Shkval Rocket Torpedo destroyer

[proditor]

Basic idea is to take a relatively simple hull and slap some 533mm Russian Torpedo Launchers on it.  The design idea is to make a modern version of ships like the Kitakami.  



Oh, and if you're not familiar with the Shkval, it's basically a minimally/unguided 220 mph torpedo.

[PR19_Kit]

220 mph 

How the devil did they get a torpedo to go THAT fast?

[scooter]

220 mph 

How the devil did they get a torpedo to go THAT fast?

The VA-111 Shkval (from Russian: шквал — squall) torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes developed by the Soviet Union. They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h)
...
The speed of the VA-111 far exceeds that of any standard torpedo currently fielded by NATO. This speed is a result of supercavitation: the torpedo is, in effect, flying in a gas bubble created by outward deflection of water by its specially shaped nose cone and the expansion of gases from its engine. By keeping water from coming into contact with the surface of the body of the torpedo, drag is significantly reduced, allowing extremely high speeds.

Launched from 533 mm torpedo tubes, the VA-111 exits the tube at 50 knots (93 km/h). Shortly afterwards, its liquid-fuel rocket ignites and propels it to speeds of up to 200 knots (370 km/h). Some reports indicate that speeds of 250+ knots may be achieved, and that work on a 300-knot (560 km/h) version was underway.[2] The rocket engine uses a combination of high test peroxide and kerosene; the propellant tanks contain about 1500 kg of hydrogen peroxide and 500 kg of kerosene

[rickshaw]

Very fast, very, very noisy and quite short-ranged.

Basically it exploits a concept called "super-cavitation" by creating a sheath of gases (expelled from it's nose) which forms a bubble around the body of the torpedo and allows it to speed through the water.   Because of that, it creates a hell of racket underwater and can't use any acoustic guidance system, so basically it's back to firing it blind, in the direction of a detected target and hope it hits.

Most Western Analysts think its weird and of limited usefulness.  You basically have to close to with a thousand metres of your target before you fire it.  It's most usefulness would be in fixed defensive works, guarding harbours, where there are natural chokepoints which bring potential targets within range.

[PR19_Kit]

Hmm, HTP and kerosene as fuel? That's DANGEROUS stuff and has been responsible for numerous accidents in the past.

Now did the 'Kursk' carry those madcap Shkval torps? If so that could explain a lot.........

[Weaver]

The Kursk may have been carrying them, but my understanding was that the HTP problem it had was with a Type 65 wake-homer.

My understanding of the Shkval is that it was originally a replacement for the free-running nuclear-armed "revenge" torpedoes that all Russian subs used to carry. The idea with these was that if a Western sub or ASW forces fired on the Russian sub, and the latter had basically no chance of escape, they would fire the nuke torpedo on a reverse gyro bearing to the incoming weapon. Since it was a free-runner it would survive the destruction of the Russian sub, and since it was a nuke, it didn't have to be super accurate. You get the Ruski but the Ruski gets you...

The original Shkval was nuclear-tipped and probably had the same MO. The latest conventional-tipped ones are a bit harder to understand. The idea seems to be that they're used in the same way, but rather than destroying a western sub, they force it to take violent evasive manueuvers which break the guidance wires for it's torpedo, thus (potentially) actually saving the Russian sub rather than just avenging it.

[zenrat]

Ooooh I like them. 
Air launchable?

[Weaver]

Ooooh I like them. 
Air launchable?

Not as far as I know, but I don't see why not, in principle.

[rickshaw]

Hmm, HTP and kerosene as fuel? That's DANGEROUS stuff and has been responsible for numerous accidents in the past.

Indeed, it's why the RN abandoned it as torpedo fuel in conventional torpedoes carried on it's submarines in the late 1950s.  They had a couple of very bad accidents with them.

Now did the 'Kursk' carry those madcap Shkval torps? If so that could explain a lot.........

It was obviously seen by the Russian navy as a potential war winner.

However, it should be noted that the Russians are not the only ones who have developed and fielded HTP fuelled torpedoes.  The Swedes and the United States have as well, while several other nations have played around with it.   Invariably the dangers outweigh the benefits.  Thing is, all you need is a small leak and in a wet environment like a naval ship, up goes the lot.   

[rickshaw]

Ooooh I like them. 
Air launchable?

The Soviet air force developed a rocket propelled air launched torpedo in the late 1940s.  The idea was that the aircraft would fire the rocket at the intended ship target and it would dive under the water and speed towards it.  It had to be dropped nearly vertically and it's guidance would level the rocket out underwater utilising a hyped up torpedo gyroscopt and depth keeper so it would skim along just below the surface.  It's range though IIRC quit short and the dropping aircraft would have to approach quite close to the target before dropping it.   Unlike Shkval, it didn't rely on super-cavitation to increase submerged speed.

[zenrat]

Ooooh I like them. 
Air launchable?

The Soviet air force developed a rocket propelled air launched torpedo in the late 1940s.  The idea was that the aircraft would fire the rocket at the intended ship target and it would dive under the water and speed towards it.  It had to be dropped nearly vertically and it's guidance would level the rocket out underwater utilising a hyped up torpedo gyroscopt and depth keeper so it would skim along just below the surface.  It's range though IIRC quit short and the dropping aircraft would have to approach quite close to the target before dropping it.   Unlike Shkval, it didn't rely on super-cavitation to increase submerged speed.

Thanks for that.  Very interesting.

[Weaver]

The air-launched one was the RAT-52 and the Chinese went on to develop it further: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu-2_torpedo

[zenrat]

Thanks H.
I can see a combination of torpedo and missile coming up for a future build.