Towable pod assembly for protectively disabling incoming torpedoes
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorErnest P. Longerich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coaxial strain cable tows a tube-like net-containing pod behind a ship. nsors on the pod carried beneath the ships wake detect incoming torpedoes and supply detection data via the coaxial cable to a shipboard processor. Processor commands return via the cable to a pod motor to drive rudders and maneuver the pod into the torpedo path. Drogue and main parachutes packed in the pod are released into the path by other cable-carried commands. Power for the motors and a 'chute release mechanism also is supplied through the cable. The main 'chute is formed of a low drag aramid fiber mesh strong enough to arrest the torpedo. Preferably, explosives carried by the 'chute destroy it.
Claims20
Apparatus for intercepting and disabling underwater torpedo-like missiles directed toward a ship comprising:
- a towable pod in the form of an elongate tube-like casing,
- tow cable means for towing the pod aft of the ship,
- means for detecting the incoming path of said missiles,
- a missile-disabling main parachute stored in said tube-like pod casing, and
- means for releasably deploying the main parachute into said incoming path for providing an intercept barrier for engaging and disabling the missiles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.