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53-65 torpedo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 53-65 torpedo family are Russian made, wake-homing torpedoes designed to take out surface ships. The 53-65 became operational in 1965, while the 53-65K and 53-65M both became operational in 1969. The 53-65KE is an exported version. They are members of the Type 53 torpedos.
- Primary function: High explosive torpedo for sinking surface ships
- Power plant:
- Length: 23.6 ft (7.2 m)
- Weight: 4,563 lbs - 4,630 lbs (2,070 kg - 2,300 kg)
- Diameter: 21 in (533 mm)
- Range:
- 53-65: 18,000 m
- 53-65K: 19,000 m
- 53-65M: 22,000 m
- Speed:
- 53-65 and 53-65K: 45 kt (52 mi/h, 83 km/h)
- 53-65M: 44 kt (51 mi/h, 81 km/h)
- Guidance system: Wake-homing
- Warhead: 661 lb (300 kg) high explosive
- Operational since:
Instead of using active or passive homing as other torpedos do, the 53-65 torpedoes use wake homing, which, upon finding the wake of a ship, turns to follow the wake to guide itself to the ship. The torpedoes have no way of telling which way the target ship is headed when they reach the wake, so they aren't as effective as other means of homing. To date, there have been no reports of a countermeasure that can confuse these torpedoes, making them very successful when they do home on to a ship.