RUSSIAN "ROCKET" TORPEDO ARMS CHINESE SUBS

Newsmax/Softwar ^ | 4/24/2001 & 10/8/2001 | Charles R. Smith

[ventana]

Good catch, Mr. Irish. And welcome aboard! V's wife.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I would hope that we have clearly stated to China and Russia that the use of one of these that sinks a carrier equates to the use of nukes.

[Ole Okie]

I will bet that our Navy isn't sitting on its hands. We know that the Russians have accomplished supercavitation. What keeps us from doing likewise?

[monkeywrench]

"The new technology "could mean a quantum leap in naval warfare that is analogous in some ways to the move from prop planes to jets or even to rockets and missiles."

[Red Jones]

bump

[Servant of the Nine]

We have a supercavitating torpedo in development. and research has starterd on a supercavitating submarine.

One of these torpedoes will not take out a carrier unless it is a nuke. Six would probably not do it. Our carriers are very well built.

So9

[RobRoy]

>>...and it is likely that we have no defense against it," stated Jack Spencer, a defense analyst at the Heritage Foundation.<<

Translation: "Please don't throw me in the briar patch!"

[Lazamataz]

I'm sure we've got these by now. We knew about these way back when.

[6ppc]

A bit hyperbolic, but the description of the technology sounds feasible. It's likely that reliability is a problem (Kursk?). Let's hope the R&D guys are on this one if it's real.

[6ppc]

We have a supercavitating torpedo in development. and research has starterd on a supercavitating submarine.

Wonder how much noise they make? Speed vs. stealth.

[AntiKev]

On the same note, is it really worth the detection risk to give up stealth? If they don't know you're there, they can't shoot you right? The East relies on brute force, the West on speed and stealth. It will be interesting to see which wins out...

[krodriguesdc]

an interesting note on the name Shkval - this was the name of a soviet elint trawler that was of the coast of cuba on October 28, 1962...

probably no connection but interesting just the same...

[It'salmosttolate]

Posted way back here Russian 'Rocket' Torpedo Arms Chinese Subs

[gcruse]

I would hope that we have clearly stated to China and Russia
that the use of one of these that sinks a carrier equates to the use
of nukes.

Inasmuch as it doesn't, one doubts it.

 

[doug from upland]

Clinton knew about this when it was in development and I'm sure he knew about it before. But he didn't give a damn. He spent his 8 years raising money for RATS, getting BJs, lying to grand juries, assaulting women, and covering his crimes. He had no time for the defense of this nations. My son in law in on a carrier in the Middle East right now. One more big salute of thanks goes to Bill Clinton.

[gkidman]

The Chinese navy has completed the acquisition of four Russian Kilo-class conventional submarines. The Kilo 636 is said to be nearly as quiet as the early version of the U.S. Los Angeles class nuclear submarine," noted Fisher.

Let's see, the Los Angeles class is divided into two groups, 688 and 688I. Kilo is "nearly" as quiet as a base 688 (most of which are being retired). The 688Is are significantly quieter, with the Seawolf and Virginia-class subs being much quieter still. And, all other things being equal, the USN and RN submarines are unmatched when it comes to the electronic wiz-bang necessary to detect and kill other submarines (Kilos may be quiet, but they are also completely deaf when compared to US subs).

Soooooo ... the chances of a Kilo with this torpedo getting close enough in to a US carrier (all US carriers travel with at least two Submarines riding shotgun) to take a shot (my understanding is that supercavitating torps are notoriously short ranged) is limited. In a shooting war, those Kilos would be sunk long before they had a chance to open their outer torpedo doors.

[michigander]

BA-111 Shkval underwater rocket

[Capitalist Eric]

6,000-pound Shkval rocket torpedo has a range of about 7,500 yards... The Chinese Type 093-class nuclear attack submarines are similar to Russian Victor III class first produced at the Leningrad yards in the 1970s... 5,000 tons and is over a football field in length....

***Yawn***

Big deal. A fish with a range of 7,500 yards, installed on a boat that you can hear (and kill) from well over three times that range... Victor boats are about as stealthy as a cat-burgler who, while trying to break into your house, is carrying two tin 50-gallon garbage cans...

He'll be rather lacking, with regard to the element of surprise...

FReegards,

[Non-Sequitur]

Let's see. On the one hand we have the Shkval with a speed of about 230 miles per hour and a range of 7,500 yards. On the other hand we have the U.S Mk 48 ADCAP with a top speed of 55 knots and a range of 42,530 yards, or a max range of 54,685 yards if you limit the speed to 40 knots. Can anyone else do the math here?