LCAW

LCAW
Type Miniature torpedo
Place of origin Italy, Germany and Norway
Service history
Used by Germany, Norway and Italy
Production history
Manufacturer Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A (WASS)
Produced 1992 to present
Variants A200, A200/A, A200/N, & A202
Specifications
Weight 11.3 to 16 kg or greater
Length 883 mm to > 2 meter
Diameter 123.8 mm

Warhead shaped charge warhead
Warhead weight 2.5 kg
Detonation
mechanism
Impact or proximity

Engine electrical
Propellant Ag - Zn
Operational
range
≥700 m to 8 km
Maximum depth ≥ 300 m
Speed 18 knots max
Guidance
system
acoustic
Launch
platform
aerial and surface

LCAW (Low Cost Anti-submarine Weapon) is a miniature torpedo developed by Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A (WASS). LCAW is developed to fill the gap between conventional depth charge and torpedoes, in the area where depth charges lack propulsion and guidance, while the cost of expansive torpedoes are increasingly becoming prohibitive. The program initially begun in 1987, and completed in 1992. In 1993, the program was adopted by Germany and Norway for their low coast anti-submarine weaponry program when the weaponry proved to meet the German and Norwegian requirement of maximum underwater attack range of 500 m from the point of entry into the water. Norwegians subsequently developed their own upgraded variant. In addition to regular deployment, LCAW is also used by Italian naval special force. The air dropped version is deployed from aerial sonar buoy dispensers. The weapon is primarily designed to engage targets in shallow water, especially midget submarines, swimmer delivery vehicle, human torpedo and other special operation uses.

Variant

All of LCAW variants share the same operating depth, from 15 to 300 meters, and the same diameter, 123.8 mm. The same 2.5 kg PBX shaped charge warhead is adopted by air-launched variants while a tandem charge is shared by surface-launched variants. A total of five variants have been developed, including:

Operators

 Germany
 Italy
 Norway

References

LCAW @ Jane’s

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, January 19, 2013. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.