Targets + Warheads

Question 1

Why might a side impact torpedo be less effective against a modern surface target?

Answer 1

• More effective Damage Control
• Improved Ship Design

Question 2

How does a heavyweight torpedo employees warhead to better affect against surface target?

Answer 2

• Aiming beneath the keel (Gas Bubble)
  1. Warhead detonates
  2. Generates shockwaves - rapidly expanding
  3. Lifted by expanding gas bubble
  4. Gas bubble pulsates, causing the platform to sag in tension
  5. having shrunk, the bubble expands again sending a jet of water and gas through the hull

Question 3

Describe the key stages of a heavyweight torpedo detonation under a surface target

Answer 3

Gas Bubble
1. Detonates below keel
2. Shockwaves
3. Lifts with gas bubble expansion
4. Bubble pulsates, platform sags in tension
5. Bubble expands sending jet of gas and water through hull

Question 4

Why might a larger payload be required to engage an SSBN and over an SSN?

Answer 4

• Larger
• Skin is thicker
• layer of water between outer plating and inner

Question 5

How does a heavyweight torpedo employ its warhead to engage a submarine target?

Answer 5

1. Omni-directional initial expansion
2. Gas bubble shrinks, low pressure formed sucking shrinking gas bubble onto the hull
3. Momentum of expansion is horizontal to hull
4. Penetrates pressure hull (pinhole)

Question 6

How does a lightweight torpedo employ its warhead to engage a submarine target?

Answer 6

Shaped Charge Effect
- Copper liner on cone
- On detonation copper cone collapses hydroponically, meaning it flows like a liquid from cone wall to centre line
- Jet + Slug, slug lodges in the penetration hold caused by the jet