The Yu-7 (Chinese: 鱼-7; pinyin: yú-7; lit. 'fish 7'; from Chinese: 鱼雷; lit. 'fish bomb', meaning ‘torpedo’) is a lightweight torpedo developed by the People's Republic of China. It entered service in the 1990s as the principal anti-submarine weapon of major People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships. The Yu-7 is a derivative of the Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei (WASS) A244/S torpedo.[1]
| Yu-7 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Type | Lightweight ASW torpedo |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | Early 1990s |
| Used by | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation |
| Designed | 1980s[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 235 kg (518 lb)[1] |
| Length | 2.7 m (8.9 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 324 mm (12.8 in) |
| Effective firing range | 14.1 km (7.6 nmi)[1] |
| Warhead | high explosive |
| Warhead weight | 45 kg (99 lb) shaped charge[1] |
| Propellant | Otto fuel II[1] |
| Maximum depth | 400 m (1,300 ft)[1] |
| Maximum speed | >45 kn (83 km/h)[1] |
Guidance system | active / passive acoustic homing |
Steering system | CIACIO-S seeker[1] |
Launch platform | Surface ships Helicopters |
Development
editDevelopment of an effective lightweight anti-submarine (ASW) torpedo for the PLAN began in the 1980s. The program was probably based on 40 A244/S torpedoes purchased for evaluation from Italy in 1987. Additional technology may have been reverse engineered from a United States Mark 46 Mod 2 torpedo recovered from the South China Sea in 1978 by Chinese fishermen. The torpedo was initially equipped with electric propulsion, but inadequate performance led to a redesign powered by Otto fuel II. Testing was carried out at the 750 Testing Range in Kunming up to 1988.[1]
Description
editThe Yu-7 has contrarotating propellers. Aboard surface warships, it is fired from Type 7424 tripled 324 mm torpedo launchers; these are copies or derivatives of the WASS B515/ILAS-3.[1]
Deployment
editThe Yu-7 entered service in the 1990s.[1]
Yu-11
editThe Yu-11 (Chinese: 鱼-11; pinyin: yú-11; lit. 'fish 11') is the successor to the Yu-7. It was first publicly identified in July 2015. The major improvement appears to be the pump-jet propulsor. The Yu-11 torpedo is quieter and may potentially operate at depths greater than 600 metres. The Yu-11 is longer, at three metres, and heavier than the Yu-7.[1]
The Yu-11 is likely to become the standard PLAN lightweight torpedo and may have started equipping modern PLAN warships since 2012.[1]
See also
edit- Export torpedoes of China
- APR-3E torpedo - Russian equivalent
- A244-S - Italian equivalent
- Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo - US Navy's equivalent
- MU90 Impact - French/Italian equivalent
- Sting Ray (torpedo) - British equivalent
- TAL Shyena - Indian equivalent
- K745 Chung Sang Eo - South Korean equivalent
- Type 97 light weight torpedo (G-RX4) - Japanese equivalent