Sharp image of torpedo type of Gepard 3.9 ship
The second pair of Gepard 3.9 missile frigates of the Vietnam Navy is equipped with 533 mm torpedoes, but only recently have clear photos of it been released.
Currently, the Vietnam People's Navy has put into service four Gepard 3.9 missile frigates, of which the second pair, numbered 015 Tran Hung Dao and 016 Quang Trung, are equipped with 533 mm torpedoes.
In the photos taken while the ship was still in Russia and when it returned to Vietnam, the location of the dual torpedo tubes on each side of the ship can be clearly seen, however the photo location is quite far away and can only be observed in a limited way.
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| Flag-raising ceremony for the second pair of Gepard 3.9 missile frigates of the Vietnam Navy. |
Recently, close-up images of the weapons added to the second pair of Gepard 3.9 missile frigates have appeared, helping to better identify the type of torpedo.
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| 533 mm torpedo tube on Gepard 3.9 missile frigate. |
Based on the mission of the second pair of Gepard 3.9s, which is anti-submarine, it can be predicted that the pair of 533 mm launchers in the photo are TEST 71 multi-purpose torpedoes.
The TEST 71 is a wire-guided torpedo that is significantly heavier than the TEST 68 - the Soviet Union's first wire-guided torpedo. The TEST 71 has many advantages such as a longer range, a heavier warhead, and the ability to attack targets at greater depths.
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| TEST 71 anti-submarine and surface ship torpedo. |
In addition to the original version, the TEST 71 torpedo has been developed into 4 different variants. Of which, the TEST 71ME-NK is capable of attacking both surface ships and submarines. This 533 mm torpedo has a 205 kg warhead, equipped with 2 different detonators: proximity (acoustic and magnetic) and contact detonation.
The torpedo receives remote control signals via wires, semi-active probes and sonar probes. TEST 71ME-NK is equipped with a propulsion system with 2 twin propellers, a cruising speed of 48 km/h and increases to 74 km/h in the final stage, an attack range of 20 km at a depth of up to 400 m.
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| Loading Type 53-65 anti-surface ship torpedoes for Kilo submarines. |
In addition to the TEST 71, the torpedo tube of the Gepard 3.9 is also capable of receiving the Type 53-65KE, which is specialized for anti-surface ships. The torpedo has a diameter of 533 mm; length of 7.2 m; weight of 2,070 kg and is equipped with a warhead weighing up to 300 kg.
The Type 53-65 torpedo has an attack range of 12 km when traveling at 125 km/h and 18 km when traveling at 83 km/h (the Type 53-65K variant reaches 19 km and the 53-65M up to 22 km).
However, this Type 53-65 torpedo is more suitable for submarines than surface ships because the anti-ship function will be performed much better by missiles and guns.
