This Russian Torpedo Could Spell Trouble For US Carriers

[william]

It is a successor to the 1970’s Shkval (Russian for ‘Squall’), which has an impressive speed of over 200 knots. However, it has range of less than ten miles. However, a new Russian torpedo is likely to see the Shkval’s defects remedied. The Khishchnik ("Predator") is a new supercavitating torpedo at an advanced stage of development. Unlike various supposed superweapons which they boast about publicly, the Russians are keeping very quiet about Predator.

Russia has long been the leader in supercavitating weapons. These include the bullets fired by the APS underwater assault rifle, effective at a range of thirty meters underwater – several times greater than any other firearm.

Western efforts to copy Russian supercavitating technology have not so far been successful. The US Navy’s supercavitating torpedo project has been on hold since 2012. (who was in power in 2012)

This crazy fast Russian torpedo could spell trouble for US carriers

It's called the "Predator."

www.businessinsider.com

 

[william]

Supercavitaing Torpedoes: A Threat from Russia the U.S. Navy Needs to Take Seriously?

Russia's Shkval supercavitating torpedo reportedly reaches speeds of 230 miles per hour, four times faster than most legacy torpedoes

www.19fortyfive.com

Supercavitating Torpedoes: What We Know​

Russia’s VA-111 Shkval is a supercavitating torpedo reported by Russian press to achieve speed of 230 miles per hour, a speed more than four times speeds listed for most legacy torpedoes which travel anywhere from 28 to 48 Mph. The speed differential, therefore, is massive and therefore something likely to increase the risks posed to major US Navy surface ships and submarines seeking to elude detection.

The Threat​

The Shkval’s range is concerning as well, as it is listed at 7,000 meters, which amounts for more than 4 miles, creating a distance and speed of attack likely to massively change the threat equation for US Navy submarines and ships.

Also, one is quite likely to wonder if the US Navy itself has a supercavitating torpedo. The answer is unclear. While some open source reports claim they exist, others say they have not been deployed if they do exist, so there simply is not enough reliable information to confirm one way or the other.

 

[ZedBoy]

Super cute tbh.

 

[Ruffinput]

Does it work ?

 

[Totality 🇺🇦 🇮🇱]

Does it work ?

Probably not.

 

[ZedBoy]

Hopefully it does. If it does they stole it off someone (initial design) so we know someone has something better

 

[Friendly Engineer]

The thing is though, let's say Russia & the US are duking out with their navies.
In all likelihood, tactical nukes would come into that fight. A single tactical nuke could destroy an entire carrier strike group.
Honestly, I don't think this torpedo changes the balance of power that much.

 

[Publius]

The thing is though, let's say Russia & the US are duking out with their navies.
In all likelihood, tactical nukes would come into that fight. A single tactical nuke could destroy an entire carrier strike group.
Honestly, I don't think this torpedo changes the balance of power that much.

I disagree that it would automatically be presumed that a navel conflict between between Russia and US would presumably go tactical.

There is no gain for either unless one of them is really at the brink of total collapse.
Russia doesn’t gain by using nukes tactically against a CSG because it will almost positively generate one or more land based strikes on Russia. Say Murmansk or Vladivostok. Disable Vladivostok and a few other ports in Russias east coast and they have lost all navel presence in the Pacific, Bering Sea and E Arctic.

And the same is true of the US only the US simply does not need tactical nukes to decimate Russias surface fleet.
Neither benefits from escalating to nukes in a surface sea battle.
Russia is relegated to playing cat and mouse navel conflict if and when they and US ever engage in ocean conflict.
The US would basically be constrained to a containment strategy with Russias surface navy. Because decimating their fleet could provoke a desperate reaction.
War planners don’t just plan to Wipe out an enemy today. Their possible response is always factored in to the planning goals. Or at least they should be. Or their not even playing checkers let alone chess or Go.

 

[Totality 🇺🇦 🇮🇱]

Hopefully it does. If it does they stole it off someone (initial design) so we know someone has something better

Oh yeah Russia and China for the most part steal intellectual property from the West. That is definitely not a secret. Espionage is still a very real thing but nowadays it's almost all entirly theft of intellectual property/designs of technology.

Boring and doesn't make good movie material I know.

 

[Totality 🇺🇦 🇮🇱]

In all likelihood, tactical nukes would come into that fight.

110%. Once one side starts to lose (russia) they will have no choice but to level the playing field with a tactical nuke which is also not seen as a major escalation in the Russians eyes. Anyone who thinks that a hot/major fight between two major nuclear powers doesn't go nuclear once one side starts to lose is fooling themselves. That's what the tactical nukes are literally designed for.

Russia can't ever hope to stand on its feet in a fight against the West. Once they start to lose they have to use tactical nukes. It's why they have so many more tactical nukes than us. That's why they don't see tactical nukes as a major escalation. It's their only card they have to play facing the vast Western capable, advanced, and tested militaries.

 

[Publius]

110%. Once one side starts to lose (russia) they will have no choice but to level the playing field with a tactical nuke which is also not seen as a major escalation in the Russians eyes. Anyone who thinks that a hot/major fight between two major nuclear powers doesn't go nuclear once one side starts to lose is fooling themselves. That's what the tactical nukes are literally designed for.

Russia can't ever hope to stand on its feet in a fight against the West. Once they start to lose they have to use tactical nukes. It's why they have so many more tactical nukes than us. That's why they don't see tactical nukes as a major escalation. It's their only card they have to play.

And that is why any actions taken by the US against the Russian surface fleet will always be very circumspect.
It not so much about the worst case scenario of each sides actions. But the likely scenario each side will pursue.
Yes the US navy could back Russias navy into a corner and provoke a tactical reaction .
But would they? This goes into the mix just as much as what the worst case response might be.

Their is a killer asteroid heading for earth. Is it likely to strike in the next five years, likely not.