In the public consciousness, submarines are perceived primarily as carriers of missile weapons. Well, what about torpedoes? Are they a thing of the past? And if they remained, then why did serial deliveries of the new generation “Fizik” torpedoes go to the Russian fleet? Let's look at this based on the most general considerations dictated by elementary physics.
Mikhail Vannakh
The weapon that made the submarine a full-fledged warship was the torpedo. It was torpedoes that allowed the tiny five-hundred-ton U-9 submarine with archaic kerosene engines (a kind of kerosene gases, only the gasified fuel went not to the burners, but to the Otto gas engine) to send to the bottom three British armored cruisers with a displacement of 36,000 tons on September 22, 1914 - HMS Aboukir, Cressy, Hogue. Royal Navy losses - 1,459 - were almost equal to those at Trafalgar.
Dense medium price
Both the submarine and the torpedoes operate in an environment a thousand times denser than air—water. It was the water that made the tiny submarine invisible, which made it possible to approach within firing range without fear of the fire of the numerous guns of the British armored giants.
And it was water with its high density that provided the impressive lethality that the 123-kilogram warheads of 45-centimeter torpedoes demonstrated on the very durable hulls of British cruisers. An explosion in water is much more destructive than an explosion in the air. And an underwater hole into which water flows is much worse than above-water, airborne destruction.
But everything - including the secrecy provided by the density of the environment - must be paid for. First of all, the energy spent on overcoming the resistance of water. This determined the extremely low speed of torpedoes, compared to artillery shells. Those C45/06 with which the U-9 was armed had a speed of 26 knots at a firing range of 3000 m and 34.5 knots at a firing range of 1500 m. In addition, in a dense environment, any deflecting moment - asymmetry of the hull, propeller thrust, impact waves - will have an incomparably stronger impact than in the air.
So from the very beginning, torpedo weapons were, if not controllable, then stabilized weapons. Aubrey's gyroscopic device, with the help of steering gears and horizontal rudders, did not allow the torpedo to go off course. Hydrostats measuring water pressure, controlling vertical rudders, kept the torpedo at a given depth, preventing it from diving deeper, passing under the bottom of the target, or jumping to the surface. The rockets of the Smerch complex received similar capabilities—stabilization along the trajectory—only in the 1970s, when it was necessary to increase the firing range of the MLRS with acceptable dispersion to 70 km. Such is the difference in the properties of water and air.
A kilometer deep
For most of their history, submarines were armed with torpedoes and used them to conduct combat operations. But then missiles came to the submarine fleet. They made it possible to combine the stealth of submarines with high speed and range, which was ensured by a projectile traveling in the air. Strategic - such as UGM-27 Polaris missiles launched from vertical silos. Tactical - designed to combat Soviet submarines: NATO submarines were equipped with UUM-44 SUBROC rocket torpedoes launched from torpedo tubes. A solid-fuel rocket motor lifted the SUBROC out of the water and, under the control of an inertial control system, guided it in the air to a target at a range of up to 55 km - the target was hit by a five-kiloton W55 nuclear warhead.
By the seventies of the last century, the torpedo faded into the background. It remained a “niche” weapon designed to combat submarines. And it was for this purpose that the previous domestic torpedo was created - USET-80, a universal homing electric torpedo, adopted for service in 1980. Why was this torpedo electric?
The fact is that in the seventies it was assumed that the working depth of promising US submarines would reach 1000 m. It was under a kilometer-long layer of water that the Soviet torpedo was supposed to hit them. But a kilometer of depth is a pressure of a hundred atmospheres. And any heat engine is designed to operate in a low-pressure environment.
So the creators of USET-80 had to resort to an electric motor powered by a silver-magnesium battery that is activated by seawater. This ensured operation at a kilometer depth, allowed the torpedo to reach a speed of 45 knots, and at 43 knots to reach a range of 18 km. In a dense environment where optics and radars do not work, at the then level of development of hydroacoustic means, this was quite enough.
Chasing the submarine
But in reality, the development of Western naval technology did not go as expected in the 1970s. The Seawolf class multipurpose submarines, which entered service in 1997, have a working depth of 480 m and a maximum depth of 600 m. The cheaper and more widespread Virginia class submarines, entering service since 2004, have a maximum depth of 488 m. The German U class submarines -212 maximum depth is 350 m, and their export version U-214, which is in service with the Turkish Navy, has a depth of 400 m. So today there is no talk of any operation of torpedoes at a kilometer depth.
Currently, the Marine Thermal Engineering Research Institute (St. Petersburg) has developed the Futlyar UGST, which is an improved version of the Physicist torpedo and has similar parameters. UGST are produced at JSC Dagdizel Plant (Kaspiysk, Dagestan).
But modern submarines of respected partners move quickly: Seawolf reaches speeds of up to 35 knots. And, as is easy to understand, firing a torpedo with a range limited to 18 km is a difficult task, even if you take into account the homing capabilities of the USET-80 torpedo, which is capable of chasing an enemy submarine along the wake or reaching the target using active-passive sonar
But no matter how sophisticated the control system, the fundamental limitations of speed and range impose their limitations on the use of torpedoes against high-speed maneuvering targets. For example, if our submarine were strictly behind the stern of the Seawulf moving at full speed, it would not make sense to fire a USET-80 torpedo in pursuit from a distance of 3-4 km: the torpedo’s cruising range would not be enough to reduce the distance to zero. In an hour at a speed of 43 knots, it will only be able to get within 14.8 km of the submarine. But the batteries will last less than a quarter of an hour...
The Fizik UGST was put into service in 2015 and is installed on submarines of projects 885 (Yasen) and 955 (Borey). In the photo: the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine is the second ship built as part of Project 955.
If a torpedo had infinite speed or an infinite power reserve, then, having established contact with the target, it would be guaranteed to hit it within its range or at a speed at least slightly inferior to the speed of the torpedo. But in reality this does not happen, and therefore the most important task was to increase the speed and range of the new domestic torpedo UGST. And since it became clear that torpedoes would not have to dive a kilometer, they turned to chemical fuel, proven by centuries of practice, which is more energy-intensive for the same mass.
Fuel of the 21st century
The propulsion system of the Fizik torpedo uses single-component fuel - much the same as modern solid-fuel rockets. Only in a torpedo it is not solid, but liquid. Which one exactly? Well, we probably won’t be too mistaken in assuming that it is in general terms similar to the Otto Fuel II monopropellant used in torpedoes of NATO countries.
This fuel has nothing to do with the Otto gas engine - it is named after its inventor, Otto Reitlinger, and consists of propylene glycol dinitrate (aka 1,2-propanediol dinitrate) stabilized with 2-nitrodiphenylamine and desensitized with dibutyl sebacate. It is a reddish-orange oily liquid with a pungent odor. Non-volatile, non-explosive, although quite poisonous. And it contains much more energy than any battery.
The Fizik UGST has both a homing mode along the wake and a telecontrol mode, when the target is monitored by the submarine's hydroacoustic system, and commands to the torpedo are transmitted via a fiber-optic cable.
Well, in order to extract this energy, the single-component fuel is heated by a starting powder charge. The resulting gases go into the cylinders of the axial piston engine, where they are burned. An axial piston engine is an engine where the cylinders are arranged in a circle in parallel, with their axes facing each other, and an swashplate is used instead of a crankshaft. It was once invented for aviation, but has now found its way into torpedoes.
The axial motor is loaded with a low-noise water jet engine. So the universal deep-sea homing torpedo “Physicist” has a speed of 50 knots with a range of 50 km, which significantly expands the tactics of its use compared to USET-80. As the navy assures, the launch of the Physics from modern torpedo tubes is almost silent, which eliminates the possibility of unmasking the attacking boat. The torpedo can be directed to the target by both a homing system and a wired telecontrol system, when the target is monitored by the submarine's hydroacoustic system, and commands to the torpedo are transmitted via a fiber-optic cable.
UGST "Physicist"
Since the size of the hydroacoustic station sensors on the boat is larger, and the processors that process their data are more powerful, this application scheme gives better chances than with homing in a duel with an enemy submarine. This is also helped by the higher maneuverability of the Physics: after launch, its rudders extend beyond the contour of the torpedo (in approximately the same way as the stabilizers of the 9M111 Fagot ATGM deploy), which ensures greater control efficiency over a wide range of speeds. And this is necessary because during telecontrol - when a torpedo drags a cable or a reel of wire behind it - you have to reduce the speed of the torpedo, paying for stealth with an increase in travel time.
So torpedo weapons are becoming more adequate to the tasks posed by the 21st century. It can be fired from greater depths than missiles - up to 400 m. It has a lower level of unmasking factors, primarily noise: the torpedo delicately enters the liquid medium, and the missile bursts in with the impact of hot gases from the engine, almost an explosion. But the specific tactics of using these weapons is a military secret, much more serious than information about the weapon itself...
As the Izvestia newspaper reported, the Russian Navy has adopted the new Fizik-2 torpedo. Reportedly, this torpedo is intended to arm the latest Project 955 Borei submarine missile carriers and the new generation Project 885855M Yasen multi-purpose nuclear submarines.
Until recently, the situation with torpedo weapons for the Russian Navy was rather bleak - despite the presence of modern third-generation nuclear submarines and the emergence of the latest fourth-generation submarines, their combat capabilities were significantly limited by the existing torpedo weapons, which were significantly inferior not only to new ones, but also in largely outdated models of foreign torpedoes. And not only American and European, but even Chinese.
The main task of the Soviet submarine fleet was to fight against surface ships of a potential enemy, primarily against American convoys, which, in the event of the Cold War escalating into a “hot” war, were supposed to deliver American troops, weapons and military equipment, various supplies and logistics to Europe provision. The most advanced in the Soviet submarine fleet were the “thermal” torpedoes 53-65K and 65-76, designed to destroy ships - they had high speed characteristics and range for their time, as well as a unique wake locating system, which made it possible to “catch” the wake enemy ship and follow along it until it hits the target. At the same time, they provided complete freedom of maneuver for the carrier submarine after launch. The monstrous 65-76 torpedo with a caliber of 650 millimeters was especially effective. It had a huge range - 100 kilometers at a speed of 35 knots and 50 kilometers at a speed of 50 knots, and the most powerful 765-kg warhead was enough to cause heavy damage even to an aircraft carrier (only a few torpedoes were required to sink an aircraft carrier) and was guaranteed to sink one torpedo ship of any other class.
However, in the 1970s, so-called universal torpedoes appeared - they could be used equally effectively both against surface ships and against submarines. A new torpedo guidance system has also appeared - telecontrol. With this method of aiming a torpedo, control commands are transmitted to it using an unwinding wire, which makes it easy to “parry” the target’s maneuvers and optimize the trajectory of the torpedo, which in turn allows you to expand the effective range of the torpedo. However, in the field of creating universal remote-controlled torpedoes in the Soviet Union, no significant success was achieved; moreover, Soviet universal torpedoes were already significantly inferior to their foreign counterparts. Firstly, all Soviet universal torpedoes were electric, i.e. driven by electricity from batteries placed on board. They are easier to operate, have less noise when moving and do not leave an unmasking mark on the surface, but at the same time, in terms of range and speed, they are very significantly inferior to steam-gas or so-called. "thermal" torpedoes. Secondly, the highest level of automation of Soviet submarines, including the system for automatic loading of torpedo tubes, imposed design restrictions on the torpedo and did not allow the implementation of the so-called. hose telecontrol system, when the reel with the remote control cable is located in the torpedo tube. Instead, a towed coil had to be used, which severely limits the torpedo's capabilities. If the hose telecontrol system allows the submarine to freely maneuver after launching a torpedo, then the towed one extremely limits maneuvers after launch - in this case, the remote control cable is guaranteed to break, moreover, there is a high probability of its breakage from the oncoming flow of water. The towed coil also does not allow salvo torpedo firing.
In the late 1980s, work began on creating new torpedoes, but due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, they were continued only in the new millennium. As a result, Russian submarines were left with ineffective torpedoes. The main universal torpedo USET-80 had completely unsatisfactory characteristics, and the existing SET-65 anti-submarine torpedoes, which had good characteristics when they were put into service in 1965, were already obsolete. At the beginning of the 21st century, the 65-76 torpedo was removed from service, which in 2000 caused the Kursk submarine disaster that shocked the entire country. Russian attack submarines have lost their “far arm” and the most effective torpedo for combating surface ships. Thus, by the beginning of the current decade, the situation with submarine torpedo weapons was completely depressing - they had extremely weak capabilities in a duel situation with enemy submarines and limited capabilities to hit surface targets. However, the latter problem was partially overcome by equipping submarines with modernized 53-65K torpedoes since 2011, which may have received a new homing system and higher range and speed characteristics were provided. However, the capabilities of Russian torpedoes were significantly inferior to modern modifications of the main American universal torpedo, the Mk-48. The fleet obviously needed new universal torpedoes that met modern requirements.
In 2003, a new torpedo, UGST (Universal Deep-Sea Homing Torpedo), was presented at the International Naval Show. For the Russian Navy, this torpedo was called “Physicist”. According to available data, since 2008, the Dagdizel plant has been producing limited quantities of these torpedoes for testing on the latest submarines of projects 955 and 885. Since 2015, mass production of these torpedoes has begun and equipping them with the latest submarines, which previously had to be armed obsolete torpedoes. For example, the Severodvinsk submarine, which entered the fleet in 2014, was initially armed with obsolete USET-80 torpedoes. As reported in open sources, as the number of new torpedoes produced increases, older submarines will also be armed with them.
In 2016, it was reported that tests of the new Futlyar torpedo were being carried out on Lake Issyk-Kul and that it was supposed to be put into service in 2017, after which the production of the Physicist torpedoes would be curtailed and instead of them the fleet would begin to receive other, more perfect torpedoes. However, on July 12, 2017, the Izvestia newspaper and a number of Russian news agencies reported that the new Fizik-2 torpedo had been adopted by the Russian Navy. At the moment, it is completely unclear whether the torpedo called “Case” or the “Case” torpedo, a fundamentally new torpedo, has been adopted for service. The first version can be supported by the fact that, as reported last year, the Futlyar torpedo is a further development of the Physicist torpedo. The same is said about the Fizik-2 torpedo.
The Fizik torpedo has a range of 50 km at a speed of 30 knots and 40 kilometers at a speed of 50 knots. The Fizik-2 torpedo reportedly has a maximum speed increased to 60 knots (about 110 mph) due to the new 19DT turbine engine with a power of 800 kW. The Fizik torpedo has an active-passive homing system and a remote control system. The torpedo homing system when firing at surface targets ensures detection of the wake of an enemy ship at a distance of 2.5 kilometers and guidance to the target by locating the wake. Apparently, the torpedo is equipped with a new generation wake locating system, which is less susceptible to hydroacoustic countermeasures. For firing at submarines, the homing system has active sonars capable of “capturing” an enemy submarine at a distance of up to 1200 meters. Probably, the newest torpedo "Fizik-2" has an even more advanced homing system. It also seems likely that the torpedo received a hose reel instead of a towed one. Reportedly, the overall combat capabilities of this torpedo are comparable to the capabilities of the latest modifications of the American Mk-48 torpedo.
Thus, the situation with the “torpedo crisis” in the Russian Navy was reversed and perhaps in the coming years it will be possible to equip all Russian submarines with new universal, highly effective torpedoes, which will significantly expand the potential of the Russian submarine fleet.
Pavel Rumyantsev
Last year, the deep-sea homing torpedoes UGST “Fizik” entered service with the Russian Navy. A little more than a year has passed, and the Futlyar torpedo, which is a modernized version of the Physics, has entered the final stage of state testing. Tests are carried out in Kyrgyzstan on Lake Issyk-Kul. If they are successfully completed, the new torpedo will be put into service this year, and its serial production will begin in 2017.
Both the basic version and the modernized one were created at the Morteplotekhnika Research Institute, part of JSC Concern Marine Underwater Weapons - Gidropribor. Serial production is expected to be launched in the city of Kaspiysk at the Dagdizel plant. The torpedoes will be placed primarily on the latest nuclear submarines of the Borei and Yasen projects. After the launch of the Futlyar series, production of the Fizik torpedoes will be discontinued.
The new torpedo is replacing the outdated 533-mm UEST-80, which was put into service in 1980. The torpedo had an unjustifiably short range of 18 km for modern conditions. True, the speed was not so bad - 45 knots. It was provided by an electric propulsion system powered by a silver-magnesium battery. The torpedo was homing. Target acquisition was carried out through an active-passive acoustic channel, as well as through a wake capture channel. This second channel uses the effect of scattering acoustic waves on air bubbles present in the wake of a ship or submarine using propellers as propulsion. At the same time, UEST-80 is capable of operating against targets from “zero”, that is, against surface ships, to submarines submerged at 1000 meters. The mass of the warhead is 300 kg.
It must be said that the UGST “Physicist” in the Navy is tired of waiting. Its development began in 1986. It was first shown at the St. Petersburg International Salon in 2003. Five years later, the torpedo began to be produced in test batches. And only in April 2015 it was accepted into service.
Such a long delay is due to reputational reasons. Physics uses not an electric engine, but a thermal engine running on liquid single-component fuel. According to the official version, the disaster on the Kursk submarine that perished in the Barents Sea occurred precisely because of the explosion of a torpedo with a hydrogen peroxide heat engine. That is why mistrust spread to the entire class of heat engines used to equip submarine torpedoes. However, the official version is questioned by a number of competent experts.
But it seems that the years have moved on. The torpedo, which had long been ready for use on combat ships, began to be registered in the fleet in earnest and for a long time. The Physics range has increased to 50 kilometers, and the speed has increased to 50 knots. "Case" has improved characteristics. No specific details have been provided regarding this matter. But it is known that the modernized version will use the TPS-53 thermal propulsion system, capable of increasing the firing range to 60 km and the speed to 65 knots. Its gas turbine engine uses Otto-fuel liquid fuel, which allows it to develop a power of 800 kW.
That is, there is a serious breakthrough in terms of speed and firing range. At the same time, supporters of the use of electric torpedoes, citing foreign experience, insist on their advantages. These advantages are purely theoretical. In Russia there are no batteries with the required capacity. And in terms of other parameters, things are also not the best. The TE2 torpedo is in service with surface ships and submarines. It is good for everyone - it aims perfectly at the target and makes little noise. But its speed does not exceed 45 knots, and the maximum range, depending on the selected mode, ranges from 15 km to 25 km.
“Physicist” has one more advantage: it uses a water cannon as a propulsion device. TE2 is driven by two screws.
In addition to a two-channel acoustic homing system, the Physicist is equipped with a target guidance system via wires, through which commands to change course are sent from the submarine to the torpedo depending on how the attacked ship or submarine maneuvers. The range of such telecontrol ranges from 5 km to 25 km. All this will be transferred to the “Case”. Improvements may be made to the sound system.
If the “Physicist” in terms of performance characteristics is the best domestic torpedo in service, then the gap between the “Case” and domestic torpedoes will increase.
When reviewing Russian torpedoes for submarines, it is necessary to mention two more. First of all, this is the 65-76A “Kit” torpedo. She joined the submarine fleet in the late 70s. This is what the dead Kursk submarine was armed with. The designers were required to create a long-range, powerful and secretive weapon that would allow Soviet submarines to hit large enemy ships, including aircraft carriers, without entering the anti-submarine defense range.
And they succeeded to a large extent. The torpedo had two calibers - 533 mm and 650 mm. The latter was called the “thick torpedo.” It could carry both a nuclear charge and a conventional one weighing 557 kg. It developed a speed of up to 50 knots, at which it was capable of covering 50 km. According to some reports, the maximum speed reached 70 knots. At a speed of 35 knots, the range reached 100 km. It was this parameter that horrified NATO sailors, and the “fat torpedo” was called the killer of aircraft carriers. Because reliable anti-submarine protection of an aircraft carrier cannot be deployed to such a depth. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the “Kit” was equipped with homing equipment, and far from the submarine that launched it, it was engaged in a selective search for a target.
The West breathed a sigh of relief when the “fat torpedo” was removed from service with the Russian Navy in 2002. In total, more than 60 domestic submarines were armed with it; the ammunition capacity of each boat ranged from 8 to 12 “thick torpedoes.” However, "Case" will undoubtedly add headaches to our supposed enemy.
Another torpedo made a huge noise. But mostly informational. Many beautiful legends have formed around her. This is a Shkval torpedo, which develops an underwater speed of 200 knots, which is equivalent to 370 km/h. Such a fantastic speed is achieved due to the fact that the cavitation effect is used during its movement. That is, the “flight” is carried out in an air bubble. Powerful thrust is generated by a solid fuel jet engine.
However, a significant number of minuses negated the powerful plus, and therefore the torpedo was removed from service. Firstly, the maximum firing range was 13 km. That is, the boat had to approach the attacked target at a distance where a powerful anti-submarine defense was deployed. Secondly, when moving, the torpedo created a loud noise and a clear mark on the surface of the water. Having fired a torpedo, the boat was guaranteed to reveal itself with all the ensuing sad consequences for it. Thirdly, the torpedo, like a bullet fired from a rifle, flew in a straight line, without turning or obeying any commands. And, despite its breakneck speed, in 2 minutes of travel to the target it was possible to either destroy it or move the ship at a sufficient distance for the hyper-torpedo to fly past. Fourthly, the maximum depth of the Shkval was 30 meters. Consequently, submarines were practically unattainable for her.
US Navy Mark-48 torpedo (Photo: ru.wikipedia.org)
The “Case” should be compared first of all with the American thermal torpedo Mark 48. It was born in 1972. But to date, its seventh modification is being produced with significantly improved characteristics. This is the main torpedo of the US Navy submarine fleet. It is slightly superior to Physics, but loses to Case. Well, Germany makes the longest-range torpedoes. Its DM2A4ER is capable of traveling 140 km. And at a maximum speed of 50 knots - 100 km.
All modern torpedoes from NATO countries have a homing head and a TV cable control mode.
Performance characteristics of torpedoes TE2, “Physicist”, “Case”,Mark 48 (USA),DM2A4ER (Germany), Black Shark (Italy)
Length, m: 7.9 - 7.2 - n/a - 5.8 - 8.4 - 5.9
Weight, kg: 2400 — 1980 — n/a — 1363 — n/a — 1363
Warhead weight, kg: 300 - 300 - n/a - 300 - 260 - 250
Maximum range, km: 25 - 50 - 60 - 60 - 140 - 70
Telecontrol cable length, km: 25 — 25 — n/a — 30 — 100 — 60
Maximum speed, knots: 45 - 50 - 65 - 60 - 50 - 52
The Russian fleet has adopted a new universal deep-sea homing torpedo (UGST) “Physicist”. It is considered unique both in its combat characteristics and in its versatility. The Army Standard magazine tried to understand the features of the formidable Physics. The development of a new generation torpedo was carried out jointly at the St. Petersburg Research Institute Morteplotekhnika and at the Region enterprise near Moscow since 1986. The developers were tasked with creating a weapon whose characteristics would be superior to the USET-80 torpedo (universal homing electric torpedo). This torpedo was developed in the 60s and was put into service in the 80s. In 1964, a competition was held for preliminary designs of a promising universal torpedo - both thermal and electrical. Despite the fact that the thermal performance characteristics at depths of up to 600 m turned out to be significantly higher than the electric one, for further development, under the pretext of the imminent appearance in the US Navy of submarines with a diving depth of up to 1000 m, an electric torpedo was adopted. It is interesting that the model for its battery was a silver-magnesium battery , activated by sea water, from the American MK-44 torpedo caught by our sailors. According to a number of experts, the choice of electric universal torpedoes as a development priority led to a significant lag in this matter from the US Navy. There were many disadvantages: speed, range, heavy weight, high cost of the torpedo. In addition, due to the low salinity of the water, the use of this type of torpedoes in the Baltic Sea was excluded (the battery simply did not activate). The fact that at the time of 1991, the torpedo weapons of the USSR Navy were significantly inferior to the torpedo weapons of the potential enemy is considered an indisputable fact. For example, the deputy head of the Navy Anti-Submarine Weapons Directorate in the 1980s, Rudolf Gusev, noted: “The MK-48 (American) torpedo is thermal, and USET-80 - electric. An electric torpedo of comparable dimensions is always inferior to a thermal one in speed and range. At least that's how it was until now. We lost in creating a thermal power plant for a universal torpedo with performance characteristics “ahead” of the Americans. In creating a thermal power plant for universal torpedoes with performance characteristics “at parity” using the same type of single-component unitary fuel as the Americans, we were cold-bloodedly late and, most importantly, for a long time discredited the very idea of using this fuel. Everyone on whom it depended is to blame for this... There was no one to use the power.” The decision to develop a fundamentally new torpedo was literally achieved through hard labor. The main task was to create a torpedo capable of operating effectively at long distances. To do this, it was necessary to combine high speed and stealth movement of the projectile. It was decided to abandon electric power plants and switch to thermal ones. In Physics, the starting powder charge placed in the combustion chamber makes it possible to increase the power of the propulsion system in a short time. This is especially important at the initial stage of the torpedo's progress. The torpedo is propelled by a unique low-noise water cannon. The 533 mm UGST is equipped with a warhead weighing up to 300 kilograms and is designed to destroy enemy ships and submarines at a range of up to 50 kilometers. To target the target, an active-passive hydroacoustic system is used with the ability to identify the wake at a distance of 1.2 to 2.5 km and the response range of a proximity fuse from 2 to 8 m, depending on the type and size of the target. The possibility of telecontrol is provided with a total cable length of about 30 km. “Physicist” is produced for our torpedo tubes and has a length of 7.2 meters. The compatibility of the carrier's equipment and the torpedo's onboard systems is made by software configuration of the system unit during binding to a specific type of ship. Moreover, to accommodate a universal deep-sea homing torpedo on some modernized ships, it is possible to supply an adapter pre-launch preparation console, which allows you to enter data into the torpedo before firing. An important distinctive feature of this torpedo is its modular design. This allows you to create a whole family of torpedoes that have multi-level modifiability potential: from reprogramming the equipment in the base model to replacing the tank compartment or engine. This approach makes it possible to quickly assemble the UGST to suit the specific conditions of combat use. So, for example, as for the warhead of a torpedo (combat charging compartment), it is a compartment with an insert capsule in which the explosive is placed. Several modifications of the combat charging compartment have been developed, differing in the mass and composition of the explosive, as well as the initiation system during detonation Russian designers have implemented another know-how in the UGST - two-plane rudders that extend beyond the caliber of the torpedo after it leaves the torpedo tube. This design of the rudders allows you to significantly reduce noise, as well as confidently maneuver on the most difficult, initial section of the route. In the future, it is planned to use a promising modification of this torpedo using two-component fuel under the designation “Physicist-2” or “Physicist-2000” (export name - UGST- M). Moreover, our defense complex does not stand still. “Physicist” only recently entered service, and information has already appeared that Russia is working on the newest torpedo “Futlyar”. The fleet should receive it by the end of the year. Information about the performance characteristics of this torpedo is classified. Officially, it is only known that the “Case” will receive an improved homing system with an increased acquisition range of an underwater target. Currently, “Futlyar” is undergoing state tests on Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, which are scheduled to be completed in December. If successful, serial production of the weapon should begin in 2017. The “Case” will first of all be armed with all submarines of projects 955 “Borey”, 885 “Yasen” and their modifications, and as the production of these torpedoes increases, other submarines will be re-equipped with them Navy.
The Russian defense industry continues to implement new projects in the field of mine and torpedo weapons. Not long ago it became known that new results had been obtained in this area: based on the results of all the necessary tests, a promising torpedo, known under the code “Case,” was accepted for service. However, some facts indicated in recent reports on this matter may be a reason for optimism.
The “Case” product is the newest known domestic development in the field of torpedo weapons. According to available data, the purpose of this project was to further improve the existing UGST Fizik torpedo, which was put into service several years ago. In particular, in connection with this, the new project also bears the name “Physicist-2”. Work on the new project started in the recent past and over time led to real results in the form of readiness for adoption.
In March of this year, RIA Novosti, citing unnamed sources in the military-industrial complex, wrote about the current successes of the Futlyar project. It was then indicated that the new torpedo had already been tested by that time. In addition, some of the necessary checks have already been successfully completed. Also, an unnamed source revealed further plans of industry and the Ministry of Defense. Thus, in the foreseeable future, the Fizik-2 / Futlyar torpedo was planned to be put into service. The corresponding order was supposed to appear in 2018.
Torpedo UGST "Physicist"
A few months later, on July 12, Izvestia published new reports on the progress of the promising project. From the published data it follows that by now the industry has managed to complete all the required work. The designer of torpedo weapons at the Research Institute of Marine Thermal Engineering, which carried out the development of the new project, Alexander Grigoriev, told Izvestia that the UGST “Fizik-2” torpedo has already been adopted by the Russian Navy. Also, a participant in the creation of the torpedo noted that in the future this product will have to replace all analogues of existing types in service, equipped with electric power plants.
Recent reports about the acceptance of the Futlyar torpedo into service suggest that the tests were completed ahead of schedule - several months ahead of schedule. As a result, no later than mid-2017, the product was put into service, although previously these events were attributed to the next 2018. Thus, serial products can enter naval arsenals with a certain advance in existing schedules.
It is known that the new product “Futlyar” is a modernized version of the older torpedo UGST “Fizik”. Let us recall that development work with the “Physicist” code started in the mid-eighties; its goal was to create a promising deep-sea homing thermal torpedo. The Research Institute of Marine Thermal Engineering was appointed the lead developer, which was supposed to be assisted by several other organizations. Experimental UGST products entered testing in the mid-nineties, and at the beginning of the next decade the torpedo was put into service. During this period, the first public demonstration of the new weapon took place, the platform for which was the International Naval Show in St. Petersburg.
Several years ago, the development institute began creating a modernized version of the existing Physics. A new torpedo based on the existing one received the working designation “Physicist-2”. In addition, the alternative name "Case" soon appeared. Currently, both designations are used in parallel and do not cause any confusion.
Until a certain time, detailed information about the Fizik-2 / Futlyar torpedo was not available. Only a few months ago some technical data were published. In addition, some press publications devoted to the development of torpedo weapons revealed certain details of the new project. For obvious reasons, the most frequently mentioned differences from existing weapons of the base model, as well as the advantages obtained within the framework of the new project. All the data published to date allows us to create a fairly detailed picture, in which, however, some “blank spots” still remain.
Like all modern domestic torpedoes, the Futlyar UGST has a cylindrical body of high aspect ratio with a cut-off hemispherical head fairing and a conical tail section that serves as the basis for the propulsion and steering system. The total length of the product, according to available data, is 7.2 m, caliber - 533 mm. Weight of combat-ready torpedo – 2.2 t.
In terms of its layout, the torpedo probably repeats the design of the basic “Physicist”. Let us recall that the first version of the UGST had a head compartment with homing equipment, behind which the charging and reservoir compartments were located in series. The tail compartment was given over to the installation of the engine and actuators of the control system. Apparently, in the new project, this torpedo architecture was not changed or modified.
According to published data, the Futlyar torpedo is equipped with an axial piston internal combustion engine using single-component fuel. The type of engine and its main characteristics have not yet been announced. It is known that the basic “Physicist” had a 350 kW (469 hp) engine, which used a rotating combustion chamber. Fuel was supplied by a high-pressure pump. Tanks for transporting fuel were located in the central part of the hull. It was proposed to start the engine using a starting powder charge.
The engine shaft passes through the tail section of the hull and is brought out, where it is connected to the water-jet propulsion unit. The impeller of the latter is placed inside the annular channel, which increases productivity while simultaneously reducing noise. The rudders are located next to the annular channel of the water cannon. A curious feature of the projects of the UGST “Physicist” family is the use of controllable surfaces that unfold after exiting the torpedo tube. For greater efficiency, the rudders have a box-like design with a pair of large planes and a small jumper between them, leading into the flow. This design increases the efficiency of the rudders and simplifies control to a certain extent.
It is known that the Physicist-2 product has homing means, but the type of such a system was not specified. At the same time, there is certain information about the control systems of the previous UGST torpedo. According to available data, within the framework of the Physicist research and development project, enterprises of the domestic defense industry created two variants of active-passive homing systems, which have certain differences.
Together with homing, telecontrol from the corresponding console of the carrier submarine can be used. To transmit commands to the onboard systems of the torpedo, a cable placed on two coils is used. One of them is equipped with 25 km of wire and is located inside the torpedo, and the towed one with 5 km of cable is placed in the transport position near the water-jet propulsion unit. The third coil can be installed on board the carrier. With the help of a cable and remote control, a torpedo can be launched into a given area of the intended location of the target, after which the search and guidance are entrusted to automatic systems.
The Physics homing system has a flat nose receiving-emitting antenna, which contains a large number of individual elements. The torpedo is capable of finding both the targets themselves and their wake. Automation detects surface ships at distances of up to 1.2 km, submarines - up to 2.5 km. Wake indication time – 350 s. The warhead is detonated using a non-contact fuse. It works at distances up to several meters from the target.
Behind the head compartment in the body of the Futlyar torpedo there is a combat charging compartment. The new family of torpedoes carry a similar charge in the form of 300 kg of explosive. The power of such a fighting compartment is sufficient to cause the most serious damage to enemy surface ships and submarines. It is likely that practical products can be produced simultaneously with combat torpedoes carrying a powerful explosive charge. In this case, the charging compartment must be filled with ballast of the required mass.
According to domestic press reports, the UGST “Physicist-2” / “Case” torpedo is capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 knots (more than 90 km/h) and moving at depths of up to 400 m. The firing range is up to 50 km. It has been repeatedly noted in various publications that the promising product is superior in range to existing domestic and foreign torpedoes. This feature of the new weapon significantly increases the likelihood of successful timely destruction of a target with minimal risk to its carrier.
According to previously published data, the new Futlyar torpedo is primarily intended to arm modern nuclear submarines of the latest designs. Thus, multi-purpose and strategic cruisers may become the first carriers of these weapons. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that in the future such torpedoes will be included in the ammunition load of other domestic submarines built according to older designs.
Production of “Cases” should be launched at the Dagdizel plant in Kaspiysk. According to available data, this enterprise is currently producing UGST “Physicist” products, and in the near future it will master the mass assembly of its modernized version. According to some reports, the launch of mass production of Fizik-2 torpedoes will lead to a stop in the production of base model products. Apparently, such a replacement will not lead to technological or operational difficulties, but will at the same time make it possible to increase the potential of the submarine forces to a certain extent.
The development of a new version of a homing thermal torpedo to replace existing Fizik products started just a few years ago. By now, torpedo builders have managed to complete the design and conduct the necessary tests. According to reports this spring, the checks were successful and allowed for optimistic assessments. At the same time, however, anonymous sources in the domestic media cited rather modest plans: the new torpedo was supposed to enter service only next year.
Just a few months after this, one of the authors of the new project said that the Physicist-2 torpedo had already been adopted by the Russian Navy. Whether mass production has begun has not yet been clarified. Other aspects of the new project are also not disclosed. At the same time, there have been reports that the new torpedo will replace the base model in production.
The development of domestic mine and torpedo weapons continues and is yielding certain results. In just a few years, an updated and improved version of the existing product UGST “Physicist” was created, which has a number of advantages. This torpedo was put into service not long ago, and in the near future it should enter the arsenals of the navy and be included in the ammunition load of the newest nuclear submarines.