Depth charge-buoy

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a depth charge-buoy comprising an explosive segment, a cableline, a parachute characterised in that in the assembled state, in an elongated cylindrical body (5) there is a balloon (1) with a radio antenna connected to an electronics block (2) below which at least one segment (4) of the explosive charge (4.1) is located, connected to the electronics block (2) and the body (5) by the cableline (3).

Description

[0001] Depth charge-buoy.

[0002] The subject of the present invention is a depth charge-buoy. The disclosed solution is a low-cost, conventional means of warfare intended to attack underwater targets in shallow and / or confined water areas. The depth charge-buoy (DCB) is used in particular in combating unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), midget submarines, underwater sabotage forces: divers delivery vehicles and combat divers. DCB is intended as armament for naval aviation of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), especially manned and unmanned fixed-wing aircraft and rotary-wing aircraft, and surface ships, primarily light unmanned surface vehicles (USV).

[0003] Currently, numerous programs for the development of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) can be observed around the world. Many of these programs are already in operation and can be seen in both military and non-military applications. Most of the solutions used in naval forces are mainly related to mine defence or environmental research. The next scope of development, which is very emphasised, is related to reconnaissance and support for the activities of combat forces (e.g. as an element of target indication). Diversity in terms of dimensions, size of the load to be carried and level of autonomy already enables the use of underwater vehicles in many missions. One of the main purposes of using unmanned units in military operations is to operate in high-risk areas as a forward sensor, effector or both. Underwater unmanned vehicles offer a wide range of possibilities, but from an inverted perspective they also pose a potential threat. Missions such as: reconnaissance within territorial waters, mapping of critical infrastructure, support for sabotage operations, are areas where the use of underwater vehicles has a very wide scope of operations. Underwater unmanned vehicles, considered as an element of the enemy's maritime operations, pose a serious problem due to the difficulty in detection and the need to have an effective and low-cost countermeasure.

[0004] There are numerous known solutions for radio-hydroacoustic buoys (RHAB) used to detect underwater vessels. An example of the solutions used by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are radio-hydroacoustic buoys in A-Size and G-Size dimensional standards, e.g. AN / SSQ-53 (DIF AR), AN / SSQ-62 (DICASS) or AN / SSQ -101 (ADAR). These devices are used to detect underwater objects by determining their presence, direction, or direction and distance from the buoy. Buoys are usually used en masse, which enables wide coverage of the search area and precise target location. Based on this location, ASW units can take action to neutralize the threat, including an attack on the tracked target. The main means of combating submarines are currently light ASW torpedoes, such as those used by the naval forces of NATO countries: Mk-54, MU-90 or Sting Ray. In addition to torpedoes, ASW forces also use rocket depth charges and, currently in a few cases, classic depth charges. Effective destruction of targets such as the above-mentioned underwater unmanned vehicles (UUV) with ASW torpedoes is ineffective due to their small size.

[0005] PRHA with extended range was developed in older submarine search methods, using the explosion of explosive charges as a powerful source of the probing pulse. To solve this problem, a sound emission device disclosed in patent application US3724374A was developed. The developed device is a buoy carrying an explosive charge that can be dropped from an aircraft at high altitude into the sea, where it is automatically prepared for immediate use. The invention uses an elongated cylindrical body designed to carry multiple charges which, upon entering the water, are spaced at such a distance from each other that the explosion of one will not affect or detonate the other. The buoy according to the invention, upon contact with water, automatically ejects the retarding device, which is used to slow down its descent in the air, and at the same time causes the flotation device to be inflated and the buoy to float on the water. Also after contact with water, the radio receiver is activated, which receives coded radio pulses from the ASW aircraft, which allows the aircraft crew to sequentially launch each of the charges. With the development of technology, the described solution (explosive charge) was replaced by an acoustic source, and the device itself was not adapted to be used in direct combat against underwater units. A solution is known from the patent application US1442345A, describing a drifting mine adapted to be thrown from an aircraft and float at a given depth for several minutes and then sink to the bottom. The mine is activated by mechanical means when the mine collides with the submarine. The mine contains a parachute, a parachute float, a mine to which the parachute is freely attached, a buoy connected to the mine by a cableline, and a mechanical means for detonating the mine.

[0006] The solutions known from the state of the art have not yet answered the problem of detecting Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV), midget submarines or underwater sabotage forces: divers delivery vehicles and combat divers. The state of the art also does not provide an effective and low-cost means of combat in this aspect.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to propose an effective and low -cost means of combating smaller submarines and underwater sabotage forces, which would be adapted to the already existing ASW standards.

[0008] The aim is achieved thanks to the features of the invention set out in the independent claim. The dependent claims present the preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0009] According to the invention, a depth charge-buoy comprising explosive segment, cableline, parachute, characterised in that in the assembled state, in an elongated cylindrical body there is a balloon with a radio antenna connected to an electronics block below which at least one segment of an explosive charge is located, connected to the electronics block and the body by a cableline. The depth charge-buoy (PBG) is a new type of underwater weapon intended for use primarily at shallow depths (up to 50m). The PBG can structurally exploit the standards of radio-hydroacoustic buoys. Due to its small size and weight, the PBG is expected to provide high flexibility of use from multiple platform-carriers (lightvessels, naval aviation) together with unmanned craft. In terms of storage, storing on the carrier and methods of use (drop on target), the PBG uses common sonobuoy (PRHA) standards, eliminating the need for complex integration or a PBG-dedicated loading and dropping system.

[0010] Preferably, the electronics block comprises a controller, a pre-setting panel with a display and buttons (Set / Verify), a hydrostatic sensor, a battery, a CO2 tank.

[0011] Implementation of an electronic block equipped with a controller at the radio antenna allows the PBG to communicate with PRHA systems and thus, among other things, remotely detonate explosive charges when information is received that a target has entered the PBG's field of fire. A control panel equipped with a display and buttons enables the PBG to be used in various operating modes, including as a depth bomb. Depending on the mode of operation, the controller will respond to the signal from the hydrostatic sensor by activating the filling of the PBG balloon with carbon dioxide contained in the CO2 tank or by detonating the explosive charges once the hydrostatic sensor has reached a preset and confirmed depth.

[0012] In the advantageous aspect of the invention implementation the segment comprises the explosive charge, the detonator socket and the detonator, where the cableline is recessed into the detonator socket.

[0013] Preferably, the cableline connects the electronics block 2, the subsequent explosive charge segments and the body in series with at least five metres of cableline between them. In charge- separation mode (when the cableline sections between the segments are developed), hanging the explosive charges at different depths increases the PBG's field of fire, ensuring effectiveness regardless of the object's depth of submersion within 50m.

[0014] In the another advantageous variant the cableline between the electronics block and the first segment of the explosive charge is connected to the spool on which the cableline in its folded state is wound. The spool allows the depth of immersion of the explosive segments to be controlled.

[0015] In the further advantageous variant the depth charge-buoy comprises the single segment of the explosive charge. By using a single explosive segment extends the flexibility of use for carriers of different sizes. The G-size PBG, which is feasible with a single explosive segment, further creates the possibility to increase the fire unit of very light platforms, in particular unmanned aerial vehicles.

[0016] In the more advantageous variant, the depth charge-buoy comprises four segments of the explosive charge. With four segments, the PBG can be manufactured in the A-Size standard. The A-Size variant has a higher blast effectiveness due to the higher charge volume and the ability to shape the blast zone in the vertical water column. Said capability, is intended to increase the probability of destroying / deactivating a target when the depth at which it is submerged is uncertain.

[0017] In another particularly advantageous variant, the segments of the explosive charge with their connecting cableline in the folded state are covered by a line held by a resistance wire. The depth charge-bouy can operate in both concentrated explosive mode and unfolded mode, where unfolding is achieved by burning through the resistance wire by an electrical impulse given from the battery. This makes it possible to adjust the force and field characteristics of the explosive, by being able, for example, to leave the charges in a connected state and drop them into the water to a set depth.

[0018] The subject of the invention is illustrated by examples which do not limit its scope. The drawing of the invention includes: fig. 1 - General schematics using the example of an A-size PBG. fig. 2 - Schematic of the top section in an enclosure using the G-size PBG as an example. fig. 3 - Schematic of the PBG top section revealing the interior of the enclosure, fig. 4 - Schematic of the explosive section on an A-size PBG example.

[0019] Fig. 5 - Sequence of deployment of segments of 4 DCB explosives 4.1.

[0020] Fig. 6 - Sequence of deploying DCB in water.

[0021] Fig. 7 - DCB operational modes.

[0022] Fig. 8 - Logical diagram of selecting the DCB operating mode

[0023] Fig. 9 - Example of using weapons in depth charge-bomb mode. Fig. 10 - Example of using weapons in the depth charge-buoy mode.

[0024] Fig. 11 - Example of using weapons in the depth charge-buoy mode (continued).

[0025] In the drawing, fig. 1 shows a depth-charge buoy made in accordance with the A-size dimensions of radio-hydroacoustic buoys (Table 1), according to NATO standard. From the left side of the figure, the front view of the DCB in the folded state is seen, then there is a cross-section, and then the unfolded state. In the folded state, in an elongated cylindrical body 5, there is a balloon with a radio antenna 1 operating at VHF / UHF frequencies, connected to an electronics block 2, to which a spool 6, four segments 4 of the explosive charge 4.1 are connected in series with means of a cableline 3, where the lowest one is connected with the cableline 3 to the body 5. The section of the cableline 3 located under the electronics block 2 is wound on the spool 6 in the folded state. The subsequent elements are located at a distance of 5 meters from each other, which results from the sections of the cableline 3 planned between them. Cylinder of the body 5 is closed on the side of the electronics block 2 with a container 7 containing a parachute 7.1, which is disconnected after entering the water.

[0026] Table 1. Sizes of radio-hydroacoustic buoys according to NATO standard.

[0027] The electronics block 2 includes a controller, a pre-setting panel 2.2 with a display 2.6 and buttons (Set / Verify) 2.3, a hydrostatic sensor 2.4, a battery 2.5, a CO2 tank 2.7. Detailed designation of individual elements of the electronics block 2 is shown in Fig. 2 and fig. 3, which show a depth charge-buoy structurally analogous to that shown in fig. 1, with the difference that it is in the G-size of the NATO standard (Table 1), for which a maximum of one segment 4 of an explosive charge 4.1 can be used. As shown in fig. 4, each segment 4 contains the explosive charge 4.1, a detonator socket 4.2 and a detonator 4.3, where the cableline 3 is inserted into the detonator socket 4.2.

[0028] In the assembled state, the segments 4 of the explosive charge 4.1 together with the cableline connecting them are covered with a cable, which is tied at one point with a resistance wire 8. Fig. 5 shows how the bundle of four segments 4 is held by the resistance wire 8. This wire is interrupted as a result of the electrical impulse transmitted from the battery 2.5, with the resultant burning out of the resistance wire 8, in the first stage of the sequence of the DCB decomposition in the operating mode with active charge separation - which is visible in the first step shown in fig. 6, the controller activates segment separation function 4 and activates a balloon with the radio antenna 1 (shown in the next steps at fig. 6), which means the balloon with the radio antenna 1 is filled with carbon dioxide contained in the CO2 tank 2.7. The balloon with the radio antenna (1) and the attached electronics block 2 moves up to the water surface, and pulls out from the body 5 further DCB elements connected with the cableline. Under the influence of its own weight, the body 5 moves down and tightens the cableline 3.

[0029] In fig. 7 the differences in the operation of DCB are shown in three different operating modes. Mode A corresponds to the mode of operation consistent with the depth charge-bomb, where the DCB is dropped on the target, the balloon with the radio antenna 1 is not activated, and after reaching the set depth D, which should correspond to the depth of the target, the explosive charge 4.1 is detonated. The mode described as "B" is the depth charge-buoy mode with the charge separation sub-mode disabled. The resistance wire 8 connecting the segments 4 of the explosive charges 4.1 is not interrupted, the balloon with the radio antenna 1 is activated and the accumulated charge is suspended at the set depth D. When the target is in the blast area, the accumulated charge is detonated. The last mode is mode C of the depth charge-buoy with the charge separation sub-mode activated. The resistance wire 8 is interrupted and the segments 4 are suspended at different heights, as a result of which the DCB's firing range increases and its striking power decreases.

[0030] DCB can be programmed remotely or manually using the display 2.6 and the buttons (Set / Verify) 2.3. Fig. 8 shows the logical diagram of the DCB operation mode. Table 2 shows the parameters and description of settings, where load separation is available only for: the A-Size variant and in the depth charge-buoy mode (standby mode ON), and table 3 shows the division of ASW units in terms of accuracy of the drop position (position of entry into water) onto the target and the recommended operating mode.

[0031] Table 2. Table 3.

[0032] In fig. 9 shows an example of the use of weapons in the depth charge-bomb mode. An unmanned surface vehicle (USV) with drop-down or towed sonar operates as a target indication and tracking unit 20, providing contact position and movement data to units 21 carrying the weapons. The unmanned surface vehicle (USV) or ASW helicopter acts as a weapons carrier 21, performing a weapons drop over the position of the target 22 ('on top'), in this case an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or a diver delivery vehicle (DDV) of the enemy.

[0033] Fig. 10 and fig. 11 show a picture of situation of using DCB in the depth charge-buoy mode. The ASW helicopter with drop sonar detects, locates and determines the target's motion components, performing the task of the indicating unit 20, then stops tracking the contact, moves to the forecast position 23 of the target 22 determined on the basis of the target's motion components 22 and places a barrier 24 made of the depth charge-buoy. After placing the barrier, the ASW helicopter moves to the target tracking position and once again returns to the function of the indicating unit 20. The ASW helicopter begins hovering and lowers the sonar in order to track the target until it enters the barrier zone. The position of the target 22 is recaptured and communicated to the barrier devices 24, and when it reaches the range of the barrier 24, the depth charge-buoys are detonated by the operator in the helicopter with means of the radio command.

Claims

Claims1. Depth charge-buoy comprising explosive segment, cableline, parachute characterised in that in the assembled state, in an elongated cylindrical body (5) there is a balloon (1) with a radio antenna connected to an electronics block (2) below which at least one segment(4) of an explosive charge (4.1) is located, connected to the electronics block (2) and the body (5) by a cableline (3).

2. Depth charge-buoy according to claim 1 wherein the electronics block (2) comprises a controller, a pre-setting panel (2.2) with a display (2.6) and buttons (Set / Verify) (2.3), a hydrostatic sensor (2.4), a battery (2.5), a CO2 tank (2.7).

3. Depth charge-buoy according to claim 2 wherein the segment (4) comprises the explosive charge (4.1), the detonator socket (4.2) and the detonator (4.3), where the cableline (3) is recessed into the detonator socket (4.2).

4. Depth charge-buoy according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the cableline (3) connects the electronics block (2), the subsequent explosive charge (4.1) segments (4) and the body(5) in series with at least five metres of cableline (3) between them.

5. Depth charge-buoy according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 wherein the cableline (3) between the electronics block (2) and the first segment (4) of the explosive charge (4.1) is connected to the spool (6) on which the cableline (3) in its folded state is wound.

6. Depth charge-buoy according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises the single segment (4) of the explosive charge (4.1).

7. Depth charge-buoy according to at least one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein there are four segments (4) of the explosive charge (4.1).

8. Depth charge-buoy according to claim 17, wherein the segments (4) of the explosive charge (4.1) with their connecting cableline in the folded state are covered by a line (9) held by a resistance wire (8).

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