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From: div3@midway.uchicago.edu (Dwight Divine IV)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Torpedoing Battleships
Summary: Anti-torpedo torpedos?
Message-ID: <1991May31.061110.12964@amd.com>
Date: 29 May 91 16:25:37 GMT
References: <1991May23.054849.13718@amd.com>
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Organization: University of Chicago
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From: div3@midway.uchicago.edu (Dwight Divine IV)


Please excuse any lapses in net etiquette {I'm sure the moderator will
catch the obvious ones anyway :)}, as this is my first time posting to
this newsgroup, although I have enjoyed it greatly over the last 2 years.

On the subject of torpedos and defenses against them, has anyone tried to
develop an active defense?  That is, has anyone tried or successfully deployed
an anti-torpedo torpedo or similar device?  I know that tricks such as decoys
are used to attempt to mislead incoming torpedos but I wonder if any more
aggressive tactics have been tried.  I would think that a torpedo's active
sonar and high-speed propellers would betray its position fairly exactly.
With that in mind, couldn't a small device be launched from the target vessel
to home in on the torpedo (either actively homing on the torpedo's sonar or
screws or being guided to the torpedo by the launching vessel)?

This has been in the back of my mind for some time--along with the similar
question of why submarines don't mount anti-aircraft weapons to be used 
against sub-hunting aircraft.  I know that a submarine is built never to be
found in the first place, but it seems silly not to try to provide defenses
just in case.

Thanks to all who reply!

Dwight Divine IV
(All standard disclaimers apply, void where prohibited...)