August 24, 2020

Japan's Advanced G-RX7 / Type 18 Heavyweight Torpedo

Hi Annono. Regarding your comment of August 23, 2020:

Thanks for info that the torpedo counter counter measures (TCCM) function of the newest Japanese torpedo designs isn't from American designs because Japan's heavyweight torpedos (HWTs) are much newer and more advanced than the US (and by extension Australian) Mk. 48 HWTs.

Further you advise that Japan basically reverse engineered legally transferred US Mk. 46 lightweight (LWT) torpedo TCCM technology for use in the [up to 2020 current] Type 89 Japanese HWT.

So Japan's G-RX7 (aka Type 18) HWT is replacing the Type 89 HWT.  You advise the G-RX7 represents an upgrade in every way (ie. more advanced TCCM ("based loosely on the Mk. 46"), quieter, and longer range, can hit deep and shallow targets (subs and ships respectively).

So the G-RX7/Type 18 torpedo is "the most advanced large torpedo in the world currently" [Pete Comment: This side of what is known or unknown about Chinese and Russian HWTs and LWTs?]

Japan has quite a history of torpedo advancement [eg. the 24 inch Long Lance/Type 93 torpedo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_93_torpedo ] with tech transfer to Germany in WWII.

Pete Comment

Since Japan is advertizing how good the G-RX7/Type 18 HWT is I'm assuming Japan has transferred this HWT tech to the US?

8 comments:

  1. Nicky8/25/2020 6:14 AM

    Hi pete
    Looks like the royal Thai government just inked a deal with China to buy two more Yuan class SSK's. Here's the link

    B22.5bn sub buy gets nod
    https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1972447/b22-5bn-sub-buy-gets-nod?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pete8/25/2020 5:10 PM

    Thanks Nicky

    The 22.5 Billion Thai Baht = US$715 million total for the final 2 S26T submarines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_039A_submarine#Export . A highly controversial deal as https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1972447/b22-5bn-sub-buy-gets-nod? reveals many in Thailand think the money better spent on COVID-19.

    The sale is cheap by usual new submarine standards - so highly subsidised by China for influence in Thailand.

    The Thai Army, dominant in Thailand's military government, is well aware that the Navy demands high value vessels, including submarines, to stay politically and economically happy.

    Cheers

    Pete

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  3. Anonymous8/26/2020 4:06 PM

    Hi Pete,

    Maybe of interest at least the video in the end of the article, unfortunately they talk in Swedish, but you see the separation tests of the new Saab light weight torpedo in a Gotland class submarine and a Visby class corvette.

    /Kjell

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  4. Pete8/26/2020 6:39 PM

    Hi /Kjell

    Thanks for the article https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktuella-handelser/forsta-separationsskotten-for-torped-47/ with the video on the "Torped" [torpedo] 47 see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torped_47

    I see the Torped 47 is of the unusual "Baltic" 400mm diameter, for ASW and [I would say] the no-larger-than-corvettes (or very small destroyers) of Russia's BALTIC Fleet.

    When Singapore was buying Swedish subs did it consider using 400mm torpedos?

    Regards

    Pete

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  5. Anonymous8/27/2020 4:02 PM

    Hi Pete,

    According to Wikipedia (only in the Swedish edition) Singapore did buy Swedish lightweight torpedoes.

    /Kjell


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  6. Pete8/29/2020 6:59 PM

    Thanks /Kjell

    I assume that even if Pakistani and Singaporean subs had some 400mm tubes at some stages they were retrofitted by Swedish and/or French teams (in Sweden or overseas) into all 533mm tube arrangements.

    Pete

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  7. Anonymous8/30/2020 5:38 PM

    Hi Pete,

    I have copied and translated with help of Google from this link, see below. The Västergötaland class is basis for the Södermanland class and the Archer class with added AIP, and had torpedo-tubes for the lightweight torpedoes. The lightweight torpedoes are the weapon against submarines.

    I can mention that the Saab´s Submarine Seminar is Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 09.00 – 10.00 CET and it will be live-streamed.

    "Sweden's light torpedo development began with Tp42 in the 1970s. It was followed by Tp422 which was developed for the HKP 4 system, it was basically a Tp42 with added wire control and an improved target finder. The next torpedo was Tp431 which was introduced in 1988 for submarine type Västergötland, this took advantage of the experience from the then new heavy torpedo 613 and added more advanced wire control and further improvement of the target finder. The export version of this was called Tp43X0.

    The current torpedo 45 was introduced in 1995 by updating Tp431 with e.g. a brand new target seeker. As early as the beginning of the 2000s, however, a need arose to develop a replacement for Tp45, as the target finder and computer in this were certainly modern, but much of the rest was based on technology from the 70s (Tp42!). Thus, a development project was initiated to produce the next generation 40cm submarine hunting torpedo and this was named Tp46. Unfortunately, the costs for this were considered too high in light of the fact that eternal peace had now finally come to a halt and the project was thus closed, instead Tp45 underwent a minor update / lifetime extension and is now called Tp451.

    Our new light torpedo, which is now in the testing phase, has, as you very rightly point out, the designation Tp47 and is planned to become operational in 2023. Tp47 is completely newly developed from the ground up and will provide a significant performance improvement compared to the current system."

    /Kjell

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  8. Pete8/31/2020 2:10 PM

    Thanks /Kjell

    Cheers

    Pete

    ReplyDelete

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