Yu-7 torpedo

The Yu-7 (Chinese: 鱼-7; pinyin: yú-7; lit.: 'fish 7' as the Chinese word for torpedo is 鱼雷 or "fish bomb") is a lightweight torpedo developed by the People's Republic of China. It entered service in the 1990s as the principle 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
TypeLightweight torpedo
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In serviceEarly 1990s
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Navy
Production history
Designer705th Research Institute China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation
Northwestern Polytechnical University[1]
Designed1980s[1]
Specifications
Mass235 kg (518 lb)[1]
Length2.7 m (8.9 ft)[1]
Diameter324 mm (12.8 in)
Effective firing range14.1 km (7.6 nmi)[1]
Warheadhigh explosive
Warhead weight45 kg (99 lb) shaped charge[1]
PropellantOtto fuel II[1]
Maximum depth400 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

Development 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

The 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

The Yu-7 entered service in the 1990s.[1]

Yu-11

The 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]

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See also

References
  1. "Undersea dragon: Chinese ASW capabilities advance" (PDF). Jane's. 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
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