5 ms·
In the case of the Soviet Va-111 Shkval, the intent was to fire the supercavitating torpedo at the enemy after the enemy already fired at you.
by bigbubba 6y ago
In the case of the Soviet Va-111 Shkval, the intent was to fire the supercavitating torpedo at the enemy after the enemy already fired at you.
- HarryHirsch 6y agoMutually assured destruction then.
- sawjet 6y agoMany torpedoes are wire-guided. Using a fast, loud torpedo as a counter attack will make the enemy strongly consider cutting those wires and immediately changing course in effort to save themselves.
- evgen 6y agoWire-guided to get into the kill box, but once you cut the wires and the torpedo goes to active homing it is going to have a nice path to project back to the launch platform. Fixing this problem is just a software upgrade to the guidance package on a torpedo I would think.
- bigbubba 6y agoIn addition to what sawjet mentioned with wire guided torpedos, I think they might also have hoped for the nuclear warhead the VA-111s originally had to destroy the incoming torpedo. By being particularly fast, the supercavitating torpedo may have intercepted the enemy torpedo soon enough for that to work.. maybe.