Tigershark (torpedo)
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| HT-50 Tigershark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Heavyweight torpedo |
| Place of origin |  Chilokver |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2004–present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Hydronamica Inc. |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,850 kg |
| Length | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Diameter | 533 mm (21.0 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 50 km (27 nmi) |
| Warhead | Aluminised PBX |
| Warhead weight | 300 kg |
| Engine | Contra-rotating direct-drive brushless motor Pump-jet propulsor |
| Propellant | 5x Al-AgO battery modules |
| Maximum depth | >1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Speed | 50 kt |
Guidance system | Active/passive acoustic homing, fiber-optic wire |
Launch platform | Submarine |
The HT-50 Tigershark is the mainstay heavyweight submarine-launched torpedo of the Grand Chilokveri Navy.
Design
The HT-50 Tigershark features a modular design and open architecture software programming, allowing for easier maintenance and upgrades. This also allows for ready incorporation of any new technologies and programs should they become available.
Warhead
The Tigershark carries a 300 kg underwater blast warhead, designed to deliver high amounts of impulse energy into the surrounding water. This creates a large shockwave and gas bubble, either breaking the keel of a ship or compromising the pressure hull of a submarine, ensuring a kill.
The explosive is comprised of granules of solid oxidizer bound with flake powders of nitramine and aluminium in a desensitizing polyurethane binder. Through the addition of an oxygen-enriched compound (oxidizer) and aluminium powder, the duration and blast effect of the detonation is increased. The composition is approximately as follows: 20% HMX explosive, 40% ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, 25% aluminium and 15% Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB). The composition is insensitive and compliant with Chilokveri military standards.
The warhead is triggered by impact fusing in the case of submarines, and magnetic fusing or active sonar for attacks against surface vessels. While still tethered to the submarine, the torpedo may also be remotely detonated manually. Fuses are insensitive and EMP safe.
Guidance
The Tigershark is capable of operating in wire-guided, as well as autonomous acoustic and wake seeking modes. Upon launch, the Tigershark is tethered via fibre optic cable, allowing remote guidance via a high broadband datalink and the submarine's own passive sonar. Terminal guidance is performed by the Tigershark's own transducer array, with a detection range of +/-100° in the horizontal and +/-24° in the vertical. The wide range and sensitivity of the Tigershark's array is designed to reduce maneuvering when in search and reconnaissance stages and therefore reduce self-noise and preserve battery power, as well as providing better performance in cluttered and littoral waters. In the case of surface vessels, a wake homing sensor serves as a fail-safe against acoustic decoys.
A microprocessor with advanced signals processing and mission logic increases the torpedo's resistance to acoustic countermeasures and therefore increases lethality.
Propulsion
The Tigershark is powered by 5 closed-loop Silver Oxide-Aluminium (AgO-Al) primary cell modules, chosen for their high energy/weight ratio. Compared to contemporary torpedoes, the Tigershark and other Al-AgO battery torpedoes have a power density double that of those powered by Silver-Zinc (Ag-Zn) batteries and comparable to those of Otto Fuel II combustion reaction torpedoes, while being far quieter. As with other battery powered torpedoes, there is no loss of performance at greater depths, unlike Otto Fuel II types which must deal with greater exhaust pressure at depth. This results in net gains in both torpedo speed and endurance.
The Al-AgO cells give the torpedo an estimated 12 years shelf life before maintenance is required, though regular inspections are conducted regardless. The Sodium Dioxide (Na2O) electrolyte can be stored separately for increased overall safety.
Training variant
For training purposes, the warhead is replaced with an inert dummy of similar density, while the Al-AgO cells are swapped out for reusable and rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-On) batteries. This allows submarine crews to gain valuable experience in the use of the HT-50 Tigershark without the costs of firing a live weapon.