Modern torpedo: what is and what will be. "Case" for naval power: a new Russian torpedo Types of torpedoes
From their very first appearance in the theater of operations, submarines have demonstrated their most formidable weapon: self-propelled mines or, as we know them better, torpedoes. Now new submarines are coming into service with the Russian fleet, and they need new modern weapons. And it is already ready: the latest deep-sea torpedoes "Case".
In the last article with infographics, we talked about the new Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile carrier (PARB). This is the latest ship, equipped with a number of innovations, both in design and equipment, and in armament.
First of all, this, of course, is the R-30 Bulava ballistic missile. For the sake of this rocket, the Borey project was created. However, the submarine missile carrier also has the traditional submarine weapon with which this type of warship was born: torpedo tubes.
A bit of history
I must say that Russia was one of the founders of a new type of underwater weapons. This also applies to sea mines, and torpedoes, and actually submarines. The world's first successful mining was carried out by us during the Crimean War. Then, in 1854, the approaches to Kronstadt and part of the mouth of the Neva were mined. As a result, several English frigate steamers were damaged, and the Allied attempt to attack St. Petersburg failed.
One of the first people who expressed the idea of creating a “self-propelled naval projectile” was an Italian engineer at the beginning of the 15th century. Giovanni da Fontana. In principle, this idea was then implemented in the form of the so-called "fireships" - sailing ships stuffed with gunpowder and flammable materials, which were sent under sail to the enemy squadron.
Later, when the sail began to be replaced by a steam engine, the term torpedo to refer to naval ammunition was used at the beginning of the 19th century by the creator of one of the first steamships and the submarine project Robert Fulton.
However, the first workable working model of a torpedo was created by a Russian engineer and inventor, artist and photographer. Ivan Fyodorovich Alexandrovsky. By the way, in addition to a torpedo and a submarine with compressed air engines (a principle that has become one of the main mines over the next 50 years), which Ivan Fedorovich created in 1865 and 1866 at the Baltic Shipyard, the Russian engineer was known for a number of inventions in photography . Including the principle of stereoscopic shooting.
The following year, 1868, an English engineer Robert Whitehead the first industrial design of the torpedo was created, which began to be mass-produced and entered service with many fleets of the world under the name "Whitehead torpedo".
However, the British themselves were not very lucky with the torpedo at first. The English fleet used a torpedo for the first time in the battle in Pacocha Bay, when two English ships - the wooden corvette "Amethyst" and the flagship - the frigate "Shah" attacked the Peruvian armored monitor "Huascar". The Peruvian sailors were not distinguished by great experience in maritime affairs, but they easily evaded the torpedo.
And again the palm turned out to be in Russia. January 14, 1878 as a result of an operation led by Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov against the Turkish fleet in the Batum region, two boats, "Chesma" and "Sinop", launched from the mine transport "Grand Duke Konstantin", sank the Turkish steamer "Intibakh". It was the first successful torpedo attack in the world.
From that moment on, torpedoes began their triumphant march in the maritime theaters of operations. The firing range reached tens of kilometers, the speed exceeded the speed of the fastest submarines and surface ships, with the exception of ekranoplans (but this is more of a low-flying aircraft than a ship). Of the unguided torpedoes, they first became stabilized (floating according to the program, using gyrocompasses), and then both guided and homing.
They were placed not only on submarines and surface ships, but also on aircraft, missiles and coastal installations. Torpedoes had a wide variety of calibers, from 254 to 660 mm (the most common caliber is 533 mm) and carried up to half a ton of explosives.
It is noteworthy that the most powerful torpedo in the world was developed in the USSR. The first Soviet nuclear submarines of project 627 were supposed to be armed with truly gigantic T-15 torpedoes, caliber 1550 (!) mm with a nuclear warhead.
By the way, the idea of these torpedoes was proposed by the well-known fighter for peace and against totalitarianism, academician Andrey Dmitrievich Sakharov. According to his humanistic thought, T-15 torpedoes were supposed to deliver super-powerful thermonuclear charges (100 megatons) to enemy naval bases in order to cause a tsunami there, which would sweep away the entire coastal strip and could potentially destroy cities like San Francisco or most of Atlanta.
Amazingly, after reviewing the calculations of the destruction that these torpedoes could cause, the admirals of the Soviet fleet dismissed this idea in the bud as inhuman. According to legend, the commander of the USSR fleet, Admiral of the Fleet Sergei Georgievich Gorshkov said then that he was "a sailor, not an executioner."
And yet, torpedoes, despite their considerable age, remain in service as a type of military equipment.
Why do we need torpedoes
If submarines need missiles to hit targets, mainly on the coast, then for naval duels you can’t do without torpedoes and missile torpedoes (a multi-stage missile that launches along an air trajectory, and hits the target with its head stage already under water in torpedo mode ).
New boats need new weapons, and now the Russian Navy is testing a new torpedo "Case". This is a long-range deep sea torpedo. It moves at a depth of almost half a kilometer at a speed of about a hundred kilometers per hour and is able to reach a target at a distance of up to 50 kilometers. The target can also be surface - the torpedo is universal. But the main target is enemy hunter boats - the main enemies of submarine missile carriers.
The new torpedo is designed to replace the universal deep-sea homing torpedo (UGST) of the Physicist project. In fact, "Case" is a further improvement of the "Physicist" project. The characteristics of both torpedoes, in principle, are close in numerical terms. However, there are also significant differences.
The development of the previous version of the universal deep-sea homing torpedo - "Physics" - was started back in the USSR in 1986. The torpedo was designed in St. Petersburg, at the Morteplotekhnika Research Institute. The "Physicist" was adopted in 2002, that is, after 16 years.
With the new torpedo "Case" everything happens much faster. Now it is undergoing state tests, and if positive results are obtained, it will go into service as early as this year 2016. Moreover, its serial production will be started in the next - 2017. The speed of development for this type of weaponry is enviable.
Boats of project 955 SSBN Borey and project 885 SSBN (with cruise missiles) Yasen will be armed with Cases. "Borey" has six bow 533-mm torpedo tubes, and "Ash" - ten of the same apparatus, but located vertically in the middle part of the hull.
Enemy weapon
And what about our sworn "friends"? In US service, the main long-range deep sea torpedo is the Gould Mark 48 torpedo. It has been in service since the late 70s. The American torpedo has a large launch depth - about 800 meters - and surpasses both "Physics" and "Case" in this indicator.
True, this characteristic sounds rather arbitrary than it matters in practice, since the maximum diving depth of the American boat of the Ohio series is 550 meters, and its potential target - the deepest of the Russian boats, the Yasen PLRK - has a maximum permissible diving depth of 600 meters. So at a depth of 800 meters, the Mark 48 torpedo can only hunt sperm whales.
But according to another characteristic, much more important - range, Mark 48 - is significantly inferior to the "Case". At a maximum speed of 55 knots (here the "Case" and Mark 48 are almost equal), the range of the American torpedo does not exceed 38 kilometers against 50 for the "Case". In order to fire a shot at a maximum distance of 50 km, the torpedo is forced to switch to an economical course of 40 knots. That is, reduce the speed by half.
But the main advantage of the "Case", about which, due to the high secrecy of the project, there are more rumors than real data, is the complex for overcoming the anti-torpedo protection of enemy warships. The fact is that torpedoes can be dealt with in two ways: by jamming and launching so-called anti-torpedoes and trap targets (often these are also special torpedoes) that imitate the acoustic, hydrodynamic, magnetic and thermal underwater picture of a real walking warship. Apparently, the "Case" will be able to bypass these levels of protection.
It is not yet known exactly what exactly this complex includes, for sure these are passive means that help to build up guidance means from interference, but apparently also means of electronic suppression. Perhaps the "Case" will not only not be confused in false targets, but will itself be able to set such traps for enemy anti-torpedoes.
While we do not know exactly what is hidden in the new "Case". But we can confidently say one thing: there is nothing pleasant for our potential adversary there.
This is clearly not a NATO birthday present.
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✪ How do fish make electricity? - Eleanor Nelsen
✪ Torpedo marmorata
✪ Ford Mondeo stove. How will it burn?
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Translator: Ksenia Khorkova Editor: Rostislav Golod In 1800, natural scientist Alexander von Humboldt watched a school of electric eels jump out of the water to defend themselves against approaching horses. To many, the story seemed unusual, and they thought that Humboldt had made it all up. But fish using electricity are more common than you might think; And yes, there is such a type of fish - electric eels. Under water, where there is little light, electrical signals make it possible to communicate, navigate and serve to search, and in rare cases, to immobilize the victim. Approximately 350 species of fish have special anatomical structures that generate and record electrical signals. These fish are divided into two groups based on how much electricity they generate. Scientists call the first group fish with weak electrical properties. Organs near the tail, called electrical organs, generate up to one volt of electricity, nearly two-thirds that of a AA battery. How it works? The fish brain sends a signal through the nervous system to an electrical organ filled with stacks of hundreds or thousands of disk-like cells called electrocytes. Normally, electrocytes displace sodium and potassium ions to maintain a positive charge on the outside and a negative charge on the inside. But when the signal from the nervous system reaches the electrocyte, it provokes the opening of ion channels. The positively charged ions go back inside. Now one end of the electrocyte is negatively charged on the outside and positively charged on the inside. But the opposite end has opposite charges. These variable charges can create a current, turning the electrocyte into a kind of biological battery. The key to this ability is that the signals are coordinated to reach every cell at the same time. Therefore, stacks of electrocytes act like thousands of series batteries. The tiny charges of each battery form an electric field that can travel several meters. Cells called electroreceptors located in the skin allow the fish to constantly sense this field and changes in it caused by the environment or other fish. Peters' Gnathonem, or the Nile elephant, for example, has an elongated, trunk-like protrusion on its chin that is studded with electrical receptors. This allows the fish to receive signals from other fish, estimate distance, determine the shape and size of nearby objects, or even determine whether insects floating on the surface of the water are alive or dead. But the elephant and other types of weakly electric fish do not generate enough electricity to attack the prey. This ability is possessed by fish with strong electrical properties, of which there are very few species. The most powerful highly electric fish is the electric knifefish, better known as the electric eel. Three electric organs cover almost all of her two-meter body. Like weakly electric fish, the electric eel uses signals for navigation and communication, but it saves the strongest electric charges for hunting, using a two-phase attack, it finds and then immobilizes the prey. First, he releases a couple of strong pulses of 600 volts. These impulses cause the victim's muscles to spasm and generate waves that betray their hiding place. Immediately after this, high-voltage discharges cause even stronger muscle contractions. The eel can also curl up so that the electric fields generated at each end of the electric organ intersect. The electrical storm eventually exhausts and immobilizes the prey, and the electrical eel may swallow its meal alive. Two other types of highly electrical fish are the electric catfish, which can release 350 volts with an electrical organ that takes up most of its body, and the electric ray, with kidney-like electrical organs on the sides of its head, that generate 220 volts. However, in the world of electric fish, there is one unsolved mystery: why do they not stun themselves with electric shock? It is possible that the size of highly electric fish allows them to withstand their own discharges, or the current leaves their bodies too quickly. Scientists think that special proteins can protect electrical organs, but in fact this is one of the mysteries that science has not yet solved.
Origin of the term
In Russian, like other European languages, the word "torpedo" is borrowed from English (eng. torpedo) [ ] .
There is no consensus on the first use of this term in English. Some authoritative sources claim that the first record of this term dates back to 1776 and was introduced into circulation by David Bushnell, the inventor of one of the first submarine prototypes - Turtles. According to another, more common version, the primacy of the use of this word in English belongs to Robert Fulton and refers to the beginning of the 19th century (no later than 1810)
In both cases, the term "torpedo" did not mean a self-propelled cigar-shaped projectile, but an egg-shaped or barrel-shaped underwater contact mine, which had little in common with Whitehead and Aleksandrovsky torpedoes.
Initially, in English, the word "torpedo" means electric rays, and has existed since the 16th century and has been borrowed from the Latin language (lat. torpedo), which in turn originally meant "numbness", "rigor stiffness", "immobility". The term is associated with the effect of the "hit" of an electric ray.
Classifications
By type of engine
- On compressed air (before the First World War);
- Steam-gas - liquid fuel burns in compressed air (oxygen) with the addition of water, and the resulting mixture rotates a turbine or drives a piston engine;
a separate type of steam-gas torpedoes are torpedoes from PSTU Walter. - Powder - gases from slowly burning gunpowder rotate the engine shaft or turbine;
- Reactive - do not have propellers, jet thrust is used (torpedoes: PAT-52, "Shkval"). It is necessary to distinguish between rocket torpedoes and rocket torpedoes, which are missiles with warheads-stages in the form of torpedoes (rocket torpedoes "ASROC", "Waterfall", etc.).
- Unmanaged - the first samples;
- Straight - with a magnetic compass or a gyroscopic semi-compass;
- Maneuvering according to a given program (circulating) in the area of intended targets - were used by Germany in World War II;
- Passive homing - by physical target fields, mainly by noise or a change in the properties of water in the wake (the first use was in World War II), Zaukenig acoustic torpedoes (Germany, used by submarines) and Mark 24 FIDO (USA, used only from aircraft, as they could hit their ship);
- Self-guided active - have a sonar on board. Many modern anti-submarine and multipurpose torpedoes;
- Remote-controlled - targeting is carried out from the side of a surface or underwater ship via wires (optical fiber).
By appointment
- Anti-ship (originally all torpedoes);
- Universal (designed to destroy both surface and submarine ships);
- Anti-submarine (designed to destroy submarines).
“In 1865,” Aleksandrovsky writes, “I presented ... to Admiral N.K. Essence ... a torpedo is nothing more than a copy in miniature from a submarine I invented. As in my submarine, so in my torpedo, the main engine is compressed air, the same horizontal rudders for guiding at the desired depth ... with the only difference that the submarine is controlled by people, and the self-propelled torpedo ... by an automatic mechanism. On the presentation of my project of a self-propelled torpedo, N. K. Crabbe found it premature, because at that time my submarine was only being built.
Apparently the first guided torpedo is the Brennan Torpedo developed in 1877.
World War I
The Second World War
Electric torpedoesOne of the disadvantages of steam-gas torpedoes is the presence of a trace (bubbles of exhaust gas) on the surface of the water, which unmasks the torpedo and creates the opportunity for the attacked ship to evade it and determine the location of the attackers, therefore, after the First World War, attempts began to use an electric motor as a torpedo engine. The idea was obvious, but none of the states, except Germany, could not realize it before the start of the Second World War. In addition to tactical advantages, it turned out that electric torpedoes were relatively easy to manufacture (for example, the labor costs for the manufacture of a standard German G7a (T1) steam-gas torpedo ranged from 3740 man-hours in 1939 to 1707 man-hours in 1943; and for the production of one electric torpedoes G7e (T2) required 1255 man-hours). However, the maximum speed of an electric torpedo was only 30 knots, while a steam-gas torpedo developed a speed of up to 46 knots. There was also the problem of eliminating the leakage of hydrogen from the torpedo battery, which sometimes led to its accumulation and explosions.
In Germany, an electric torpedo was created back in 1918, but they did not have time to use it in combat operations. Development continued in 1923, in Sweden. In the city, the new electric torpedo was ready for serial production, but it was officially accepted into service only in the city under the designation G7e. The work was so secret that the British found out about it only in the same 1939, when parts of such a torpedo were discovered when examining the battleship Royal Oak, torpedoed in Scapa Flow on the Orkney Islands.
However, already in August 1941, fully serviceable 12 such torpedoes fell into the hands of the British on the captured U-570. Despite the fact that both Britain and the United States already had prototypes of electric torpedoes at that time, they simply copied the German one and adopted it (though only in 1945, after the end of the war) under the designation Mk-XI in British and Mk -18 in the US Navy.
Work on the creation of a special electric battery and an electric motor designed for 533 mm caliber torpedoes began in 1932 in the Soviet Union as well. During 1937-1938. Two experimental electric torpedoes ET-45 with a 45 kW electric motor were manufactured. It showed unsatisfactory results, so in 1938 a fundamentally new electric motor was developed with an armature rotating in different directions and a magnetic system, with high efficiency and satisfactory power (80 kW). The first samples of the new electric torpedo were made in 1940. And although the German G7e electric torpedo fell into the hands of Soviet engineers, they did not copy it, and in 1942, after state tests, the domestic ET-80 torpedo was adopted . The first five ET-80 combat torpedoes were delivered to the Northern Fleet at the beginning of 1943. In total, Soviet submariners used up 16 electric torpedoes during the war.
Thus, in reality, in World War II, Germany and the Soviet Union were armed with electric torpedoes. The share of electric torpedoes in the ammunition load of Kriegsmarine submarines was up to 80%.
proximity fuses
Independently of each other, in strict secrecy and almost simultaneously, the navies of Germany, England and the United States developed magnetic fuses for torpedoes. These fuses had a great advantage over the simpler contact fuses. The anti-mine bulkheads located below the armored belt of the ships minimized the damage caused when a torpedo hit the side. For maximum effectiveness of the defeat, a torpedo with a contact fuse had to hit the unarmored part of the hull, which turned out to be a very difficult task. Magnetic fuses were designed in such a way that they were triggered by changes in the magnetic field of the Earth under the steel hull of the ship and exploded the warhead of the torpedo at a distance of 0.3-3.0 meters from its bottom. It was believed that the explosion of a torpedo under the bottom of the ship causes two or three times more damage to it than an explosion of the same power at its side.
However, the first German static-type magnetic fuses (TZ1), which responded to the absolute value of the vertical component of the magnetic field, simply had to be removed from service in 1940, after the Norwegian operation. These fuses were triggered after the torpedo passed a safe distance, already in light seas, in circulation, or when the torpedo was not sufficiently stable in depth. As a result, this fuse saved several British heavy cruisers from imminent death.
New German proximity fuses appeared in combat torpedoes only in 1943. These were magnetodynamic fuses of the Pi-Dupl type, in which the sensitive element was an induction coil, fixedly fixed in the combat compartment of the torpedo. Pi-Dupl fuses reacted to the rate of change of the vertical component of the magnetic field strength and to the change of its polarity under the ship's hull. However, the response radius of such a fuse in 1940 was 2.5-3 m, and in 1943 on a demagnetized ship it barely reached 1 m.
Only in the second half of the war, the TZ2 proximity fuse was adopted by the German fleet, which had a narrow response band that lay outside the frequency ranges of the main types of interference. As a result, even on a demagnetized ship, it provided a response radius of up to 2-3 m at meeting angles with a target from 30 to 150 °, and with a sufficient travel depth (about 7 m), the TZ2 fuse had practically no false alarms due to sea waves. The disadvantage of the TZ2 was its inherent requirement to ensure a sufficiently high relative speed of the torpedo and the target, which was not always possible when firing low-speed electric homing torpedoes.
In the Soviet Union, it was a fuse of the NVS type ( proximity fuse with stabilizer; this is a generator-type magnetodynamic fuse, which was triggered not by the magnitude, but by the rate of change of the vertical component of the magnetic field strength of a ship with a displacement of at least 3000 tons at a distance of up to 2 m from the bottom). It was installed on 53-38 torpedoes (NVS could only be used in torpedoes with special brass combat charging compartments).
Maneuvering devices
During World War II, all the leading naval powers continued to work on the creation of maneuvering devices for torpedoes. However, only Germany was able to bring prototypes to industrial production (course guidance systems FaT and its improved version LuT).
FaT
The first example of the FaT guidance system was installed on a TI (G7a) torpedo. The following control concept was implemented - the torpedo in the first section of the trajectory moved straight at a distance from 500 to 12500 m and turned in any direction at an angle of up to 135 degrees across the movement of the convoy, and in the zone of destruction of enemy ships further movement was carried out along an S-shaped trajectory (" snake") at a speed of 5-7 knots, while the length of the straight section ranged from 800 to 1600 m and the circulation diameter was 300 m. As a result, the search trajectory resembled stairs. Ideally, the torpedo should have searched for a target at a constant speed across the direction of the convoy. The probability of hitting such a torpedo, fired from the forward heading angles of the convoy with a "snake" across the course of its movement, turned out to be very high.
Since May 1943, the next modification of the FaTII guidance system (the length of the “snake” section is 800 m) began to be installed on TII (G7e) torpedoes. Due to the short range of the electric torpedo, this modification was considered primarily as a self-defense weapon, fired from the stern torpedo tube towards the pursuing escort ship.
LuT
The LuT guidance system was developed to overcome the limitations of the FaT system and entered service in the spring of 1944. Compared to the previous system, the torpedoes were equipped with a second gyroscope, as a result of which it became possible to set turns twice before the “snake” movement began. Theoretically, this made it possible for the submarine commander to attack the convoy not from the bow heading angles, but from any position - first the torpedo overtook the convoy, then turned to its bow angles, and only after that it began to “snake” across the course of the convoy. The length of the "snake" section could be changed in any range up to 1600 m, while the speed of the torpedo was inversely proportional to the length of the section and was for the G7a with the initial 30-knot mode set to 10 knots with a section length of 500 m and 5 knots with a section length of 1500 m .
The need to make changes to the design of torpedo tubes and a calculating device limited the number of boats prepared for the use of the LuT guidance system to only five dozen. Historians estimate that during the war, German submariners fired about 70 LuT torpedoes.
In the autumn of 1984, events took place in the Barents Sea that could lead to the start of a world war.
An American missile cruiser suddenly burst into the combat training area of the Soviet northern fleet at full speed. This happened during a torpedo throwing by a Mi-14 helicopter link. The Americans launched a high-speed motor boat, and raised a helicopter into the air for cover. The Severomorsk aviators realized that their goal was to capture the latest Soviet torpedoes.
The duel over the sea lasted almost 40 minutes. With maneuvers and air currents from the propellers, the Soviet pilots did not allow the annoying Yankees to approach the secret product until the Soviet one safely brought it on board. The escort ships that arrived in time by this time forced the American out of the range.
Torpedoes have always been considered the most effective weapon of the Russian fleet. It is no coincidence that NATO secret services regularly hunt for their secrets. Russia continues to be the world leader in terms of the amount of know-how applied to the creation of torpedoes.
Modern torpedo a formidable weapon of modern ships and submarines. It allows you to quickly and accurately strike at the enemy at sea. By definition, a torpedo is an autonomous, self-propelled and guided underwater projectile, in which about 500 kg of explosive or nuclear warhead is sealed. The secrets of developing torpedo weapons are the most protected, and the number of states that own these technologies is even less than the number of members of the "nuclear club".
During the Korean War in 1952, the Americans planned to drop two atomic bombs each weighing 40 tons. At that time, a Soviet fighter regiment operated on the side of the Korean troops. The Soviet Union also had nuclear weapons, and a local conflict could escalate into a real nuclear catastrophe at any moment. Information about the intentions of the Americans to use atomic bombs became the property of Soviet intelligence. In response, Joseph Stalin ordered the development of more powerful thermonuclear weapons to be accelerated. Already in September of the same year, the Minister of the shipbuilding industry, Vyacheslav Malyshev, submitted a unique project for Stalin's approval.
Vyacheslav Malyshev proposed to create a huge nuclear torpedo T-15. This 24-meter projectile of 1550 millimeters was supposed to have a weight of 40 tons, of which only 4 tons accounted for the warhead. Stalin approved the creation torpedoes, the energy for which was produced by electric batteries.
These weapons could destroy major US naval bases. Due to the increased secrecy, builders and nuclear scientists did not consult with representatives of the fleet, so no one thought about how to serve such a monster and shoot, in addition, the US Navy had only two bases available for Soviet torpedoes, so they abandoned the T-15 supergiant.
In exchange, the sailors proposed to create a conventional caliber atomic torpedo, which could be used on all. Interestingly, the caliber of 533 mm is generally accepted and scientifically justified, since the caliber and length are actually the potential energy of the torpedo. It was possible to covertly strike at a potential enemy only at long distances, so the designers and naval sailors gave priority to thermal torpedoes.
On October 10, 1957, the first underwater nuclear tests were carried out in the Novaya Zemlya area. torpedoes caliber 533 mm. The new torpedo was fired by the S-144 submarine. From a distance of 10 kilometers, the submarine fired one torpedo salvo. Soon, at a depth of 35 meters, a powerful atomic explosion followed, its damaging properties were recorded by hundreds of sensors placed on those located in the test area. Interestingly, during this most dangerous element, the crews were replaced by animals.
As a result of these tests, the navy received the first nuclear torpedo 5358. They belonged to the class of thermal engines, since their engines operated on vapors of a gas mixture.
The nuclear epic is just one page in the history of Russian torpedo building. More than 150 years ago, the idea to create the first self-propelled naval mine or torpedo was put forward by our compatriot Ivan Aleksandrovsky. Soon, under the command, for the first time in the world, a torpedo was used in a battle with the Turks in January 1878. And at the beginning of World War II, Soviet designers created the highest-speed torpedo in the world 5339, which means 53 centimeters and 1939. However, the true dawn of the domestic torpedo building schools occurred in the 60s of the last century. Its center was TsNI 400, later renamed Gidropribor. Over the past period, the institute handed over 35 different samples to the Soviet fleet torpedoes.
In addition to submarines, naval aviation and all classes of surface ships, the rapidly developing fleet of the USSR, were armed with torpedoes: cruisers, destroyers and patrol ships. The unique carriers of these weapons, torpedo boats, also continued to be built.
At the same time, the composition of the NATO bloc was constantly replenished with ships with higher performance. So in September 1960, the world's first nuclear-powered Enterprise was launched with a displacement of 89,000 tons, with 104 units of nuclear weapons on board. To combat aircraft carrier strike groups with strong anti-submarine defenses, the range of the existing weapon was no longer enough.
Only submarines could approach the aircraft carriers unnoticed, but it was extremely difficult to conduct aimed fire at the guards covered by ships. In addition, during the years of World War II, the American Navy learned to counteract the torpedo homing system. To solve this problem, Soviet scientists for the first time in the world created a new torpedo device that detected the wake of the ship and ensured its further defeat. However, thermal torpedoes had a significant drawback - their characteristics fell sharply at great depths, while their piston engines and turbines made loud noises, which unmasked the attacking ships.
In view of this, the designers had to solve new problems. This is how an aircraft torpedo appeared, which was placed under the body of a cruise missile. As a result, the time of destruction of submarines was reduced several times. The first such complex was named "Metel". It was intended to be fired upon by submarines from escort ships. Later, the complex learned to hit surface targets. Submarines were also armed with torpedoes.
In the 70s, the US Navy reclassified its aircraft carriers from strike aircraft carriers to multipurpose ones. For this, the composition of the aircraft based on them was replaced in favor of anti-submarine ones. Now they could not only launch air strikes on the territory of the USSR, but also actively counteract the deployment of Soviet submarines in the ocean. To break through the defenses and destroy multi-purpose aircraft carrier strike groups, Soviet submarines began to arm themselves with cruise missiles launched from torpedo tubes and flying hundreds of kilometers. But even this long-range weapon could not sink the floating airfield. More powerful charges were required, therefore, specifically for nuclear-powered ships of the "" type, the designers of "Gidropribor" created a torpedo of an increased caliber of 650 millimeters, which carries more than 700 kilograms of explosives.
This sample is used in the so-called dead zone of its anti-ship missiles. It aims at the target either independently or receives information from external sources of target designation. In this case, the torpedo can approach the enemy simultaneously with other weapons. It is almost impossible to defend against such a massive blow. For this, she received the nickname "aircraft carrier killer."
In everyday affairs and worries, the Soviet people did not think about the dangers associated with the confrontation of the superpowers. But each of them was targeted in the equivalent of about 100 tons of US military equipment. The bulk of these weapons was taken out into the world's oceans and placed on underwater carriers. The main weapon of the Soviet fleet against were anti-submarine torpedoes. Traditionally, electric motors were used for them, the power of which did not depend on the depth of travel. Such torpedoes were armed not only with submarines, but also with surface ships. The most powerful of them were. For a long time, the most common anti-submarine torpedoes for submarines were the SET-65, but in 1971, the designers for the first time used remote control, which was carried out underwater by wires. This dramatically increased the accuracy of the submarines. And soon the USET-80 universal electric torpedo was created, which could effectively destroy not only, but also surface ones. She developed a high speed of over 40 knots and had a long range. In addition, it struck at a depth of travel inaccessible to any NATO anti-submarine forces - over 1000 meters.
In the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plants and testing grounds of the Gidropribor Institute ended up on the territory of seven new sovereign states. Most of the enterprises were looted. But scientific work on the creation of a modern underwater gun in Russia was not interrupted.
midget combat torpedo
Like unmanned aerial vehicles, torpedo weapons will be used with increasing demand in the coming years. Today, Russia is building fourth-generation warships, and one of their features is an integrated weapon control system. For them, small-sized thermal and universal deep-sea torpedoes. Their engine runs on unitary fuel, which is essentially liquid gunpowder. When it burns, enormous energy is released. This torpedo universal. It can be used from surface ships, submarines, and also be part of the combat units of aviation anti-submarine systems.
Technical characteristics of a universal deep-sea homing torpedo with remote control (UGST):
Weight - 2200 kg;
Charge weight - 300 kg;
Speed - 50 knots;
Travel depth - up to 500 m;
Range - 50 km;
Homing radius - 2500 m;
Recently, the US Navy has been replenished with the latest Virginia-class nuclear submarines. Their ammunition includes 26 modernized Mk 48 torpedoes. When fired, they rush to a target located at a distance of 50 kilometers at a speed of 60 knots. The working depths of the torpedo for the purpose of invulnerability to the enemy are up to 1 kilometer. The Russian multi-purpose submarine of project 885 "Ash" is called upon to become the enemy of these boats under water. Its ammunition capacity is 30 torpedoes, and so far its secret characteristics are in no way inferior.
And in conclusion, I would like to note that torpedo weapons contain a lot of secrets, for each of which a potential enemy in battle will have to pay a heavy price.
The first torpedoes differed from modern ones no less than a wheeled steam frigate from a nuclear aircraft carrier. In 1866, the Skat carried 18 kg of explosives over a distance of 200 m at a speed of about 6 knots. Shooting accuracy was below any criticism. By 1868, the use of coaxial screws rotating in different directions made it possible to reduce the yaw of the torpedo in the horizontal plane, and the installation of a pendulum rudder control mechanism stabilized the depth of travel.
By 1876, Whitehead's brainchild was already sailing at a speed of about 20 knots and covered a distance of two cables (about 370 m). Two years later, torpedoes had their say on the battlefield: Russian sailors sent the Turkish patrol steamer Intibakh to the bottom of the Batumi raid with “self-propelled mines”.
Submarine torpedo room
If you do not know what destructive power the "fish" lying on the shelves have, then you can not guess. On the left are two torpedo tubes with open covers. The top one is not loaded yet.
The further evolution of torpedo weapons until the middle of the 20th century is reduced to an increase in the charge, range, speed and ability of torpedoes to stay on course. It is of fundamental importance that for the time being the general ideology of the weapon remained exactly the same as in 1866: the torpedo was supposed to hit the side of the target and explode on impact.
Direct-going torpedoes are still in service today, periodically finding use in the course of all sorts of conflicts. It was they who sank the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano in 1982, which became the most famous victim of the Falklands War.
The English nuclear submarine Conqueror then fired three Mk-VIII torpedoes at the cruiser, which have been in service with the Royal Navy since the mid-1920s. The combination of a nuclear submarine and antediluvian torpedoes looks funny, but let's not forget that the cruiser built in 1938 by 1982 was more of a museum than a military value.
A revolution in the torpedo business was made by the appearance in the middle of the 20th century of homing and telecontrol systems, as well as proximity fuses.
Modern homing systems (SSN) are divided into passive - "catching" physical fields created by the target, and active - looking for the target, usually with the help of sonar. In the first case, it is most often about the acoustic field - the noise of propellers and mechanisms.
Somewhat apart are the homing systems that locate the wake of the ship. Numerous small air bubbles remaining in it change the acoustic properties of water, and this change is reliably “caught” by the torpedo sonar far astern of the past ship. Having fixed the trace, the torpedo turns in the direction of the target movement and searches, moving in a “snake”. Wake tracking, the main method of homing torpedoes in the Russian Navy, is considered reliable in principle. True, a torpedo, forced to catch up with a target, spends time and precious cable tracks on this. And the submarine, in order to shoot "on the trail", has to get closer to the target than would be allowed in principle by the range of the torpedo. The chances of survival do not increase.
The second most important innovation was the telecontrol systems for torpedoes that spread in the second half of the 20th century. As a rule, the torpedo is controlled by a cable that unwinds as it moves.
The combination of controllability with a proximity fuse made it possible to radically change the very ideology of using torpedoes - now they are focused on diving under the keel of an attacked target and exploding there.
Mine nets
Squadron battleship "Emperor Alexander II" during tests of the anti-mine network of the Bullivant system. Kronstadt, 1891
Catch her with a net!
The first attempts to protect ships from a new threat were made in a matter of years after its appearance. The concept looked unpretentious: folding shots were attached on board the ship, from which a steel net hung down to stop torpedoes.
On tests of new items in England in 1874, the network successfully repelled all attacks. Similar tests conducted in Russia a decade later gave slightly worse results: the net, designed for a tensile strength of 2.5 tons, withstood five out of eight shots, but the three torpedoes that pierced it got entangled with propellers and were still stopped.
The most striking episodes of the biography of anti-torpedo nets relate to the Russo-Japanese war. However, by the beginning of the First World War, the speed of torpedoes exceeded 40 knots, and the charge reached hundreds of kilograms. To overcome obstacles, special cutters began to be installed on torpedoes. In May 1915, the English battleship Triumph, which was shelling Turkish positions at the entrance to the Dardanelles, was, despite lowered nets, sunk with a single shot from a German submarine - a torpedo broke through the defense. By 1916, the lowered "chain mail" was perceived more as a useless load than as protection.
(IMG:http://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2011-04/1303281376_2712117058_5c8c8fd7bf_o_1300783343_full.jpg) Fence off with a wall
The energy of the blast wave decreases rapidly with distance. It would be logical to put an armored bulkhead at some distance from the outer skin of the ship. If it withstands the impact of the blast wave, then the damage to the ship will be limited to the flooding of one or two compartments, and the power plant, ammunition cellars and other vulnerable places will not be affected.
Apparently, the former chief builder of the English fleet, E. Reid, was the first to put forward the idea of a constructive PTZ in 1884, but his idea was not supported by the Admiralty. The British preferred to follow the traditional way at that time in the projects of their ships: to divide the hull into a large number of watertight compartments and cover the engine and boiler rooms with coal pits located along the sides.
Such a system for protecting a ship from artillery shells was repeatedly tested at the end of the 19th century and, on the whole, looked effective: the coal piled in the pits regularly “caught” the shells and did not catch fire.
The anti-torpedo bulkhead system was first implemented in the French Navy on the experimental battleship Henri IV, designed by E. Bertin. The essence of the idea was to smoothly round the bevels of the two armored decks down, parallel to the side and at some distance from it. Bertin's design did not go to war, and it was probably for the best - the caisson built according to this scheme, which imitated the Henri compartment, was destroyed during testing by an explosion of a torpedo charge attached to the skin.
In a simplified form, this approach was implemented on the Russian battleship "Tsesarevich", built in France and according to the French project, as well as on the EDB of the "Borodino" type, which copied the same project. The ships received, as anti-torpedo protection, a longitudinal armored bulkhead 102 mm thick, separated from the outer skin by 2 m. This did not help the Tsesarevich much - having received a Japanese torpedo during the Japanese attack on Port Arthur, the ship spent several months under repair.
The English Navy relied on coal pits until about the time the Dreadnought was built. However, an attempt to test this protection in 1904 ended in failure. The ancient armored ram "Belayle" acted as a "guinea pig". Outside, a cofferdam 0.6 m wide filled with cellulose was attached to its hull, and six longitudinal bulkheads were erected between the outer skin and the boiler room, the space between which was filled with coal. The explosion of a 457-mm torpedo made a hole 2.5x3.5 m in this structure, demolished the cofferdam, destroyed all the bulkheads except the last one, and swelled the deck. As a result, the Dreadnought received armored screens that covered the cellars of the towers, and subsequent battleships were built with full-sized longitudinal bulkheads along the length of the hull - the design idea came to a single solution.
Gradually, the design of the PTZ became more complicated, and its dimensions increased. Combat experience has shown that the main thing in constructive protection is depth, that is, the distance from the explosion site to the ship's innards covered by protection. The single bulkhead was replaced by intricate structures consisting of several compartments. To push the "epicenter" of the explosion as far as possible, boules were widely used - longitudinal attachments mounted on the hull below the waterline.
One of the most powerful is the PTZ of the French Richelieu-class battleships, which consisted of an anti-torpedo and several dividing bulkheads that formed four rows of protective compartments. The outer one, which had an almost 2-meter width, was filled with foam-rubber filler. Then followed a row of empty compartments, followed by fuel tanks, then another row of empty compartments, designed to collect spilled fuel from the explosion. Only after that, the blast wave had to stumble upon an anti-torpedo bulkhead, after which another row of empty compartments followed - in order to definitely catch everything leaked. On the battleship Jean Bar of the same type, the PTZ was reinforced with boules, as a result of which its total depth reached 9.45 m.
On American battleships of the North Caroline type, the PTZ system was formed by a boule and five bulkheads - though not from armor, but from ordinary shipbuilding steel. The boule cavity and the compartment following it were empty, the next two compartments were filled with fuel or sea water. The last, inner, compartment was again empty.
In addition to protecting against underwater explosions, numerous compartments could be used to equalize the roll, flooding them as needed.
Needless to say, such a waste of space and displacement was a luxury only allowed on the largest ships. The next series of American battleships (South Dacota) received a boiler-turbine installation of other dimensions - shorter and wider. And it was no longer possible to increase the width of the hull - otherwise the ships would not have passed through the Panama Canal. The result was a decrease in the depth of the PTZ.
Despite all the tricks, the defense always lagged behind the weapons. The PTZ of the same American battleships was designed for a torpedo with a 317-kilogram charge, but after they were built, the Japanese had torpedoes with charges of 400 kg of TNT and more. As a result, the commander of the North Caroline, which received a hit by a Japanese 533-mm torpedo in the fall of 1942, honestly wrote in his report that he had never considered the underwater protection of the ship to be adequate for a modern torpedo. However, the damaged battleship then remained afloat.
Do not reach the goal
The advent of nuclear weapons and guided missiles has radically changed the way we look at armament and defense of a warship. The fleet parted ways with multi-turreted battleships. On the new ships, the place of gun turrets and armor belts was taken by missile systems and radars. The main thing was not to withstand the hit of an enemy projectile, but simply to prevent it.
The approach to anti-torpedo protection has changed in a similar way - boules with bulkheads, although they have not completely disappeared, have clearly receded into the background. The task of today's PTZ is to shoot down a torpedo on the right course, confusing its homing system, or simply destroy it on the way to the target.
The "gentleman's set" of modern PTZ includes several commonly used devices. The most important of them are sonar countermeasures, both towed and fired. A device floating in water creates an acoustic field, in other words, it makes noise. The noise from the GPA means can confuse the homing system, either by imitating the noise of the ship (much louder than itself), or by "clogging" the enemy hydroacoustics with interference. Thus, the American AN / SLQ-25 Nixie system includes torpedo diverters towed at a speed of up to 25 knots and six-barrel launchers for firing GPA weapons. This is accompanied by automation that determines the parameters of attacking torpedoes, signal generators, own sonar systems and much more.
In recent years, there have been reports of the development of the AN / WSQ-11 system, which should provide not only the suppression of homing devices, but also the defeat of anti-torpedoes at a distance of 100 to 2000 m). A small anti-torpedo (caliber 152 mm, length 2.7 m, weight 90 kg, range 2–3 km) is equipped with a steam turbine power plant.
Tests of prototypes have been carried out since 2004, and adoption is expected in 2012. There is also information about the development of a super-cavitating anti-torpedo capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 knots, similar to the Russian Shkval, but there is practically nothing to tell about it - everything is carefully covered with a veil of secrecy.
Developments in other countries look similar. French and Italian aircraft carriers are equipped with a jointly developed SLAT PTZ system. The main element of the system is a towed antenna, including 42 radiating elements and side-mounted 12-tube devices for firing self-propelled or drifting means of the Spartakus GPA. It is also known about the development of an active system that fires anti-torpedoes.
It is noteworthy that in a series of reports about various developments, there has not yet been information about something that could knock a torpedo off course, following the ship's wake.
The Udav-1M and Paket-E/NK anti-torpedo systems are currently in service with the Russian fleet. The first of them is designed to destroy or divert torpedoes attacking the ship. The complex can fire two types of projectiles. Projectile diverter 111СО2 is designed to divert a torpedo from the target.
111SZG barrage-deep shells make it possible to form a kind of minefield in the path of an attacking torpedo. At the same time, the probability of hitting a straight-moving torpedo with one salvo is 90%, and for a homing one - about 76. The "Packet" complex is designed to destroy torpedoes attacking a surface ship with anti-torpedoes. Open sources say that its use reduces the likelihood of a ship being hit by a torpedo by about 3-3.5 times, but it seems likely that this figure was not tested in combat conditions, as well as all the others.
Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation
TORPEDO WEAPONS
Guidelines
for independent work
by discipline
"COMBATIVE FACILITIES OF THE FLEET AND THEIR COMBAT APPLICATION"
Torpedo weapons: guidelines for independent work on the discipline "Combat weapons of the fleet and their combat use" / Comp.: ,; St. Petersburg: Publishing House of St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI", 20 p.
Designed for students of all profiles of training.
Approved
editorial and publishing council of the university
as guidelines
From the history of development and combat use
torpedo weapons
Appearance at the beginning of the 19th century armored ships with thermal engines exacerbated the need to create weapons that hit the most vulnerable underwater part of the ship. A sea mine that appeared in the 40s became such a weapon. However, it had a significant drawback: it was positional (passive).
The world's first self-propelled mine was created in 1865 by a Russian inventor.
In 1866, the project of a self-propelled underwater projectile was developed by the Englishman R. Whitehead, who worked in Austria. He also proposed to name the projectile by the name of the sea stingray - "torpedo". Having failed to establish their own production, the Russian Naval Department in the 70s purchased a batch of Whitehead torpedoes. They covered a distance of 800 m at a speed of 17 knots and carried a charge of pyroxylin weighing 36 kg.
The world's first successful torpedo attack was carried out by the commander of a Russian military ship, a lieutenant (later - vice admiral) on January 26, 1878. At night, during heavy snowfall in the Batumi roadstead, two boats launched from the steamer approached the Turkish ship 50 m and simultaneously released torpedo. The ship quickly sank with almost the entire crew.
A fundamentally new torpedo weapon changed views on the nature of armed struggle at sea - fleets moved from general battles to systematic combat operations.
Torpedoes of the 70-80s of the XIX century. had a significant drawback: not having control devices in the horizontal plane, they strongly deviated from the set course and shooting at a distance of more than 600 m was ineffective. In 1896, Lieutenant of the Austrian Navy L. Aubrey proposed the first sample of a gyroscopic course device with a spring winding, which kept the torpedo on course for 3-4 minutes. On the agenda was the issue of increasing the range.
In 1899, a lieutenant of the Russian fleet invented a heating apparatus in which kerosene was burned. Compressed air, before being fed into the cylinders of the working machine, was heated up and already did a lot of work. The introduction of heating increased the range of torpedoes to 4000 m at speeds up to 30 knots.
In the First World War, 49% of the total number of large ships sunk fell on torpedo weapons.
In 1915, a torpedo was first used from an aircraft.
The Second World War accelerated the testing and adoption of torpedoes with proximity fuses (NV), homing systems (SSN) and electrical power plants.
In subsequent years, despite the equipment of the fleets with the latest nuclear missile weapons, torpedoes have not lost their significance. Being the most effective anti-submarine weapon, they are in service with all classes of surface ships (NK), submarines (submarine) and naval aviation, and have also become the main element of modern anti-submarine missiles (PLUR) and an integral part of many models of modern sea mines. A modern torpedo is a complex single set of systems for movement, movement control, homing and non-contact charge detonation, created on the basis of modern achievements in science and technology.
1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TORPEDO WEAPONS
1.1. Purpose, composition and placement of complexes
torpedo weapons on the ship
Torpedo weapons (TO) are intended for:
To destroy submarines (PL), surface ships (NK)
Destruction of hydraulic and port facilities.
For these purposes, torpedoes are used, which are in service with surface ships, submarines and aircraft (helicopters) of naval aviation. In addition, they are used as warheads for anti-submarine missiles and mine torpedoes.
A torpedo weapon is a complex that includes:
Ammunition for torpedoes of one or more types;
Torpedo launchers - torpedo tubes (TA);
Torpedo fire control devices (PUTS);
The complex is complemented by equipment designed for loading and unloading torpedoes, as well as devices for monitoring their condition during storage on the carrier.
The number of torpedoes in the ammunition load, depending on the type of carrier, is:
On NK - from 4 to 10;
On the submarine - from 14-16 to 22-24.
On domestic NKs, the entire stock of torpedoes is placed in torpedo tubes installed on board on large ships, and in the diametrical plane on medium and small ships. These TAs are swivel, which ensures their guidance in the horizontal plane. On torpedo boats, TAs are fixed on board and are non-guided (stationary).
On nuclear submarines, torpedoes are stored in the first (torpedo) compartment in TA pipes (4-8), and spare ones are stored on racks.
On most diesel-electric submarines, the torpedo compartments are the first and the end.
PUTS - a set of instruments and communication lines - is located at the main command post of the ship (GKP), the command post of the commander of the mine-torpedo warhead (BCH-3) and on torpedo tubes.
1.2. Torpedo classification
Torpedoes can be classified in a number of ways.
1. By purpose:
Against submarines - anti-submarine;
NK - anti-ship;
NK and PL are universal.
2. By media:
For submarines - boat;
NK - ship;
PL and NK - unified;
Aircraft (helicopters) - aviation;
anti-submarine missiles;
Min - torpedoes.
3. By type of power plant (EPS):
combined-cycle (thermal);
Electrical;
Reactive.
4. By control methods:
With autonomous control (AU);
Self-guided (SN + AU);
Remote controlled (TU + AU);
With combined control (AU + SN + TU).
5. By type of fuse:
With a contact fuse (KV);
With proximity fuse (HB);
With combined fuse (KV+NV).
6. By caliber:
400 mm; 533 mm; 650 mm.
Torpedoes of caliber 400 mm are called small-sized, 650 mm - heavy. Most foreign small-sized torpedoes have a caliber of 324 mm.
7. By travel modes:
Single mode;
Dual-mode.
The regime in a torpedo is its speed and the maximum range corresponding to this speed. In a dual-mode torpedo, depending on the type of target and the tactical situation, modes can be switched in the direction of travel.
1.3. Main parts of torpedoes
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Any torpedo structurally consists of four parts (Figure 1.1). The head part is a combat charging compartment (BZO). Here are placed: an explosive charge (BB), ignition accessory, contact and proximity fuse. The head of the homing equipment is attached to the front cut of the BZO.
Mixed blasting substances with a TNT equivalent of 1.6-1.8 are used as explosives in torpedoes. The mass of explosives, depending on the caliber of the torpedo, is 30-80 kg, 240-320 kg and up to 600 kg, respectively.
The middle part of the electric torpedo is called the battery compartment, which, in turn, is divided into battery and instrument compartments. Here are located: energy sources - a battery of batteries, elements of ballasts, a high-pressure air cylinder and an electric motor.
In a steam-gas torpedo, a similar component is called the department of energy components and ballasts. It houses containers with fuel, oxidizer, fresh water and a heat engine - an engine.
The third component of any type of torpedo is called the aft compartment. It has a conical shape and contains motion control devices, power sources and converters, as well as the main elements of the pneumohydraulic circuit.
The fourth component of the torpedo is attached to the rear section of the aft compartment - the tail section, ending with propellers: propellers or a jet nozzle.
On the tail section are vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and on the stabilizers - the controls for the movement of the torpedo - the rudders.
1.4. Purpose, classification, basics of the device
and principles of operation of torpedo tubes
Torpedo tubes (TA) are launchers and are intended for:
For storing torpedoes on a carrier;
Introduction to torpedo locating motion control devices
data (shooting data);
Giving the torpedo the direction of the initial movement
(in rotary TA of submarines);
Production of a torpedo shot;
Submarine torpedo tubes can also be used as launchers for anti-submarine missiles, as well as for storing and laying sea mines.
TAs are classified according to a number of criteria:
1) at the place of installation:
2) according to the degree of mobility:
Rotary (only on NK),
fixed;
3) by the number of pipes:
single pipe,
Multi-pipe (only on NK);
4) by caliber:
Small (400 mm, 324 mm),
Medium (533 mm),
Large (650 mm);
5) according to the method of firing
Pneumatic,
Hydraulic (on modern submarines),
Powder (on small NK).
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The TA device of a surface ship is shown in Figure 1.2. Inside the TA pipe, along its entire length, there are four guide tracks.
Inside the TA pipe (Fig. 1.3), there are four guide tracks along its entire length.
The distance between opposite tracks corresponds to the caliber of the torpedo. In front of the pipe there are two obturating rings, the inner diameter of which is also equal to the caliber of the torpedo. The rings prevent the breakthrough of the working fluid (air, water, gas) supplied to the rear of the pipe to push the torpedo out of the torpedo.
For all TAs, each tube has an independent device for firing a shot. At the same time, the possibility of salvo fire from several devices with an interval of 0.5 - 1 s is provided. The shot can be fired remotely from the ship's GCP or directly from the TA, manually.
The torpedo is fired by applying excess pressure to the aft part of the torpedo, providing a torpedo exit speed of ~ 12 m/s.
TA submarine - stationary, single-tube. The number of TAs in the torpedo compartment of the submarine is six or four. Each unit has a strong back and front cover, locked with each other. This makes it impossible to open the back cover while the front cover is open and vice versa. Preparing the apparatus for firing includes filling it with water, equalizing the pressure with the outboard and opening the front cover.
In the first TA submarines, the air pushing the torpedo out of the pipe and floated to the surface, forming a large air bubble that unmasked the submarine. Currently, all submarines are equipped with a bubbleless torpedo firing system (BTS). The principle of operation of this system is that after the torpedo passes 2/3 of the length of the torpedo, a valve automatically opens in its front part, through which the exhaust air enters the hold of the torpedo compartment.
On modern submarines, hydraulic firing systems are installed to reduce the noise of the shot and ensure the possibility of firing at great depths. An example of such a system is shown in Fig. 1.4.
The sequence of operations during system operation is as follows:
Opening the automatic outboard valve (AZK);
Equalization of pressure inside the TA with outboard;
Closing the filling station;
Opening the front cover of the TA;
Opening the air valve (VK);
piston movement;
Movement of water in TA;
firing a torpedo;
Closing the front cover;
Dehumidification TA;
Opening the back cover of the TA;
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- loading rack torpedoes;
Closing the back cover.
1.5. The concept of torpedo fire control devices
PUTS are designed to generate the data necessary for aimed shooting. Since the target is moving, there is a need to solve the problem of meeting the torpedo with the target, i.e., finding that preemptive point where this meeting should occur.
To solve the problem (Fig. 1.5), it is necessary:
1) detect the target;
2) determine its location relative to the attacking ship, i.e. set the coordinates of the target - the distance D0 and the heading angle to the target KU 0 ;
3) determine the parameters of the movement of the target (MPC) - the course Kc and speed V c;
4) calculate the lead angle j to which it is necessary to direct the torpedo, i.e., calculate the so-called torpedo triangle (marked with thick lines in Fig. 1.5). It is assumed that the course and speed of the target are constant;
5) enter the necessary information through the TA into the torpedo.
detecting targets and determining their coordinates. Surface targets are detected by radar stations (RLS), underwater targets are detected by hydroacoustic stations (GAS);
2) determining the parameters of the movement of the target. In their capacity, computers or other computing devices (PSA) are used;
3) calculation of the torpedo triangle, as well as computers or other PSA;
4) transmission and input of information into torpedoes and control of the data entered into them. These can be synchronous communication lines and tracking devices.
Figure 1.6 shows a variant of the PUTS, which provides for the use of an electronic system as the main information processing device, which is one of the schemes of the general ship combat information control system (CICS), and, as a backup, an electromechanical one. This scheme is used in modern
PGESU torpedoes are a type of heat engine (Fig. 2.1). The source of energy in thermal power plants is fuel, which is a combination of fuel and oxidizer.
The types of fuel used in modern torpedoes can be:
Multicomponent (fuel - oxidizer - water) (Fig. 2.2);
Unitary (fuel mixed with an oxidizing agent - water);
Solid powder;
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- solid hydroreacting.
The thermal energy of the fuel is formed as a result of a chemical reaction of oxidation or decomposition of the substances that make up its composition.
The fuel combustion temperature is 3000…4000°C. In this case, there is a possibility of softening of the materials from which individual units of the ECS are made. Therefore, together with the fuel, water is supplied to the combustion chamber, which reduces the temperature of the combustion products to 600...800°C. In addition, the injection of fresh water increases the volume of the gas-vapor mixture, which significantly increases the power of the ESU.
The first torpedoes used a fuel that included kerosene and compressed air as an oxidizer. Such an oxidizing agent turned out to be ineffective due to the low oxygen content. A component of the air - nitrogen, insoluble in water, was thrown overboard and was the cause of the trace unmasking the torpedo. Currently, pure compressed oxygen or low-water hydrogen peroxide are used as oxidizing agents. In this case, combustion products that are insoluble in water are almost not formed and the trace is practically not noticeable.
The use of liquid unitary propellants made it possible to simplify the ESU fuel system and improve the operating conditions of torpedoes.
Solid fuels, which are unitary, can be monomolecular or mixed. The latter are more commonly used. They consist of organic fuel, a solid oxidizer and various additives. The amount of heat generated in this case can be controlled by the amount of water supplied. The use of such fuels eliminates the need to carry a supply of oxidizer on board the torpedo. This reduces the mass of the torpedo, which significantly increases its speed and range.
The engine of a steam-gas torpedo, in which thermal energy is converted into mechanical work of rotation of propellers, is one of its main units. It determines the main performance data of the torpedo - speed, range, track, noise.
Torpedo engines have a number of features that are reflected in their design:
short duration of work;
The minimum time to enter the mode and its strict constancy;
Work in the aquatic environment with high exhaust backpressure;
Minimum weight and dimensions with high power;
Minimum fuel consumption.
Torpedo engines are divided into piston and turbine. Currently, the latter are most widely used (Fig. 2.3).
The energy components are fed into the steam-gas generator, where they are ignited by an incendiary cartridge. The resulting gas-vapor mixture under pressure
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ion enters the turbine blades, where, expanding, it does work. The rotation of the turbine wheel through the gearbox and differential is transmitted to the inner and outer propeller shafts, rotating in opposite directions.
Propellers are used as propellers for most modern torpedoes. The front screw is on the outer shaft with right rotation, the rear screw is on the inner shaft with left rotation. Due to this, the moments of forces that deviate the torpedo from a given direction of movement are balanced.
The efficiency of engines is characterized by the value of the efficiency factor, taking into account the influence of the hydrodynamic properties of the torpedo body. The coefficient decreases when the propellers reach the speed at which the blades begin to
cavitation 1 . One of the ways to combat this harmful phenomenon was
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the use of attachments for propellers, which makes it possible to obtain a jet propulsion device (Fig. 2.4).
The main disadvantages of the ECS of the considered type include:
High noise associated with a large number of rapidly rotating massive mechanisms and the presence of exhaust;
Decrease in engine power and, as a result, the speed of the torpedo with increasing depth, due to an increase in exhaust gas backpressure;
Gradual decrease in the mass of the torpedo during its movement due to the consumption of energy components;
The search for ways to ensure the elimination of these shortcomings led to the creation of electrical ECS.
2.1.2. Electric ESU torpedoes
The energy sources of electrical power plants are chemicals (Fig. 2.5).
Chemical current sources must meet a number of requirements:
Permissibility of high discharge currents;
Operability in a wide range of temperatures;
Minimal self-discharge during storage and no outgassing;
1 Cavitation is the formation of cavities in a dropping liquid filled with gas, steam or their mixture. Cavitation bubbles are formed in those places where the pressure in the liquid becomes below a certain critical value.
Small dimensions and weight.
Disposable batteries have found the widest distribution in modern combat torpedoes.
The main energy indicator of a chemical current source is its capacity - the amount of electricity that a fully charged battery can give when discharged with a current of a certain strength. It depends on the material, design and size of the active mass of the source plates, discharge current, temperature, electro concentration
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lita etc.
For the first time in electric ECS, lead-acid batteries (AB) were used. Their electrodes, lead peroxide ("-") and pure spongy lead ("+"), were placed in a solution of sulfuric acid. The specific capacity of such batteries was 8 W h/kg of mass, which was insignificant compared to chemical fuels. Torpedoes with such ABs had low speed and range. In addition, these ABs had a high level of self-discharge, and this required them to be periodically recharged when stored on a carrier, which was inconvenient and unsafe.
The next step in the improvement of chemical current sources was the use of alkaline batteries. In these ABs, iron-nickel, cadmium-nickel, or silver-zinc electrodes were placed in an alkaline electrolyte. Such sources had a specific capacity 5-6 times greater than lead-acid sources, which made it possible to dramatically increase the speed and range of torpedoes. Their further development led to the appearance of disposable silver-magnesium batteries using outboard sea water as an electrolyte. The specific capacity of such sources increased to 80 W h /kg, which brought the speed and range of electric torpedoes very close to those of combined-cycle ones.
Comparative characteristics of energy sources of electric torpedoes are given in Table. 2.1.
Table 2.1
The motors of electric ECS are electric motors (EM) of direct current of series excitation (Fig. 2.6).
Most torpedo EMs are birotational type engines, in which the armature and the magnetic system rotate simultaneously in opposite directions. They have more power and do not need a differential and gearbox, which significantly reduces noise and increases the specific power of the ESA.
The propellers of electric ESUs are similar to the propellers of steam-gas torpedoes.
The advantages of the considered ESU are:
Low noise;
Constant, independent of the depth of the torpedo, power;
The invariance of the mass of the torpedo during the entire time of its movement.
The disadvantages include:
The energy sources of reactive ECS are the substances shown in fig. 2.7.
They are fuel charges made in the form of cylindrical checkers or rods, consisting of a mixture of combinations of the presented substances (fuel, oxidizer and additives). These mixtures have the properties of gunpowder. Jet engines do not have intermediate elements - mechanisms and propellers. The main parts of such an engine are the combustion chamber and the jet nozzle. In the late 1980s, some torpedoes began to use hydroreactive propellants - complex solids based on aluminum, magnesium or lithium. Heated to the melting point, they react violently with water, releasing a large amount of energy.
2.2. Torpedo traffic control systems
A moving torpedo, together with its surrounding marine environment, forms a complex hydrodynamic system. While driving, the torpedo is affected by:
Gravity and buoyancy force;
Engine thrust and water resistance;
External influencing factors (sea waves, changes in water density, etc.). The first two factors are known and can be taken into account. The latter are random. They violate the dynamic balance of forces, deflect the torpedo from the calculated trajectory.
Control systems (Fig. 2.8) provide:
The stability of the torpedo movement on the trajectory;
Changing the trajectory of the torpedo in accordance with a given program;
As an example, consider the structure and principle of operation of the bellows-pendulum automaton of depth shown in Fig. 2.9.
The device is based on a hydrostatic device based on a bellows (corrugated tube with a spring) in combination with a physical pendulum. The water pressure is sensed by the bellows cap. It is balanced by a spring, the elasticity of which is set before the shot, depending on the given depth of movement of the torpedo.
The operation of the device is carried out in the following sequence:
Changing the depth of the torpedo relative to the given one;
Compression (or extension) of the bellows spring;
Moving the gear rack;
Gear rotation;
Turning the eccentric;
Balancer offset;
Spool valve movement;
Movement of the steering piston;
Relocation of horizontal rudders;
Return of the torpedo to the set depth.
In the event of a torpedo trim, the pendulum deviates from the vertical position. At the same time, the balancer moves similarly to the previous one, which leads to the shifting of the same rudders.
Instruments for controlling the movement of a torpedo along the course (KT)
The principle of construction and operation of the device can be explained by the diagram shown in Fig. 2.10.
The basis of the device is a gyroscope with three degrees of freedom. It is a massive disk with holes (recesses). The disc itself is movably reinforced within the framework, forming the so-called gimbals.
At the moment the torpedo is fired, high-pressure air from the air reservoir enters the holes of the gyroscope rotor. For 0.3 ... 0.4 s, the rotor gains up to 20,000 rpm. A further increase in the number of revolutions to 40,000 and maintaining them at a distance is carried out by applying voltage to the gyroscope rotor, which is the armature of an asynchronous alternating current EM with a frequency of 500 Hz. In this case, the gyroscope acquires the property to keep the direction of its axis in space unchanged. This axis is set to a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo. In this case, the current collector of the disk with half rings is located on an isolated gap between the half rings. The relay supply circuit is open, the KP relay contacts are also open. The position of the spool valves is determined by a spring.
 |
When the torpedo deviates from the given direction (course), the disk associated with the torpedo body rotates. The current collector is on the half ring. Current flows through the relay coil. Kp contacts close. The electromagnet receives power, its rod goes down. The spool valves are displaced, the steering machine shifts the vertical rudders. The torpedo returns to the set course.
If a fixed torpedo tube is installed on the ship, then during torpedo firing, to the lead angle j (see Fig. 1.5), the heading angle under which the target is located at the time of the salvo ( q3 ). The resulting angle (ω), called the angle of the gyroscopic instrument, or the angle of the first turn of the torpedo, can be introduced into the torpedo before firing by turning the disk with half rings. This eliminates the need to change the course of the ship.
Torpedo roll control devices (γ)
The roll of a torpedo is its rotation around the longitudinal axis. The causes of the roll are the circulation of the torpedo, the re-raking of one of the propellers, etc. The roll leads to the deviation of the torpedo from the set course and the displacement of the response zones of the homing system and the proximity fuse.
The roll-leveling device is a combination of a gyro-vertical (vertically mounted gyroscope) with a pendulum moving in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo. The device provides the shifting of the controls γ - ailerons in different directions - "fight" and, thus, the return of the torpedo to the roll value close to zero.
Maneuvering devices
 |
Designed for programmatic maneuvering of the torpedo along the course on the trajectory. So, for example, in the event of a miss, the torpedo begins to circulate or zigzag, ensuring that the target's course is repeatedly crossed (Fig. 2.11).
The device is connected to the outer propeller shaft of the torpedo. The distance traveled is determined by the number of revolutions of the shaft. When the set distance is reached, maneuvering starts. The distance and type of maneuvering trajectory are entered into the torpedo before firing.
The accuracy of stabilization of the torpedo movement along the course by autonomous control devices, having an error of ~ 1% of the distance traveled, ensures effective shooting at targets moving at a constant course and speed at a distance of up to 3.5 ... 4 km. At longer distances, the effectiveness of shooting drops. When the target moves with a variable course and speed, the accuracy of shooting becomes unacceptable even at shorter distances.
The desire to increase the probability of hitting a surface target, as well as to ensure the possibility of hitting submarines in a submerged position at an unknown depth, led to the appearance in the 40s of torpedoes with homing systems.
2.2.2. homing systems
The homing systems (SSN) of torpedoes provide:
Detection of targets by their physical fields;
Determining the position of the target relative to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo;
Development of the necessary commands for steering machines;
Aiming a torpedo at a target with the accuracy necessary to trigger a proximity torpedo fuse.
SSN significantly increases the probability of hitting a target. One homing torpedo is more effective than a salvo of several torpedoes with autonomous control systems. CLOs are especially important when firing at submarines located at great depths.
SSN reacts to the physical fields of ships. Acoustic fields have the greatest range of propagation in the aquatic environment. Therefore, the SSN torpedoes are acoustic and are divided into passive, active and combined.
Passive SSN
Passive acoustic SSNs respond to the primary acoustic field of the ship - its noise. They work in secret. However, they react poorly to slow-moving (due to low noise) and silent ships. In these cases, the noise of the torpedo itself may be greater than the noise of the target.
The ability to detect a target and determine its position relative to the torpedo is provided by the creation of hydroacoustic antennas (electroacoustic transducers - EAP) with directional properties (Fig. 2.12, a).
Equal-signal and phase-amplitude methods have received the widest application.
As an example, consider the SSN using the phase-amplitude method (Fig. 2.13).
The reception of useful signals (noise of a moving object) is carried out by the EAP, which consists of two groups of elements that form one radiation pattern (Fig. 2.13, a). In this case, in the case of a deviation of the target from the axis of the diagram, two voltages equal in value, but shifted in phase j, operate at the outputs of the EAP E 1 and E 2. (Fig. 2.13, b).
The phase shifter shifts both voltages in phase by the same angle u (usually equal to p/2) and sums the active signals as follows:
E 1+ E’ 2= U 1 and E 2+ E’ 1= U 2.
As a result, the voltage of the same amplitude, but different phase E 1 and E 2 are converted into two voltages U 1 and U 2 of the same phase but different amplitude (hence the name of the method). Depending on the position of the target relative to the axis of the radiation pattern, you can get:
U 1 > U 2 – target to the right of the EAP axis;
U 1 = U 2 - target on the EAP axis;
U 1 < U 2 - the target is to the left of the EAP axis.
Voltage U 1 and U 2 are amplified, converted by detectors to DC voltages U'1 and U'2 of the corresponding value and are fed to the analyzing-commanding device of the AKU. As the latter, a polarized relay with an armature in the neutral (middle) position can be used (Fig. 2.13, c).
If equal U'1 and U'2 (target on the EAP axis) the current in the relay winding is zero. The anchor is stationary. The longitudinal axis of the moving torpedo is directed at the target. In the event of a target displacement in one direction or another, a current of the corresponding direction begins to flow through the relay winding. There is a magnetic flux that deflects the armature of the relay and causes the movement of the spool of the steering machine. The latter ensures the shifting of the rudders, and hence the rotation of the torpedo until the target returns to the longitudinal axis of the torpedo (to the axis of the EAP radiation pattern).
Active CLOs
Active acoustic SSNs respond to the secondary acoustic field of the ship - reflected signals from the ship or from its wake (but not to the noise of the ship).
In their composition, they must have, in addition to the nodes considered earlier, a transmitting (generating) and switching (switching) devices (Fig. 2.14). The switching device provides switching of the EAP from radiation to reception.
Gas bubbles are reflectors of sound waves. The duration of the signals reflected from the wake jet is greater than the duration of the radiated ones. This difference is used as a source of information about the CS.
The torpedo is fired with the aiming point displaced in the direction opposite to the direction of the target's movement so that it is behind the target's stern and crosses the wake stream. As soon as this happens, the torpedo makes a turn towards the target and again enters the wake at an angle of about 300. This continues until the moment the torpedo passes under the target. In the event of a torpedo slipping in front of the target's nose, the torpedo makes a circulation, again detects a wake stream and maneuvers again.
Combined CLOs
Combined systems include both passive and active acoustic SSN, which eliminates the disadvantages of each separately. Modern SSNs detect targets at distances up to 1500 ... 2000 m. Therefore, when firing at long distances, and especially at a sharply maneuvering target, it becomes necessary to correct the course of the torpedo until the SSN captures the target. This task is performed by remote control systems for the movement of the torpedo.
2.2.3. Telecontrol systems
Remote control systems (TC) are designed to correct the trajectory of the torpedo from the carrier ship.
Telecontrol is carried out by wire (Fig. 2.16, a, b).
To reduce the tension of the wire during the movement of both the ship and the torpedo, two simultaneously unwinding views are used. On a submarine (Fig. 2.16, a), view 1 is placed in the TA and fired along with the torpedo. It is held by an armored cable about thirty meters long.
The principle of construction and operation of the TS system is illustrated in fig. 2.17. With the help of the hydroacoustic complex and its indicator, the target is detected. The obtained data on the coordinates of this target are fed into the computing complex. Information about the parameters of the movement of your ship and the set speed of the torpedo is also submitted here. The counting and decisive complex develops the course of the KT torpedo and h T is the depth of its movement. These data are entered into the torpedo, and a shot is fired.
 |
With the help of the command sensor, the current parameters of the CT are converted and h T into a series of pulsed electrical coded control signals. These signals are transmitted by wire to the torpedo. The torpedo control system decodes the received signals and converts them into voltages that control the operation of the corresponding control channels.
If necessary, observing the position of the torpedo and the target on the indicator of the carrier's hydroacoustic complex, the operator, using the control panel, can correct the trajectory of the torpedo, directing it to the target.
As already noted, at long distances (more than 20 km), telecontrol errors (due to errors in the sonar system) can be hundreds of meters. Therefore, the TU system is combined with a homing system. The latter is activated at the command of the operator at a distance of 2 ... 3 km from the target.
The considered system of technical conditions is one-sided. If information is received from the torpedo on the ship about the state of the on-board instruments of the torpedo, the trajectory of its movement, the nature of the target's maneuvering, then such a system of technical specifications will be two-way. New possibilities in the implementation of two-way torpedo systems are opened up by the use of fiber-optic communication lines.
2.3. Igniter and torpedo fuses
2.3.1. Igniter accessories
The ignition accessory (FP) of a torpedo warhead is a combination of primary and secondary detonators.
The composition of the SP provides a stepwise detonation of the BZO explosive, which increases the safety of handling the final prepared torpedo, on the one hand, and guarantees reliable and complete detonation of the entire charge, on the other.
The primary detonator (Fig. 2.18), consisting of an igniter capsule and a detonator capsule, is equipped with highly sensitive (initiating) explosives - mercury fulminate or lead azide, which explode when pricked or heated. For safety reasons, the primary detonator contains a small amount of explosive, not enough to detonate the main charge.
 |
The secondary detonator - ignition cup - contains a less sensitive high explosive - tetryl, phlegmatized hexogen in the amount of 600 ... 800 g. This amount is already enough to detonate the entire main charge of the BZO.
Thus, the explosion is carried out along the chain: fuse - igniter cap - detonator cap - ignition cup - BZO charge.
2.3.2. Torpedo contact fuses
The contact fuse (KV) of the torpedo is designed to prick the primer of the igniter of the primary detonator and thereby cause the explosion of the main charge of the BZO at the moment of contact of the torpedo with the side of the target.
The most widespread are contact fuses of impact (inertial) action. When a torpedo hits the side of the target, the inertial body (pendulum) deviates from the vertical position and releases the striker, which, under the action of the mainspring, moves down and pricks the primer - the igniter.
During the final preparation of the torpedo for the shot, the contact fuse is connected to the ignition accessory and installed in the upper part of the BZO.
In order to avoid the explosion of a loaded torpedo from accidental shaking or hitting the water, the inertial part of the fuse has a safety device that locks the striker. The stopper is connected to the turntable, which begins rotation with the beginning of the movement of the torpedo in the water. After the torpedo has passed a distance of about 200 m, the turntable worm unlocks the striker and the fuse comes into firing position.
The desire to influence the most vulnerable part of the ship - its bottom and at the same time provide a non-contact detonation of the BZO charge, which produces a greater destructive effect, led to the creation of a non-contact fuse in the 40s.
2.3.3. Proximity torpedo fuses
A non-contact fuse (NV) closes the fuse circuit to detonate the BZO charge at the moment the torpedo passes near the target under the influence of one or another physical field of the target on the fuse. In this case, the depth of the anti-ship torpedo is set to be several meters greater than the expected draft of the target ship.
The most widely used are acoustic and electromagnetic proximity fuses.
 |
The device and operation of acoustic NV explains fig. 2.19.
The pulse generator (Fig. 2.19, a) generates short-term impulses of electrical oscillations of ultrasonic frequency, following at short intervals. Through the commutator, they go to electro-acoustic transducers (EAP), which convert electrical vibrations into ultrasonic acoustic vibrations that propagate in water within the zone shown in the figure.
When the torpedo passes near the target (Fig. 2.19, b), reflected acoustic signals will be received from the latter, which are perceived and converted by the EAP into electrical ones. After amplification, they are analyzed in the execution unit and stored. Having received several similar reflected signals in a row, the actuator connects the power source to the ignition accessory - the torpedo explodes.
 |
The device and operation of the electromagnetic HB is illustrated in fig. 2.20.
The stern (radiating) coil creates an alternating magnetic field. It is perceived by two bow (receiving) coils connected in opposite directions, as a result of which their difference EMF is equal to
zero.
When a torpedo passes near a target that has its own electromagnetic field, the torpedo field is distorted. The EMF in the receiving coils will become different and a difference EMF will appear. The amplified voltage is supplied to the actuator, which supplies power to the ignition device of the torpedo.
Modern torpedoes use combined fuses, which are a combination of a contact fuse with one of the types of proximity fuse.
2.4. Interaction of instruments and systems of torpedoes
during their movement on the trajectory
2.4.1. Purpose, main tactical and technical parameters
steam-gas torpedoes and the interaction of devices
and systems as they move
Steam-gas torpedoes are designed to destroy surface ships, transports and, less often, enemy submarines.
The main tactical and technical parameters of steam-gas torpedoes, which have received the widest distribution, are given in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2
Name of the torpedo | Speed, Range |
engine la carrier |
torpe dy, kg Mass of explosives, kg | Carrier |
defeat |
|||
Domestic |
||||||||
70 or 44 | Turbine | |||||||
Turbine | ||||||||
Turbine | No svede ny | |||||||
Foreign |
||||||||
Turbine | ||||||||
piston howl |
Opening the locking air valve (see Fig. 2.3) before firing a torpedo;
A torpedo shot, accompanied by its movement in the TA;
Reclining the torpedo trigger (see Fig. 2.3) with a trigger hook in the pipe
torpedo launcher;
Opening the machine crane;
Compressed air supply directly to the heading device and the tilting device for spinning the gyroscope rotors, as well as to the air reducer;
Reduced pressure air from the gearbox enters the steering machines, which provide the shifting of the rudders and ailerons, and to displace water and oxidizer from the tanks;
The flow of water to displace fuel from the tank;
Supply of fuel, oxidizer and water to the combined cycle generator;
Ignition of fuel with an incendiary cartridge;
Formation of a steam-gas mixture and its supply to the turbine blades;
The rotation of the turbine, and hence the screw torpedo;
The impact of a torpedo into the water and the beginning of its movement in it;
The action of the depth automat (see Fig. 2.10), the heading device (see Fig. 2.11), the bank-leveling device and the movement of the torpedo in the water along the established trajectory;
Counter flows of water rotate the turntable, which, when the torpedo passes 180 ... 250 m, brings the percussion fuse into the combat position. This excludes the detonation of a torpedo on the ship and near it from accidental shocks and impacts;
30 ... 40 s after the torpedo is fired, the HB and SSN are switched on;
The SSN starts searching for the CS by emitting pulses of acoustic vibrations;
Having detected the CS (having received reflected impulses) and having passed it, the torpedo turns towards the target (the direction of rotation is entered before the shot);
SSN provides maneuvering of the torpedo (see Fig. 2.14);
When a torpedo passes near the target or when it hits, the corresponding fuses are triggered;
Torpedo explosion.
2.4.2. Purpose, main tactical and technical parameters of electric torpedoes and interaction of devices
and systems as they move
Electric torpedoes are designed to destroy enemy submarines.
The main tactical and technical parameters of the most widely used electric torpedoes. Are given in table. 2.3.
Table 2.3
Name of the torpedo | Speed, Range |
engine carrier |
torpe dy, kg Mass of explosives, kg | Carrier |
defeat |
|||
Domestic |
||||||||
Foreign |
||||||||
|
information | ||||||||
|
swede ny | ||||||||
* STsAB - silver-zinc storage battery.
The interaction of torpedo nodes is carried out as follows:
Opening the shut-off valve of the torpedo high pressure cylinder;
Closing the "+" electrical circuit - before the shot;
A torpedo shot, accompanied by its movement in the TA (see Fig. 2.5);
Closing the starting contactor;
High-pressure air supply to the heading device and the tilting device;
Supply of reduced air to the rubber shell to displace the electrolyte from it into the chemical battery (possible option);
Rotation of the electric motor, and hence the propellers of the torpedo;
The movement of the torpedo in the water;
The action of the depth automaton (Fig. 2.10), the heading device (Fig. 2.11), the roll-leveling device on the established trajectory of the torpedo;
30 ... 40 s after the torpedo is fired, the HB and the active channel of the SSN are turned on;
Target search by active CCH channel;
Receiving reflected signals and aiming at the target;
Periodic inclusion of a passive channel for direction finding of target noise;
Obtaining reliable contact with the target by the passive channel, turning off the active channel;
Guiding a torpedo on a target with a passive channel;
In case of loss of contact with the target, the SSN gives a command to perform a secondary search and guidance;
When a torpedo passes near the target, HB is triggered;
Torpedo explosion.
2.4.3. Prospects for the development of torpedo weapons
The need to improve torpedo weapons is caused by the constant improvement of the tactical parameters of ships. So, for example, the depth of immersion of nuclear submarines has reached 900 m, and their speed of movement is 40 knots.
There are several ways in which the improvement of torpedo weapons should be carried out (Fig. 2.21).
Improving the tactical parameters of torpedoes
In order for a torpedo to overtake a target, it must have a speed of at least 1.5 times greater than the attacked object (75 ... 80 knots), a cruising range of more than 50 km, and a diving depth of at least 1000 m.
Obviously, the listed tactical parameters are determined by the technical parameters of the torpedoes. Therefore, in this case, technical solutions should be considered.
An increase in the speed of a torpedo can be carried out by:
The use of more efficient chemical power sources for electric torpedo engines (magnesium-chlorine-silver, silver-aluminum, using sea water as an electrolyte).
Creation of combined-cycle ECS of a closed cycle for anti-submarine torpedoes;
Reducing the frontal resistance of water (polishing the surface of the torpedo body, reducing the number of its protruding parts, selecting the ratio of the length to the diameter of the torpedo), since V T is directly proportional to the resistance of water.
Introduction of rocket and hydrojet ECS.
An increase in the range of a DT torpedo is achieved in the same ways as an increase in its speed V T, because DT= V T t, where t is the torpedo movement time, determined by the number of power components of the ESU.
Increasing the depth of the torpedo (or the depth of the shot) requires strengthening the torpedo body. For this, stronger materials, such as aluminum or titanium alloys, must be used.
Increasing the chance of a torpedo hitting a target
Application in fiber optic control systems
waters. This allows for two-way communication with the torpe-
doi, which means to increase the amount of information about the location
targets, increase the noise immunity of the communication channel with the torpedo,
reduce the diameter of the wire;
The creation and application of electroacoustic converters in SSN
callers made in the form of antenna arrays, which will allow
improve the process of target detection and direction finding by a torpedo;
The use on board the torpedo of a highly integrated electronic
computing technology that provides more efficient
the work of the CLO;
An increase in the response radius of the SSN by an increase in its sensitivity
vitality;
Reducing the impact of countermeasures by using
in a torpedo of devices that carry out spectral
analysis of received signals, their classification and detection
false targets;
The development of SSN based on infrared technology, is not subject to
no interference;
Reducing the level of own noise of a torpedo by perfecting
motors (creation of brushless electric motors
alternating current transformers), rotation transmission mechanisms and
torpedo screws.
Increasing the probability of hitting a target
The solution to this problem can be achieved:
By detonating a torpedo near the most vulnerable part (for example,
under the keel) goals, which is ensured by the joint work
SSN and computer;
Undermining a torpedo at such a distance from the target at which
the maximum effect of the shock wave and expansion
rhenium of a gas bubble that occurs during an explosion;
Creation of a cumulative warhead (directed action);
Expanding the power range of the nuclear warhead, which
connected both with the object of destruction and with their own safety -
radius. So, a charge with a power of 0.01 kt should be applied
at a distance of at least 350 m, 0.1 kt - at least 1100 m.
Increasing the reliability of torpedoes
Experience in the operation and use of torpedo weapons shows that after long-term storage, some of the torpedoes are not capable of performing the functions assigned to them. This indicates the need to improve the reliability of torpedoes, which is achieved:
Increasing the level of integration of electronic equipment torpe -
dy. This provides an increase in the reliability of electronic devices.
roystvo by 5 - 6 times, reduces the occupied volumes, reduces
equipment cost;
The creation of torpedoes of a modular design, which allows you to
dernization to replace less reliable nodes with more reliable ones;
Improving the technology of manufacturing devices, assemblies and
torpedo systems.
Table 2.4
Name of the torpedo | Speed, Range |
move body energy carrier |
torpedoes, kg Mass of explosives, kg | Carrier |
defeat |
|||
Domestic |
||||||||
Combined SSN | ||||||||
Combined SSN, SSN for CS | ||||||||
Porsche nevoy Unitary | Combined SSN, SSN for CS | |||||||
No information | ||||||||
Foreign |
||||||||
|
"Barracuda" | Turbine |
The end of the table. 2.4
Some of the paths considered have already been reflected in a number of torpedoes presented in Table. 2.4.
3. TACTICAL PROPERTIES AND BASIS OF COMBAT USE OF TORPEDO WEAPONS
3.1. Tactical properties of torpedo weapons
The tactical properties of any weapon are a set of qualities that characterize the combat capabilities of a weapon.
The main tactical properties of torpedo weapons are:
1. The range of the torpedo.
2. Its speed.
3. The depth of the course or the depth of the torpedo shot.
4. The ability to inflict damage on the most vulnerable (underwater) part of the ship. The experience of combat use shows that to destroy a large anti-submarine ship, 1 - 2 torpedoes are required, a cruiser - 3 - 4, an aircraft carrier - 5 - 7, a submarine - 1 - 2 torpedoes.
5. Secrecy of action, which is explained by low noise, tracelessness, large depth of travel.
6. High efficiency provided by the use of telecontrol systems, which significantly increases the likelihood of hitting targets.
7. The ability to destroy targets moving at any speed, and submarines moving at any depth.
8. High readiness for combat use.
However, along with the positive properties, there are also negative ones:
1. Relatively long exposure time to the enemy. So, for example, even at a speed of 50 knots, a torpedo takes about 15 minutes to reach a target located at a distance of 23 km. During this period of time, the target has the opportunity to maneuver, use countermeasures (combat and technical) to evade the torpedo.
2. The difficulty of destroying the target at short and long distances. On small ones - because of the possibility of hitting a firing ship, on large ones - because of the limited range of torpedoes.
3.2. Organization and types of preparation of torpedo weapons
to shooting
The organization and types of preparation of torpedo weapons for firing are determined by the "Rules of Mine Service" (PMS).
Preparation for shooting is divided into:
For preliminary;
Final.
Preliminary preparation begins at the signal: "Prepare the ship for battle and march." It ends with the obligatory fulfillment of all regulated actions.
Final preparation begins from the moment the target is detected and target designation is received. It ends at the moment the ship takes up the salvo position.
The main actions performed in preparation for firing are shown in the table.
Depending on the shooting conditions, the final preparation may be:
abbreviated;
With a small final preparation for guiding a torpedo, only the bearing to the target and the distance are taken into account. Lead angle j is not calculated (j =0).
With reduced final preparation, the bearing to the target, the distance and the direction of movement of the target are taken into account. In this case, the lead angle j is set equal to some constant value (j=const).
With full final preparation, the coordinates and parameters of the movement of the target (KPDC) are taken into account. In this case, the current value of the lead angle (jTEK) is determined.
3.3. Methods of firing torpedoes and their brief description
There are a number of ways to fire torpedoes. These methods are determined by the technical means with which the torpedoes are equipped.
With an autonomous control system, shooting is possible:
1. To the current target location (NMC), when the lead angle j=0 (Fig. 3.1, a).
2. To the area of the probable target location (OVMC), when the lead angle j=const (Fig. 3.1, b).
3. To a pre-empted target location (UMC), when j=jTEK (Fig. 3.1, c).
 |
In all the cases presented, the trajectory of the torpedo is rectilinear. The highest probability of a torpedo hitting a target is achieved in the third case, but this method of firing requires maximum preparation time.
With telecontrol, when the control of the movement of the torpedo is corrected by commands from the ship, the trajectory will be curvilinear. In this case, movement is possible:
1) along a trajectory that ensures that the torpedo is on the torpedo-target line;
2) to a lead point with correction of the lead angle according to
as the torpedo approaches the target.
When homing, a combination of an autonomous control system with SSN or telecontrol with SSN is used. Therefore, before the start of the SSN response, the torpedo moves in the same way as discussed above, and then, using:
 |
A catch-up trajectory, when the continuation of the torpedo axis is all
time coincides with the direction to the target (Fig. 3.2, a).
The disadvantage of this method is that the torpedo is part of its
the path passes in the wake stream, which worsens the working conditions
you are the SSN (except for the SSN along the wake).
2. The so-called collision-type trajectory (Fig. 3.2, b), when the longitudinal axis of the torpedo all the time forms a constant angle b with the direction to the target. This angle is constant for a particular SSN or can be optimized by the torpedo's onboard computer.
Bibliography
Theoretical foundations of torpedo weapons /,. Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1969.
Lobashinsky. /DOSAAF. M., 1986.
Zabnev weapons. M.: Military Publishing, 1984.
Sychev weapons / DOSAAF. M., 1984.
High-speed torpedo 53-65: history of creation // Marine collection 1998, No. 5. With. 48-52.
From the history of the development and combat use of torpedo weapons
1. General information about torpedo weapons …………………………………… 4
2. The device of torpedoes ……………………………………………………………… 13
3. Tactical properties and basics of combat use
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