SPEARFISH TORPEDO

The 'Spearfish torpedo' (formally Naval Staff Target 7525) is the heavy acoustic homing torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It is a dual-purpose wire-guided weapon and provides both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface ship warfare (ASuW) capability, replacing the Tigerfish torpedo which was withdrawn in 2004.
The significantly higher speed of the Spearfish was intended to catch high-speed, deep-diving Soviet threats such as the Alfa class submarine. The weapon is driven by a pump-jet coupled to a Hamilton Sundstrand 21TP04 gas turbine engine.
The torpedo's warhead is equipped with a shaped charge with directed energy and was designed to penetrate the double-hull construction of the Soviet submarines.
A microprocessor aboard the weapon provides the ability to make autonomous tactical decisions during the attack.
The production contract for the Spearfish Torpedo was placed with Marconi Underwater Systems Ltd (now BAE Systems) in 1983, following a development programme lasting for several years. Spearfish entered full production in 1988, with deliveries completed in 2003. The exact number of units ordered has not been revealed. Spearfish torpedoes are stored and serviced at Beith Ordnance Storage facility in Scotland.

Contents

General characteristics

External links

General characteristics

★ Manufacturer: BAE Systems Underwater Systems

★ Speed: 80kts for 1994 version on short range setting

★ Range: 54 km (30 nautical miles) at low speed, 23 km (12.5 nautical miles) at high speed

★ Length: 7 m (23 ft)

★ Diameter: 533 mm (21 in)

★ Weight: 1850 kg (4075 lb)

★ Warhead: 300 kg (660 lb) aluminised PBX explosive

★ Engine: Sundstrand gas-turbine with Pump-jet

★ Fuel: HAP / Otto fuel II

★ Guidance system: Wire guided with autonomous active terminal homing sonar

★ Fuzing (proximity or contact detonation)

★ First deployed: 1992

★ Trivia: Featured in Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising

External links

★ Spearfish Torpedo