In the sixties of the last century, Soviet designers actively developed anti-submarine missile systems. Accordingly, suitable charges were required for them. According to the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers, it was necessary to create two special types of shells for arming nuclear submarines. One such instance was the Waterfall rocket torpedo (RPK-6). Its analogue is RPK-7 "Wind". The development of both types of charges was conducted under the leadership of L. Lyulyev.
general information
A new type of weapon was intended to equip modern submarines, which could not but affect its appearance. The Waterfall rocket torpedo was supposed to be launched through special 533 mm caliber vehicles. This was the reason for the appearance of some restrictions on the size, weight and performance characteristics of the product. Also, the launch design determined the operational algorithms of the submarine and projectile systems.
Within the framework of the project under consideration, work was carried out to create two anti-submarine charges of the 83P and 84P types, which differed in design and type of warhead. The length of the shells was 8,200 mm, caliber - 533 mm. The improved RPK-6M Vodopad rocket and its analogue received a solid fuel power unit with two modes. A single engine with mixed fuel was supposed to provide rocket movement at the initial and marching stages, for which the corresponding working positions were provided. Even later, the production of similar charges for surface carriers began.
Description
The shells in question were equipped with a universal control unit, they were brought to a given area using an inertial guidance system, which was developed by engineers of the Moscow Research Institute-25. Before launch, the crew of the underwater carrier had to determine the approximate location of the enemy submarine and enter the appropriate commands into the control unit. Correction of the Waterfall torpedo missile was carried out using lattice rudders mounted in the tail section. In the transport position, they were in the hull niches, folding out after the projectile left the torpedo compartment.
The 83P anti-submarine missile was equipped with a military filling in the form of a small-sized torpedo of the UMGT-1 type, designed by the Uranus research and development organization. The charge is 3400 mm long and weighing 0.7 tons had a caliber of 400 mm. It was powered by a single-shaft electric motor, and a silver-magnesium battery activated by sea water was used as a power source. The maximum ammunition speed was 41 knots with a maximum range of 8 km. Also in the equipment was an active-passive fire guidance system with a maximum radius of up to 1.5 km. The high-explosive part had a mass of 60 kg.
Application
Model 84P of the RPK-6M Waterfall project was equipped with another type of warhead, namely a nuclear depth bomb. According to unconfirmed reports, the power of this element reached 200 kilotons in TNT equivalent. The activation of such a filling was to occur at a depth of about 200 meters. Such power guaranteed, if not destruction, then substantial damage to enemy submarines within a radius of several kilometers.
The use of the Waterfall torpedo missile included several stages. First, the command of the submarine, using the instructions of the command or the available sonar systems, determined the place of the enemy submarine. Then, appropriate tasks were introduced into the guidance system, after which ammunition was launched from the torpedo tube using compressed air. After the exit, the lattice-type rudders were laid out, the solid-fuel power unit was activated, which in several seconds threw a torpedo out of the water towards the intended target.
Target defeat
The solid-fuel power unit of the brainchild of the Novator design bureau went into march mode after raising the ammunition above the water. The subsequent flight to the place of discharge of the combat set was carried out along a ballistic trajectory. At the indicated location, the charge was discharged and fell into the water. If the 84P modification with a nuclear warhead was used, its detonation was carried out by activating a depth bomb to destroy the target. On the 83P model, the UGMT-1 torpedo is provided, which was lowered by a parachute, detaching after the charge enters the water. For a few seconds, the Waterfall torpedo rocket was enough to find a landmark on the target, after which she headed for it.
According to various sources, the solid fuel engine provided both versions with a flight range of at least 35 kilometers. Other sources inform that this indicator could be brought up to 50 km. On version 83P, the range increased due to the torpedo’s reactive reserve.
Test
The Vodopad anti-submarine missile and torpedo complex was tested on Project 633 submarines, which were specially converted for the test launch of new ammunition. S-49 was modernized at the beginning of the seventies, it was used at all test stages, from factory tests to Novator Design Bureau to state acceptance.
In 1982, another nuclear submarine of project 633 S-11 was involved in testing. Already in 1981, it was decided to take the new system into service. Successfully tested missiles came to equip various submarines, which design allowed the use of weapons with a caliber of 533 mm.
Features
At the request of the Navy command, they began work on the Vodopad missile system for surface military vessels. The ammunition was partially equipped with new equipment, modified according to the standards of the new missile launchers 83RN and 84RN. As in the basic version, the updated charges had to start through the torpedo compartment of the ship.
Changes undergone directly the course of the launch. In this case, the ammunition was supposed to fall into the water immediately after launch, sink to the specified depth and move to a safe distance from the carrier ship. The further behavior of the new rocket corresponded to the actions of analogues 83 and 84P, with the engine turned on and the subsequent flight program.
Interesting Facts
The “Waterfall” missile torpedo, the characteristics of which were discussed above, was subsequently installed on combat missile cruisers of projects 114 and 116, as well as on the large Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine ship (project 11551). On these ships, standard torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber were used for launch. They were located at the stern on the sides of the boat.
An updated version of the ammunition in question was mounted on patrol ships of project 11540 ("Waterfall-NK"). To launch them, unique universal launching devices were used, located in the superstructure at the stern. There is information that on the basis of the "Waterfalls" even more awesome weapons were manufactured under the code index 91P, which was supposed to carry a new anti-submarine torpedo. Official details on this project were not disclosed, but it is believed that these developments were used to create the Caliber missile system.
Total
Among the developments of Soviet weapons engineers, many of the worthwhile projects did not go beyond experimental developments. However, the “Waterfall” missile type torpedo advanced quite successfully in this regard, having served to equip ships and submarines, and also became the starting point for the manufacture of more modern analogues.