Shkaval 200 mph torpedo

[ERPP8]

I read about the Shkaval torpedo here and here.
Can someone explain how a rocket powered torpedo can go
230 MPH!!

[Takeda Shingen]

It is called supercavitation. In layman's terms, it creates an air bubble around the torpedo, allowing for ridiculous speeds.

[ERPP8]

Ok but, does it carry an oxidizer?

[Oberon]

The bubble is created from the nose cone and its own rocket motor which uses HTP and kerosene (An explosion in a dummy Shkval torpedo is said to be the likely cause of the Kursk disaster).

The torpedo moves through the water so fast (200 knots which is actually about 230mph) that it creates the bubble of air around it thus enabling it to move with extremely reduced drag.

The downside of the early Shkval (and likely also applies to the Iranian version the Hoot) is that it's an unguided torpedo, so if the enemy submarine is far enough away to hear the launch, it can move, but if it's up close, it'll be dead before it knows what hit it (I speak from bitter simulator experience, my sonar-man hadn't even finished saying 'Torpedo in the water' before it hit me), however there are reports that the latest version of the Shkval, the Shkval 2 is guided, possibly through vector thrust and with terminal guidance abilities, making it a much more lethal weapon.
It's certainly something I wouldn't want to encounter in a live fire scenario.

EDIT: Also, another important upgrade of the Shkval 2 over the early version is range, the new model can apparently go some ten thousand meters further than the originals two thousand meters, couple that with the guidance and it's now more like a regular torpedo but with stupidly high speed.

[ERPP8]

Originally Posted by ERPP8

Ok but, does it carry an oxidizer?

Hello???

[antikristuseke]

yes, yes it does, it is a bloody rocket, those need an oxidizing agent of some kind to work. It is a bit bloody obvious.
Now if that oxidizer is liquid or solid, i do not know.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

It is called supercavitation. In layman's terms, it creates an air bubble around the torpedo, allowing for ridiculous speeds.

Ahem.... "Extreme Speed"...

Sorry SH5 joke.

[Oberon]

[frau kaleun]

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Wow awsome Soup Level 6 !... oh wait the cap is 4.... haxxors !

Apoligize for derailing thread. Carry on !

[bookworm_020]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Love your work Oberon!

[CaptainHaplo]

Making a Skval guided is possible - but it will be limited to active or wire guidance only. Passive guidance is impossible at the speeds used and the supercavitation the device itself uses. In fact, even active guidance would also be extremely difficult due to the fact that the torpedo doesn't actually contact the water, so its ability to hear a sonar signal is questionable (as sound bounces back instead of moves into the air). Wire guidance, like an old TOW missile, is the only realistic way to provide sensor input to steer - but then your trying to drag a wire through the water at speeds that will disintegrate the wire.

A guided Skval would be deadly - but physics make it nearly impossible today.