Yu-5 torpedo
Encyclopedia
Yu-5 torpedo is the first wire-guided torpedo developed by China. It is an ASW
torpedo designed for conventional diesel-electric submarine
s. It is often erroneously referred as the Chinese copy of Soviet TEST-71 torpedo, which is completely wrong because the Soviet torpedo was developed in 1971 and its successor TEST-71MKE was developed in 1977, at the worst time of Sino-Soviet split
. With Yu-5 entering Chinese service in 1989, it was simply impossible to acquire any technologies of Soviet TEST-71 torpedo, which was not purchased by China
until 1993, four years after the Yu-5 torpedo had already entered service.
China had begun to explore the wire guidance technology for torpedoes in the early 1960’s but due to the political turmoil in China, the research stopped like many other Chinese research programs. With the progress of Yu-3 torpedo
developmental program, Chinese military realized that an ASW
torpedo was needed for its conventional diesel-electric submarine
fleet in addition to the ASuW
torpedo under development (Yu-4 torpedo
). As a result, Yu-5 torpedo was developed, and it was decided to utilize the wire guidance technology.
The development of Yu-5 torpedo begun around the same time of Yu-4 torpedo
in the early 1970’s, but due to the backward of the Chinese technological and industrial base, the initial tests of wire guidance was carried out by using steel wire instead of copper wire, just like when it was done more than a decade ago in the late 1950’s. The propulsion development of Yu-5 torpedo benefited greatly from the US Mark 46 torpedo
recovered by the Chinese fishermen for the Otto fuel II
research and then some technological supports for license production of Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
in China of the 1985 deal signed between two countries. Other unconfirmed reports have claimed that during the development of Yu-5 torpedo, advanced American and Japanese commercial off-the-shelf
technologies at the time were used, and incorporating these advanced commercial technologies was part of the reason of the prolonged development, which lasted almost two decades. In fact, Yu-5 torpedo program started around the same time with Yu-4 torpedo
program but the latter was completed earlier. Another reason for the prolonged development was the Yu-5 was used as a test vehicle for newer technologies for later torpedoes such as the Yu-6 torpedo
, for example, optical fiber
wire guidance had been tested on Yu-5 torpedo since 1986 (However, although the tests were considered somewhat satisfactory, it was not adopted for Yu-5 torpedo, which used the traditional copper wire). The Yu-5 torpedo was finally accepted into the service in 1989 and the series production begun the next year in 1990. The torpedo is initially guided by wire guidance for most of the time, and at the final stage, the guidance is changed to active / passive acoustic homing guidance,and the active / passive acoustic homing guidance would also automatically kicks in when the wire is accidentally severed before the final stage.
capability, updated electronics, and capability of being able to be used as part of CAPTOR mine
type mine system.
Specification:
Specification:
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
torpedo designed for conventional diesel-electric submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s. It is often erroneously referred as the Chinese copy of Soviet TEST-71 torpedo, which is completely wrong because the Soviet torpedo was developed in 1971 and its successor TEST-71MKE was developed in 1977, at the worst time of Sino-Soviet split
Sino-Soviet split
In political science, the term Sino–Soviet split denotes the worsening of political and ideologic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the Cold War...
. With Yu-5 entering Chinese service in 1989, it was simply impossible to acquire any technologies of Soviet TEST-71 torpedo, which was not purchased by China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
until 1993, four years after the Yu-5 torpedo had already entered service.
China had begun to explore the wire guidance technology for torpedoes in the early 1960’s but due to the political turmoil in China, the research stopped like many other Chinese research programs. With the progress of Yu-3 torpedo
Yu-3 torpedo
The Yu-3 is a Chinese acoustic homing torpedo designed to be fired from submarines against surface targets. It entered service with the Chinese Navy in 1984. Several sources state that it may be a copy of the Soviet SET-65E, although this seems unlikely as development began in 1965 after the...
developmental program, Chinese military realized that an ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
torpedo was needed for its conventional diesel-electric submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
fleet in addition to the ASuW
ASUW
ASUW may refer to:*Associated Students of the University of Washington*Associated Students of the University of Wyoming*Anti-Surface Warfare...
torpedo under development (Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo is the Chinese development of the Russian SAET-50 ASuW passive acoustic homing torpedo, and it is the Russian SAET-50 torpedo incorporating active acoustic homing guidance...
). As a result, Yu-5 torpedo was developed, and it was decided to utilize the wire guidance technology.
The development of Yu-5 torpedo begun around the same time of Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo is the Chinese development of the Russian SAET-50 ASuW passive acoustic homing torpedo, and it is the Russian SAET-50 torpedo incorporating active acoustic homing guidance...
in the early 1970’s, but due to the backward of the Chinese technological and industrial base, the initial tests of wire guidance was carried out by using steel wire instead of copper wire, just like when it was done more than a decade ago in the late 1950’s. The propulsion development of Yu-5 torpedo benefited greatly from the US Mark 46 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
recovered by the Chinese fishermen for the Otto fuel II
Otto fuel II
Otto fuel II is a monopropellant used to drive torpedoes and other weapon systems. It is not related to the Otto cycle.-Properties:This distinct-smelling, reddish-orange, oily liquid is a mixture of three synthetic substances: propylene glycol dinitrate , 2-nitrodiphenylamine, and dibutyl...
research and then some technological supports for license production of Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
in China of the 1985 deal signed between two countries. Other unconfirmed reports have claimed that during the development of Yu-5 torpedo, advanced American and Japanese commercial off-the-shelf
Commercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
technologies at the time were used, and incorporating these advanced commercial technologies was part of the reason of the prolonged development, which lasted almost two decades. In fact, Yu-5 torpedo program started around the same time with Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo
Yu-4 torpedo is the Chinese development of the Russian SAET-50 ASuW passive acoustic homing torpedo, and it is the Russian SAET-50 torpedo incorporating active acoustic homing guidance...
program but the latter was completed earlier. Another reason for the prolonged development was the Yu-5 was used as a test vehicle for newer technologies for later torpedoes such as the Yu-6 torpedo
Yu-6 torpedo
Yu-6 torpedo is the Chinese equivalent of the Mark 48 torpedo. In addition to wire and active / passive homing guidance, wake homing guidance is also incorporated. Many domestic Chinese sources have claimed that Yu-6 torpedo is in the same class as the Mk 48 Mod...
, for example, optical fiber
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
wire guidance had been tested on Yu-5 torpedo since 1986 (However, although the tests were considered somewhat satisfactory, it was not adopted for Yu-5 torpedo, which used the traditional copper wire). The Yu-5 torpedo was finally accepted into the service in 1989 and the series production begun the next year in 1990. The torpedo is initially guided by wire guidance for most of the time, and at the final stage, the guidance is changed to active / passive acoustic homing guidance,and the active / passive acoustic homing guidance would also automatically kicks in when the wire is accidentally severed before the final stage.
Specification
- Diameter: 533 mm
- Length: 7.8 m
- Warhead: 400 kgKilogramThe kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
- Guidance: active / passive acoustic homing + wire guidance
- Propulsion: Otto fuel IIOtto fuel IIOtto fuel II is a monopropellant used to drive torpedoes and other weapon systems. It is not related to the Otto cycle.-Properties:This distinct-smelling, reddish-orange, oily liquid is a mixture of three synthetic substances: propylene glycol dinitrate , 2-nitrodiphenylamine, and dibutyl...
- Range: Up to 30 km @ 50 knots (98 km/h)
- Speed: Up to 50 knots (98 km/h)
- Depth: > 400 m
Modifications
At least two modifications of Yu-5 torpedo have been completed since it was accepted into the Chinese service, with one completed in the summer of 1995, and another in 1998. However, due to the very limited information released, it is not known what modification was completed in which year. The modifications included incorporation of ASuWASUW
ASUW may refer to:*Associated Students of the University of Washington*Associated Students of the University of Wyoming*Anti-Surface Warfare...
capability, updated electronics, and capability of being able to be used as part of CAPTOR mine
CAPTOR mine
The CAPTOR is the United States Navy's primary anti-submarine naval mine. This deep-water mine is laid by ship, aircraft or submarine, and is anchored to the ocean floor. When its sonar detects a hostile submarine, the CAPTOR launches a Mark 46 torpedo.The name CAPTOR is short for enCAPsulated...
type mine system.
ET34
ET34 torpedo is one of the two derivatives of Yu-5 torpedo, with the other being ET36. Both ET34 and ET36 are electrically powered with silver zinc batteries, as opposed to the original Otto fuel, and both are shorter than Yu-torpedo, with shorter range. ET34 torpedo has a counter-rotating permanent magnet DC motor, and it is reported to be the first Chinese homing torpedo with selectable speed/range.Specification:
- Diameter: 533 mm
- Length: 6.6 m
- Guidance: active / passive acoustic homing + wire guidance
- Propulsion: electrical (silver zinc battery)
- Range: 18 km @ 42 knots (82.3 km/h), 20 km @ 40 knots (78.4 km/h) and 25 km @ mixed speed
- Speed: 40 or 42 knots (82.3 km/h)
- Depth: > 300 m
ET36
ET36 torpedo is one of the two derivatives of Yu-5 torpedo, with the other being ET34. Both ET34 and ET36 are electrically powered with silver zinc batteries, as opposed to the original Otto fuel, and both are shorter than Yu-torpedo, with shorter range. Most components are shared commonly by ET34 and ET36, with the latter has a bigger warhead at the cost of reduced range, and like ET34, ET36 has selectable speed/range.Specification:
- Diameter: 533 mm
- Length: 6.6 m
- Guidance: active / passive acoustic homing + wire guidance
- Propulsion: electrical (silver zinc battery)
- Range: 25 km @ 25 knots (49 km/h), 10 km @ 36 knots (70.6 km/h), 18 to 20 km @ mixed speed
- Speed: 18 to 36 knots (70.6 km/h)
- Depth: > 300 m