tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (07/05/90)
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU In article <1990Jul3.031818.6630@cbnews.att.com> adrian@cs.heriot-watt.ac.uk (Adrian Hurt) writes: >Another factor is how the launcher is reloaded. A couple of weeks ago, >our local naval base had an open day, and one of the ships on show was >a Type 22 frigate, the Brazen. Among other things, such ships mount >six-barreled Sea Wolf missile launchers. When the six missiles have >been fired, the launcher is reloaded. What goes on below decks, I >didn't find out, but the missiles come through a hatch onto the >forward deck, and have to be loaded into the launcher using some >sailors and a trolley! The situation in the USN is similar. Certain launchers which have some number of rounds stored in canisters or cells in the mount itself. After those are gone, it's a lengthy manual process to get them reloaded. I think the designers felt, among the various tradeoffs to be made, quick reloading was not important due to the nature of the weapon system. US lauchers in this category include Mk29 NATO Sea Sparrow launcher and Mk32 torpedo launcher. The Mk29 has got 8 Sea Sparrows in cells. The weapon is designed for (short-range) point defense. It can fire a missile once every two seconds. But the associated Mk91 director (probably queued by TAS Mk23) can direct only two missiles at once at a single target. (On carriers, there are two Mk91s per Mk29.) Since its a point defense weapon, you aren't going to be able to get too many shots at those incoming ASMs. So for a single engagement, 8 might not be too bad. But if there were waves in quick succession (still better than if they came all at once!) you might run out. In the USN, reloading is done by hand. (Canada developed some type of autoloader.) The Mk32 is a triple torpedo tube mount which launches ASW torpedos. 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. The range of the Mk46 torpedo is around 6nm, so sub has to be pretty close to use this thing. Maybe 3 torpedos might not be so bad. Generally speaking, ships which have the Mk32 have one on either side of the ship. Reloading is done by hand. On the other hand, other launchers have an automated loader which feeds rounds from a magazine. But once the magazine is empty, you either have to find a replenishment ship or go back to port. Examples of this sort include the Mk13, Mk26 and Mk41. All of these launchers are designed to fire longer range SAMs, so a good supply of ready missiles in the magazine is a requirement. The Mk13 is a single arm launcher. It takes about 10 seconds per cycle to return to loading position, stick a missile on the rail and slew to the proper bearing and fire. The Mk26 is a dual arm launcher and does the same for both arms in 10 seconds. Magazine size for Mk13 on O.H. Perry is 40 missiles. The Mk26 magazines on Aegis cruisers carry 44 missiles. To load these things, you need open a hatch and put the missiles onto a loading rail. IMHO, hard to do without crane and calm seas. Mk41 is the vertical launch system and it uses modules of 8 cells, to form either 29 or 61 cell systems (3 cells are taken up by a loader crane). Rate of fire is one per two seconds. To reload you want to pop out the fired cell and stick a new one in. It does have a crane built in, but still I imagine its a tedious process. -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
terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) (07/06/90)
From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker) In article <1990Jul5.020313.13721@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU writes: > >Mk41 is the vertical launch system and it uses modules of 8 cells, to >form either 29 or 61 cell systems (3 cells are taken up by a loader >crane). Rate of fire is one per two seconds. To reload you want to pop >out the fired cell and stick a new one in. It does have a crane built >in, but still I imagine its a tedious process. > It is very tedious. There was an article (in USNI Proceedings, I believe) about the difficulty in this procedure. It is so difficult that it virtually precludes underway replenishment. Given the state of the current ammo handling UNREP equipment it is not clear how the replacement missiles will be staged on the deck before they are lowered into place. An additional complication is the lack of magazines (by definition) for the vertical launchers. Each round must be brought onboard and stowed directly into the launcher. Without magazines and ammo handling areas, there isn't even any place to temporarily stow the missiles. Well I gues you could alsways leave them lying on the deck :-) -- Terry Rooker terryr@cse.ogi.edu
al.weaver@rose.uucp (07/06/90)
From: al.weaver@rose.uucp tek@#S.UCLA.EDU writes: >The Mk32 is a triple torpedo tube mount which launches ASW torpedos. >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. The range of the Mk46 torpedo is >around 6nm, so sub has to be pretty close to use this thing. Maybe 3 >torpedos might not be so bad. Generally speaking, ships which have the >Mk32 have one on either side of the ship. Reloading is done by hand. 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. :-) Regards, Al al.weaver@rose.uucp --- MaS Relayer v1.00.00 Message gatewayed by MaS Network Software and Consulting/HST Internet: al.weaver@rose.uucp UUCP: ...tmsoft!masnet!rose!al.weaver