Spearfish Mark-1 achieves Initial Operating Capability

Any German submariner would be envious: Over the past few days, the British navy has been carrying out torpedo tests in the Caribbean. So instead of cold weather and overpriced beer, it's sunshine and cocktails. And with a suntan and target water, it obviously shoots well too, because the revised version of the Spearfish torpedo has been awarded Initial Operating Capability. The happy crew of the HMS Audacious . With their boat, the fourth of the Astute-class, they were able to carry out five successful shots with the officially christened Mod-1 heavyweight torpedo. Equipped with this seal, the existing torpedoes can now be modernised and then carried into a potential deployment.

Torpedo Spearfish from BAE Systems

For their last tests of the Mod-1 for the time being, the British utilised the infrastructure of the US Navy. The Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Centre (Autec) is located in the sea to the east of Andros Island. In the sea area there is the so-called "tongue of the ocean" with depths of up to 1800 metres. This basin, shaped like the legendary tongue of the Rolling Stones and located in the middle of a coral reef, is particularly suitable for difficult deep-water tests. The US Navy has installed a considerable number of hydrophones and other sensors here, which can be used to obtain a wide range of data about the torpedoes being tested. The torpedo was not only tested to its maximum operational depth, but also with the use of decoys.
The warhead and electronics have been improved in the Mark-1 version. There is also a more reliable fuel system. German submariners will probably smile at another new feature: Once fired, the Spearfish Mark-1 can now be controlled from the submarine via an optical fibre. The final step is now to make it fully operational. British submarines have already been equipped with the Spearfish for almost 30 years. Existing torpedoes are to be converted to the new standard by 2025.

HMS Audacious

With a length of 97 metres and a draught of 10 metres, HMS Audacious The submarine weighs around 7000 tonnes when surfaced and 7400 tonnes when submerged. The nuclear-powered attack submarine was built by BAE System in Barrow-in-Furness and only entered service just over a year ago. It has six 533-millimetre torpedo tubes, which can also be used to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Text: mb; Photos: Royal Navy/ Crown Copyright, BAE Systems