Ice-penetrating sonobuoys?

fatty · 03-08-07, 07:37 PM

I am preparing a paper on Arctic sovereignty patrols. I have found what I guess is a patent for air-delivered, ice-penetrating sonobuoys. I found a bibliography referencing Barrette, J. Rene and John Courtenay Lewis. “Ice-penetrating Sonobuoy System Breaks the High Arctic Barrier,” Sea Technology 29(10):63-67 October 1988 however I do not have access to this article.

I am curious, does anyone know if air-delivered, ice-penetrating sonobuoys really exist? How well could/do they work? Have they ever been deployed in any military?

EDIT: Damn, I meant to post this in general topics. Could a mod please move? Thanks.

Bort · 03-08-07, 08:34 PM

I looked this up in the most recent edition of Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, apparently there was a program underway when the Cold War ended that utilized a sonobouy with a lithium tip, which could melt through ice up to 10 feet thick. I would imagine it ended up being canceled though.:hmm:

fatty · 03-09-07, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bort

I looked this up in the most recent edition of Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, apparently there was a program underway when the Cold War ended that utilized a sonobouy with a lithium tip, which could melt through ice up to 10 feet thick. I would imagine it ended up being canceled though.:hmm:

Interesting, thanks for the info! I supposed we'd need to come up with some ice-penetrating torpedos to make those sonobuoys worth it

ASWnut101 · 03-09-07, 03:30 PM

Still, I'd think that it would be hard for the sonobuoy to penetrate correctly. Won't it tumble or break when it hits the surface of the ice?

jason taylor · 03-22-07, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bort

I looked this up in the most recent edition of Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, apparently there was a program underway when the Cold War ended that utilized a sonobouy with a lithium tip, which could melt through ice up to 10 feet thick. I would imagine it ended up being canceled though.:hmm:

Interesting, thanks for the info! I supposed we'd need to come up with some ice-penetrating torpedos to make those sonobuoys worth it

I suppose you could vector friendly subs to a contact via satilite. You don't have to attack by air.

jason taylor · 03-22-07, 03:34 AM

By the way, how well does sound penetrate ice? Could sonobuoys simply be placed on the surface?

ASWnut101 · 03-22-07, 03:42 PM

Sound penetrates ice as good as water goes through four feet of steel. It doesn't work. Period.

Even if you did hear above the noise of the weather, you'd just hear the ice.

Bort · 03-09-07, 04:14 PM

My guess is that it was either meant to be parachute retarded, or that it was designed in such a way that it would fall straight down, with a pointed tip.

XabbaRus · 03-09-07, 06:11 PM

So what else an ice melting torpedo?

ASWnut101 · 03-09-07, 08:02 PM

Couldn't you just naplam the ice? Then drop the torp throught the hole?

jason taylor · 03-22-07, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

Couldn't you just naplam the ice? Then drop the torp throught the hole?

You could but that would take space in the payload away from torpedos.

03-08-07, 07:37 PM	#1
fatty The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,448 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Ice-penetrating sonobuoys? I am preparing a paper on Arctic sovereignty patrols. I have found what I guess is a patent for air-delivered, ice-penetrating sonobuoys. I found a bibliography referencing Barrette, J. Rene and John Courtenay Lewis. “Ice-penetrating Sonobuoy System Breaks the High Arctic Barrier,” Sea Technology 29(10):63-67 October 1988 however I do not have access to this article. I am curious, does anyone know if air-delivered, ice-penetrating sonobuoys really exist? How well could/do they work? Have they ever been deployed in any military? EDIT: Damn, I meant to post this in general topics. Could a mod please move? Thanks.

03-08-07, 08:34 PM	#2
Bort Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Studying in Atlanta Posts: 919 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	I looked this up in the most recent edition of Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet, apparently there was a program underway when the Cold War ended that utilized a sonobouy with a lithium tip, which could melt through ice up to 10 feet thick. I would imagine it ended up being canceled though.:hmm: __________________ GT Aerospace

03-09-07, 03:30 PM	#4
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Still, I'd think that it would be hard for the sonobuoy to penetrate correctly. Won't it tumble or break when it hits the surface of the ice? __________________

03-22-07, 03:42 PM	#7
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Sound penetrates ice as good as water goes through four feet of steel. It doesn't work. Period. Even if you did hear above the noise of the weather, you'd just hear the ice. __________________

03-09-07, 04:14 PM	#8
Bort Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Studying in Atlanta Posts: 919 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	My guess is that it was either meant to be parachute retarded, or that it was designed in such a way that it would fall straight down, with a pointed tip. __________________ GT Aerospace

03-22-07, 03:34 AM	#6
jason taylor Loader Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 84 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	By the way, how well does sound penetrate ice? Could sonobuoys simply be placed on the surface?

03-09-07, 06:11 PM	#9
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	So what else an ice melting torpedo? __________________

03-09-07, 08:02 PM	#10
ASWnut101 Admiral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,021 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Couldn't you just naplam the ice? Then drop the torp throught the hole? __________________