HBDJ-34 series
The HBDJ-34 (Menghean: 화전 발사기 대잠수함, Hwajŏn-Balsagi Dae-Jamsuham, "Rocket-launcher, anti-submarine," 34cm caliber) is a family of anti-submarine weapons similar in design to the HBDJ-21 series. It was designed in Menghe for use by the Menghean Navy. Like the HBDJ-21 family, it originated as an "anti-submarine rocket launcher" or "rocket-propelled depth charge projector," designed to saturate a target area with depth charges as a final line of defense against submarine attacks.
Today, the HBDJ-34/8 is mainly used as a countermeasure against torpedo attacks, as its short range hampers its effectiveness in the anti-submarine role.
Launcher specifications (HBDJ-34/8)
- Weight: 3200 kilograms (empty)
- Caliber: 34 cm
- Barrel length: 260 cm
- Range: 80 to 1,200 meters (H-34DJH and -NS)
- Traverse rate: 30 degrees per second
- Elevation: -15 to +70 degrees when firing, -90 degrees when reloading
Ammunition types
Currently, there are three main ammunition types in service with the HBDJ-34/8 launcher. These are:
- H-34DJH: anti-submarine depth charge with timed (depth) and contact fuses and a 150-kilogram warhead
- H-34NS: homing variant of the H-34DJH with active sonar and a shaped-charge warhead
- H-34ŎD: counter-torpedo decoy. The projectile breaks into two sections in flight, both of which are buoyed at a depth of 5 meters in the water and emit a jamming signal to confuse enemy sonar-guided torpedoes
- H-34DŎ: hardkill torpedo countermeasure. Launched in the path of an incoming torpedo and buoyed at a depth of 10 meters. Explodes when an onboard sonar determines that the torpedo is passing within its effective range. Aims to damage the torpedo's sonar, propeller, or control surfaces.
The armaments division of the Sinsegye Electronics Group is reportedly working on a new hardkill torpedo countermeasure which propels itself within the water like a smaller torpedo and attempts to strike the target torpedo head-on. This would offer a higher probability of kill than the H-34DŎ, especially against heavyweight torpedoes. But it would also require the payload to be launched within a smaller package than other Menghean torpedoes, along with a parachute to soften its impact against the water, both of which will increase reaction time.