Tag Archives: Mk46

Tossing ASW back on the 378s

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USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717) sits in full dress at the pier before a decommissioning ceremony in Seattle on Aug. 20, 2020. USCGC Mellon was a High Endurance Cutter homeported in Seattle and served as an asset in completing Coast Guard missions around the world for 52 years. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Clark)

The Hamilton class of Coast Guard cutters served the USCG well for over 50 years, including most working the Market Time gun line off Vietnam as well as standing toe-to-toe with the Soviet Navy in the Cold War.

Equipped from the beginning as a patrol frigate, they entered service starting in 1967 with a 5″/38 DP mount and an ASW suite that included the AN/SQS-38 sonar and Mk32 torpedo tubes for launching lightweight ASW torpedoes, first the Mk44, then the Mk46. They had to requal for both surface warfare and ASW every year and often bird-dogged Russki subs, especially off New England and in Alaska waters.

1972 Hamilton-class USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) close aboard a Soviet Submarine. USCG Historian’s Office. 230802-G-G0000-102.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s the Hamiltons a FRAM program that replaced the 5″/38 gun with the MK 75 76mm OTO, upgraded the MK 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes to Mod 7, installed MK 36 SRBOC launchers and the AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare suite, added a CIWS and Harpoon capability, and upgraded the cutters’ air and surface search radars. This came in tandem with the ability to operate a Navy LAMPS I (Sea Sprite) helicopter should they need to clock in as convoy escorts.

Then, in 1996, the USCG got out of the ASW biz, pulling its tubes and sonar suites. Everyone figured it would never be needed again. After all, the world was at peace and sub-busting was so WWII.

In recent years, the Coast Guard retired all 13 of its long-serving Hamiltons and Uncle Sam has since gifted them to overseas allies. This included three sent to the Philippines– the former USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715), renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15); USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) renamed BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), and USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) as BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17).

Two Gregorio del Pilar-class frigates (former Hamilton-class cutters) of the Philippine Navy during naval exercises with the US Navy 

And, it seems the Philippine Navy is fitting them for ASW once more, with ELAC SONAR GmbH, a German supplier of hydroacoustic systems, announcing recently that it completed sea acceptance tests of the HUNTER 2.0 hull-mounted sonar for the class.

The company notes:

HUNTER 2.0 is a hull-mounted sonar carrying out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in active and passive modes in shallow and deep waters for panoramic detection of submarines and other objects.

As for teeth, the PI last year contacted with the UK SEA firm for its Torpedo Launcher System (TLS) for a class of corvettes being built in South Korea. It is not a stretch they could add a few more to the contract for the old Hamiltons, and in fact, the presser at the time said clearly: “The contract follows the successful delivery of SEA’s TLS for the Philippine Navy’s frigates.”

SEA’s TLS is a weapon-agnostic, close range and rapid-reaction system capable of firing a variety of NATO-compatible standard light weight torpedoes, including the US Mk44, Mk46 and Mk54 torpedoes, UK Sting Ray, Italian A244S, French MU90 and the Korean Blue Shark.

The Extorp..

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WATERS NEAR GUAM (Mar. 07, 2016) The Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) fires an MK-54 exercise torpedo (EXTORP) over the port side during an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) event as part of MULTI SAIL 2016. MULTI SAIL is a bilateral training exercise aimed at interoperability between the U.S. and Japanese forces. This exercise builds interoperability and benefits from realistic, shared training, enhancing our ability to work together to confront any contingency. McCampbell is on patrol in the 7th fleet of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Jackson/released.)

WATERS NEAR GUAM (Mar. 07, 2016) The Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) fires an MK-54 exercise torpedo (EXTORP) over the port side during an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) event as part of MULTI SAIL 2016. MULTI SAIL is a bilateral training exercise aimed at interoperability between the U.S. and Japanese forces. This exercise builds interoperability and benefits from realistic, shared training, enhancing our ability to work together to confront any contingency. McCampbell is on patrol in the 7th fleet of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Jackson/released.)

Long a staple of ASW training, exercise/recoverable torpedoes (extorps/rextorps) have been around for the Mk44, Mk46, Mk48, Mk50 and 54 variants and are typically the reworked warshot fish in which the explosive is replaced with an electronic signaling and guidance package that records the position of the device for data analysis after the exercise, and various signaling devices that help locate the torpedo in the water for recovery afterward.

They are pretty brightly marked, and colorful.

130924-N-XZ912-002 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 24, 2013) – Gunners Mate 3rd Class Amelia Sandoval, left, and Gunners Mate 2nd Class Samuel Ervin perform maintenance on a torpedo tube aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52). Barry, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz)

130924-N-XZ912-002 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Sept. 24, 2013) – Gunners Mate 3rd Class Amelia Sandoval, left, and Gunners Mate 2nd Class Samuel Ervin perform maintenance on a torpedo tube aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52). Barry, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is currently on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz)

Almost always retrieved after tests or exercises, they are refurbished and shot again, sometimes dozens of times.

040129-N-9288T-087 Pacific Ocean (Jan. 29, 2004) Ð Search and rescue swimmers Quartermaster 2nd Class Justin Peel, from Polson, Mont., and Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Class Stephen Stavros, from Springtown, Mass., secure an MK-46 exercise torpedo to be hoisted aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG 49) after a successful torpedo exercise. Vincennes is participating in Multi-Sail, a combat readiness exercise in the Okinawa operational area. ItÕs designed to complete Surface Force Training Manual Requirements and to exercise participants in a multi-ship operational environment. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 2nd Class Brandon A. Teeples. (RELEASED)

040129-N-9288T-087 Pacific Ocean (Jan. 29, 2004) Ð Search and rescue swimmers Quartermaster 2nd Class Justin Peel, from Polson, Mont., and Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Class Stephen Stavros, from Springtown, Mass., secure an MK-46 exercise torpedo to be hoisted aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG 49) after a successful torpedo exercise. Vincennes is participating in Multi-Sail, a combat readiness exercise in the Okinawa operational area. Its designed to complete Surface Force Training Manual Requirements and to exercise participants in a multi-ship operational environment. U.S. Navy photo by PhotographerÕs Mate 2nd Class Brandon A. Teeples. (RELEASED)

If not recovered by retrieval personnel for some reason, they have a ‘phone home’ marking on the casing should a random skin diver or fisherman chance upon one.

130926-N-ZI955-062 MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (Sept. 26, 2013) Staff Sgt. Justin Walter, left, originally from Greenville, S.C., inspects a MK46 Recoverable Exercise Torpedo as Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Jeremy Rooks, a native of Chesapeake, Va., observes during a fuel spill response drill at the Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa complex on board Misawa Air Base, Sept. 26, 2013. Walter serves as an explosive ordnance disposal technician for the 35th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron and Rooks is a weapons training team observer for NMC EAD Unit Misawa. NMC EAD Unit Misawa is conducting a Torpedo Readiness Assessment, which calls for the command to inspect and validate its Otto Fuel II response procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)

130926-N-ZI955-062 MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (Sept. 26, 2013) Staff Sgt. Justin Walter, left, originally from Greenville, S.C., inspects a MK46 Recoverable Exercise Torpedo as Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Jeremy Rooks, a native of Chesapeake, Va., observes during a fuel spill response drill at the Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa complex on board Misawa Air Base, Sept. 26, 2013. Walter serves as an explosive ordnance disposal technician for the 35th Fighter Wing Civil Engineer Squadron and Rooks is a weapons training team observer for NMC EAD Unit Misawa. NMC EAD Unit Misawa is conducting a Torpedo Readiness Assessment, which calls for the command to inspect and validate its Otto Fuel II response procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)