“The announcement of the SLWT delivery was subtly made within the information that Sweden would support Ukraine with a weapons package worth $680 million. This includes, among other items, swift CB90 (Combat Boat 90) boats and ‘underwater’ weaponry…Ukrainian sources infer that the aforementioned ‘underwater weapon’ refers to the Torpedo 47.”
Torpedo 47 (Torped 47):
Torpedo 47 is considerably different from the lightweight torpedoes used by the US Navy. It is:
- Wire Guided
- Intended to use against surface vessels as well as submarines
- Powered by a rechargeable battery
- Larger and heavier that USN lightweight torpedoes (340 kg 748 lbs, 400mm 15.7″ in diameter, 2.85m 112″ long, with a 50 kg 110 lb warhead)
Torpedo Employment:
The first thing that comes to mind is how will the torpedoes be employed? Ukraine has no submarines, no large surface combatants, and no helicopters or fixed wing aircraft with anti-submarine sensors.
On the Defense
The MSN article talks primarily about the Torpedo 47 in the context of its use against submarines, and essentially writes off the Russian surface threat. That may be premature.
The Ukrainians are unlikely to be able to find and engage submarines launching long range cruise missiles into Ukraine, but they do want to keep submarines (and surface ships) from attacking merchant ships transiting between the relative safety of Ukrainian ports and Romanian Territorial Waters. The torpedoes may have a role in that.
The package may include some bottom mounted sensors that would allow the Ukrainians to detect submarines approaching their coast and torpedoes could be launched from shore or from small craft directed by controllers ashore.
Torpedoes might be launched from the remaining 110-foot Island class cutters or from the Combat Boat 90s.
On the Offensive
The report suggests the torpedoes might be launched from unmanned surface craft. While this is certainly possible, it would require a new class of larger USVs and controlling a smart torpedo, the torpedo launcher, and the USV gets pretty complicated.
The Russians still have combatants based in Crimea. The Russians are also still apparently attempting to resupply through maritime deliveries to Crimea. Shipping carrying supplies to Crimea may be a target. The warhead is large enough to severely damage or sink the relatively small vessels the Russians seem to be employing for this purpose. There might also be an opportunity to employ the torpedoes in combination with kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vessels. The torpedo would most certainly immobilize or at least slow a target, even if it did not sink it outright. Then additional hit by USVs could insure its sinking.
During WWII the Soviets frequently fired torpedoes into ports to destroy port infrastructure as well as ships in port. These torpedoes might be used against port facilities as well.
These small ships are well adapted to support special forces. They can each transport half a platoon and can be intentionally run aground to discharge troops. They are likely to be used on Ukraine’s river system as well as offshore.
It might not be too difficult to equip them with these lightweight torpedoes.
Hopefully we will hear more about how the torpedoes and CB90s are used.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 