The fastest torpedo in the world: name, speed and destructive consequences

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

The strike complex, which has a high-speed torpedo missile VA-111 Shkval, was developed in the Soviet Union in the 60s of the last century. Its purpose is to defeat targets both above and below water. The fastest torpedo in the world is placed on different carriers: stationary systems, surface and underwater ships.

History of the ultra-high-speed torpedo

The motive behind the super-high-speed torpedo was the fact that the Soviet fleet was unable to compete in numbers with the US Navy. Therefore, it was decided to form a weapon system that meets the following requirements:

• compact;
• capable of installation on most surface and underwater vessels;
• capable of guaranteed to hit enemy ships and boats at a great distance;
• low-cost production.

In the sixties of the XX century beganwork to create the fastest torpedo in the world so that it can destroy enemy targets at a great distance and be inaccessible to the enemy. GV Logvinovich was appointed chief designer of the project. The difficulty was to create a completely new design capable of reaching speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour under the water column. In 1965, the first sea trial was carried out. Two serious problems arose during the design:

• achieving very high speed due to hypersound;
• universal way to place on submarines and ships.

The solution of these problems dragged on for more than 10 years, and only in 1977 the missile, which received the index VA-111 Shkval, was put into service.

Interesting facts

In the late seventies of the last century, Pentagon scientists proved by calculation that it was impossible to develop significant speeds under water for technical reasons.

Therefore, the military department in the United States was skeptical about the information about the ongoing development of the fastest torpedo in the world in the Soviet Union. These messages were considered planned disinformation. And the scientists of the USSR calmly finished testing a high-speed self-propelled underwater mine. The Shkval torpedo is recognized by all military experts as a weapon that has no analogues in the world. It has been in service with the Navy for many years.

Torpedo tactics

The Shkval complex is equipped with non-standard tactics for using torpedoes. The carrier it is onupon detecting an enemy ship, it processes all the characteristics: direction and speed of movement, distance. All information is entered into the autopilot of a self-propelled mine. After launch, it begins to move strictly along a pre-calculated trajectory. The torpedo lacks a homing system and correction of a given course.

This fact is an advantage on the one hand, and a disadvantage on the other. No obstacles encountered on the way will prevent the Flurry from deviating from the set course. He is rapidly approaching the target at tremendous speed, and the enemy does not have the slightest chance of maneuvering. But if suddenly an enemy ship suddenly changes the direction of its movement, then the target will not be hit.

Description of device and engine

When creating a high-speed rocket, fundamental research by Russian scientists in the field of cavitation was used. The jet engine of the Shkval supersonic torpedo consists of:

• The launch booster used to accelerate the torpedo. It runs for four seconds using liquid propellant and then undocks.
• A marching engine that delivers a mine to the target. Hydro-reacting metals are used as fuel - aluminum, lithium, magnesium, which are oxidized by outboard water.

When the torpedo reaches a speed of 80 km/h, an air cavitation bubble is formed to reduce hydrodynamic drag. This happens due to a special cavitator,located in the bow and producing water vapor. Behind it is a series of holes through which portions of gas pass from the gas generator, which allows the bubble to completely cover the entire body of the torpedo.

When an enemy object is detected, the ship's control and guidance system processes the speed, distance, direction of movement, after which the data is sent to an independent surveillance system. The torpedo does not have automatic targeting, so nothing prevents it from reaching the target. She strictly follows the program that the autopilot has given her.

Specifications

Testing and refinement of the already put into service torpedoes were continued after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The speed of the fastest torpedo in the world is about 300 km/h. It is achieved as a result of the use of a jet engine. According to the developers - this is not the limit. The high resistance of water, hundreds of times greater than air resistance, was reduced using supercavitation. This is a special mode of movement of the body 8 m long in the water space, in which a cavity with water vapor is formed around it.

This state is created with the help of a special head cavitator. As a result, the speed increases significantly and the range of movement increases. The fastest torpedo in the world leaves no time for enemy ships to maneuver, although the range is only 11 kilometers. The warhead consists of 210 kg of conventional explosive or 150 kilotons of nuclear. Speeda torpedo weighing 2.7 tons is 200 knots or 360 km/h. Dive depth 6 m, and start up to 30 m.

Torpedo modifications

Improvement work continued after its commissioning, and even in the difficult 90s of the last century. Released several variants of the torpedo:

• Shkval-E is an export version of a self-propelled underwater mine manufactured in 1992. It is intended for sale to other states and only hits surface targets. This variant provides for a conventional combat charge and a shorter range. Work continues to improve the version for a specific customer.
• "Shkval-M" - has improved characteristics: warhead increased to 350 kg, range - up to 13 km.

Modification of this torpedo is carried out constantly, especially to increase the range of destruction.

Foreign analogues of "Shkval"

For a very long time there was no underwater mine even close in speed to the fastest torpedo in the world at 300 km/h. And only in 2005, a similar torpedo called the Barracuda was produced in Germany, according to the developers, which has a slightly higher speed than the Flurry due to a stronger cavitation effect. About other characteristics of the invention, all data are missing. In 2014, there were reports that a similar torpedo was designed in Iran, reaching a speed of 320 km / h. Many countries are trying to develop such an analogue of a self-propelled underwater mine, but not yet in service.similar aerial bombs comparable to the world's fastest torpedo, the Flurry.

Pros and cons

The Shkval rocket-torpedo is a unique technical invention, which was worked on by specialists from different fields of knowledge. For this, it was necessary to create materials of a new quality, design a fundamentally new engine, and adapt the phenomenon of cavitation to jet propulsion. But despite this, like any other type of weapon, the Shkval torpedo has advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects of the fastest torpedo include:

• Colossal movement speed - prevents the enemy from defending.
• A large warhead charge - has serious destructive consequences for large ships and is capable of destroying an aircraft carrier group with one salvo.
• Universal platform - allows installation of aerial bombs on submarines and surface vessels.

Disadvantages include the following:

• Noise and strong vibration - due to the huge speed of the torpedo, which gives the enemy a chance to determine the location of the carrier.
• Short range - maximum target engagement distance 13 km.
• Unable to steer due to cavitation bubble.
• Insufficient diving depth - no more than 30 m, which is ineffective when destroying submarines.
• High cost.

Torpedoes with remote control capability and longer range are currently being developed.

Conclusion

The charge that the Shkval torpedo is equipped with is enough to destroy any enemy ship. And the speed of the fastest Shkval torpedo at 300 km/h does not allow the enemy to counteract this type of weapon. After the adoption of missile torpedoes, the combat potential of the navy of our country has significantly increased.