Underwater Missiles - TORPEDO

Generally, most of the people assume that torpedo can only launched from a submarine or a U-boat. But not all torpedoes can be launched from a submarine. This is because a light torpedo can be dropped by an aircraft for a close attack, while the heavy torpedo, a standoff weapon are launched by submerged submarines.

Torpedo is a self-propelled mechanism, explosive projectile weapon. It can be launched above or below the water surface. These torpedoes will propelled underwater towards a target, and is designed to detonated either on contact with the target or in proximity with the target.

Back about in 1900, "torpedo" has been used strictly to designate an underwater self-propelled missile. The first working prototype of the modern self-propelled torpedo was created by a commission placed by Giovanni Luppis with a blue print of it, and Robert Whitehead perfects it to be a self-propelled torpedo in 1866.

Modern torpedoes are the Homing Torpedo type. These torpedoes can be used as passive or active guidance, or a combination of both. The passive acoustic torpedoes home in on emission from a target, while the Active acoustic torpedoes home in on reflection of a signal, or "ping", from the torpedo or its parent vehicle. The disadvantage about the signal is that it gives away the presence of the torpedo.

During semi-active mode, a torpedo can be fired to the last known position or calculated position of the target, which is then acoustically illuminated ("pinged") once the torpedo is within attack range.

In the Second World War, the German torpedoes, G7 es torpedoes; were designed to have acoustic (homing) guidance systems. Pattern-following and wake homing torpedoes were also developed during that era. After the Second World War, the basis for torpedo guidance for acoustic homing torpedo was formed.

Torpedo Hits A Destroyer