Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude))
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Torpedoes (was Reloading)
Keywords: Mk48, CCS
Message-ID: <1990Jul9.023926.10161@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 9 Jul 90 02:39:26 GMT
References: <1990Jul6.032915.28154@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: UCLA
Lines: 64
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: tek@CS.UCLA.EDU (Ted Kim (Random Dude))

In article <1990Jul5.020313.13721@cbnews.att.com> tek@CS.UCLA.EDU writes:
>Generally, you can only put one homing torpedo in the water at once
>because another one will interfere with the first. Each one has to
>run its course before launching another. 

Note, what I am talking about here are active homing torpedoes.
Theoretically, passive homing torpedoes might not be subject to this
problem, but many submarines today are quiet enough that passive
homing is not practical.

In article <1990Jul6.032915.28154@cbnews.att.com> al.weaver@rose.uucp writes:
>So that's why I can only fire one torpedo at a time in 688 Attack
>Sub! It was long wait to find out if the torpedo hit, and by then the
>Kirov destroyer would have got within depth charge range and would
>blow one to smithereens! I was used to firing a spread in Silent
>Service. One would usually hit. :-)

I know absolutely nothing about the "688 Attack Sub" game, but it
seems overly restrictive to only allow you to have one torpedo running
at a time. From the title of the game, I assume you command an LA
class SSN. (Most information given below comes from "World Naval
Weapon Systems" by Naval Institute Press.)

The LA class SSNs (and Improved LA) use Mk48 torpedoes. The Mk48 can
be fired in active homing, passive homing, non-acoustic (ie straight
or pattern running) and wire-guided modes. Thus, unless you always 
fire in homing modes, the torpedo technology will not prevent you from
firing more than one at the same target. In particular, I was under
the impression that most firings were done in wire-guided modes to
allow operator control. (In the case of the Mk48, the operator can
also receive the torpedo sonar information.) Radical maneuvers or
purposely cutting the wires (ie reloading the tube) can cause the
link to be severed, in which case, I assume the torpedo reverts to a
homing mode. (The Mk48 has two wires to lower to possibility of 
accidental link loss.) 

Also, the non-acoustic mode allows firing a spread. Though, I think,
this would be considered to be a wasteful tactic. 

I think some early LA class boats got the Mk117 Fire Control System.
These were probably later upgraded to use Combat Control System (CCS)
Mk1 either as a standalone system or as part of BSY-1. Some late
models may have CCS Mk2. I am not sure, but I think all of these
allowed controlling of more than one wire-guided torpedo. For example,
the Weapons Order Subsystem (WOS) of CCS Mk1, had two attack director
consoles and two torpedo control consoles.

The real life Kirov BCGN has four ASW weapon types: the RBUs (rocket
propelled depth charges), tube launched ASW homing torpedos, Silex
(missile with ASW homing torpedo) and ASW helos (which drop ASW homing
torpedos). The first two are pretty short range. The last two have a
lot longer ranges. The Mk48 should be able to out range the first two
and can move a lot faster than the Kirov. 

-ted

Ted Kim                           
UCLA Computer Science Department  Internet: tek@penzance.cs.ucla.edu
3804C Boelter Hall                UUCP:    ...!{uunet|ucbvax}!cs.ucla.edu!tek
Los Angeles, CA 90024		  Phone:   (213) 206-8696