more research SSN 21- Torpedo tubes 26" why?

[Slats]

Hi just wondering if anyone knows why the Seawolf has 26" Torpedo tubes when the LA's and Virginia's have 21".

an ADCAP Mk48 uses the 21" tube, so can a TLAM, and Harpoon, so was wondering what the reason was?

thanks

J

[ADDINGTON]

I seem to remember reading Seawolf has 30" tubes to accomodate a 30" weapon that was planned but abandoned. Residual benefit is the larger diameter allows for silent "swim-out" of certain existing weapons.
-Kerry

[Slats]

I seem to remember reading Seawolf has 30" tubes to accomodate a 30" weapon that was planned but abandoned. Residual benefit is the larger diameter allows for silent "swim-out" of certain existing weapons.
-Kerry

Puzzling as the 21" accommodates swim out weps now.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

For ROV's and SEAL's and their gear. The bigger tubes to accommodate 'future growth' in weapons and missions.

David,

[anact52]

I served as the RCA, the DCA, and AWEPS on Seawolf from '05 through '07. The larger tubes were designed to accomodate a "large diameter weapon" that never made it out of the design phase. SEAL gear and ROV's (termed UUV's per CSDS-12 tactical publications) were not part of the design considerations. As far as SEAL gear is concerned, there are better places on that boat to stow that sort of stuff than in a torpedo tube. It is conceivable that you could deploy a UUV out of a torpedo tube but it is no easy task to retrieve them. The problem you run into is how to get the UUV back into the tube reliably without getting the UUV stuck hanging out of the tube. As far as the LDW is concerned, it is my opinion that this was an effort to match the capability that the Soviets had with their 65 cm weapons. Bigger weapon = more gas (hence more range) and a larger warhead. The 65 cm weapons were likely designed as aircraft carrier killers. You need the larger warhead to do enough damage to ensure a kill. I'm sure someone in the mid-80's thought it was a good idea to have a bigger weapon with a larger warhead that would guarantee a kill against a double hulled Oscar or Typhoon. WRT to swimout; swimout capability is not determined by the size of the torpedo tube. Currently, the tubes on the Seawolf class boats are fitted with inserts to accomodate 21" weapons. Cheers!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Not stow. Deploy and recovery.

David,

[anact52]

SOF deployment is not done through the torpedo tubes. It is difficult enough just getting them out of the LET or DDS let alone a torpedo tube (even a larger diameter tube).

Pic of TT#3 on Seawolf showing the breech ring and tube insert to adapt to 21" weapons.

http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh445/poznanmid/?action=view&current=TRULSTBD.jpg