Superkavitierender Unterwasserlaufkörper

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Superkavitierender Unterwasserlaufkörper - Wikipedia

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Superkavitierender Unterwasserlaufkörper lit. Supercavitating Underwater Running Body Formerly known as Barracuda

Type	Supercavitating torpedo
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	Prototype-only
Production history
Designer	Diehl BGT Defence (now Diehl Defence)
Designed	2005
No. built	~12^[1]
Specifications

Engine	Rocket engine
Propellant	Solid fuel^[1]
Maximum speed	400 km/h (250 mph; 220 kn)^[1]
Guidance system	Inertial measurement unit (IMU),^[1] sonar^[2]
Steering system	Actuator-based conical tip^[1]
Launch platform	Submarines, surface vessels^[1]

The Superkavitierender Unterwasserlaufkörper (lit. Supercavitating Underwater Running Body, formerly known as Barracuda) was a German close-range supercavitating torpedo technology demonstrator^[1] designed by the Diehl BGT Defence (now Diehl Defence) and developed in cooperation with the German Navy. The supercavitating torpedo for a "close-range defense of underwater targets"^[1] was presented to the public in 2005 as a prototype, but it never went into development and procurement.^[3]

This form of torpedo solves the problem of high underwater drag by means of the supercavitation effect,^[1]^[3] where underwater at a velocity of around 180 km/h (110 mph; 97 kn) a cavity filled with steam surrounds the moving object.^[3] Only the tip is in contact with the water,^[3] as such the frictional resistance is greatly reduced.^[3] The propulsion of such a torpedo can no longer be done by a propeller but requires a rocket engine.

Guidance is based on an inertial measurement unit (IMU)^[1] and a sonar antenna array integrated into the structure of the cavitation-forming conical tip located in the head section of the torpedo.^[2] Steering is performed by an autopilot that pivots this conical tip using actuators.^[1]^[2]

If the torpedo rises or falls, the water pressure acting on it also changes, and the cavitation bubble changes. When sinking, the water pressure increases and the bubble is compressed; when the torpedo rises, the pressure drops and the bubble gets bigger. To maintain the integrity of the bubble in response to increasing water pressure, the torpedo begins to pump a greater volume of gas.^{[citation needed]}

According to the manufacturer, the torpedo reaches a speed of over 400 km/h (250 mph; 220 kn) underwater.^[1] It is not dependent on the launch from submarines but can dive into the water from the air and continue its supercavitation trip from there.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l "Präzise Wirkung gegen Seeziele" [Accurate action against sea targets]. Diehl BGT Defence (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-08-25.
^ ^a ^b ^c Слюсар, В.И. (2009). Электроника в борьбе с терроризмом: защита гаваней. Часть 2 [Electronics in the fight against terrorism. Part 2] (PDF). Электроника: наука, технология, бизнес (in Ukrainian) (6): 90–95. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Hegmann, Gerhard (2016-07-03). "In unter einer Stunde den Atlantik durchqueren?" [In less than an hour across the Atlantic?]. DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-03.

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