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tAKticool47 · 11-08-18, 12:10 PM

The Spearfish is perhaps the one competitor for the MK48 CBASS as the best torpedo in the world.

The game does not model the ability to change torpedo speeds via the wire or via the internal CPU & search/attack algorithms, but in real life they are very important to torpedo attacks and doctrine.

The Spearfish is employed in a "stealth" mode by slowly traveling the first 10-20 miles at low-speed, then it attempts to detect it's target, and once it actually acquires a target, it will increase it's speed and commence the attack. That is another feature of torpedoes that is important but the game doesn't model- the torpedoes search for targets and report via wire to the operator. So the guy at the console will know precisely , for example, that the torpedo has begun a passive search... the torpedo has detected a target.... the torpedo has gone active to range-gate the target... the torpedo has calculated an intercept course and is proceeding into attack model... the torpedo has increased speed and is maneuvering into terminal attack, etc.

And of course it's important to note that torpedoes can be pre-loaded with an attack plan (and it can be comprehensive, an extensive set of instructions and commands) and you can cut the wire immediately and let it do it's thing, or you can constantly adjust it on the fly, and when the wire is cut, it will complete it's last assigned mission- but the newer torpedoes have so much higher processing power than even 10-20 years ago, they can conduct advanced search patterns and run through complicated countermeasure algorithms, active & passive sound frequencies, etc.

As for the Virginia-class, I am quite certain it's actually quieter than Seawolf at slow speeds. Virginia was designed to be the slowest, creepy-crawliest submarine out there vs. Seawolf being the fastest, run-n-gun attacker. SSN-774s have an entire system for "crawling" along the bottom of the ocean in coastal areas so they can sneak up as close (and shallow) as possible, deploying UUVs and drones and SEALs etc.

Plus, I realize that it's probably fair to say the Seawolf has "more firepower" but in a certain respect, SSN-774s can be considered more. In a strike mission, a Seawolf can unleash an 8-tube volley, whereas a 774 can fire a 16-missile volley of Tomahawks (12+4). This can be tremendously important in a one-and-done, gotta run mission. Seawolf was designed to go out and hunt Soviet SSBNs and their SSN escorts, and if WWIII broke out, they'd possibly be out there on a war patrol for 3 months, so having 50 torpedoes on board and being able to shoot multiple torpedoes at multiple targets at the same time was considered very important. The SSN-774 platform was designed to be "multi-mission" but specifically emphasized strike warfare, SOF capability, and ISR. It would be much easier to sneak up to a Russian base or North Korean coast in a 774 than a Seawolf.

Now as far as speeds... I know that Seawolf was so fast during trials, the designers didn't believe it. It's clearly demonstrated on the documentary from the 90s that the civilian personnel wouldn't believe how fast Seawolf was until they saw it themselves, because it "blew away" their calculations. As far as the SSN-774s, they were designed with the belief that speed was not as important as stealth, silencing, sonar improvements, etc. Generally the only time a sub is going to run at flank speeds is when they're en route or returning from their waterspace assignments ( a lot of people don't know that the Navy regulates the waters like ATCs regulate the airways... submarines are directed into specific missions via specific waterspace assignments with precise routing. Then they'll own the waters around them unless otherwise directed. The only exception is SSBNs, who get assigned large areas where the CO gets to decide where to go within it, and this is for obvious strategic security concerns.)

So to me , the SSN-774s should be very high on the list. As much as I love the Seawolf (and especially in the game) -- there are many missions in the real-world where I'd rather have a 774.

11-08-18, 12:10 PM	#10
tAKticool47 Bosun Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Nature Coast Posts: 61 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	The Spearfish is perhaps the one competitor for the MK48 CBASS as the best torpedo in the world. The game does not model the ability to change torpedo speeds via the wire or via the internal CPU & search/attack algorithms, but in real life they are very important to torpedo attacks and doctrine. The Spearfish is employed in a "stealth" mode by slowly traveling the first 10-20 miles at low-speed, then it attempts to detect it's target, and once it actually acquires a target, it will increase it's speed and commence the attack. That is another feature of torpedoes that is important but the game doesn't model- the torpedoes search for targets and report via wire to the operator. So the guy at the console will know precisely , for example, that the torpedo has begun a passive search... the torpedo has detected a target.... the torpedo has gone active to range-gate the target... the torpedo has calculated an intercept course and is proceeding into attack model... the torpedo has increased speed and is maneuvering into terminal attack, etc. And of course it's important to note that torpedoes can be pre-loaded with an attack plan (and it can be comprehensive, an extensive set of instructions and commands) and you can cut the wire immediately and let it do it's thing, or you can constantly adjust it on the fly, and when the wire is cut, it will complete it's last assigned mission- but the newer torpedoes have so much higher processing power than even 10-20 years ago, they can conduct advanced search patterns and run through complicated countermeasure algorithms, active & passive sound frequencies, etc. As for the Virginia-class, I am quite certain it's actually quieter than Seawolf at slow speeds. Virginia was designed to be the slowest, creepy-crawliest submarine out there vs. Seawolf being the fastest, run-n-gun attacker. SSN-774s have an entire system for "crawling" along the bottom of the ocean in coastal areas so they can sneak up as close (and shallow) as possible, deploying UUVs and drones and SEALs etc. Plus, I realize that it's probably fair to say the Seawolf has "more firepower" but in a certain respect, SSN-774s can be considered more. In a strike mission, a Seawolf can unleash an 8-tube volley, whereas a 774 can fire a 16-missile volley of Tomahawks (12+4). This can be tremendously important in a one-and-done, gotta run mission. Seawolf was designed to go out and hunt Soviet SSBNs and their SSN escorts, and if WWIII broke out, they'd possibly be out there on a war patrol for 3 months, so having 50 torpedoes on board and being able to shoot multiple torpedoes at multiple targets at the same time was considered very important. The SSN-774 platform was designed to be "multi-mission" but specifically emphasized strike warfare, SOF capability, and ISR. It would be much easier to sneak up to a Russian base or North Korean coast in a 774 than a Seawolf. Now as far as speeds... I know that Seawolf was so fast during trials, the designers didn't believe it. It's clearly demonstrated on the documentary from the 90s that the civilian personnel wouldn't believe how fast Seawolf was until they saw it themselves, because it "blew away" their calculations. As far as the SSN-774s, they were designed with the belief that speed was not as important as stealth, silencing, sonar improvements, etc. Generally the only time a sub is going to run at flank speeds is when they're en route or returning from their waterspace assignments ( a lot of people don't know that the Navy regulates the waters like ATCs regulate the airways... submarines are directed into specific missions via specific waterspace assignments with precise routing. Then they'll own the waters around them unless otherwise directed. The only exception is SSBNs, who get assigned large areas where the CO gets to decide where to go within it, and this is for obvious strategic security concerns.) So to me , the SSN-774s should be very high on the list. As much as I love the Seawolf (and especially in the game) -- there are many missions in the real-world where I'd rather have a 774.