Guide-to-heavyweight-533mm-torpedoes
Covert Shores Guide
World Heavyweight Torpedoes
This article will cover contemporary heavyweight (533mm / 21”) torpedoes. It will be extensive but not necessarily exhaustive. If you do not see the torpedo you are looking for, please try back at a later date.
Mk-48 ADCAP, US
The Mk-48 was one of the first western torpedoes designed to counter extra-fast deep diving submarines such as the Alfa Class. It was also designed to operate under the ice cap and, generally, in a wider envelope than most torpedoes. As torpedoes generally improve, the Mk-48 stays in the top tier with the upgraded ADCAP (Advanced Capability) version. This has improved situational awareness.
Mk-48 ADCAP specifications (Estimated where necessary - reported data is vastly understated)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 5.79 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: > 25 nautical miles
Speed: 55 kt reported, probably higher
Max Depth: ++
Warhead: 295 kg
Propulsion: Thermal driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
Comparison of original Mk48 (left) and the ADCAP (right)
Spearfish, UK
Generally on a par with the US Navy’s Mk-48 ADCAP, the Spearfish was designed to tackle similar Russian (then Soviet) high-performance submarines. The two weapons have their own pros and cons.
A prototype of the next-generation Spearfish Mod-1 has been tested. The Mod-1 incorporates a single-fuel thermal motor and an insensitive warhead to improve safety.
Spearfish Mod-0 specifications (Estimated where necessary - reported data is vastly understated)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 7 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: > 27 nautical miles
Speed: 80 kt reported (might be exagerated)
Max Depth: +++
Warhead: 295 kg
Propulsion: Thermal (HAP / Otto fuel II) driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
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UGST / UGST-M, Russia
The Universal deepwater homing torpedo (UGST), aka physicist, is the main 533mm torpedo for Russian submarines.
UGST specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 7.02 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: 13.5 nm @ 50 kt or 27 nm @ 40 kt
Speed: 50 knots
Max Depth: 500 m
Warhead: ~300 kg
Propulsion: Thermal driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
The improved UGST-M (aka Case) has is visibly distinct with a redesigned propulsor and fins.
UET-1, Russia
Latest generation electric heavyweight torpedo for Russian Navy submarines.
Type 89B, Japan
The submarine launched Type-89B is seen as the Japanese equivalent of the Mk-48.
Type 89B specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 6.25 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: 27 nm at 40 kt, 21 nm at 55 kt
Speed: Est 70 knots
Max Depth: 900 m
Warhead: 267 kg
Propulsion: Thermal (Otto fuel II) driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
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Torped-62, Sweden
The main weapon in swedish service is the 533mm (21”) Torped-62 heavyweight torpedo (HWT). It is wire guided and can track and classify several targets simultaneously. It has four times the range of the older Type-613. An export model has been marketed as Torpedo 2000 but is now referred to by Saab simply as the Heavyweight Torpedo (HWT).
Torped-62 specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 5.99 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: 22 nm
Speed: 40+ knots
Max Depth:
Warhead:
Propulsion: Hydrogen peroxide and kerosene driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
F21 Artémis, France
The F21 represents France’s answer to the all-electric trend. Its performance approaches that of thermal torpedoes. It is carried by French Navy submarines and has been exported to Brazil. The first production batches were delivered in 2020.
F21 specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 6 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: 27+ nm
Speed: 50+ knots
Max Depth: 500 m (also reportd as 1000 m)
Warhead:
Propulsion: Electric (silver oxide-aluminium (AgO-Al) sea-water battery)
Main guidence: Wire-guided
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Black Shark Advanced (BSA), Italy
The Black Shark Advanced (Nuovo Siluro Pesante) is a new future torpedo for the Italian Navy’s Type 212 Todaro-class submarines.
An interesting feature is that the rechargable batteries can be optimized for training as well as combat. This allows them to be launched many more times in training up to 100 times. Generally, the more test launches during training, the better the success rate should be.
Black Shark Advanced (BSA) specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 6.3 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed: 50 kt
Max Depth:
Warhead: 350 kg
Propulsion: Electic (Lithium polymer battery) driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
DM2A4 Seehecht (/Sea Hake), Germany
DM2A4 Seehecht specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 6.6 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed: 50 kt
Max Depth: 300 m
Warhead: 260 kg of plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) warhead with proximity and contact fuses
Propulsion: Electic (silver-zinc oxide battery) driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
Tiger Shark, South Korea
The new heavyweight torpedo, reportedly named Tiger Shark, is LIG Nex1’s follow-up to their current White Shark ( K731 Baek Sang Eo) type. Unlike the earlier model it is wire guided and uses lithium-ion battery technology. The project has been de-risked by leveraging research and development for the Blue Shark (K745 Chung Sang Eo) lightweight torpedo. Service entry is expected in 2020.
Tiger specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length: 7.1 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed:
Max Depth: 300 m
Warhead: 260 kg of plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) warhead with magnetic influence and contact fuses
Propulsion: Electic (Lithium-Ion battery) driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
Shakti, India
India is also developing a wire-guided thermal torpedo with mono-propellant for submarines.
Shakti specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length:
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed: 60+ knots
Max Depth: 600 m
Warhead:
Propulsion: 400kw thermal driving a pumpjet
Main guidence: Wire-guided
Varunastra, India
Varunastra is an indigenous torpedo intended service aboard surface ships. It is unclear if a variant will be carried aboard submarines. It is a dual purpose weapon which can home in on surface and subsurface targets.
It was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018. An intial order of 63 units has been placed.
Varunastra specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length:
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: 22 nautical miles
Speed: 40 knots
Max Depth:
Warhead:
Propulsion: Electric
Main guidence: Autonomous
Takshak, India
India is also developing a dual purpose electric torpedo for both warships and submarines. It will likely superceed both the Shakti and Varunastra.
AKYA, Turkey
Turkey’s indigenous heavyweight torpedo being developred by Aselsan.
AKYA specifications (As reported)
Mode: Dual-purpose
Length:
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed:
Max Depth:
Warhead:
Propulsion:
Main guidence: Wire-guided
YT-534-UW1 Valfajr, Iran
An Iranian development of the North Korean PT-97W design, this is fielded by Iran’s indigenous submarines. Serial production started in 2015.
YT-534-UW1 specifications (As reported)
Mode: Anti-ship
Length: 8 m
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range: ~8 nautical miles
Speed:
Max Depth:
Warhead: 225 kg
Propulsion: Electric
Main guidence: Autonomous, wake homing
CHT-02D, North Korea
The CHT-02D superseded the interim PT-97W in the 2000s. A moderately sophisticated weapon, it is short ranged and does not have wire guidance. It can however be effective. It is best known as the torpedo used by a North Korean MS-29 Yono Class midget submarine to sink a South Korean corvette. On March 26 2010 the ROKS Cheonan was broken in half by a single explosion under its keel.
CHT-02D specifications (As reported)
Mode: Anti-ship
Length:
Diameter: 533mm (21”)
Range:
Speed:
Max Depth:
Warhead:
Propulsion: Electric
Main guidence: Autonomous
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