Wikipedia

A184 torpedo

The A184 is an Italian heavyweight wire-guided torpedo originally developed by Whitehead. It can be launched from surface vessels and submarines and locates the target using an acoustic seeker. The torpedo body is of a standard 21-inch (533 mm) form factor.

A184
TypeHeavyweight dual-purpose ASW and ASuW torpedo
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1974-present
Production history
ManufacturerLeonardo
Specifications
Mass1,265 kg (2,789 lb)
Length6.0 m (19.7 ft)
Diameter533 mm (21.0 in)
WarheadHBX
Warhead weight250 kg (550 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
Impact and proximity
EngineContra-rotating direct-drive brushless motor
PropellantSilver-zinc battery
Operational
range
25 km (13 nmi) low-speed, 10 km (5.4 nmi) high-speed
Maximum speed 24–36 kn (44–67 km/h)
Launch
platform
Surface ships and submarines

Description

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Development began in 1971, pursuant of a staff requirement to replace the earlier G62ef Canguro and Second World War-era G7e, the latter of which remained in production by Whitehead until the early 1970s. The new torpedo incorporated battery propulsion modern to the time period.[1] The A184 prototype was tested in 1973 and the weapon entered service in 1974.[2] The seeker head of the A184 possesses digital active and passive terminal homing using two semicircular arrays, one in the vertical and one in the horizontal plane. The weapon is wire-guided with active and passive sonar capabilities. Launch can be accomplished both by pneumatic catapult and in swim-out mode, dependent on torpedo tube hardware. When used by surface ships, the A184 is launched from aft-facing torpedo tubes.[3] In 1997, development began on a replacement, initially designated as A184 Enhanced. This new weapon would be deployed in 2004 as the Black Shark, featuring numerous improvements such as a transition to fiberoptic wire guidance and lithium-polymer batteries. As of 2024, the older A184 Mod 3 remains in service with some navies due to its lower cost and remains listed as a product by Leonardo.[4] Users of the A184 include the Italian[5] and Ecuadorian navies as of 2024.

In Italian service, the A184 was used on surface ships such as the Audace class destroyers and Maestrale class frigates,[6] as well as submarines such as the Sauro class.[7]

In the late 1980s, the A184 Mod 3 underwent trials with the United States Navy, in a bid for the low-cost Anti-Surface Warfare Torpedo (ASuWT) program. Although it passed trials, the program did not result in its adoption.[8]

Operators

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Torpedo Propulsion: Then, Now, Tomorrow". Naval Sub League. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  2. ^ Friedman, Norman (1991). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 1991/92. United States Naval Institute. p. 697. ISBN 0-87021-288-5.
  3. ^ Friedman, Norman (1991). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 1991/92. United States Naval Institute. p. 700. ISBN 0-87021-288-5.
  4. ^ "A184 mod.3". Leonardo S.p.A. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ "1960-1986; Leonardo Company History". Leonardo S.p.A. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Maestrale". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  7. ^ "'La Classe Indomito, Nave Bersaglio dei Siluri Whitehead A184', section 'Il Siluro Pesante Filoguidato Whitehead A184'". Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum (in Italian). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Torpedoes, Italy (A184/Black Shark)". Jane's Naval Weapons Systems. Janes Information Services. 1999.
  9. ^ Friedman, Norman (1994). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 1994 Update. United States Naval Institute. p. 85. ISBN 1-55750-259-5.
  10. ^ Bishop, Chris, ed. (1988). The Encyclopedia of World Sea Power. Temple Press. p. 288. ISBN 0-600-332748.
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