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Includes video of sinking.
Aussie sub sinks US warship in first firing of new torpedo
July 25, 2008 10:00am
AN Australian submarine - HMAS Waller - has used a new super torpedo - the Mark 48 - to sink an American warship off Hawaii.
The HMAS Waller fired the heavyweight Mark 48 torpedo, which the US and Australian navies say is the world's deadliest, during war games this week.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the torpedo had been jointly developed by Australia and the United States.
The firing occurred during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) exercise, involving multiple navies off the coast of Hawaii.
"This controlled exercise resulted in the planned sinking of a retired US warship," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"This represents the first new heavyweight torpedo warshot to be fired by either Navy. Just as significant is the fact that the warshot torpedo was assembled in Australia," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is the latest enhancement for the MK 48.
The Defence Department says the MK 48 Mod 7 "represents a superior capability against both surface ships and submarines with sonar enhancements that make the torpedo an effective weapon in shallow water and in a countermeasure environment.
Includes video of sinking.
Aussie sub sinks US warship in first firing of new torpedo
July 25, 2008 10:00am
AN Australian submarine - HMAS Waller - has used a new super torpedo - the Mark 48 - to sink an American warship off Hawaii.
The HMAS Waller fired the heavyweight Mark 48 torpedo, which the US and Australian navies say is the world's deadliest, during war games this week.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the torpedo had been jointly developed by Australia and the United States.
The firing occurred during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) exercise, involving multiple navies off the coast of Hawaii.
"This controlled exercise resulted in the planned sinking of a retired US warship," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"This represents the first new heavyweight torpedo warshot to be fired by either Navy. Just as significant is the fact that the warshot torpedo was assembled in Australia," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is the latest enhancement for the MK 48.
The Defence Department says the MK 48 Mod 7 "represents a superior capability against both surface ships and submarines with sonar enhancements that make the torpedo an effective weapon in shallow water and in a countermeasure environment.
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