Is it possible to evade a supercavitating torpedo?

Catonga · 12-13-21, 02:21 PM

From the Wikipedia the Russian supercavitating torpedo Shkval does reach a speed of 103 m/s and does have a range of about 15 km (8.1 NM).

This means, if we ignore the time needed for acceleration for simplification, that such a torpedo reaches its max range in a timeframe of around 146 s (2 min and 43 s).

With acceleration it will take a little longer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA-111_Shkval

That's extremely fast.

Now, let's assume the submarine can't escape the torpedo , which means it's distance + the distance it can travel at max speed is lower than the torpedos max range and let's also assume it is diving at a starting speed of 5 knots and has a max speed of 20 knots, then the question is:
Will it have a chance to evade such a supercavitating torpedo?
And if your answer is yes, how?

KaleunMarco · 12-13-21, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catonga

From the Wikipedia the Russian supercavitating torpedo Shkval does reach a speed of 103 m/s and does have a range of about 15 km (8.1 NM).

This means, if we ignore the time needed for acceleration for simplification, that such a torpedo reaches its max range in a timeframe of around 146 s (2 min and 43 s).

With acceleration it will take a little longer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA-111_Shkval

That's extremely fast.

Now, let's assume the submarine can't escape the torpedo , which means it's distance + the distance it can travel at max speed is lower than the torpedos max range and let's also assume it is diving at a starting speed of 5 knots and has a max speed of 20 knots, then the question is:
Will it have a chance to evade such a supercavitating torpedo?
And if your answer is yes, how?

change depth.
change course.
change speed.
use every decoy mechanism available
violate the separation of state and religion and have every crewman pray that the four factors above are sufficient for your survival.

keep in mind that a device traveling that fast will probably not be a very effective listener and it will probably not be able to change course, depth, and speed without expending large amounts of fuel and distance/territory.
make no mistake, you and your crew are definitely in harm's way.
good luck, Herr Kaleun.

Kapitan · 12-14-21, 11:26 AM

Unless you are very close you can evade the weapon, as mentioned above change depth, change course, change speed.

Skhval is a straight running torpedo once fired it cannot be guided

kicker is though it can carry a nuclear warhead

ET2SN · 12-16-21, 02:34 AM

The big thing is to change course.

You (and everyone else with a passive sonar) will know when it gets launched.
A rocket powered anything is going to generate huge amounts of sound.

Use that to your advantage.

Who ever launches the damned thing will lose your track as soon as the motor lights off.

Don't sweat going to flank speed, remember the other guy can no longer hear you. Likewise, don't sweat the counter measures. You're basically wasting them until things quiet down again.

I'd think a bit about changing course 90-120 degrees towards the bearing of the "super" weapon. As long as you can offset the bearing to the fish smartly, you may as well pull a banzai move from the old 688i days and close on the launch platform- give him something to think about once things quiet down.

12-13-21, 02:21 PM	#1
Catonga Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 7 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Is it possible to evade a supercavitating torpedo? From the Wikipedia the Russian supercavitating torpedo Shkval does reach a speed of 103 m/s and does have a range of about 15 km (8.1 NM). This means, if we ignore the time needed for acceleration for simplification, that such a torpedo reaches its max range in a timeframe of around 146 s (2 min and 43 s). With acceleration it will take a little longer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA-111_Shkval That's extremely fast. Now, let's assume the submarine can't escape the torpedo , which means it's distance + the distance it can travel at max speed is lower than the torpedos max range and let's also assume it is diving at a starting speed of 5 knots and has a max speed of 20 knots, then the question is: Will it have a chance to evade such a supercavitating torpedo? And if your answer is yes, how?

12-14-21, 11:26 AM	#3
Kapitan Sub Test Pilot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK + Canada Posts: 7,090 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 7	Unless you are very close you can evade the weapon, as mentioned above change depth, change course, change speed. Skhval is a straight running torpedo once fired it cannot be guided kicker is though it can carry a nuclear warhead __________________ DONT FORGET if you like a post to nominate it by using the blue diamond Find out about Museum Ships here: https://www.museumships.us/ Flickr for all my pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131313936@N03/ Navy general board articles: https://www.navygeneralboard.com/author/aegis/

12-16-21, 02:34 AM	#4
ET2SN ET2/SS Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 2,504 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	The big thing is to change course. You (and everyone else with a passive sonar) will know when it gets launched. A rocket powered anything is going to generate huge amounts of sound. Use that to your advantage. Who ever launches the damned thing will lose your track as soon as the motor lights off. Don't sweat going to flank speed, remember the other guy can no longer hear you. Likewise, don't sweat the counter measures. You're basically wasting them until things quiet down again. I'd think a bit about changing course 90-120 degrees towards the bearing of the "super" weapon. As long as you can offset the bearing to the fish smartly, you may as well pull a banzai move from the old 688i days and close on the launch platform- give him something to think about once things quiet down.