tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) (07/09/90)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) In article <1990Jul5.020313.13721@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU writes: >Generally, you can only put one homing torpedo in the water at once >because another one will interfere with the first. Each one has to >run its course before launching another. Note, what I am talking about here are active homing torpedoes. Theoretically, passive homing torpedoes might not be subject to this problem, but many submarines today are quiet enough that passive homing is not practical. In article <1990Jul6.032915.28154@cbnews.att.com> al.weaver@rose.uucp writes: >So that's why I can only fire one torpedo at a time in 688 Attack >Sub! It was long wait to find out if the torpedo hit, and by then the >Kirov destroyer would have got within depth charge range and would >blow one to smithereens! I was used to firing a spread in Silent >Service. One would usually hit. :-) I know absolutely nothing about the "688 Attack Sub" game, but it seems overly restrictive to only allow you to have one torpedo running at a time. From the title of the game, I assume you command an LA class SSN. (Most information given below comes from "World Naval Weapon Systems" by Naval Institute Press.) The LA class SSNs (and Improved LA) use Mk48 torpedoes. The Mk48 can be fired in active homing, passive homing, non-acoustic (ie straight or pattern running) and wire-guided modes. Thus, unless you always fire in homing modes, the torpedo technology will not prevent you from firing more than one at the same target. In particular, I was under the impression that most firings were done in wire-guided modes to allow operator control. (In the case of the Mk48, the operator can also receive the torpedo sonar information.) Radical maneuvers or purposely cutting the wires (ie reloading the tube) can cause the link to be severed, in which case, I assume the torpedo reverts to a homing mode. (The Mk48 has two wires to lower to possibility of accidental link loss.) Also, the non-acoustic mode allows firing a spread. Though, I think, this would be considered to be a wasteful tactic. I think some early LA class boats got the Mk117 Fire Control System. These were probably later upgraded to use Combat Control System (CCS) Mk1 either as a standalone system or as part of BSY-1. Some late models may have CCS Mk2. I am not sure, but I think all of these allowed controlling of more than one wire-guided torpedo. For example, the Weapons Order Subsystem (WOS) of CCS Mk1, had two attack director consoles and two torpedo control consoles. The real life Kirov BCGN has four ASW weapon types: the RBUs (rocket propelled depth charges), tube launched ASW homing torpedos, Silex (missile with ASW homing torpedo) and ASW helos (which drop ASW homing torpedos). The first two are pretty short range. The last two have a lot longer ranges. The Mk48 should be able to out range the first two and can move a lot faster than the Kirov. -ted Ted Kim UCLA Computer Science Department Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu 3804C Boelter Hall UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (213) 206-8696
malloy@nprdc.navy.mil (Sean Malloy) (07/10/90)
From: malloy@nprdc.navy.mil (Sean Malloy) In article <1990Jul9.023926.10161@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) writes: |The real life Kirov BCGN has four ASW weapon types: the RBUs (rocket |propelled depth charges), tube launched ASW homing torpedos, Silex |(missile with ASW homing torpedo) and ASW helos (which drop ASW homing |torpedos). The first two are pretty short range. The last two have a |lot longer ranges. The Mk48 should be able to out range the first two |and can move a lot faster than the Kirov. Only the _Kirov_ has the SS-N-14 "Silex" launchers; the _Frunze_ and _Kalinin_ have SA-N-9 SAM launchers where the SS-N-14 launcher was on the _Kirov_. Sean Malloy | "What are these . . . whores- Navy Personnel Research & Development Center | doovers?" San Diego, CA 92152-6800 | "Or-dervs. It's a Frog word malloy@nprdc.navy.mil | that means munchies." | "Oh. They could have said."
rcm@mtuxo.att.com (R Craig Montero) (07/10/90)
From: rcm@mtuxo.att.com (R Craig Montero) In article <1990Jul9.023926.10161@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude)) writes: >In article <1990Jul6.032915.28154@cbnews.att.com> al.weaver@rose.uucp writes: >>So that's why I can only fire one torpedo at a time in 688 Attack >>Sub! Just a brief point about the game (if the moderator permits), you are able to fire a salvo of four torpedoes in the version I have used. Be sure you fill all four torpedo tubes on the weapons panel. >... that most firings were done in wire-guided modes to >allow operator control. (In the case of the Mk48, the operator can >also receive the torpedo sonar information.) Radical maneuvers or >purposely cutting the wires (ie reloading the tube) can cause the >link to be severed, in which case, I assume the torpedo reverts to a >homing mode. (The Mk48 has two wires to lower to possibility of >accidental link loss.) During the summer of '76 while serving as a middie on a 637 long hull boat, we were equipped with the then brand new and classified Mk48 torpedo. At that time the weapon was only launched in the wire guided mode and due to limitations of the fire control system only two torpedoes could be in the water at a time. Of course, based on the contractor's information, one Mk48 would take out anything up to the Kiev class cruiser 8-), so there would never be any need to launch more than one at any given target. R. Craig Montero AT&T Bell Labs mtuxo!rcm insert STANDARD DISCLAIMER here
tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim) (05/29/91)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim) buckland@ucs.ubc.ca (Tony Buckland) writes: >Are modern torpedos available in a specialized type for this kind of >armor-piercing role, in the same way that tanks carry rounds >specifically designed to penetrate the armor of other tanks? As other posters have mentioned, most modern anti-ship or heavy ASW torpedoes do not rely on armor piercing designs. However, in recent years, some HEAT warhead light ASW torpedo designs have appeared (eg Mk50 Barracuda). Apparently, these designs were in response to concerns in the West that light ASW torpedoes may not be able to take out some of the more modern Soviet submarine designs, which may have exceptionally strong hulls (for very deep operating depths) and large standoff gaps between outer and inner hulls. For example, in the Oscar class SSGN, there is a very large space between inner and outer hulls used to mount its cruise missile cannisters. -- Ted Kim Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu UCLA Computer Science Department UUCP: ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek 3804C Boelter Hall Phone: (213)206-8696 Los Angeles, CA 90024 FAX: (213)825-2273