Technology and Operations
This forum is for discussing technological & operational matters pertaining to U-boats.
Re: Torpedo Launching
Posted by:
ROBERT M.
()
Date: November 02, 2003 05:11PM
Steve:
That torpedo tube was the MK 45 using the "slide-valve" to introduce the pressurized seawater into the tube. The fleet boats used MK 32 to Mk 39 torpedo tubes with compressed air and the poppet-valve system to
vent the impulse air back into the poppet-valve drain tank.
The new VIRGINIA (SSN-774) class boats utilize a "water-balloon"
arrangement to launch their tube-loaded weapons. Click on:
[www.fas.org] balloon.htm to see
how things have changed.
Cheers,
ROBERT M.
That torpedo tube was the MK 45 using the "slide-valve" to introduce the pressurized seawater into the tube. The fleet boats used MK 32 to Mk 39 torpedo tubes with compressed air and the poppet-valve system to
vent the impulse air back into the poppet-valve drain tank.
The new VIRGINIA (SSN-774) class boats utilize a "water-balloon"
arrangement to launch their tube-loaded weapons. Click on:
[www.fas.org] balloon.htm to see
how things have changed.
Cheers,
ROBERT M.