533 mm...

[LoBlo]

Is it just coincedence that both Russian and Nato forces use the 533mm (21inch) torpedo tube diameter or is there something special about that diameter? Why not 540mm for Nato and 531 for Russian? Or 535 for Nato and 538 for Russian... but both sides using the 533mm (21in) diameter....?

Seems always strange that both navy's were using the exact same diamter tubing seeing that they had seperate and competing designers and manufactureres...:hmm: ... are the navy's trying to copy-cat each other for some reason?... weird

Anyone have any theories on what's so special about 533mm in particular?

[Kapitan]

just is nothing realy although russia still has the 400mm and 650mm tubes too.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

I would guess it is a mix of factors. The 21-inch torpedo thing really reached back before NATO.

The general size of "close to 21 inches" (for a while the Germans played with 50cm while French torps tended to be 55cm until 1964) was probably an unspoken consensus of being the best compromise between capability and portability (which also means number of rounds carried), especially inside the confined spaces of a sub.

When combined with the influence of the Imperial measuring system, 21 inches have become the norm more than not. Then of course NATO futher standardized things.

[CapnSteph]

The US used 26.5 inch tubes on the Seawolf, I think that's like 650 mm or something.

[NeonSamurai]

Yes though i belive those tubes fire standard 21 inch weapons, the extra size of the tubes was to allow the torpedoes to swim out instead of using compressed air to reduce launch transient

[LoBlo]

Originally Posted by CapnSteph

The US used 26.5 inch tubes on the Seawolf, I think that's like 650 mm or something.

I think they are 660mm iirc. From what I understand they were upgraded in size just in case the need ever arised to fire larger caliber loads, though I don't think any were ever made. Somehow a 660mm torps seems a little like overkill for the US.

iirc, I think the Israeli submarines have 660mm or 650mm tubes as well to enable them to fire nuclear tipped cruise missiles.

[azreark1]

or...maybe its some kind of wishful thinking for the russians that someday they will capture one of our subs and take our torpedo's and be able to use them in their subs...i dont know just a thought :p haha

[Kapitan]

MK48 ADCAPS wont work on russian subs i know that one well i suppose you could use them as conventional torps but i doubt you could fire them from the 65cm torp tubes.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

MK48 ADCAPS wont work on russian subs i know that one well i suppose you could use them as conventional torps but i doubt you could fire them from the 65cm torp tubes.

In what sense would they be used as conventional torpedos on russian subs ?
Besides the different physical size, wouldn't the "control logic" be different ?
So a wire guided american torpedo even if it could be fired from a russian sub couldn't be controlled (wireguided) by the russian sub. :hmm:

[Kapitan]

Thats what im trying to say lol it cant be wire guided no, but it can be fired from the 533mm tubes as a non wire guided torpedo.

[PeriscopeDepth]

Hmmm...I doubt Mk 48s would work even as conventional torpedos. The Russian sub wouldn't have the required fire control system to interface with the 48 at all, so you'd probably be able to eject it from the tube...But how would the 48 know to: turn itself on, run, enable, or arm itself, etc?

PD

EDIT: That's an avatar I haven't seen.

[Kapitan]

lol i was thinking that is it one of yours?

[PeriscopeDepth]

Nope... a new one for the Subsim collection I guess.

PD

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Originally Posted by Kazuaki Shimazaki II

The general size of "close to 21 inches" (for a while the Germans played with 50cm while French torps tended to be 55cm until 1964) was probably an unspoken consensus of being the best compromise between capability and portability (which also means number of rounds carried), especially inside the confined spaces of a sub.

During both world wars both the u-boats and allied submarines used 533, clearly the latter taking their inspiration from the former. But my knowledge doesn't go any further back than that.