Real Submarine Technology & History Q&A

[DaveyJ576]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

12 minute Declassified navy film about the MK 45 torpedo:

Great stuff Ducimus! Thanks! Notice how the vid said 12000 yards max range? That's even worse! Almost within the kill zone!

[TorpX]

Watched the film.........WOW I am reminded of Dr. Strangelove.


Two questions come to mind:

1. Wouldn't it make more sense as an air launched torpedo?
2. Why not use a fuel-oxygen powerplant for longer range?

Thank God no one ever used one.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by TorpX

Watched the film.........WOW I am reminded of Dr. Strangelove.


Two questions come to mind:

1. Wouldn't it make more sense as an air launched torpedo?
2. Why not use a fuel-oxygen powerplant for longer range?

Thank God no one ever used one.

1. There was nuclear tipped version of RUR-5 ASROC missile. If I remember corretly missile deployed nuclear depth charge.
2. Japanese used fuel-oxygen powered torpedo called Long Lance during World War II. Problem with torpedos using oxygen is their extreme flammability. If I remember correctly Japanese surface vessels sometimes disposed their torpedos when under air attack as single hit to torpedoes could cause them to explode and destroy or heavily damage the ship.

Imperial Japanese Navy tested fuel-oxygen torpedo in subs but they were not success, unfortunately I don't remember why. As speculation I would imagine that leaking "secondary air tank", which was code name for tank containing pure oxygen, could cause quite a hassle onboard submarine. When abnormally high level of oxygen is present many objects normally non-flammable can ignite spontaniously.

All this comes from memory so errors are likely. Please correct me as necessary.

[TorpX]

kraznyi,

My questions were, in a sense, rhetorical. What I was trying to say was that, a nuc torpedo with a danger radius that equalled it's range was a rather poor weapon, and that there were other tactical options that could have been explored.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by TorpX

kraznyi,

My questions were, in a sense, rhetorical. What I was trying to say was that, a nuc torpedo with a danger radius that equalled it's range was a rather poor weapon, and that there were other tactical options that could have been explored.

Ah, okay.

[Nuc]

Originally Posted by TorpX

kraznyi,

..... and that there were other tactical options that could have been explored.

There were more options as development proceeded. Sub museum in Groton has a great display on Cold War weapons systems inclluding SUBROC and others
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-44.html

[TorpX]

@Nuc

Good material there. Heard of the Subroc, but didn't know the details. Certainly a much better weapon than the Mk 45. Odd that it was taken out of service without any replacement, though.

[Nuc]

Originally Posted by TorpX

@Nuc

Good material there. Heard of the Subroc, but didn't know the details. Certainly a much better weapon than the Mk 45. Odd that it was taken out of service without any replacement, though.

Budget cuts and end of the Cold War:

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-125.html