear-
armed torpedo left rn service with any navy. The Soviets also deploy a
wide variety of smaller weapons mainly for ASW use. Surprisingly it is
only in the last few years that any reports of wire-guided weapons in
service with the soviets have surfaced, and to date these have not beer
substantiated.
Of the other torpedo-producing nations only Sweden has produced
remarkably different designs, Its heaq4veight Tp6l family is based on a
hydrogen peroxide propulsion system of the type discaided by othet
Western countries such as the UK as being too dangerous to iandje
under operational conditions, And the Swedish hghtweiqht Tp42 series
is.still the only Western torpedo of tts class that cin be gnrided by wue
alter an arrborne launch.
For the next century there is the prospect ol torpedo-tike weapons
used as robotic sub-surface vessels in the place of manned submarines.
such systems would be controlled from shore bases and form defensive
barriers around friendly countries.
The launch of a modern heavyrveight torpedo from asurface yesse,lfias
changed little from those launched from-the destroyers and fast attack craft of
WorldWar II. What has changed, however, is the means by whi"i
is directed onto its tatgeL
tiiieiiii

; ];Jt,*ro$ r.
@ ft'At"lefunken Seal, Seeschlange, SST4 and SUT torpedoes
These AEG-Telefunken weapons con-
stitute a complete family of
heavyweight torpedoes. The basic
electdc:powered dual-speed SeaI and
Seeschlange (sea snake) were de-
veloped speciflcally for use by the
West German nalry, and are currently
rn use aboard rts 'Type 205/206' sub-
marines, whilst the Seal is also em-
ployed on some ligrht forces' missile
craft, There is a hrgh degree of equip-
ment commonalrty between the two
weapons, the major difference beinQt
that the smaller ASW Seeschlange has
only halfthe propulsrve battery capac-
ity of the antiship Seal. An active/pas-
sive homing head is fitted with a dual-
core wire-gnridance system that allows
rapid changing between speeds,
attack pattems and guidance modes in
order to meet the needs ofdeveloping
tactical situations.
The Seal was then taken as the mod-
el for the Special Surface Target (SST)
4 torpedo. which excepL Ior certain
features unique to West German oper-
ational requirements is comparable in
dimensions, construction and capabili-
ties to its predecessors. Used as the
standard anti-ship weapon sold with
export 'Type 209' submarines and
West German missile craft, the SST4 is
found in various NATO and South
er'.,,. .:-::,::: ,....!::.4: t).
American navies, and was used oper- ,,.

ationally by the Argentine submarine

San luls during the 1982 Falklands war
in several abortive torpedo attacks
against Royal Nalry task force ships,
The Seal was then further de-
veloped to produce the export Surface
and Underwater Target (SUT) torpedo,
As a dual-purpose ASWanti-ship
weapon capable of being launched
:rom surface ships. submarines or
shore positions the SUT has the same
shallow-water and deep-diving en-
gagement capabilities of the other
i-nembers of the family plus the same
:ontact and magrnetic proximity fusing
:t'stems, Like the SST4 it rs in produc-
:cn for export with the 'Type 209' sub-
::AIInES
Specification
Seal
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
A missile-armed Type 143 fast attack
craft of the West G erman navy makes
a test launch o{ an AEG/Telefunken
Seal torpedo. One of a family of
weapons, it is designed for the
engagement of surface targets, and
isfittedtoType 142 and 143 boats as
well as aboardType 206 submarines.
Specification
SeescNanqe
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
length 4, 15 m (13,62 ft), or 4 62 m
(15. 16 ft) withwire eruidance casket
Weight: 800 to 900 kq ( 1,764 to I,984 lb)
Warhead: 100 kq (220-lb) HE .
Right: The Surface and Underwater
Target (SUT) torpedo, seen being
Ioaded aboard one of thewidely
exported'Type 209' submarines, is
the mostversatile of the AEG-
T elefunken heavytveigh t tor pedo
range. Itis a dual-purposeweapon,
wire guided for greater accuracy.
lengthO 04 m(19 82 ft), or6,50 m
(21.33 ft) wrthwrre gn-udance casket
Weisht: 1414 ks(3, I 17 lb)
Warhead:260 kq (5731b) HE
Performance: speed 23 or 35 kts;
range 28 or 12 km (17.40 or 7,46 miles)

,::nh6.0B m(19,95 ft), or6 55 m Performance: speed 23 or 35 kts; Specification

:- 19 ft) withwire gn-udance casket range 14 or 6 km (8.70 or 3,73 miles) SUT
1370 kq (3,020 ft) Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (2I 1n);
'Veight: (573-lb) HE Specification lenqth6, 15 m (20 1B ft), or6 62 m Warhead:260-ks (573 Ib) HE
'Tarhead: 260-kq (21,72 ft) with wire gmrdance casket Performance: speed 23 or 35 kts;
Performance: speed 23 or 35 kts; ssT4
:::.;= 28 or 12 km ( 17 40 or 7.46 mlles) Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in); Weight: t414 ks (3 117 lb) range 28 or 12 km (17.40 or 7 46 miles:

il Houi"t sea mines

The offensive mines are mainly
gnound mines, of which the most im-
pofiant are the AMD-500 and AMD-
1000 types (the number referring to the
relevant mine's nominal weight tn kilo-
grams). The AMD-500 contains 300 kgt
(661 lb) and the AMD'1000 700
(1,543 1b) of HE Using magnetlc,
acoustic, pressure or combinatton in-
fluence actuating systems, these
weapons have also been wtdely ex-
ported, evidence beinEt provided by
recent wars in the Middle and Far
East The pressure types are almost
certainly used oniy by the USSR and
her most trusted Warsaw Pact Part-
ners, however, because of the possi-
bility of technologry compromrse and
the fact that in other hands they may
well be used agtainst their designers
eventually
There are also qrowinq Soviet
stocks of risrng mines and underwater
electrical potential mines for use in the
offensive ASW role aqainst NATO
targets. The rwo rypes of risrng mine
ks available can also be Lrsed rn a secon-
dary antrship role. These two types
are believed to be the 'Cluster Bay'
continental shelf and'Cluster Gulf con-
tinental Iedge types in NATO terminol-
ogty, There is also a smal1 stockpile of
nuclear-armed mines v,rth yields be-
tween 5 and 20 kilotons for use aqainst
very high-value surface ships or sub-
marines such as nuclear-powered air-
craft-carriers and 'Ohro' class SSBNs.
The primary offensive mrnelaying
plaliorms available to the Soviet navy
are its conventronally-powered sub-
marines because of their covert 1a1.ir-;
capabilities. These would be backe :
by aircraft of the Soviet naval ar forc:
whilst any defensive layinq would c=
the responsibility of surface ship url-
Specification
M08
Dimensions: diameter 0.90 m (2 95 -'
maximum case length 6 096 m (20.C -
Charge weight: I 15 kq (253,5 lb)
Maximum laying depth: 130 m (421 .
Specification
IGI
Dimensions: diameter 0,9 m (2.95 -
maximum case length 9. 144 m (30 i -
,
Chargeweight: 230 kq (507 lb)
Maximumiayingdepth:275 m (902 --
 mwetr&wwmwBq
,,5eJ*w;.$ciaedErol:a?- djrfdfes ij? e yeten ii? i) ; :
se*rqre* cf r:fAen+rise ghss/efe yes-sel,<, e !:e:. :-- :
j:lr:'r'jel a::tzn rrit.t:;1. r:e Io;rie"';:'irDl r,hesee Jangsarjr"oss r?afr/fun;-le'lrl $f e.,l.e,.r {olel,.rre'rr*.alf aEaJnsf Je,w nreJJ-pi.ofef..f€ei" idj?ets. T hE )'.;, : -..
.JaslE*iideri:r''-:.lje;,.rElnalirt6Spi*. ." . .. r
tfre';zlas.':-;;:e Ameri.t:a-tm,r.=::r'-lfureemecnt of E,,tra"uc cfuadj.V.A'I,(.l r;rou.{rJreqrl.re;n rl.rtder tai y..':a.r-s r;Jc, ,huf e*uJdAe cj.sed efe*ijyely a;::r: :
hol'el Jiouief g;i'oil,nd,fu; ses t-rn iiae 6"el* fral.Fl"et,rl f" rneri"rharif ennreys.

In oiclel ior l'.,lATO lo resist, halt arid then diirze

- I o ,'l ,. . Do o . . .n.c Wes :n
Eu.rope vast amounts ol sr-r;rp.lies and heavy
ellirlpm.eni must be morre,j via lhe sea lr.nes of
communrcatrcns (SLOCs) across the l.lolth
AtlantLc, Althougrh ilany oithe norlhern SL,OCs
ivculci be open to ioint ii'rterdiciLon by Sorlet
na,ral arr iorce rrrissile-carrylng s:rike legim,
enls and b_1r surlace shrps and. subrnarines ihe
sou:hern ones -r,rould beccme the priority
iafq.ets for subrnarines alone. Because ol the
ciistances invclved and speed reqrll:ements lc
. .h:.-^r .e O r.,r .O-F'O a 1r'.oCl-
ri,,or-rlJ- be a.ssigned io lhe nllclear-porruered
ciuise-. r,iissile and tcr:pedo aitack boats, rrvhrlst
coasial \,rva-rers, nalu.ral choke pr]tnts and poit
a.ieas -',r,.oulci become the hunting ground fcr
tle au,"tar ccrrren'rionally pcl,,vered uirils
i'ire Sovic.--l iheo i:y of submarine -urariare con
irnua.l1;r stless-os the r1'ounlnr; Of Co-ordinated
;.,irack-q blr a rrarietrv oi rrlulualJy supporiinq plal-

.r:l;:i:i'il fi:e.:r.ln-qiJe'-Fapa' elas-s c;ru.ls* ;"yli-qs.lJe

:r.r!t l:ri.ne c+;:.fd i,:;e.f],bil ffi a]:ra.luys*r ef a seri*s
.:.:''r:.r.i:;.'ia.';;res des'rgrur,i:C i* i*jc* ln iil* uS flnn-ie;:
:1,.:r'ii= G!'{ri:l], es "tJie ls a.fpa:rexf.l.'' a de-reitrpnenf
':t',1.i+ 'il.lier":'i*:' r:.kss ,tnr;e: Jrc:"n ltng seri:l* cf,ijle
.: 1 :;';ti:l r:;r:' a',tCh.r] i,f 4.iij' {rf tJ]e iif f.l'e- tiigJ': -s,pe**i
,'1. ir.: :!.i ;r' cla
":.:"

aa...
 S:-,'.et Attack

l::a.-ed positioning
. . . :='...=i crdfl wourd requrre Lhe posi-
,. ,:- : SSIs and SSGNs (after high-speed
:, ,-.. j -r,rr- :leir patrol and holdrng areas) in
: . -, -. .::,:rs tc avoid any possibillty oi in-
.--' :. -::. :onee and bearing from the
. . -..-r" posi'ron and route would be
r -:..,:a: -::crding to the submarine's own Above : A'Victor' class nuclear-powered attack Below: A 'Sierra' class attacksu.brnanhe is seen
. ..- : ,r-l he-r abihLv o disengage submarine submerges at the start of a patrol. Such underway tothenorth of Norway, Enlarged
- ..',,'.- -:,= ionc-range missile attack element boats would form the spearhead of any Soviet versions of the very capable 'Victor III', the
' , -: .. ::cvided by two or three SSGNs attack on the Atlantic jugular, duelling with 'Sierras' could well make long-range attacks using
defending NATO hunter-killer submarines in the SS-NX-? I cruise mrlsrJes or tie new wake-homing
- --,r::i ,'::r SS-N 3 'Shaddock' or SS-N-12
::: j' - :r:,se missrles, These boats would icy depths. 6 1 0-mm (24-in) very long-range torpedo.

: ::: :..: crearranged time to launch a co-

: -:.. I s rean attack of missiles from sever-
:. : :-'-:.= r': :r cne side of the convoy in order
'- -1 - - - . ^nrl iLSescortsinLo awelt
: - ..--r:lence deploymenr pat'ern and
, :i: rs :ruch confusions as possible. The
-., :----:::,e rn each salvo fired would also be
- . . :l:d foCOnnatSSanCe Syslem tO Send
l-:-'.-y posi-ronrng data qrLa a dala-
.. -: .- .fle la,lnch plallorm lor lo,iow on
. . ': '. -:: : ^re salei-rle communications chan
- - -- : nmand centre and as manv ol lh-o
:: :.. :rKurg units as possible Dunng the
- ::,--<n {285/350-mi1e) fliqrht of the SS-N-3
.. :i 1..-i2 mLssiles, which use rnedium- to
. --:-.---*ie terminal attack profles, one or two
.---- --cis SSGNs would close'o lheir own
..-.. .. : . -i..:ons nealel Lo Lhe convoy and on irs
r f e lo frre palrs oi therr orn n 55 km (34
-. : r-r_:e SS N 7 or 110 km (68 mite) range
. -.. I -: r+n pop-Lp anr--shrp cruise missiles
-sea-skimminq
- - =:: :erminal missiles would
.. 1 = i .o alrrve amongsl tile ships after Lhe
.' -: --nr ranqe missrtes had hit. lo cause
. .-:a.er coniusron and lhe adoprion of yer
-- -: :;asive manoeuvres within the convoy to
...:: .5em To:dd lurlher lo lhe convoys
,- : , r,,=:.rs at thls poini, two to three of the SSNs
,.r:.-rl cutside the convoy's ASW screen and
= : - iced tc carry and fire the massive Type 65
. - -:-r1.124 -rn; wa<e homing antl-ship Lolpe-
-:, '-,':uici also have timed the launch of be-
"::r- p-Qhr .nd l2 of rhese high-speed
' --ccns from astern or slightly abeam of the
"r: :-l-.'.y from a range of some 30 to 50 km ( 18 6
-niles,to arrive at aboul Lhe trme rhar .he
. .-. 5 ,vere lulnrng Lo mee the new mLssi-e
. ::< Asingle hitlromoneofthese torpedoes
''.'-:l its large explosive charge in the vicinity ol
.r3el's steerinq gear wouid be enough to cnp-
:.: it and leave it a sitting duck for any of the
missr,es By rhrs sragc. aird il all
' -..-s<immrng
, .s of Lhe battleo.an had been followed coi-
- - ::.y and no 'rouble had beer- met. the convoy
-:. - iLs escorts would have bcen rhrown tnto
.,:al disorder with many damaged or sinking
- ,-ps litlenng its roule Any gaps opened rn lhe
iSW screen by the loss of an escort would then
:e exploiied by the remainlng SSNs lying in
-.Jnl ol the convoy and oursrde lhe escorts
,r.lvtr sonar ranqe -fhese wouid penelrale the
screen via the gaps and ciose to within some
,6 km (10 miles) ol the nrerchant ships to use

.a:21
 Modern Underu;ater Weap o:, s

;l11$.{ffi1i-
rlltry:3e;

Above: Thevery large'Oscar' class crujse mtssj/e
submarineis a rmedwith the 270 nauticalmile
rangedSS-iV-19, which alsc forms tftemarn sff,t'ke
weiponry of the nuclear power ed' battlecruiser'
Kirov.
Below: The loading of the Military Sealift
Command ship USTVS Mercurya t the portaf
Wilmington shows thewide range o{stores and
equipment that would be shipped across lie
Atlantic.

-:i
:rt ill ril
, dili,.-. "rlsli,

ti

w .#i#q..-
Scvret Attack

..- -:,=:: anC main armament of stralqht- Above: One of the first targets for attackiag Soviet Below: In the event o{ a crisis in central Europe. ti:
. . .- ,.,,--;-^ tr)t - (21-in) anlr-ship submarines would be the escorts. ?ftemosl US couid be able to call upan the pre-positionec
----.-,,e uuu-r-1rlt
-
. ..: :t-l acoustrc-homlng weapons to capable ASW vesse/s rn ffi e USffa vy are assigned vesse/s oflfiefiapid Deplayment joint Task Farce
-. - i-n:eed rargers and srnk as many as to the defence of the high-value carrier battle which could be underway from their Indian Ocee:
groups. with less capabJe yesse,lsprotecting the bases and rnto the Mediterrcnean in davs rather
.. , .= :: lhe undamaged ones. In ihe event
supply convoys.
- : r, . . r:sistance to these SSNs or the need thanweeks.
I ' -:-
': ,-.:: short-range
- chnv+-v:nna tnvnazl^
torpedo .l+.^l/-
attacks, l}'^h
then
, -s:J rn rhe long-ranqe stern or beam
-: :..ac-<S would be vectored in the the
:- r:i:mand authority from their weapon
. - - j-.-)ns to apply rhe coups-de-grace,
-':lse the above scenario is idealtzed
:: Scr,rlet point of view, and takes no
-:,... l: .he plesenCe
-- :ne cresence OI weslern SUrlaCe
western
of a WeSteIn surfaee
surlace
. .--+': irlier group with long-range pas
. : lrrdys, large numbers of ASW heli-
=r.: .'.-erhead maritime patrol aircraft and
-,- l. crolecton in the form of an SSN or
-:-:-j rl]l.g-range passlve sonars to detect
L . _a: sllcmarlnes manoeuvlmg at speed
-:-: a:tack positions, However, the sce-
. ,=-.+red to conlain ail of the current
--..-, r-:- o ack optrons available lo Sovier
:::-=-::anders when using only subsuriace
.:. -:- aitack on a reinforcement convoy in
.-. .-:.-. l
-s: ci nuclear warheads on the missrles
-r' : -s rvould br,ng a whole new ou'-
.: a3 scenario, as area rather than indi-

- ....:lk-nq unr-s regurred lo rnflrct on a

--- :ie same or (more probably) a higher
- =. :- :ianase, Irrkewise the use of tactical
:.i\V :l'eaoonsbv
.'. -iS\,ny'.r,ieapons
.=.: thedetenclino
by the lorce
defending force
. ... : --, j-rnfl-cr enough losseson rhe artack-
. : '-:r::araes effectively to disrupt the Soviet
. : :-an belore it can become effective,

Important vessels in the resupply lifeline wauld
include the US Navy's specialist ammunition ships,
suclr as U,S,SKiska- One certaintywhichwas
highlighted by the Falklands experience is that
j ( count the losses bul only the high-tech war will mean enormous expendifures
The end result of the entire effarf :i eiemc-:,,:.'
by the unloading of supplies on tie docks ='
Rotterdam. It is essential that in any coniitc: :.'
NATO forces hold the Warsaw Pact adva r :.. -
the major American reinlorcements an'J": .

of weaponry. Europe.
ffi Houi"t torped.oes Modern Undennrater Weapons
Soviet torpedoes, like their Western
counterparts, can be categorized into
healry and lightweight models for spe-
cific purposes, Of the former, two
caiibres are known: the standard
533 mm (2 L in) and the relatively new
609,6mm (24in). The 533-mm (2]-in)
versrons are thought to have been
evolved from German World War II
designs, and include straight- and pat-
tern-runmng surface- and submarine-
Iaunched steam- or electric-powered
models for anti-ship use, as well as
acoustic/passive homrng ASWantr-
ship versions Surprisingly, most large
modern surface combatants have mul-
ti-tube launchers for the ASW acous-
tic-homing versions. There is also a
special 5-kiloton yield nuclear-armed
1

non-terminal-homing 533-mm (21-in)

torpedo in service on many of the sub-
marines desrgmed for use against high-
value surface targets such as cafirers
or Very Large Crude Carrrers. Similar-
Iy the huse 9.14-m (30-ft) long 609,6
mm (24-in) anti-ship Type 65 torpedo
has been introduced on board later-
generation nuclear attack submadnes
for use against surface ship targrets, It rs
belreved to use wake-homing gur-
dance methods and, with selectable
50- or 30-kt speeds, has rangres of 50
and 100 km (31 or 62 miles) respective-
Iy, With rangres like these the Type 65
rs being used to supplement the pop-
up anti-ship cruise missile weapons of
'Charlie' class SSGNs, and the type's
availability for the frrst time allows
Soviet SSNs to fire torpedoes from out-
side the ASW screen of a convoy.
For air, shipboard and submarine
ASW uses at close ranqe a 400-mm
(15,75-in) electric-powered hght-
weight torpedo has been in service for
a number of years. This has now
apparently been supplemented for
use aboard ASW aircraft and helicop-
ters by an even larger 450-mm (17,7-
rn) weapon which is beheved to have a
largrer warhead and grreater range to
increase lethaiity. Both the airlaun-
ched weapons use parachutes to re-
Above : The Yitse-Admiral Kulakov rs
the second ofthe largeASW
destroyers of the 'Udaloy' class. In
addition to her ASW missiles and
helicopters, sheis armedwith two
quadruple 533-mm (21-in) torpedo
tubes, one of which is visible astern
of the aft funnel structure.
tard their entry into the water,
According to some reports there is
also a short 400-mm (15,75-mm) anti-
ship torpedo which is found aboard the
first-qeneration'Hotel','Echo' and
'November' class nuclear submarines
in their stern tubes, The later-genera-
tion nuclear submarine classes
apparently have had several of their
standard 533-mm (21-in) calibre torpe
do tubes fitted with liners to fire the Above : The'Alfa' c/ass submarlne is Below: Backbone of the Soviet anti-
ASW version of the same weapon, considerably shorter than other submarine force, the' Krivak' clas s.
The standard fusrng system fitted to Sovief S.SIV design s , so it is unlikely to like all major Saviet vessels, is fitted
Sovret torpedoes rs an active maqnetic have been fitted to fire the massive with torpedo tubes. The eight tubes
proximity device (to ensure detonatton 6 1 )-mm ( 24-in) torpedo reportedly abaft the bridge, in quadruple
under the target's hull so as to break its in service with the Soviet navy mounts port and starboard,
back) with a secondary contact unit for although it may he armed with the pr o b a b ly fir e acou s tic a I ly - h om i ng
a direct hlt. slralegrcSS-/V- 2 I C ruise mis sile. 533-mm (2 I -in) torpedoes.
fE iif'crv L3, L4 and LS torpedoes
-ie electric-powered 550-mm (21,7-
-::) calibre L3 ship- or submarineJaun-
:ied ASW homing healryweight tor-
;edo rs currently in servrce with the
::ench navy and was designed by the
l:ection Technique des Construc-
.-:::s Navales to attack submerged
:::jets at depths up to 300 m (984 ft)
--i speeds from 0 to 20 kts. It is fitted
,',,:- an AS-3T active acoustic gur-
:a:-ce system that has a detection
:--ge of about 600 m (1,969 ft) in ideal
:::ditrors, and the warhead is deton-
=.=d by an electro-magnetic proxrmity
::-.-:g system, A 533-mm (21-in) ver-
.-::- ',.,rih the same perlormance is
-;."able for export, lenqth and weiqht
::-::g 4.318 m (14, 17 ft) and
- :31 1b), Apart from France, several
:- -:e countnes (including Spain)
-.';:-::: have bouqht 'Daphn6' class sub-
:,=-::es have also obtained the larger-
-:jlra ruaannn
The Sintra-Alcatel-built L3 is a
conventional ship- or submarine-
launched active acoustic homing
anti- submarine torpedo. U nusually,
ithasadiameterof 550 mm(21.65 in)
but has been offered in the more
standard 533 mm (2 I in) for export.
It is in widespread French naval
sewice.
sion ofthis has been developed for the
expofi market as the L5 Mod 4P multl-
role torpedo. All versrons are fltted
wrth a Thomson CSF active/passrve
gnridance system and are capable of
vadous attack profiles includinq direct
and programmed searches using
900 kg erther of the acoustic homing techni-
ques available, Known operators ofthe
LS other than France include the Bel-
gian navy (LS Mod 3) and Spain
(aboard submarines),

-:!sc ln servlce with the French navy Specification

--. ::e 533-mm (2]-in) electric-po-
-.r::eC L-4 air-launched torpedo for
*<: ','i'rh helicopters, aircraft and the
1.1^':;cir ASW missile. Fitted with an
:--;e acoustic-homing system, rt de-
:::raes a crcular search path upon
=:--::xg the water until its seeker ac-
r,*-res the target. The warhead rs de-
:::-::eci erther by an impact fuse or a
;::r:-mrty acoustic influence fuse.
:::::h L4s have recently been mod-
=::,:ed to rmprove shallow-water
::::::-rce and its 0/20-k target
: "1,- nom penscope depth to around
: -'--:: (984-ft) deep cruisinq, A version
-:: s-:nace ship launching has also
::=: cieveloped: this has a lengrth of
: :, r: i10.83 ft) and a weiqht of 570 kq
- 2:r 1b).
-:.: most recent of the L-serres lor-
;:d:es is the electric-powered
-,'.-::-:: is avarlable in four versions, The
ASWanti-ship LS Mod I
'.'-=l-curpose
:arned by surface ships, whilst the
:=-::iar-role but heavier LS Mod 3 is
-:i by submarines. A sinqle-role
-,-J_art. the ASW t5 Mod 4, has been
:::,;ed fuom the Mod I and is used
::.:-_* by surface ships. A fufiher ver-
L3
Dimensions: diameter 550 mm
(21,7in); lensth4.30m(14. II ft)
Weisht: 910 ks (2,006 lb)
Warhead: 200-kq (4411b) HE
Performance: speed 25 kts; rangre
7,5 km (4,66 miles)
Specification
L4
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (2 L in); Above:The L4 airJaunched torpedo Below : The L5 series of multi-
per- length 3,033 m (9.95 ft), or 3, 13 m can function in shallow water against purpose torpedoes is fittedwith
capa- ( 10.27 ft) with parachute pack submarines manoeuvring at up to Thom s on - C SF ac tivel pas siv e
Weisht: 540 kq (1,190 lb) 20 kts. I t also provides the warload homingheads, although theMod I is
I/llarhead: 104-kq (229-lb) HE for the Malafon ASW missile system, intended for surface yesse/ use and
Performance: speed 30 kts; range and a ship-launched version has the heavier Mod 3 version (shown
5 5 km (3.4 miles) been desigrned. fi ere) egurps s ubm ar ines.
Specification
t5
L5, Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
length 4,40 m ( 14,44 ft)
Weisht: (Mod 1) 1000 kq (2,205 lb),
(Mod 3) 1300 ks (2,866 lb), (Mod 4)
920 ks (2,428 b) and (Mod 4P) 930 kg
(2,050Ib)
Warhead: 150-kq (331jb) HE
Performance: speed 35 kts; range
9.25 km (5.75 miles)

fI iif'cN FIZ torpedo

---: FI7 ls the flrst wire-gurded
to be used by
:-=a-;gweigrht torpedo
:,: French navy Designed for use
-;:-:rst surface ships from submarines,
:: -.'!'eapon can be employed erther in
:: ,',.rre-giurded mode or in an auton-
:::::us passive homing mode, the
::pabrlrty for instant swrtching be-
.;een the two modes beinq provided
::, a control panel aboard the launch
: ajorm. The terminal attack phase is
' :.rnally ol lhe passrve dcoust'c type
::der the torpedo s own mternal con-
::1. A dual-purpose surface- or sub-
::-arne launched variant, the Fl7P, has
:so been developed for the export
::-arket and has been bouqht by Saudi
.Type ior use aboard its 'Madina'
-i.labia
F200Q') class frrgates and by
Sparn for use aboard rts 'Agosta' and
iiodernrzed 'Daphne class sub-
narines. The FLTP differs from the
basrc F17 in having an active/passle
acoustic-homrnq seeker which allows
:ompletely autonomous operation if
required lenqth 5.9 L4 m ( 19.40 ft) The wire-guided F I 7 heavyweight torpedo is an anti-shipping submarine-
Weight: 1410 kq(3, 108 lb) launchedweapon, although an automatichoming head is standard. The F17P
Specification Warhead: 250-kq (5511b) HE is a developmentcapable of shipor submarine launch, and in addition towte
FT7 Performance: speed 35 kts; ranqe gaidance is equipped for active or passive acoustic homing.ln all the models.
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in); lB km (11 iB miles) however, the terminal atfackpftasers usually autonomous.

2628

Thomson-CSF sea mines
Thomson-CSF produces hvo types of
operatronal sea mine, The TSM35l0 (or
MCC23) is an offensive gnound mine
f,tted with a multi-sensor fusing system
based on two or all of the magmetic,
acoustic and pressure actuating influ-
ences, and rs shaped for launching
from the standard torpedo tube of a
submarine, The sensrtivity of the fusing
can be adjusted before laying to surt
the depth of water and the type of
target likely to be encountered, The
mrne is armed (by withdrawtng two
safety pins) before it is loaded into the
tube and is activated by a preset trm-
rng delay to allow the submarine to
clear the area, TWo srmilarly shaped
training mines, the TSM35l5
(MCED23) and the TSM35I7
(MCEM23), are also in servrce,
For defensive puposes there is the
TSM3530 (MCTIS), which is a gnound
As offensive mines have to be haid
covertly, often in or near enemy
waters, the most appropriate system
for such work is the submarine.
Hence theTSM 3510, incommonwith
many other mines in production
today, is designed to be ejected
through standard torpedo tubes.
mine deployed from surface ships
fitted with mine rarls. It is checked in its
descent to the sea bottom by a para-
chute-retardingr device which ensures
that correct orientation is achieved, It
is armed by a preset timing delay
which allows the laying platform to
clear the area,
Both mines are in servrce with the
French navy and have been sold
abroad, especially the TSM3510 which
is found in several of the countries that
Modern Underwater Weapons
have purchased 'Daphn6' class sub-
malmes,
Specification
TSM3SIO
Dimensions: diameter0,53 m (1.74 ft);
length2.368 m(7,77 fI)
Weight:850 kq (1,874 lb)
Actuating sensors: combination
magnetic acoustic, magnetic pressure,
acoustic pressure, or magnetrc
acoustic pressure
Specification
TSM3530
Dimensions:diameter 1,20 m (3.94 rt)
lensth 1,10 m (3,61 ft)
Weisht: 1200 ks (2,646 lb)
Actuating sensors: combinarion
magnetic acoustic, maqnetic press':::
acoustic pressure. or magmetlc
acoustic pressure

ffi ft"r"oni Stingray torpedo

Designed to supplement the Amencan Similar in size to the previous
Mk 46 Mod 2 and to replace the Mk 44 generation of lightweight torpedoes,
torpedoes in British service, the Mar- the MarconiStingray also has a
coni Stingray lightweight torpedo was similar performance. Where it differs
the sequel of the abortive MOD in- rs in flre sophrs ticate d guid ance.
house lightweight Mk 30 and 31 proq-
rammes which were cancelled in Specifi cation (provisional)
1970,The Stingray is the first Britrsh Stingray
torpedo to be developed entirely by Dimensions: diameter 324 mm
private industry and incorporates a (12,75 in); lensth2.6 m(8.52 ft)
number of technical innovations. The weiqht:265 4 ks (585.2 lb)
weapon is capable of being launched Warhead: 40-kg (BB-lb) shaped-
foom helicopters, aircraft and surface charqe HE
ships over a wide range ofspeeds and Performance: speed 45 kts; range
sea states and as a result ofits unique 1l I km(6,9miles;
qdance system, ean be used satisfac-
:crily in both shallow and deep waters Right: The new generation of
',',ith an equally high single-shot kill lightweight torpedo gives sigmificant
plobability, the former bernq demons- anti- su bm arine cap a bility to
lated recently during a development r e latively u nsop his tic ate d sys tem s.
: al shot when Stingray Cropped from The Britten-Norman Defender could
: BAe Nrmrod of No. 42 Squadron hit carry Stingray and could use its
=i sank the
;::-iional
decommissioned con-
submarine Porpoise,
sophisticated electronics to attack
the most advanced of submarines.
-;larently whrlst she was moored at
-:+:s:ope depth.
-r-:rough deployed operationally
=;:-C several ships during the 1982
: .:rds war, Stingray was not flred
-
--, --;:r and did not actually enter full-
.:-: semce with the Royal Navy and
- -;=' -:- Force until 1983. Since then
-:- r-;=acon has been sold to Thailand
"-- :-=,-ci. ln terms of qeneral per-
--i::.::,le rt is simllar to the Mk 46
:., -;:- -: seems, the British torpedo
:- -' ;:-Jy deeper diving depth of
r., : :25 ft). The Strngray also pos-
-i;::-: ::- onboard digital computer
::-i:r:1 :: a multimode multi-beam
l:--.; !:Ssrve sonar that effectively
r:':-r: , : smart' weapon, Propulsion
-i :'ii :-_ :-ectncally-driven pump-jet
nn. -: I :E::._,. activated by sea water
t:,:- =::-]=s :3 speed loss as the depth
n:::--: l:e warhead is of the
r--: - --:-:.i: l)' shaped-charge van-
i-i ::ii=: :-= blast type to ensure
;n:::r::: :: a Soviet Submarine's
:i!: -L:F:- t::-strLlction,

"Txis!:l; :-=FA-;, will form a part of the

,{i;Ji.ffi- ;;1;=-sr t of several classes of
.ilcm'ai -N+,i:rr-:-.rfa ce combatant- The
ut:nF,j:P:- n{be launched from
mn:rme: ;=:= ans of the US M k 32
t!:tts lll'g - shown here in a trial
larlrtr ::fi ::e l,pe 2 J frigate HMS
"&mer{:q
Sfingrqg in Action
The phenomenal growth in the power of the Soviet navy in the past two decades has
nowhere been so prominent as in the development of the submarine. New
technologies applied to submarine and weapon design have provided a challenge
to NATO, and one of the most sophisticated of NATO's replies has been the
advanced lightweight S tingr ay torpedo

..-= advent of the high-speed deep-diving
-:-qra SSN and 'Papa' SSGN anechoic-coated
::::anne classes at the begrnning of the 1970s
;:=sea:ed major problems to NATO ASW
;--:ers rr lhat the standard lightweight torpe-
tr: es -n at the time, the Mk 44 Mod I and the
r-rse
l,k =t Mod 0/I/2, had totally inadequate hom-
::; arC underwater performances to meet this
::=a: Although a modiflcation programme
e;entually initlated in an attempt to red-
:,'.-=s
:=ss -,re balance (on the seeker side at least)
--: :re Mk 46 under the trtle NEAR-Term Im-
:::;3rent Program (NEARTIP) it was later
::;e.'ed by several American admirals durlng
J.::-;essional testimony that the NEARTIP
:::-;erslon had only resulted in upgrading the
l"k =6s io handle the pre-'A1pha'generation of
=:-::-ariaes coated with the same anecholc
l::--gls found on the newer boats.
-:- re mrdst of all this, and as a flnal result of
:-= :a:rcellation of the British Minrstry of De-
:=:-:= s Mk 3l 324-mm(12.75-in) callbre interim
-;:-r;eight torpedo project rn 1970, contracts
,-;=re pl.aced with Marconi for the design, de-
;=-:pment and initral production of an auton-
-:-:-rs acoustic-homing torpedo lnltially
as Naval Stalf Requirement 7511 or 'Son
':-:',".r:
-: l,k 3L', and finally as Stingray, As part of the
,-r lia-.ry's similar Advanced Lightweight Tor-
:=:: .ALWT) programme inrtrated in August
1975, the Stingray was evaluated for possible
US procurement. However, the Americans
found that although its new shaped-charge
warhead and advanced active/passive acous-
tic seeker with rntegral computer gave it an
unnvalled target detection and destruction
capabrlity in comparison with the Mk 46 Mod 5,
the Stingray was very much more expensive
and had only srmilar underwater speeds, max-
imum diving depth and endurance character-
istics, which were prectsely the areas in which
the US Nairy was looking for marked improve-
ments. It was also pointed out that a new-type
propulsron system rather than the electric-bat-
tery type fltted would probably resolve these
operational limitations,
RoyalNavyuse
Despite these American obsewations about
Stingray, the Royal Navy stuck with its choice
and ordered the weapon in significant quanti-
ties for use aboard its surface ships and heli-
copters. The Royal Air Force has also adopted
it for the main armament of its BAe Nimrod
MR Mk 2 maritime patrol aircraft, which can
each carry up to nine Stingrays in the internal
weapons bay. On Royal Navy helicopters the
load is usually one or two on a Westland Lynx
HAS Mk 2/3 and up to four on a Westland Sea
Krng HAS.Mk 2Al5
Marconi's Stingray exhibits all the qualities of a
modernASWweapon, being lightenough to be
ttansported by small helicopters yet fast enough to
cope with the most modern nuclear submarines.
On surface ships the Stingray is launched
from the port and starboard 325-mm (12 75-in)
calibre triple torpedo tubes of the quick-reac-
tion Ship's Torpedo Weapon System-2, which
is a second-generation development by a Brlt-
ish firm of the US Navy's Mk 32 torpedo-laun-
cher unit and is integrated into the ship's Actron
Information Organization (AIO) At present
STWS-Z rs fitted on certain 'lreander' class fri-
gates, all batches of the 'T\7pe 22' class ASW
ships and some of the 'Type 42' class des-
troyers, In the future it will be fitted aboard the
new 'Type 23' 'Duke' class ASW frigates.
Under normal circumstances, in all ship-
board cases the mode of operation is for the
STWS-2 microprocessor-based tracker and
prediclor systems to receive on an aulomalic

The MAD attack

as Nlmrod patrols ln rad o and rada r s lence, one of the crew eyebal s a
srrfaced submarine. mmedlate ya smoke flare ls dropped and the aircrafl
: icles the area of the now crash d ved boat at ow ieve and n r ght radius.
\lmrod sows act ve and pass ve buoys whlle ln the turn, and each crew
-ember sea rches the array of sensors for a fu rther s ghting

\.-
Passive buovs s molv \ Active buoys
isten forthe no se thatthe are dropped arc -:
submar ne makes and with the passi\':
broadcast them to the buots. They €r
overflying Nimrod. sqBBly.distan*
Receplion f rom twobuoys informatioftaaC
Gn supply bearing canlocateslle.:
information submarines bv
tra.nsmrttrng
soundpulsesa-:
recording retu-:
reflected baci.,
the submafi.g

metalhu ls of havc a marked effec thc ocal Earth s mac field Dlstortionsofl naturc dre detected bv
gearcarr ed in aft boom ofthc overf y ng j. The effect ls ihard pronounced and LS ac ind catlon ol a boal

:=sis target data via an information channei
-::m the marn AIO unrt, These data are passed
.: the tracker, whrch then computes the
arget's current posrtron and drsplays the flre-
::ntrolled problem, The computed data is also
-:assed into the predictor, which in turn com-
putes the target's predrcted course and uses
.nis information (together with data on the
ship's own headrng, speed etc.) to generate
and drsplay the actual fire-controj solution that
cptimizes the probability of seeker acquisition
ior the weapon to be used, The ship's Principal
Warfare Officer (Underwater) can then use the
actron channel of the system to select and pre-
set launch details into the most appropriate
weapon of the six available to him in the tubes,
Once the launch point has been reached the
torpedo rs ejected from its tube on the rough
bearing to the target and retarded rn flight by a
smal1 droque parachute to ensure the correct
nose-flrst attitude for entering the water,
Search pattern commenced
Once the weapon has submerged, the para-
chute is drscarded and the weapon makes for
the target's predicted location to start its search
pattern. The onboard computer and the multi-
beam active/passive sonar enable the Stingray
to make its own tactical decisrons during an
engagement by anticipating a target's changes
ofcourse, speed and depth throughout analysls
of information it is receiving, The software is
also powerful enough to reject any counterme-
asures technrques such as towed noisemakers,
elected acoustic jammers or mobile decoys
:rat may be deployed by the target, It
,lnores any extraneous background noise ol
re marrne envlronment, which has been
Sting Ray attack
Modern Underwater Weap ons
known to seduce earher torpedo types from charge warhead is exploded by a dire:: :'-*--
their search patterns, Once locked on to a vali- tact fuse so that all of the force of the i--: _:
dated target, Stingray is thus virtually impossi- directed rnto penetratrng the pressure :- ' -:-.
ble to shake off unless the submarine is fast any depth the effect of the explosion ::- : : :- -
enough to outrun it (assuming that it has de- marine rs readily apparent, whrlst a: s:-.,,: .'.::
tected the noise ol the weapon homrng in), depth the damage should be more ::.-=. :--
The computer gnrides the torpedo to the opti- ficient either to cause the vessel to sin< i::: =:
mum point on the target, where the shaped- (where a catastrophrc hull failure v.c : I . :- -:
The guidance system of
modern torpedoes is fragile
enough to require parachute
retardation when Launched
from fast-moving aircratt such
as the British Aetospace
Nimrod-
S tingr ay's on boar d c ompu ter
will have been fed target data
up until the moment of launch,
and uponentry to thewater
will discard the drogue
parachute and begin to seek
the targetwith its own sonar.
also
Nimrodhaslocatedahosti csubmarneandhasstored n i1s :;,.:a:ai:t Submarlne s rr.:i
computer factors reiatlng to its bearlng. track and depth -
nformation gained by ts arrayof sensors These EarlV torpedo s :-:
parametersareass gnedtothe St ng Ray mmediatelv iffiA#ffi1 SrngRaysr.e.i
before its aunch and the torpedo enters thc water know ng
where to look for the target

Sting Rayrs acoustic

sensotsare much more
acute than those of
prevroustorpedoes and lts Sting Rai's warhead
initial search pattern can be has a shaped charoe and
carred out much more can inflict crippling damaqe
qulckly at vulnerab e points on ihe
submar ne's hul

Sting Ray's sensors :-:

adept at detectlnq
-- submarnessa:inqcl.sa::
Sting Ray's computel ':'.'ii the sea b,-d where rar:-
can eomnL JJe The iLrlLrre cluttercan rnhiblt no'-:
position bf the target and ll deteolnn

\ :
can calculate the best shoil
cut to meet t
t
i-"'"li::firffi'
exlsting, rather than ts
projected, posltlon; this

:?iJln:i;3?flJ?lvil:i
- outruns and outranges thc
:- o-P"do
 Strngrray in Action
:: :::---. :- -:-: CreSS-_te, CI iC fOfCe t: iO COme
.: :: s--t-'1ta -r,-.1erc :ne shtp s other weapons
-- i ^.* , _-

-:- -:-3 :,it:r:ie lau:rch application the initral

r:-3 t,-::- :- :re :arget rs usually dependent on
:--,:-3t --:-= ::cs: platJorm's sensors (such as pas
:-'.==:--.-: scnobuoys and active drpping so-
:.': .: .:+ '.-+c:orrng in ol the plariorm via in-
-::::-t_::- ierived from external sources such
-: I s::c s :owed-array or active sonar sets.
--:-:_ ::r!fe: localization is usually effected by a
:--;:l:::.. anomaly detection (MAD) system
--: - --:e permits the markrng of the weapon
l:'. t:---in point by a smoke or flare pot, Once
-:-= sc:: rs identified a parachute:retarded
S---;=,.- -s released to enter the water, Once
-.-.::-=:ged it starts on a preprogrammed
:=1:::r Da:iern designed to optimize the
r:-::-:=s oiacqurring the target, When acquist-
-:- .ias :aken place, the ability of Stingray,s
r-:-:r.:r :c anticipate the target's movements
r::-:s jt:o its own by effectively minimizing
_:_: , ':-e spent on rnanoeuvrinq after the tarqet
r-- l -:. i :ivrng rrsella greater chance to close marlne scares througrhout the war, but as far as Stingray undergoe.s fesfs af fhe n ew pro,Tuction
r: r :--. t: during the battery's lifetime of some can be ascertained these torpedoes hit nothino line built by Marconi for the project.-The cost of the
--::: ::lllUies OI SO, save a frigates Type 182 Lowed noisemakei programme has been considerably more than first
Little combat use decoy on one occasion and, if the reports are to estimated; staying in the van of advanced weapon
be believed, several unfortunate whales which technology is not cheap.
-r--:::"gh fully operational weapons were just happened to be in the wrong place at the
=.::.- south by several ships during the 1g82 wrong time. lf Stingrays had been used instead
:...ra::is war no Stingrays were flred in an- ol lhe Mk 46s, practically all lhese ,false target
;=: 3:ry the Mk 46 Mod 2 was used under hrts would not have occurred and the Santa-Fe
fo.und to do ii and (now more important)
whelher or not lhere is the political wrll to
l:r:-.1: ccnditions, the first being dropped on would have certainly added considerable tor- implement such modification as hiqher-cost
- - -:-pr-i 1982 by HMSBnlIant's Lynx HAS Mk 2 pedo damage to its hst of woes infltcted bv the projecis cream off avarlable financill asseLs.
,: S:::h Georgia during the combtned heli- hehcopters; she may possibly not have Failing such a development, Stingray wrll
r: ; .:: 3perations against the surfaced Argen- reached the safety of Grytviken harbour. probably end up as yet another Brrtish success
--:-: s-tbrnarine Sanla Fe bv a Westland
Wes- For the future rs tikely that the American story ior the orher side,
i+... .--:.S Mk 3 equrpped wirh depth charges, suggestion for engining Stingray wrth a new
and several Westland Wasp HAS.Mk propulsion plant (to tncrease lts maximum
,:= '-,,:t-x
,=i -with AS, 12 wire-quided
: :: ..=T r\4k 46s were dropp-ed by missiles underwater speed to match that of the new
A_Stingray is launched from a frigate of the Royal
Sea King Soviet submarine classes) wrll be followed
-::p:ers and others were fired-from ships Navy,-..Although primarily an air-launched weapon,
-__ However, like all defence malrers todav thrs theKingfisher system has been developed to iltow
:--,'.S-- systems during a number of sub- will depend on whether or not the cash can be tube launch fromsurface yesseis. -
tv;

B.

v \p'

Sr+*
tr:=g
:r: 'a

Marconi Mk 24 Tigerfish torpedo
-:-e origins of the Mk 24 Tigerfish
---:avyweight torpedo saga can be
:-:d as far back as 1959 in a British
:rcedo project codenamed 'Ongar'.
:_.- 1970 it was realized that the technol-
:1v rnvolved could not be handled
-,1ely by an rn-house servrce
=pproach, so the then Marconi Com-
:.ry was given the job of developing
:e weapon from 1972 onwards, Thrs
-,';as flve years after the oriqinally en-
-.-agred in-servrce date. As a result of
ieveiopment and engdneering prob-
:ms the flrst verslon of the Tigerfish
.re Mk 24 Mod 0, entered fleet servrce
-r 1974 with less operational capability
-ran originally desired, It was only
granted its full Fleet Weapon Accept-
ance certificate in 1979 after pro-
iracted evaluation,
To rectlfy the problems Marconi in-
rtrated development of a product-im-
proved version, the Mk 24 Mod I, dur-
ing 1972 but this also encountered
technical problems and flnally entered
limited service in mid-1978. By i98l
sufhcrent update kits were available to
upgnade all the earlter Mod 0 weapons
to this standard, Designed for sub-
marine use against submerged (Mod 0
and 1) and surface (Mod 1) tarqets, the
dual-speed electric-powered
Tigerfish is gmided in its initral stage
wire dispensed from both the sub-
marine and the torpedo itself, using
Cata denved from the launch plat-
cnn's passive sonar sets, The roll-sta-
ffi ft"r"oni Spearfish torpedo
l:signed to meet Naval Staff Requtre-
::,:nt 7525, the Marconi Spearfish is an
- r; anced-capabilities wire-guided
:-al-role (ASWanti-ship) heavy-
:';:.rht torpedo, It will be able to en-
:-pe the new generation of Soviet
,,;:-speed deep-submergence sub-
using a new HAP-Otto fuel-
: -=-:res
,-,-:red Sundstrand 2lTP01 qas tur-
: = :ngrne with a pump-jet outlet to
: r
-:;e speeds rn excess of 60 kts (up
-<s on trials), The warhead is of
. - -r-lected-energry shaped-charge
=
- :=
--i is capable of penetrating the
.'=,. S:viet developments in sub-
. ---.: io',,rble-hull construction which
: --. :=,::rd
aboard the 'Oscar' SSGN
,, - --.::oon' SSBN classes. To ensure
':- := r,3apon actually contacts the
,'
l= : :-'-lllhe lnstalled gnridance sys-
:
- j:s ::chriology developed origi-
. - ; -:: -:: Strngnay lightwetght tor-
:zds
Modern Underwater Weapons
bilized (by retractable mid-body stub The end result of an unbelievably protracted development programme, the
wings) torpedo is gnrided rn this fashion Tigertishwire-guidedheavyweighttorpedo is a developmentof the Mk 24
up to the point where its own three- torpedo, having a maximum speed variously estimated at 35 or 50 kts and a
dimensional aclive/passive sonar maximum r ange at low s peed of s ome 2 I km ( I 3 miles ).
seeker head and computer can take
over for the attack on the tarqet, At
present only the Royal and Brazilian
navies use the Tigerfish, A further
proqramme is under wdy lo examlne
possible enhancements to the
wedpon s capabrhtres wrth a vrew to
countering the new qeneration of
Soviet nuclear submannes.
Specification
Mk 24 Tigerfish
Dimensions: drameter 533 mm (21 in);
lenqrth 6.464 m (21.2 ft)
Weisht: 1547 kq (3,410 lb)
Warhead: 134-kg (295-lb) HE
Performarce: speed 24 or 35 kts;
range 2i or 13 lcn (13.05 or B,0B miles)
TheTigerfishis propelled by a two-
speed electric motor driving a pair of
conta-rotating propellers designed
by for high efficiency and low noise
production. T he I 34- kg (29 5- Ib)
high- e x plos ive w arhe ad c an be
detonated by contact or by proximity
fusing.
Externallyvery similar tothe Mk24 Tigerfishwire-guided torpedo that itwilleventually replace, the Marcon
Spearfish is radically ditferent internally and has a considerably enhanced performance.
pedo project, The computer will en- Specifi cation (provisional)
able the torpedo to make its own tac- Spearfish
ttcal decisrons during an enqagtement, Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
optimizrng the homing modes avail- lensth B.5 m (27.9 ft)
able to the underwater environment weisht: ks (4,400 lb)
1996
encountered and to the target's use of
decoys and manoeuwing patterns.
Warhead: 249-kg (550-]b) HE
Performance: speed 24 or 60 ks;
Work on the development pro- range 46,25 or 28.6 km (28.75 or 17.75
totypes began in 1982, the first in-water miles)
trials taking place in the following
year, Production deliveries are be-
lieved to be due in
1987, with oper-
ational capability scheduled for
19BB-9,
 SWEDEN
FFV Tp42 series torpedoes
-:,;::-ai1y rntended as the successor to
-,: i-:,,.al Swedrsh narry's Tp4l, the
Tl-{2 the base model of a whole
.=:,=s =
:i hghtweight 400-mm ( 15.75-in)
.::p:i:es burlt by FFV for the home
:,--<:: ald for export. The basic mod-
-:-= Tp422, entered service in mid-
=-
::: a:ld rs intended primarily for
-lS-,',- :-oeratrons from the nary's small
-:::. :: Bcerngr-Vertol 107 helicopters.
-::rtque amongst western light-
- cruising helicopter, although a
,'i:-j::-.reapons in that rt is capable of
',';:: ;rrdance after an airlaunched
r:' -,'..j'The terminal attack phase is
::::-ed cut by a passive sonar system.
l::p-isron ts by an electric battery of
:-: s-.,-er-zinc type whilst the war-
:-=:d'. fitteci with both proxtmity and
:::-.ai iJses, The torpedo can be set
,: :*:: at one of fivo speeds whtch are
::---qeable after launch either via the
j l:. Je -.41re Jr as an instruclion pre'
- Dimensions: diameter 400 mm
::::r:rnmed inio the seeker unit. A
-.::.- model, for
the Tp423, is beheved
: :: ,::tended launch from surface
.--;s ard submarines against sub-
:,=::,: :r ship taJgets. The export ver-
s::- :- .lre IP42U423 rs known as the
Tp427 and has rnternal/Stutdance
::-,;es -,vhich effectively introduce
r-:::::: sonar and proximity fuse fre-
--:r.r.:S -n order not to compromise
j-;= :,-s: r-a-!ry settings.
:- -334 the Swedish narry initiated a
::: ' ::: r:rptovement programme that
,--.. ::sjed in the Tp432, which is due
.: ::-::r productron tn 1987, This is de-
:-=::=tr :c use new digital mtcro-
!::l:ss:r guidance unrts and is oPti-
::,:=i:: attack the new generation of
: .'.--:- l: :.ventlonal submarines oper-
SWEDEN
FFV TpG I series torpedoes
lionvay is in the process of acquiring
';e :mpr oved Tp6 1 3 torpedo in Place
oiihe lp5'l already operated.The
:e'r' weapon will probably equip the
'7-'pe 2A7' submarines suchas
-J::;.-':g. seen he re, as well as the new
'l;pe ? r' 5' class which will enter
!s:i -:E:r iire J990s.
atlnq in the quiet state in shallow wa-
ters. A new three-speed selectable
propulsion system and increased qnri-
dance wire capacity have imProved
the maxrmum range of the weapon, at
the slowest speed, by 33 Per cent in
comparison with the earlier Tp42 mod- Above: The Type 42 range of Below: The advantage of lightweight
els. The equrvalenl export version IS lightweight 400-mm ( I 5.75 -in) torpedoes is that they can give a
desigrnated Tp43XO andwillbe able to torpedoes is the only air-launched significant anti-submarine capability
use alternative propulsion systems if torpedo known to be wire-guided. I t to the smallest of helicopters. The
required. The lightest of the whole can be controlled by a hovering or Type 422 has been launched from the
Swedish navy's A8-406 helicopter s,
Tp432/43XO family will be the helicop-
ter-launched variant which weighs variant has been designed for although the W I 07 (licence-built
280kq (6171b), and because it has a surface or submarine use. The Wpe Boeing-VertolCH-46) is the usual
smaller battery capacity this wlll have 427 exportversion is illustrated. platform.
a maximum range in the order of 15-
20km (9.3-12,4 miles) at the slowest
speed settinq,
Specification
Tp422/427
(15.75 in); lengrth 2,44 m (8,00 ft), or
2,60 m (8,53 ft) with wire gnridance
section
Weight: 298 kq (657 lb)
Warhead: 45-ks (99-1b) HE
Performance: speed 15 or 25 kts;
range 20 or 10 kn (12,43 or 6,21miles)
Specification
Tp43?43XO
Dimensions: diameter 400 mm
(15,75 in); lenqth 2.60 m (8.53 ft), or
2,BS m (9,35 ft) withwire guidance
section
Weight: 2BO to 350 kq (617 to 772 1b)
Warhead: 45'ks (99-lb) HE
Performance: speed 15, 25 or 35 Ks;
range 30, 20 or 10 km (18, 64, 12,43 or
6,21miles)
[Jn]ike most modern heavyweight torpedoes, the FFV Tp61 is not powered electrically but by a hydrogen-percxidel
ethanoldrivenengrtne. Sucfi systems aremoreunstable thanbattery power, butof much higherperformance.
lJj;*.sr+1*,S'... -:::]lr*'-;t"
FFV Tp6l series torpedoes (continued) Modern Undenvater Weapons
-liernal software changes to give so-
:ar and pro:omity fuse settings diffe-
:ent from Swedish ones. Each Tp6l
series torpedo can be left in its tube for
:p to four months wilhout requiring
:verhaul,

Specification
1b6r
Dimersions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
-ength 7.025 m (23,05 ft)
Weisht: 1796 kg (3,959 ]b) or (Tp613)
-E50 kg (4,078 Ib)
Warhead: 250-kg (551-]b) HE
Performarce: speed 45 kts; range
20 kn (1.43 miles) or (TpO 13) 30 km
ilB,64 miles)

Snar, a 'Snogtg' class fast attack craft,

is fittedwilhfour 533-mm(2f -in)
torpedo tubes in addition to Penguin
anti-ship missiles. The torpedo and
the missile have similar ranges and
although tfie missrTe ri m uch faster
the torpedo does not appear on an7
radar screen.

tfir. sz torpedo
=
The origrinal Westinghouse Mk 37 Mod
0 heavyrnreight torpedo entered ser-
-ncein 1956 as a submarine- and sur-
:ace ship-launched ASW acoustic-
roming free-runninq torpedo. Fitted
;rith studs along its sides, the 482,6-mm
i19-in) calibre Mk 37 can be fired from
siandard 533-mm (21-in) torpedo
::bes, As operational experience built
':p with the weapon, many Mod 0 tor-
pedoes were refurbished and mod-
'-ed to bringthemup to the Mk 37Mod
per cent increase in endurance and a
100 per cent rncrease in seeker detec-
tion range rn comparison with the ori-
ginal Mk 37 models. At least 16 coun-
Lries are known to use the various ver-
srons of the Mk 37 family including the
above, plus West Germany, SPatn,
Argrentina and the Netherlands
Specification
Mk37
Dimensions: diameter 484,6 mm ( 19

3 standard, Althouqh useful in the ASW
::le these free-runninq weapons,
r,-:ich could dive to 300 m (985 ft),
Tere not suited to really lonqr sonar
r:tection ranges as during the torpe-
f : s lxr to a predicted target location it
.r- possible that the target could per-
::r: evasive manoeuwes taking it out
::-:e 640 m (2,100-ft) acquisition range
:, -:e weapon's seeker head. Thus
r-:: gudance was fitted to the Mk 37
r: ::cduce the Mk 37 Mod I version,
r';:r entered sewice in 1962 aboard
.:-:-:::can submarines, This was fol-
-:;n:i by the updated Mk 37 Mod 2
:::-;ersion of Mod i weapons,
-r*:::grh the standard US Navy sub-
:-=-:-e-launched ASW torpedo for
rrl:= 23years, the Mk 37 is now found
:l; i:oard the diesel-electnc boat
--i-: l::1er.
-l.i::-r- rave been converted to Mk 67
:-:::r:re-launched mobile mine
r:;L r.lilst others have been put
lr: rl:: najor
upgrradrng progrrammes
:--i::: =le to other countries. The first
id-: ::- a'icat1on, in the mid- 1970s, re-
ii"L"lr:: -:- re Northrop NT37C, which
rrtr-t:,::::es a new thermo-chemrcal
; r::i--E:: system based on that of the
lr,'i:l !:
::-tr has an antr-ship capability
r:rr:r. l:e NT37C ts known to be in
m:-;l:- r--:- Canada and Israel aboard
5,nn ::::::-rrne fleets. In 1979 Hon-
* ''u=- -=:l.rred the riQthts to the
liTill =-: ai the request of several
trd I - l.t :- '.:sers further developed
:E ili,=:':: :c the Honeywell NT37E
Jt-"ll]rrlilj rr::ci allows the fitting of
rlu l,a-f':
=::-:lonal kitS tO produCe
WT:E l$od 2 and 1fI37E Mod 3 con-
irqinrir:s :: -:: i:asic Mk 37 variants, In
$rir-:5i -=:::: iese new variants dis-
IJ,i i . .- !€: :eirt mcrease in speed, a
il :+: :-:: i-crease rn range, an
in); lenqrth (Mod 0 and 3) 3.52 m
(11,55 ft) or (Mod l and 2) 4.09 m
(13,42 ft)
Weight: (Mod 0 and 3) 649 ks (1,430 lb)
or (Mod 1 and 2) 767 kq ( 1,690 Ib)
Warhead: 150-kq (330-lb) HE
Performance: speed 16 or 24 kts
range (Mod 0 and 3) 16.5 or 7,3 km
(I0,25or4,5miles), or(Mod I and2)
8.7 kn (5.4 miles)
Specification
NT37E
Dimensions: diameter 484,6 mm
(19 in); lensth(Mod2)4.506 m(14.78 ft)
or (Mod 3) 3,946 m (i2.62 ft)
Weisht: (Mod 2) 748 ks ( 1,650 Ib) or
(Mod3)640 kq(1,412 lb)
Warhead: 150-kq (3301b) HE
Performance: speed 22,4 or 33,6 kts;
range (Mod 2) 21.7 km (13,5 miles) or
(Mod3) 18,3 km (1 1,4 miles)
Above: Dutch seamen man@uwe
the long, heavy bulk of a NATO
standard NT37 totpedo into one af
the Iorward tubes of a'Dolfijn' class
submarine. T he oigi'inal M k 37
enteredsewice rn tfie J9,50s. but
pr ogres sive modifications b1;
Westinghouse and Northrop hare
u pgir a d e d th e w e a pon' s cawh ii:
"ft
to
an enormous extent.
B0
NucleqrWeapons cf Sea
| :. e proliferation of nuclear weaponry has seen widespread
of nuclear anti-ship and anti-submarine
=eployment
'",,'eaponry atsea. Sucft are the defences of a modern Carrier
I a::ie Group that a nuclear attack may be the only feasible
::.einod of attack, and the temptation to use a nuclear weapon
:: a;srupf a submarine attack could well prove irresistible.
--:. :: sJrprs ng to some that in any future war between NATO and the
.-.'.. ract the f-rrst use of tactical weapons with low kiloton yields will
-: -: ::cJr at sea as an inteqral part of a fiercely{ought ASW battle for the
- -- - - .'i c and ts surroundinq sea areas. Although a large number of the
--l -::::rs contribute naval forces to NATO's Atlantic command structure,
- - = , ('s Royal Alr Force and Royal Navy, the Royal Netherlands air force
- : .- y
= - S \avy are f ulLy trained in the operational use of the 5/'10-klloton eld
:- ---=z' depthbomb.
^ . -=..'... colitrcal move the Dutch have made the decision to withdraw the
:- -=::: i,7 from thetr Lockheed Orion force, each of whose '13 P-3Cs can
:--. ...: SJCn bombs.
- :^: '- (:ne B57 bombs are held in nuclear weapon stores {or wartime use
^: :-: s'our squadrons and an OCU flying 31 BAe Nlmrod MR.Mk 2s {two
--:::ial and the Royal Navy's seven front-line and trarning sqrtadrons
: :: r . rn 64 ASW and 22 tra nrng Westland Sea King HAS M k 2Al5s (one
'- . .=.^ ine Sea Kings plus the thlee f ront-line and tralning squadrons with
,
ABritish AerospaceNl'mrodsefs out from its base atKinloss on the first leg of
- :, . r-: -)n pd10' 1 tralningWestland Lynx dAS.M<2 3s(onebombeach) oneof its longNorthAtlantic patrols.TheNimrods are equipped to carry two
:. -:: r ', ieillnlng number of Westland Wasp HAS.Mk 1s (one bomb each) 5-10 ktyieldB-57 weapons, butwould only be so armed if the threat of war
, -:: .^: sr-nallerl-klloton yteld variant of the UK's own indigenous tactical was overwhelming.
::' r':. :v bomb, the Green Parrot.
= .' - S Navy aerial nuclear
- -^' ASW del very platforms are the 24 active and available to American submarines. Some 50 nuclear attack submarines are
'--:-.: s:radrons (nine aircraft each) of Lockheed P-3 Orions. These are currently equipped to carry and launch this obsolescent weapon, but the num-
.:r:. -i carrer and one shore-based squadrons ('10 aircraft each) of bers are declining slowly as non-com patible digital f ire-control systems are f itted
-'=-==: .-i-3A Vlking (one bomb each) ASW lets, and 12 carrrer and two in place of the earlier analog systems; cruise mrssiles are thus being carried
instead of SUBROCs. A new lonq-range ASW Stand-Off Weapon is under
(slx Sea King (one bomb each)
alrcraft each) of Sikorsky SH-3H
-=--r'cns
:r
:::ters. The replacement for the Sea Klng, the Sikorsky SH-608 development for submarine use in the late'1 9BOs. Contrary to some reports
- .... . :iso tasked to carry the B57 or its successor about the Royal Navy, no other NATO navy uses either shrp- or submarine-
launched n uclear warhead-equipped ASW weapons of the types iust described.
l, -rciear ASW ln a similar way only the Soviet navy amongst the navies of the Warsaw Pact
-::.-: \,+TO surface sh ps nuclear ASW weaponry is llmited solely to US has been equipped with any nuclear ASW weapons: since the 1950s a wide
:--:,.:- :s.',vh ch are equipped to carry and fire the EUR-5A ASROC missile variety of tactical nuclear delivery systems has been developed for all operation-
' :-e 1.5-k loton yleid W44 warhead in a Mk 17 nuclear depth charge al branches of the Sovret navy. For aircraft use a 10/'1 s-kiloton yield nuclear
- ,.-: .^l.:r 65 frigates, TB destroyers and 27 cruisers have been made depth bomb is carried by the Soviet naval air force's force of 55 TupolevTu-'142
- . =,: -.:zi,e with ihls weapon system. ln the long term the RUR-5A ls to be 'Bear-F' (two bombs each) long-range, 50 llyush n l1-38 'May' (two bombs each)
-: : -:: :. :ie Vert ca Launch ASROC, which has a much longer engagement
'.- ,- -:::'d submarines the Mk 45 ASTOR wire-guided anti-ship torpedo In October 198I the Soviet navy suffered the embarrassment of a'Whiskey'
,i. -,--'.'<.''34 warhead) has been completely replaced by the conventonal- class submarine being lefthigh and drywhile on aclandestine missioninto
:--;-:r leaving the UUM-44A SUBROC underwater-launched missile Swedish waters. Radiation monitors detected nuclear weapons aboard the
-- : ..5548,iow-yield warhead as the only tactlcal ASW nuclear weapon vessel, most probably as the warheads of torpedoes.

E*Atry;l{'ja{.i;
%= €..
.r*,.,,::_ d."l!%l. .,

. ...:,.#$#ry

,$1 " _,-, ;.4.

lne main US nuclear delivery platform at sea is the force of more than 400 p-3
3nons equipping 37 front-line and reserve squadrons of the uS Navy. This is
:e latestversion, theP-3C Updatelll, seen over the'Oliver Hazard Perry'
:.ass fnErale USS Mahlon S. Tisdale.
--.:,,um-range and 90-odd Benev M-1 2'Mail'(one
bomb each) short-range
-: ,V aircraft, together wirh a fairly large proporr on of the g0 lvlil lVi-14 'Haze-A'
--: bomb each), 120 Kamov Ka-25'Hormone-A'(one bomb each) and 50 plus
' ."cv Ka-27 'Helix-A' (one bomb each) ASW helicoprers available. The 'Hor-
,res'and'Helixes'are used both from shore bases and afloat on aviation
.- :s, cruisers and destroyers.
Surface weapons
-:r surface ship use only the 'Kiev' and 'Moskva' class aviation shtps use an
-::OC type weapon, the SUW-N-I system with its FRAS-1 rocket equrpped
". .s^ aie,nuciear depth charge. Other surface ships use the SS-N-'T 4'Silex'ASW
which has a homrng torpedo with conventionalwarhead as tts payload.
^ ccntrast the Soviet submarine force is well endowed with tactical nuclear
::3ons. Leaving aside cruise and ballistic misstles, most convent onal and\
---:ar submarines tnclude as part of their torpedo outfit some two to four
:::-nm (21-in) calibre antr-ship torpedoes equipped with 1S-kiioton yield nuc-
-.' .varheads; these torpedoes can also be used ln the area-targetASW role. ln
'. -. JSI such a torpedo was the fjrst Sovlet naval nuclear weapon tasked, in the
-':-'950sandearlyl960s,withtheantt-carrierandanti-portroles.Asrecently
*e.3**'.:;" jg*.-=.**-J€
t..
An ASROC missile is launched from the guided missile {rigate USS !::.:,::
(F!G-l). Only theUS Navy operates nuclear-tipped ASROC. wjth r.c:= ::::.
170 s.urfac-e-combatants capable of firing the single-kiloton depth c:.a:;:
version of the missile.
as October 1981, with the fiasco of the Sovret 'Wh skey .:s: :_- ._- _-.
subrrar.ne aground on rocks n restricred Swed.sn Co3>ro ..: :.r :
by rao al on-mor-itoring tech^iqJes tnal lne bodt nao s_c- t. . a-. . -. - - .
shows the widespread use of these weapons in the So, -.. -_ :.
to'pedoes a^d to provde a long-rarqe ASW weapo^ r' : r:.==. :
_
aboard severa of their nuclear attack and cruise mrssile sJC-:. -:: - - : _.
.
"
1970s their own version of the SUBROC, desiqnated SS-l'i-- a :. '. -- , .-
"o- standard 533-m- {21-;nr catibre torpeoo-rubes ric ):.' .
and bearing data denved from the launch platform's o\..",i >:--.-. _ ,- : :
l5-ki oton yielo nuc,ear depth bon b to the ,rrmediare . c - .. - -
l^ aodilon ro lnese nlc'eaTweapons, botr- s des co_.0 - -:l -- .
Tes,oecl ve straLeg c rCBV fo.ces 'or I mited n,moe.> :. . . ^-: ... -
.
vrelo weapons to santt ze large o.ean areas o, a'l u-o i\..:.. - .: :
option would, however, only be used in a full-scale war,';. -__- . ,. _ . l
would also destroy any friendly units in the area.
A Kamov Ka-25 'Hormone' moves along the bows of the Soviet h.e,:cc:::: .i.- , i'
crur'ser Moskva. The helicopter is probabty capable of carrying; r,, --..:;.-
depth bomb, and the cruiser fires the nuclear FRAS- I rocket. -
 USA

€ Mk 44, Mk 46 and Mk 50 torpedoes

The Mk 44 Mod 0lightweight torpedo
was selected for production in 1956
and in the following year became the
payload for the new ASROC ASW mis-
sile as well as the standard US Narry
ship- and air-launched lightwetght tor-
pedo. The weapon is electrically po-
wered and urrlizes a seawater-acti-
vated battery and an active-hominqt
seeker with a detection ranqe of 585 m
(1,920ft). A slightly modified version,
the Mk 44 Mod I, was produced at a
latter date, and this model differed
only in internal details, Several coun-
tries procured the weapon, but most
have now replaced it with the Mk 46
although some like the UK have kept
stocks because of the Mk 44's better
shallow-water performance than its
successor, The US Nalry replaced it
completely from 1967 onwards by the
Mk 46.
The active/passive acoustic-homing
Mk 46 progrramme began in i960, the
first production rounds of the air{aun-
ched Mk 46 Mod 0 variant being deli-
vered in 1963, The new torpedo
achieved twice the ranqe of the Mk 44,
could dive deeper (460 rnll 500 ft ver-
sus 300 m/984 ft) and was 50 per cent
faster (45 kts versus 30 kts) because of
the use of a new type of propulsive
system, In the Mod 0 this was a solid-
fuel motor, but as a result of mainte-
nance difficulties 1t had to be chanqed
lo the Otto-fuelled thermo-chemical
cam engine in the follow-on Mk 46
Mod I (which flrst enteled servtce In
1967 for use in ASROC, surface shiP
and some arrborne launchinq Pur-
poses) and the Mk 46 Mod 2 that flrst
appeared in 1972. There was no Mod
3, so the nexl vanant to see service was
the Mk 46 Mod 4 intended specifically
for use as the payload for Mk 60 CAP-
TOR mines. However, because of
Soviet submarine developments (pri-
marily in the area ofanechoic hull coat
inqs to deqrade actlve sonar acoustic
transmissions) the US Nalry had to de-
velop a modfrcation kit with new gnri-
dance and control untts, engtne rm-
provements and an enhanced sonar
transducer to restore the 33 per cent
loss in the 550-m (1,800-ft) detection
range suffered by Mk 46s when en-
countering such coattngs. Known by
the title NEARTIP (NEAR-Term Im-
provement Program), the Mk 46 Mod 5
is being procured both as new-build
weapons and as convetsions of the
earlier Mod I and Mod 2 weaPons,
Apart from the US Naqr, other users
of the Mk 46 include Australia, Brazil,
Canada, France, Greece, Indonesia,
lran, Israel, Italy, Morocco, the Nether-
lands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Spain, Turkey, Taiwan, the UK
and West Germany. The Mk 46 was
used operationally by the Royal Navy
on a number of occasions during the
Falklands war with inconclusive re-
sults, although the threat of Mk 46s did
help in the damaginq and subsequent
groundinq of the Arqentine submarine
Santa fe off South Georgia.
The replacement for the Mk 46 in US
Navy service rs the Advanced Light-
weight Torpedo (ALWT), which has
now been given the desrenation Mk 50
Barracuda following a competitive
evaluation, Frtted with a directed-
energy shaped-charge warhead, the
Mk 50 is rougrhly the same size and
weiqht as the Mk 46 but will be faster at
55+ kts and be able to dive deeper (to More than 9,000 Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes have been produced by
will also have a new
600 m/1,970 ft). It Honeryellfar servicewilh theUS Navy and the navalforces of more than 20
stored chemical-energy propulsion other countries.ltis launchedfrom the air, the surface andbyASROC.
system with a closed-cycle steam tur-
bine in conjunction with a pump-jet
arrangement An onboard computer
and advanced actlve.passlve sonar
will give the weapon 'smart' capabili-
tres similar to those of the British Strng-
ray. An in-service date of 1990 is antici
pated.
Specification
Mk44
Dimensions: diameter 324 mm
(12,75 in); lensth (Mod 0) 2,54 m
(8.33 ft) or (Mod 1) 2,57 m (B 44 ft)
Weisht: (Mod 0) 192,8 ks (425 lb) or
(Mod 1) 196.4 kq(433 lb)
Warhead: (Mod 0) 34-ks (751b) HE or
(Mod 1) 33. l-kq (73-lb) HE
Performance: speed 30 kts; range
5.5 km (3,4 miles)
Specification
Mk46
Dimensions: diameter324 mm
(12,75 in); lensth2 6 m(8,5 ft)
Weight: (Mod 0) 257,6 kq (568 lb) or
(Mod I 2, 4and5) 230,4 kg (508 lb)
Warhead:43. 1-kq (95-lb) HE
Performance: speed 40/45 kts; ranqe
1 I km (6.B miles) at 15-m (50-ft) depth
Above : The development of the
or 5,5 km (3.4 miles) at 457-m ( 1,500-ft) dedic ate d an ti- s ub m ar ine helico p te r,
depth tog e ther with the lightweig h t
acoustic homing torpedo, has
Specifi cation (provisional) immensely extended ASW radius.
Mk 50 Barracuda This Mk46 torpedo, dropped by an
Dimensions: diameter 324 mm SH-3ASeaKing, is deploying a
(12.75 in); length2,9 m(9,5 ft) parachute to retard its speed.
Weight: 362,9 kq (800 Ib)
Warhead: 45. 4-kq ( t00-lb) shaped- Right: A Mk 46 torpedo is launched
charge HE from one of the triple torpedo tubes
Performance: speed 55+ kts; range fitted to all of the cruisers, destroyers
13.7 km (8.5 miles) and frigates of the US Navy.

The Israeli navy is one ofseveral that

have acquiredMk46 torpedoes, and
some of the 36 'Dabur' class coastal
patrol craftoperating in the
Mediter r anen and the R e d S ea hav e
been equipped with a Pair of single
fubes.

2638
€ ffit +a torpedo
-:-e Mk 48 heavwveight torpedo ts the
-::est in a long line of US Nalry 533-mm
2,-in) calibre submarine-launched
r,-eapons. As a long-ranqie selectable-
-.peed wire-gnrided dual-role (ASW
:::trship) weapon it replaced both the
l,k 37 series vl'ue-gnrided ASW torpe-
j: and the US Navy's only nuclear
-rned torpedo, the anti-shrP Mk 45
-ISTOR fitted with a lo-krloton 1'reld
-,1r34
warhead, Development of the Mk
-3 began in 1957 when feasibility stu-
ies were initiated to meet an oper-
:-ronal requirement eventually tssued
:. late 1960. The weapon was intended
-:red
both a surface- and submarine-iaul-
torpedo, but the {ormer reqlxre-
:rent was dropped when swface-laun-
Ttio
:red weapons went out of favour,
-;ersions were produced to meet the
:angre and speed performance figrLues
:-eeded to enQlage a 35-kt submerged
:rget: the Westinghouse Mk 48 Mod
0 which used a gras turbine and was
s:bsequently refined to the proposed
::oduction Mk 48 Mod 2 variant, and
:-e Gould Mk 48 Mod I which used an
l:to-fuelled piston (swashplate) en-
;:re and a redesigned acoustic-hom-
:-E system. The latter was chosen for
::-ass production, operational capabll-
--; being achieved in 1972.
The next version to be built was the
TheMk4S torpedois carriedby allUS attackand ballisticmissile submarines, acontinual process of development
having enhaiced its performance in line with that of Soviet submarines in the past 15 years.
Mk 48 Mod 3, which had the same
762-m (2,500-ft) depth capability as the
Mod I but introduced a new two-way
TELECOM (rather than one-waY)
wire-guidance communication link
that allowed the torpedo head to trans-
mit its search data back to the launch
plalform for more accurale processing
io produce what was tn effect a track-
via-torpedo gnridance mode,
The latest production standard (to
which most previous weapons are
being upgraded) is the Mk 48 Mod 4
Thrs has the same TELECOM facilities
of the Mod 3, enhanced sPeed (to
55kts) and depth (to 9l5m/3,000f0
capabilities, plus an additional fire-
and-forget mode which can be initi-
ated if the torpedo's own noise masks
the launch submattne's passive sonar
detection sets.
Modern Underwater WeaPons
By 1978, because of an increastng
awareness of the latest Soviet sub-
marine capabilities in the area of
speed and divinq depth, an ADvanced
CAPability (ADCAP) version of the Mk
48, the Mk 48 Mod 5, entered develop-
ment, A new higher-powered sonar
was fltted both to improve the tarqet
acquisition range from the curent
3660m (12,000ft) and to reduce the
effect of enemy decoys and anechotc
coatinqs. The sonar is electrically
steered to decrease the need for the
torpedo to manoeuvre in the search
phase. Togrether with a larger fuel
load, this gives the new vanant a lon-
ger ranqe (using the same propulsion
system) and a new under-ice capabil-
ity, Further modifications are at pre-
sent being researched to gdve an Up-
grraded ADCAP weapon for the next
decade: these developments rncluce
improved antrship homrngt featurEs
an even greater maxtmum dir'::,::
depth and a hrgher ta-rget speeo =-.
gagement envelope. The operar::.'
date for the first ADCAP Mk 48 Mc::
is expected to be 1986. Foreigm .-.'=::
of the Mk 48 are limited to ALLt=' :
and the Netherlands.
Specification
Mk48
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (2 . :
lenqth 5,8 m (19, 17 ft)
Weisht: 1579 ks (3,480 lb)
Warhead: 294.5-kq (650-lb) HE
Performance: speed (Mod 1 alc:.
48 kts. (Mod 4) 55 krs or (Mod 5; : - .::
rangre (Mod I and 3) 32 kn (20 r-es.
(Mod 4) 28 km ( 17 5 milest or i M: i :
38 lrn (23,75 miles)
Above: Crewmen aboard the
'Sturgeon' class nuclear attack
submarjne USS P ar go car efu lly
receive a Mk 48 Mod I torPedo into
the torpedo room. Most canent
.American SS,lVs have r e du ce d
torpedo armament to allow for
mr'ssrJes sucft a s S ubro c, H arPun
and T omahawk, or tube- Iau n chxi
mines.
Aboveleft: AMk48 torpedo is
lowered into the torqedo room c::3
nu cle ar - powered b all is tic mis s :-e
submarine USS Stonewall Jacks::. : :
the Naval S ubmarine Su PPo: : :'-: : z'
Kings Bay, Georgia. These
subm ar ines ar e arm e d wt'j'.
'
torpedoes for self-protec::::. : :.:
Lett: An artist's impresstor c: :.= --:
stage in the life of a M k 48. with *'e
onboard sonar homing in on the
hapless target at a maxim u.i,n s-D€s:
of close to 60 kts.
fl Whir"t
"ad
Motofides A184 and A244 torpedoes
The Al84 is a dual-purpose ASWanti-
ship heavyweight mre-gmided torpe-
do produced by Whitehead Motofides
and carried by Italian navy sub-
marines and surface ships. It has also
been expofied to Taiwan for use on rts
'Guppy II' and 'Improved Zwaardvis'
class submarrnes. The panoramic ac-
tive/passive acoustic-homrng head
controls the torpedo's course and
depth in the final attack phase whilst
the initial wrre guidance uses the
launch platform's own sonar sensors to
guide the weapon up to the point of
acoustrc acqursition. Like most modern
electrically-powered torpedoes the
A1B4 is fitted with a silver-zinc battery
and has dual speed capabilities (low
speed for the passive hunting phase
and high speed for the terminal attack
or active phase).
To complement the AlB4 and re-
place the Amerrcan Mk 44 for opera-
tions in the notoriously difflcult ASW
environment of the Mediterranean the
lightweight 4244 was developed. This
is an electrically-driven weapon suit-
able for use by aircraft, helicopters or
surface ships in normal or shallow wa-
ters, ln its original form it was fitted
with a Selenia AG70 homingr head, but
the latest variant, the 4244lS, has a
CiACIO-S advanced homing seeker,
Using special signal-processingr tech-
mque, this allows both active and pas-
sive operations which can discrimin-
ate between a real tarqet and decoys,
The 4'244 and A244lS have been sold
to a number of countries including
Argentirn, Ecuador, India, Indonesia,
Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Peru and Vene-
zuela, Whitehead is currently working
on a replacement weapon for the A244
serres, the 50-kt high-performance
4290, which uses seeker technologry
derived from the A244lS weapon,
2644
Capable of submarine or surface launch, theWhitehead A184 is capable of engaging both submarine and surface
targets.Wire-guided, itis capable of operating atgreatdepths and in a two-speed mode.
Specification
Al84
Dimensions: diameter 533 mm (21 in);
lenqrth 6.00 m (19.69 ft)
Weisht: 1265 ks(2,789 ;b)
Warhead: 250-kq (5511b) HE
Performance: 24 or 36 kts; range 25 or
I0 lcn (15,53 or 6,21mi]es) The Mediterranean is a very difficult environment for the elfective use of
tor pedoes, and the A2 44 h as been desigme d to repl ace the US - built M k 44 in
Specification Italian service with that fact in mind.
A244/S
Dimensions: diameter 324 mm
(12.75 in): Ienqth 2.70 m (8.86 ft)
Weight: 221 ks (4BZ lb)
Warhead: 34-kg (75-1b) HE
Performance: speed 30 ks; ranqe
6.5 km (4.04 miles)
Right: Designed for launch from
surtace ships, helicopters and
aircraft, theA244 is capable of both
active and passive operations, in a
wide variety oI attack pattems. The
weapon has also beenadapted as a
potentialwarload for the lkara anti-
su bm arine mis sile sy s tem.
Below:TheAl84 is the latest
heavyweight product of one of th.e
world's oldesttorpedo
manufacturers. As with most modern
torpedoes, it is electrically powered
to a maximum speed of 36 kts, and
has a maximum range of I 0 km (6.2 I
miles) atthatspeed.
Armed Forces of the World

Although the Mexican arrned'orces played a critical

role ln national politics up to and :ncluding the revolu-
tion of 191 1-20, they are nc!{ iae least polrtical in
Latin America and are resoo:s cle for little more
ihan internal security. Deiei:ce:ga nst external ene-
mies has generally been lea lc Vex co's powerful
northern neighbour, the USA.
Mexico is dlvided into 35 Nl! l:a''' Z:r.es. which
correspond basically with the 3i S'.a:es :' \4exico
and the solitary Federal Distr,c'I. Hs ^ :l.e other
ccuntries in the region, all three se'\ a=s 3re en- it
gaged in various forms of civic ac: c' :-3: -: -tre
:-b: c health and educational progra--:s J
rl
The army 5
Tne 94,5O0-strong Mexican arrnv ce-' s:-: :a:-
:'the Military Zones with one or tlvc ''=".', ==:.2-
cns and, in the majority of them, one ca\3 ^, -3-c r-
:nt. Based at Mexico City itself are ins -a I ar.:'r'
-rits, including the mechanized baita ors c' :re
r'esidential Guard br'gade group. i\ c ^:a^:^' c:-
;ade groups and one paratroop brrgaie. Tre :avaln
-:giments are gradually undergoing mecnar zai on
,', th both wheeled AFVs and soft-sk.nned venrcies

=s these are
purchased. A full list of tne army in ts
:..rrrently in berng includes:

:re infantry divrsion HQ,

:re Presidential Guard mechanized brigade group
(of three battalions),
:,vo infantry brigade groups (each of two infantry
battal'ons, one arrroured .econnaissance
squadron and one artillery battalion),
:ne paratroop brigade (of two battalions),
-4 independent lnfantry battalions,
:ne special forces battalion,
:re armoured regiment.
:ne armoured reconnaissance regiment,
i3 independent cavalry regiments,
--- ree artillery regiments,
:re combat engineer battalion,
- ing.
3 construction battalions,
Armoured cars confront students during the I 968
riots. The Mexican army has had little hand in
national politics (by Latin American standards)
since 1 929, but the refusal of the PRI to concede so
much as a single elec tion in I 9 I 5 might well bring
the political struggle on to the streets before long.
To back these regular units there are an additional
250,000 conscripts who are organlzed into National
Service Brigades that receive minimal military train-
ments industry exists, and this manufactul'es : '=,',
types of small arms, ammunition and more :.:=-: -
an indlgenously designed light armoureci ca- <-: ,', -
as the DN-3 Caballo. The most recent fore
jgr
:-':--
ases have included 42 French Panhard EAC-3::-
Lynx armoured cars and 27 Panhard VBL lig"; -=..--
naissance vehicles (includlng erght equippe: :: :-:'
:-=-:
ry and fire Milan ATGWs). A full llst of the eq-
in service is:
Operated by Escuadron Aero 209, Grupo Aerer: i "

-^ <nown number of independent engineer The equipment used by the army is a curious based at Santa Lucia, Mexico State, this
companies, and mixture of fairly modern European and obsolete A6rospatiale SA 330J Puma is one of two WP
-:(nown number of independent air-defence American types; several models of AFVs have been transport helicopters operated by the Meican air
artillery batteries. exported only to Mexico. A small indigenous arma- force.

€.+€-*
 a
Armed Forces of the World
rmou r : M34'1 Stuart and M5A1 Stuart light tanks ;
DN-3 Caballo, M3A1 and PanhardVBLscoutcars;
MAC-1 , Panhard ERC-90F1 and MB armoured
cars; and HWK-I 1, M3A1 , Panhard M3WS,
MOWAG Roland and AMX-1 0P APCs;
artillery:\towed) 75-mm (2.95-in) M116 pack
howitzers and 1 05-mm (4.1 3-in) M'1 01 howitzers;
(self-propelled) 75-mm MB and 105-mm M7
howitzers;
(mortars) 60-mm (2.36-in) US,81-mm (3.2-in)
French and US, 107-mm (4.2-in) US and 120-mm
(4.72-in) French;
a nti-a rmou r weaponsi 3.5-in (88.9-mm) M20 rocket-
launchers, 57-mm M'1 B recoilless rif les, 37-mm
M3 ATG and Milan ATGWs;
air-defence weapons: 12.7-mm M55 gun; and
small arms:O.45-ln (1 1.43-mm) Obregon and Colt
M1911 pistols; 0.3-in (7.62-mm) M1 Garand, M2
Carbine and HK33 rifles; 5.56-mm (0.219-in)
H K53 and 0.45-in M 1 92841 Thompson SMGs;
0.3-in Browning Automatic Rifle and RM2 LMGs;
0.3-in Browning M 1 91 9 MMG; and 0.5-in
Browning HMG.
The navy
The 15,200-man Mexican navy has 13 Naval
Zones to protect. of which five are subordlnated to
the Gulf of Mexico Command and eight to the
Pacific Ocean Command. A small350-man naval air
arm flies three squadrons and operates a smalltrain-
ing school. Of the squadrons the most important are
the maritime patrol squadron with eight Grumman
HU-'1 64 Albatross amphibians, and the helicopter
squadron with four A6rospatiale Alouette llls, five
Bell 47Gs and five MBB BO 105s. The last are
configured for shipboard use.
The 4,5OO-strong marine corps is organized into
I
three battalion headquarters that control a total of 1
Marine security companies. They are equipped with
obsolete small arms and French 81-mm mortars.
Although the discovery of oil in Mexico allowed
more money for the defence budget, with many
re-equipment schemes being proposed, the subse-
quent economic crises have now delayed indefinite-
ly any real chance of their implementation, and the
navy has had to maintain in service its fleet of old
surface combatants. The navy's role appears to be
the patrolling of an exclusive economic zone (includ-
ing the offshore oilfields) and fishery protection
against foreign poachers. ln 1982 two ex-US Navy
l-
I
lz pitrs,
'Gearing' class FRAM-1 destroyers of World War ll
vintage were bought. The only other major purch-
ases in recent times have been the six 'Halcon' class
patrol ships ordered from Spain in '1 982 and the
continuing programme of the 'Azteca' class large
patrol craft, initially f rom the UK and then from local
shipyards after '1 973. ln a recent expansion of the
local shipbuilding capability nine'Aquila' class patrol
ships have been ordered. These are basically a ver-
sion of the 'Halcon' class modified to local needs.
The complete inventory of the navy includes:
destroyers:Iwo ex-US 'Gearing FRAM-1 ' class and
one ex-US'Fletcher' class;
frigates:one ex-US 'Edsall' class, one 'Durango'
class and four'Charles Lawrence/Crosley' class;
Iightforces:six 'Halcon'class large patrol craft, nine
'Aquila'class large patrol craft (building), 1B ex-US
'Auk'class patrol ships, 16 ex-US 'Admirable'
class patrol ships, one'Guanajuato' class patrol
craft,3'l 'Azteca' class large patrol craft (plus
more building), seven coastal patrol craft, and 17
river patrol craft;
amphibious warfare forces:Iwo LSTs; and
su pport ships : seven survey ships, one tender, one
transport, two harbour tankers, one training ship,
eight tugs and 1 3 miscellaneous vessels.
The air force
Like the other two services, the Mexican air force
has suffered considerably from financial restraints
and it was not until 1 981 , with the delivery of a single
squadron of 10 Northrop F-SE and two F-5F Tiger ll
fighters, that it re-entered the arena of air forces
operating let fighters. The Tigers operate alongside
a single counter-insurgency (COIN) squadron flying
14 Lockheed AT-33A armed jet trainers. The con-
siderable force of North American AT-2BD armed
piston-engined trainers has now been retired, the
six COIN squadrons now flying armed and camou-
flaged Pllatus PC-7 Turbo Trainers. A total of 55 has
been procured for both the COIN and basic training
roles. A photo-reconnaissance/survey squadron
also exists, and this uses some eight Rockwell Aero
Commander 500s equipped with cameras, For the
SAR mission there are two squadrons, of which one
doubles in the light tactical support role with eight
lAl Arava 201 transports; the other operates 23
helicopters of eight different makes, of which
numerically the most important are the five Bell
2068 JetRangers and '10 Bell 205As which can also
be armed for the COIN role.
The fixed-wing transport needs of the armed
forces and civilian government departments are
undertaken by four squadrons and a VIP presidential
unit. The latter has a mixed inventory of nine Boeing
727 jetliners, two Boeing 737 jetliners, a Fokker
F.27. a Lockheed JetStar VIP 1et, Lockheed Electra
airliner, a BAe HSl25-400 VIP jet, five Rockwell
Sabreliner commuter jets and a Cessna 41 0R, plus a
single Bell 212 and two A6rospatiale SA 330 Puma
VIP helicopters. The remaining fixed-wing transport
assets include two Douglas DC-6s. one Douglas
DC-7, five Douglas C-54s, 20 Douglas C-47s. three
de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffaloes, 12 Pilatus-
Britten Norman lslanders, three Shorts Skyvans,
five Fokker F.27 Friendships and a few Cessna twin-
engine llght communications aircraft.
Training for the various squadrons is undertaken
on 20 Mudry CAP-10B primary trainers. The trainee
pilots then progress onto the survivors of 20 Beech
F33C and 20 Beech M usketeer Sport trainers before
they finally attempt the Pilatus PC-7. Multi-engined
training is done on a few Beech Barons and Piper
Aztecs, while helicopter pilots learn the Bell 47G at
squadron level.
For rapid-reaction duties the air force operates a
paratroop banalion that is independent of the army.
Paramilitary forces
Mexican paramilitary forces comprise 23,400
Federal Police and a 120,000-strong Rural Defence
Corps. The latter includes some 80,000 mounted
personnel and 40,000 dismounted members, all us-
ing obsolete small arms passed down from the
armed forces.
There is also a small coast guard which has six
patrol craft and an aviation element with 17 helicop-
ters and fixed-wing aircraft. The coast guard is cur-
rently involved heavily with its Amerlcan counter-
part on anti-smuggling duties to prevent drugs
reaching the USA.
Organized intrusions into Mexican fishing
grounds, plus the need to protect the offshore oil
fields, have increased the importance of the
counfi's navy in recentyears. HeribertoJara
Corona rs one of 3 I 'Azteca' class large patrol boats
armed with one 40-mm ( 1.57-in) and one 20-mm
(0.79-in)wn