Monday, July 26, 2021

No One Can Match Russia’s 200-Knot Shkval Torpedo

Russian submarines are equipped with Shkval torpedoes that are capable of traveling at an inconceivable speed for underwater equipment — up to 375 kph. Credit: Handout.  

Asia Times: No match for Russia’s 200-knot Shkval torpedo  

Powered by a rocket engine, the supercavitating projectile is capable of astonishing speeds and a maximum range of 7,500 yards  

One of the most innovative underwater weapons developed by the Soviet Union was the VA-111 Shkval (“Squall”) supercavitating torpedo, a weapon that is coming back into view as US-Russia tensions ramp up in a new competitive age. 

Forget the Red October, first strike Soviet submarine from the movie of the same name — this was a torpedo that could suddenly go six times faster than its predecessors. 

Highly classified, Shkval was virtually unknown before the end of the Cold War and only became common knowledge in the mid-1990s, according to a report by Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest. 

Powered by a rocket engine, it is capable of astonishing speeds of up to 200 knots an hour and boasts a maximum range of 7,500 yards.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: This torpedo and the technology behind it is probably one of Russia's most deeply guarded military secrets.

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 26, 2021 at 8:01 AM

    Or as Jac said.. Russians are always late with stuff lol

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  2. Dave GoldsteinJuly 26, 2021 at 8:52 AM

    Until it blows the nose off of your sub. fast but dangerous

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  3. AnonymousJuly 26, 2021 at 9:34 AM

    BS? Pulling a Saddam?

    Gases could envelope a torpedo partially or completely reducing drag. Gases would be hot, so how to route them. If you have the weight and substract of war head, guidance, wrapper, motor, you get the fuel load. You could narrow a range of of fuels that could fit the envelope of speed and range.

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  4. Bert BertJuly 26, 2021 at 10:15 AM

    I thought the technology was ultrasonic vibrations to create cavitation around the torpedo and reduce drag.

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  5. AnonymousJuly 26, 2021 at 11:16 AM

    https://patents.google.com/patent/US4429652A/en

    Bert Bert is right.

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  6. AnonymousJuly 26, 2021 at 11:19 AM

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercavitating_torpedo

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 27, 2021 at 9:26 AM

    I heard of cavitation before it's not that new.. but the speeds of this torpedo even with cavitation is impressive..
    The room ahead to be cleared for this speed must be quite something .. even if it's just half a meter or likely less.. it's craaaaazy .. would love to see it on action.. ideally during a joint training exercise lol

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