Acoustic torpedo

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An acoustic torpedo is a torpedo designed for medium-range use, often fired from a submarine. Before a torpedo is launched, the target must be 'boxed in'. A fire control system on the firing platform will set an initial search depth for the weapon, which the enemy submarine is estimated to be operating at. In general, acoustic torpedoes are equipped with a mid-frequency acoustic sensor designed either to detect the sound of churning water from a moving vessel, or actively to locate targets using SONAR. Acoustic torpedoes can be compared to modern fire-and-forget guided missiles. What this means is the enemy (most likely a submarine) will be detected by sonar in any direction it goes. The torpedo will start with passive sonar, simply trying to detect the submarine. Once the torpedo's passive sonar has detected something, it will switch over to an active sonar and will begin to track the target. At this point, the submarine has probably started evasive maneuvers and may have even deployed a noisemaker. The torpedo, if not fooled by the noise maker, will do its best to home in on the enemy submarine.

One of the first acoustic torpedoes was the G7es T-5 Zaunkönig torpedo deployed in late World War II by the German U-Boat fleet. This weapon was developed to attack merchant ships in convoys. In July, 1944 Russian commando frogmen discovered T-5 torpedoes onboard an U-250 drowned submarine. Torpedoes were safely delivered to surface ships from 30 meter depth by Russian combat swimmers. Later key components of G7es T-5 Zaunkönig torpedo were given to British naval specialists by the Soviets according to order given by Joseph Stalin. The capture of U-505 marked the second time that Allied forces gained access to this technology.

Since its introduction the acoustic torpedo has proven to be an effective weapon against submarines and surface ships.

[edit] Military Examples

United States:

• RUR-5 ASROC Vertical Launch Missile
• MK 48 ADCAP Submersion Launch Missile
• MK 24 Passive Homing Surface / Submersible Fire Torpedo
• MK 32 Active Homing Surface / Submersible / Air Fire Torpedo
• MK 15 Surface to Surface Torpedo

[edit] Sources

• U-505 | The Exhibit | Artifacts: G7e Torpedo
• Cutler, Thomas J. The Battle of Leyte Gulf. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996
• Clancy, Tom. Red Storm Rising. New York: Penguin and Putnam, 1986