"Andrei, you've lost another submarine?"
Posted on 08/13/2010 9:25:34 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Russian admiral calls for deployment of torpedoes mothballed after Kursk disaster
A unique torpedo that was withdrawn from use after the Kursk submarine tragedy should be returned to the Russian Navy, a former North Fleet commander said on Thursday.
The Kursk nuclear-propelled submarine sank in the Barents Sea on August 12, 2000, following an onboard torpedo explosion, killing all 118 crewmembers. Then Navy chief Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov banned the use of the Kit (series 65-76) 650-mm torpedoes on all Russian submarines after the incident.
"These torpedoes have unique specifications and are the fastest and most powerful torpedoes in the world," Adm. Oleg Yerofeyev said in an interview with RIA Novosti. "They must be returned to the Navy."
He said the only problem with the torpedoes was that they leak gas.
"Their construction is such that these torpedoes will always leak gas. This does not happen because of poor insulation, the process simply needs to be controlled," Yerofeyev said, adding that a special gauging instrument was needed to control the leak.
Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky earlier said the Kit torpedoes had been placed in reserve at depots and that there were no plans to dismantle them.
The Kit torpedo has a mass of 5 tons, a length of 11 meters, a speed of over 50 knots and a range of 50 kilometers. It uses hydrogen peroxide as fuel and can carry a nuclear warhead.
The only problem is they leak gas?
I see.
What a deal for the guys in the torp room.
No kidding. Adm. Oleg Yerofeyev should be on the boat that takes them out again. He has the same arrogance and nonchalance that got Nitrofan Nedelin and many others killed.
Admiral Oleg must be shtupping one of the torpedoman’s wives and wants to get rid of the competition.
Correction.....Mitrofan Nedelin.
I’m sure Comrade Adm. Oleg will have no problem serving on the first boat that gets them then.
Seems our carrier force is being targeted by many weapon systems. I pray their defenses are not easily overwhelmed by shear numbers.
I’d be especially suspicious if her name was Bathsheba.
Seems everyone is arming up.... except us.!
Put them out again. It will be our best weapon.
I wonder how vulnerable our vaunted navy really is sometimes. There are all kinds of nasty torpedoes and ship-to-ship missiles out there in hostile hands. We have allowed vessels of questionable intentions get well within range of our capital ships. If they ever decide to try us, likely they will inflict devastating damage on us.
Having a couple of carriers sunk would very demoralizing — especially given our current administration. I would see Obama giving in very quickly if we suffered such a loss.
I thought these were the fastest?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA-111_Shkval
They leak by design hydrogen peroxide H2O2 always decays at a slow rate to 2H2O+O2 releasing the 02 gas at a slow rate or the tank pressure builds up to BOOM! These wake homing super sized torps are a real threat as nothing we have can intercept them under water. The MK50 was supposed to be designed to do limited anti-torpedo torpedo work but it was too expensive and canceled. These torps have a conventional warhead large enough that if a couple hit the backbone of a carrier its toast. Even one would probably be a mobility kill.
I read that the Hydrogen Peroxide leaked in the torpedo that blew up the Kursk, due to it’s poor design and age. The HP came into contact with brass fittings in the torpedo.
I read that the Hydrogen Peroxide leaked in the torpedo that blew up the Kursk, due to it’s poor design and age. The HP came into contact with brass fittings in the torpedo.
"Andrei, you've lost another submarine?"
The first nation to successfully deploy hypercavitation torpedoes owns the seas. All of them.
what about sharks with freekin lazer beams????
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