Russia new wonder weapon?

[Yef]

More about the squall:


"The Shkval is a 6,000-pound rocket torpedo, about 27 feet long with a range of about 7,500 yards. It can fly through the water at more than 230 miles an hour.

The solid-rocket-propelled "torpedo" achieves this high speed by producing a high-pressure stream of bubbles from its nose and skin, which coats the weapon in a thin layer of gas. The Shkval flies underwater inside a giant "envelope" of gas bubbles in a process called "supercavitation."

The Shkval is so fast that it is guided by an autopilot rather than by a homing head as on most torpedoes. The original Shkval was designed to carry a tactical nuclear warhead detonated by a simple timer clock. However, the Russians recently began advertising a homing Version, which runs out at very high speed, then slows to search for its target.

"As there are no known countermeasures to such a weapon," stated David Miler in an April 1995 article "Supercavitation Going to War in a Bubble" (Jane's Intelligence Review), "its development could have significant effect on future maritime operations, both surface and subsurface, and could put Western naval forces at a considerable disadvantage."

Scientific American reports that China has purchased around 40 Shkval torpedoes from Kazakstan, "raising the possibility that Beijing could threaten American naval forces in a future confrontation in the Taiwan Strait." The magazine also says that a Chinese submarine officer was on board the ill-fated Kursk "to observe the test of the new Version of the Shkval."

[Atrocities]

Is this not the same new torpedo that blew up one of their subs a few years back?

*edit*

Missed this so ya it was.

" the ill-fated Kursk"

[ April 05, 2004, 12:34: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Yef]

Scientific American reports that China has purchased around 40 Shkval torpedoes from Kazakstan,

Hey, I didn't know Kazajstan had a navy!
The Caspian Sea Navy, perhaps?

[Puke]

I read about those a few years back, but they had supprising little press coverage. really cool stuff!

[EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro]

If cavitation is making prop noise, then super cavitation is making lotsa prop noise. I always thought that was bad in sub warfare. Isn't that why the U.S. finally invented swim out torpedoes to reduce the noise during launch? So I guess the Russians assume that with a 200 mph torpedo, enemy subs won't have time to even notice. That really is more impressive then a maneuvorable re-entry vehicle for an ICBM.

Speaking of ICBM's, why doesn't someone make a heated toilet seat!

[Timstone]

Originally posted by EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro:
Speaking of ICBM's, why doesn't someone make a heated toilet seat!

I had one of those warmed toiletseats. Man, that was GREAT!!! Untill it broke.
My GF sometimes yelled at me because I was in the little room far too long to be healthy. She actually was concerned some times.

[Atrocities]

Now what would China and Russa want with such obviously offensive weapons? Are they looking for a war? Well if we went to war with China that would be interesting. Fighting against copy cats of our own military weapons. I wonder how reliable those are. I mean since most copy cat crap from China sux arse horribly, I have to wonder if their copy cat of the F-14 will fly and if so how well. I wonder if their Version of the Hummer is an H2 or a real hummer copy?