Spearfish torpedo

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The Spearfish torpedo is the heavy acoustic homing torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It is a dual-purpose wired-guided weapon and provides both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface ship warfare (ASuW) capability, replacing the Tigerfish torpedo which was withdrawn in 2004.

The significantly higher speed of the Spearfish was intended to catch high-speed, deep-diving Soviet threats such as the Alfa class submarine. The weapon is equipped with a HAP-Sundstrand TPO201 gas turbine and a pump-jet engine and is able to reach up to 80 knots.

The torpedo's warhead is equipped with a shaped charge with directed energy and was designed to penetrate the double-hull construction of the Soviet submarines. A special device aboard the weapon is a microprocessor with provides the ability to make autonomous tactical decisions during the attack heading.

The contract for the Spearfish Torpedo was placed with GEC-Marconi Naval Systems (now BAE Systems) in 1994. Spearfish entered full production in 1995, with deliveries completed in 2003. The exact number of units ordered has not been revealed. Spearfish torpedoes are stored and serviced at Beith Ordnance Storage facility in Scotland.

General characteristics

Manufacturer: BAE Systems Underwater Systems
Speed: 81 knots (150 km/h) at high speed setting
Range: 54 km (30 nautical miles) at low speed, 23 km (12.5 nautical miles) at high speed
Length: 7 m (23 ft)
Diameter: 533 mm (21 in)
Weight: 1850 kg (4075 lb)
Warhead: 300 kg (660 lb) aluminised PBX explosive
Engine: Sundstrand gas-turbine connected to a pump-jet
Fuel: Otto fuel II
Guidance system: Wire guided with autonomous active terminal homing sonar
Fuzing (proximity or contact detonation)
First deployed: 1992
Trivia: Featured in Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising

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