Swedish Navy Submarines Can Launch Two Torpedoes At The Same Time From A Single Tube

The Gotland Class submarine has two torpedo tubes dedicated to lightweight torpedoes. Each tube can launch two simultaneously. Up to eight torpedoes can be guided at once. H I Sutton (insert Swedish Armed Forces)

Forbes: Swedish Navy Submarines Have A Unique Secret Weapon

Thanks to trials with the U.S. Navy, Sweden’s submarines are famous for being stealthy. This is largely due to their Air-Independent Power (AIP), which allows them to stay submerged for much longer. It is not unique, however, as other countries now operate AIP submarines.

But Swedish Navy submarines have another capability that is unique. As well as regular torpedoes, they carry special lightweight ones. And this is where it gets secretive: they can launch two at the same time from a single tube.

That Swedish submarines use lightweight torpedoes is well documented. The double-tap capability is not. It is known about in some corners of the defense community, but like many topics in underwater warfare it is talked about in hushed tones. Slowly word of this capability has crept out, particularly in Sweden, but it is still virtually unknown. And some details of the capability are still secret.

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WNU Editor: Swedish ingenuity and engineering is always surprising me.