Torpedo defences in western ships

This topic has been discussed on a previous thread see here-
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30155

RE: Torpedo defences in western ships

> Indian1973
> (1) is VL-ASROC still in use ?
Yes, I think it is on the USS Spruance Class destroyers VLA’s

> (3) if Not, what else is used for
> (3a) anti torpedo defence
> (3b) anti submarine work
> in the latest western ships ?
The USN uses a device designated, “SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasure.” It is a towed array that makes noise similar to the target ship. Now if the Nixie is employed and the surface ship turns on its “Prairie Masker” system, even with wire guidance the sub’s sonar can be fooled!
(There are a bunch of websites on the topic, key words -SLQ-25A Nixie, torpedo countermeasure, ASW, etc..)
There are some European navies that use anti-torpedo mortars. Some have ranges as great as 4,000 yards.
Today’s heavyweight torpedos have ranges in access of 20,000 yards, so detection at a point where there would be time to use motars or many other counter-measures.
Most of the fleet uses helicopters for killing in ASW. If a ship gets close enough to use the Mk.-46 lightweight torpedo, gawd help them.

> KJlost
> intercept system will come out sooner or later
The US, Russian and, Royal navies are working on such a system. About two years ago the University of Pennsylvania designed an anti-torpedo torpedo! It fits it the launch tubes for the sub’s noise makers.

In the early 1990’s the USN started using the Mk.-46 torpedo for this roll on its attack carriers. If the torpedo explodes a little early most likely the sensor of the attacking torpedo has will be destroyed. If the torpedo explodes late then the guidance wires linking the torpedo to the sub will be cut. So the chance that the Nixie will lead the attacking torpedo astray is a lot higher. Either way, the Mk.-46 has been upgraded to the Mk.-50 and later to the Mk.-54.

Which ever country develops an effective system will have the same sort of advantage the USAF has with stealth aircraft.

> JonS
> russia does have few more anti torpedo/submarine which are
> more compact than RPK series
If you look at Soviet/Russian ships you will see they tend to have a larger variety of weapons than ships from other countries. The Russian view is no matter how well you test a weapon system, some systems of which you have high hopes for look great until they become operational then, some flaw is found. Some system of which would be an employment might be nice but, it was not designed to make a major impact. Yet, once operational the weapon becomes everyone’s favorite.

This is why I love the USS Spruance Class destroyer, there are versions (USS Elliot) that have VLA/Standard Missile, ESSM, RAM and CIWS for AAW. ASROC, Mk.-32 launcher for the Mk.-46 torpedo for ASW.

Adrian

I asked because the single or dual banks of RBU eat up a lot of deckspace on Ru-designed ships and based on the above dont look like a must-have thing…yet they continue to appear. some compact
means of launching them need to be developed…perhaps a rapid fire 2-barrel mortar using rounds from a magazine below.

russia does have few more anti torpedo/submarine which are more compact than RPK series u can check rusarm.ru for those but those are soley for dealing with either torpedoes or submarine while in othe RPK-8 is more multiple purpose ex: can be used against enemy vessels or against land targets.

An intercept system will come out sooner or later. Probably a modified light-weight torpedo on most ships that could hit on-coming heavy-weight torpedoes mroe precisely.

I asked because the single or dual banks of RBU eat up a lot of deckspace on Ru-designed ships and based on the above dont look like a must-have thing…yet they continue to appear. some compact
means of launching them need to be developed…perhaps a rapid fire 2-barrel mortar using rounds from a magazine below.

? VLA is still in use. But that’s anti-submarine. The anti-torpedo measures on Western ships are mainly based on Decoys and silencing measures. So, avoiding a torpedo to be launched or just avoiding it to hit, not destroying the torpedo itself.

There are some older ships that have anti-submarine mortars, some of higher calibre than the RBU series. But those can only be used as anti-submarine and not as anti-torpedo. I doubt the RBU performance against torpedoes anyway…
It is said to be anti-diver system too, but as Jonesy has told me once. Better use a couple of hand grenades for that purpose.

Edit: US is working on an anti-torpedo torpedo. And test have been quite good, but it’s not yet finished.