Yu-7 torpedo
Encyclopedia
Yu-7 torpedo is the Chinese development of the US Mk 46 Mod. 2 light ASW torpedo
incorporating technologies of the A244-S
torpedo. Many domestic Chinese sources have considered Yu-7 torpedo as the Chinese equivalent of US Mk 46 Mod. 3 torpedo
.
es had been recovered by Chinese fishermen in the 1970s and 1980s, with the most advanced version the Mk 46 Mod. 1 Block 2 torpedo
recovered in October, 1978 from South China Sea
. Decision was given to reverse engineer the American torpedo under the name “Project 109” to produce the badly needed ASW
light torpedo for the Chinese military. 705th Institute (also called Xi'an
Precision Machinery Research Institute, 西安精密机械研究所) and Northwestern Polytechnical University
were tasked with being the research team, while the No. 872 Factory and No. 874 Factory were assigned as the production facility. Full scale development started in 1984, with over 90 enterprises in the country involved in assisting the four major enterprises to develop the torpedo. 705th Institute (also known as Xi'an
Precision Machinery Research Institute, 西安精密机械研究所) was responsible for the shallow water control systems of the torpedo and Northwestern Polytechnical University
was responsible for the deep water control systems of the torpedo. The Yu-7 torpedo is composed of over 5,000 parts and 4,500 instruments, while it had over 80,000 blueprints and its technical documents totaled over 100,000 pages. The first two prototype torpedoes were assembled in No. 874 Factory in December 1984 and were tested in the 750 Testing Range (750试验场) in Kunming
in December 1985. By 1989 the Yu-7 torpedo had successfully undertaken 68 launches in four separate sea trials.
In the meantime, the development of Yu-7 torpedo obtained a great boost from USA technical support in 1985, when China signed a US$ 8 million deal with USA in purchasing Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
es with technological support for licensed assembly. The Bush Administration
had faced significant criticism from congress and many human rights activist groups for delivering the last batch of Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
to China after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
, but the Bush Administration
countered that the delivery was the completion of a previous deal made prior to the crackdown. Another great benefit to the Yu-7 torpedo program was the Chinese purchase of 40 or so Italian Alenia A244-S
light ASW
torpedoes in 1987, with the 705th Institute assigned to reverse engineer this torpedo as well. The incorporation of technologies of the Italian Alenia A244-S
light ASW
torpedo caused design changes and thus delayed the schedule, but according the western sources such as Jane's Information Group
, the biggest factor that caused the delay in the schedule was the difficulties encountered in converting the British system to the metric system and American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
standards to international standards. The Yu-7 torpedo finally received certification in 1994 and went into full production in the late 1990s.
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
incorporating technologies of the A244-S
A244-S
The A244-s is a lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. They can be deployed from the surface or by aircraft, and locate the target by means of an acoustic seeker...
torpedo. Many domestic Chinese sources have considered Yu-7 torpedo as the Chinese equivalent of US Mk 46 Mod. 3 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
.
Development
According to official information released by the Chinese government, several US Mark 46 torpedoMark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
es had been recovered by Chinese fishermen in the 1970s and 1980s, with the most advanced version the Mk 46 Mod. 1 Block 2 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
recovered in October, 1978 from South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. Decision was given to reverse engineer the American torpedo under the name “Project 109” to produce the badly needed ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
light torpedo for the Chinese military. 705th Institute (also called Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
Precision Machinery Research Institute, 西安精密机械研究所) and Northwestern Polytechnical University
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Northwestern Polytechnical University is a University located in 127#, Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.-History:...
were tasked with being the research team, while the No. 872 Factory and No. 874 Factory were assigned as the production facility. Full scale development started in 1984, with over 90 enterprises in the country involved in assisting the four major enterprises to develop the torpedo. 705th Institute (also known as Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
Precision Machinery Research Institute, 西安精密机械研究所) was responsible for the shallow water control systems of the torpedo and Northwestern Polytechnical University
Northwestern Polytechnical University
Northwestern Polytechnical University is a University located in 127#, Youyi West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.-History:...
was responsible for the deep water control systems of the torpedo. The Yu-7 torpedo is composed of over 5,000 parts and 4,500 instruments, while it had over 80,000 blueprints and its technical documents totaled over 100,000 pages. The first two prototype torpedoes were assembled in No. 874 Factory in December 1984 and were tested in the 750 Testing Range (750试验场) in Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
in December 1985. By 1989 the Yu-7 torpedo had successfully undertaken 68 launches in four separate sea trials.
In the meantime, the development of Yu-7 torpedo obtained a great boost from USA technical support in 1985, when China signed a US$ 8 million deal with USA in purchasing Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
es with technological support for licensed assembly. The Bush Administration
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
had faced significant criticism from congress and many human rights activist groups for delivering the last batch of Mk 46 Mod. 2 torpedo
Mark 46 torpedo
Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
to China after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, but the Bush Administration
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
countered that the delivery was the completion of a previous deal made prior to the crackdown. Another great benefit to the Yu-7 torpedo program was the Chinese purchase of 40 or so Italian Alenia A244-S
A244-S
The A244-s is a lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. They can be deployed from the surface or by aircraft, and locate the target by means of an acoustic seeker...
light ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
torpedoes in 1987, with the 705th Institute assigned to reverse engineer this torpedo as well. The incorporation of technologies of the Italian Alenia A244-S
A244-S
The A244-s is a lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. They can be deployed from the surface or by aircraft, and locate the target by means of an acoustic seeker...
light ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
torpedo caused design changes and thus delayed the schedule, but according the western sources such as Jane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...
, the biggest factor that caused the delay in the schedule was the difficulties encountered in converting the British system to the metric system and American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
standards to international standards. The Yu-7 torpedo finally received certification in 1994 and went into full production in the late 1990s.
Specifications
- Diameter: 324 mm
- Length: 2.6 m
- Weight: 235 kg
- Warhead: 45 kg
- Guidance: active / passive acoustic homing
- Propulsion: Otto fuel IIOtto fuel IIOtto fuel II is a monopropellant used to drive torpedoes and other weapon systems. It is not related to the Otto cycle.-Properties:This distinct-smelling, reddish-orange, oily liquid is a mixture of three synthetic substances: propylene glycol dinitrate , 2-nitrodiphenylamine, and dibutyl...
- Range: > 7.3+ km and better
- Speed: > 47+ kt and better http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/type051c_luzhou.asp
- Depth: > 400+ m and better