The Navy Vol_64_Part2 2002 - Navy League of Australia

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western entrance- with their Egyptian warships whilstassembling most of their fleet in the wider channel to the east.The Greek fleet lay at anchor in a bay of the island inside thiseastern channel. "The Greeks were in a state of acute alarm,especially those from the Peloponnese: for there they were,waiting at Salamis to fight for Athenian territory, and certain,in the event of defeat, to be caught and blockcd up in anisland, while their own country was left w ithout defence, andthe Persian Army that very night was on the march for thePeloponnese."Aeschylus, an eyewitness to the battle later wrote that thePersians were drawn up in three lines outside the entrance tothe channel. On the mainland nearby, a throne was erectedfrom where the Persian King Xerxes could watch the battle.On 20 September 480 B.C. at the break of day. the Persianfleet began its advance through the eastern channel. The linesformed up into columns with the Phoenicians leading. "TheAthenian squadron found itself facing the Phoenicians on thePersian left wing." As the Phoenicians came through thechannel, which was about 4 miles (6.4kms) wide, they facedthe Greek fleet which was in an 'L' formation. The Greekships suddenly began to back water, leading the Persian fleetfurther into the narrow ing channel. "The Greeks checked theirway and began to back astern: and they were on the point ofrunning aground w hen Ameinias of Pallene. in command of anAthenian ship, drove ahead and rammed an enemy vessel.Seeing the two ships foal of one another and loeked together,the rest of the Greek fleet hurried to Ameinias' assistance, andthe general action began. Such is the Athenian account of howthe battle started."Other ships lay in wait in the bay and now ambushed thePersians on their left flank, driving them towards the shore ofthe mainland. In the ensuring confusion, the Persian shipsbegan to crowd the narrow channel which was now only about2 miles wide. Herodotus wrote. "The Greek fleet workedtogether as a whole, while the Persians had lost formation andwere no longer fighting on any plan. None the less they (thePersians) fought well that day - far better than in the actionsA stone carving of the Persian ruler Xerxes on his throne overlooking thestraits of Salamis during the battle with the Greeks for what would bedescribed today as a battle for sea control.A modern a-plica of a Greek Trireme under oar and sail power. ATrireme would not normally exceed four knots, but for limitedperiods as in battle, the ship could exceed 10 knots.off Euboea. Every man of them did his best for fear of Xerxes,feeling that the king's eye was on him"Main Phase of the BattleThe Persian ships in the narrow channel had difficulty inturning to meet the enemy. Their speed"would have been slowand in many instances they would have been broadside to theramming Greek ships.Herodotus recorded. "The greatest destruction took placewhen the (Persian) ships which had been first engaged turnedtail, for those astern fell foul of them in their attempt to pressforward. The enemy was in hopeless confusion: such ships asoffered resistance or tried to escape were cut to pieces.... Suchof the Persian ships as escaped destruction made their wayback to Phalerum and brought up there under the protection ofthe army."By sunset the battle was over. "Amongst those killed wasthe son of Xerxes' brother, and many other well-known menfrom Persia. There were also Greek casualties, but not many:for most of the Greeks could swim. Most of the enemy, on theother hand, being unable to swim, were drowned." ThoughHerodotus names many of the Persian commanders killed inthe battle there is no mention of ship losses. "After the battlethe Greeks towed over to Salamis all the disabled vesselswhich were adrift, and then prepared for a renewal of the fight,fully expecting that Xerxes would use his remaining ships tomake another attack..." But the Persians were defeated andXerxes, realising his sea borne logistics lines were no longersafe, reluctantly ordered his fleet, and thus the army, towithdraw. The losses suffered by the Persian fleet werethought to be a third or more of its total strength (450 ships).Although not a decisive defeat it was enough though to forcethe Persians on the defensive. A year after the Battle ofSalamis. they were decisively defeated in a land battle atPlataea which brought the Persian invasion to an end.ConclusionWhat would have happened if tlic Battle of Salamis hadbeen lost? The Athenians had already made plans in the eventof such a loss. Transports and warships were ready to evacuatethe Athenian population from the island under cover ofdarkness. They were to be resettled in the Greek colonies ineither Sicily or Southern Italy. It was possible that other Greekcities faced with defeat by the Persians would have followed,for it is doubtful that the wall across the Isthmus betweennorthern and southern Greece would have stopped theinvaders. Athens and her allies would have dominated Italy,and perhaps there w ould have been no Rome - western historywould therefore have taken a different course. J,6 VOL. 64 NO. I THE NAVYRegional ASMs andLittoral Problem*By Dr Roger ThornhillThe first lest firing of the new Boeing Harpoon Block II with GPS to help it avoid inadvertently hitting land masses and civilianships. It also has a secondary land attack capability. (Boeing)Anti-Ship Missiles (ASM's) have enjoyed sensationalist media coverage over the last 30 years despite sporadic use andmixed results. However, this has not stopped some from attributing more to the ASM than reality allows. As Naviesand militaries around the world shift operations to the littoral. Dr Roger Thornhill examines the current regional ASMarsenal and the littoral problem that many are faced with.The 2(XX) Australian 'Green Paper' on defence, a publicdiscussiondocument on how Australia should conduct itsdefence, cited the proliferation of ASMs in the region tocoerce readers into a re-think on the viability of surface shipsin Australia's military strategy. While the paper was correct inarticulating that there are a large number of different types andusers of ASMs in the region, over 20 different types andversions used by approximately 12 countries, it failed tohighlight their level of sophistication and thus their influenceon a modern Navy's operations, such as those of RAN/RNZN.The level of ASM technology found in the region rangesfrom the 1950s to the 1990s. Older missiles are the mostprolific and due to their age. pose the least threat. Further,many fail to appreciate the huge reconnaissance and targetingrequirements of ASMs. The lack of this critical elementrelegates the ASM. regardless of sophistication, to a shipboarddefensive weapon restricted to horizon-to-horizonengagements only. It should also be noted that the ASM is not100ft effective nor immune to counter measures.To complicate matters, the financial burden of acquiringtraining rounds and missile war stocks by many regionalcountries have led some to argue, with a degree of merit, thatfuture use of their ASMs may consist of harassing attacksonly. This prediction is consistent with Argentine use ofExocet in the Falklands. One or two missiles fired at theperiphery of a battle group with no real identification ortargeting conducted. The Argentines had little training on theAM 39 Exocet and only five missiles. Had their training withTHE NAVYVOL. 64 NO. Ithe missile been more complete and their war stocks larger, adifferent outcome from the conflict may have eventuated.The following is a list of ASMs found in Australia's regionwith an explanation of each missile's characteristics. It ispresented in isolation from the user's reconnaissance andtargeting abilities and the counters that ships could employ todefeat them.SS-N-2 'Styx' a, b, c, d (4K30)Entering service in 1958 with the Soviet Navy the Styx' isstill used today by three regional Navies and can lay claim tothe title of 'grandfather' of modern. non-Western. ASMs. Itsmost successful use came in 1967 when three missiles hit theIsraeli destroyer EILAT sinking it off Port Said.A Russian SS-N-2 Styx ASM being loaded into the missilelaunch tube of a fast attack craft.33
The firsl version, the SS-N-2a, employs an MS-2 l-band(8-10 GHz) active radar seeker with a barometric altimeter tolocate its target. The missile uses vacuum tube technology andis fitted with a 454kg hollow charge warhead w ith impact andproximity fuses. Its radar seeker locks onto a target after eightreturns have been received, usually at about I2kms. Closer tothe target the seeker switches off and a gyroscope then guidesthe missile as radar returns are too close for the 1950's systemto interpret The missile cruises to the target at Mach .90 at analtitude anywhere from 100 to 350m out to a range ofapproximately 40kms.The SS-N-2b version w as a major redesign of the originalmissile which included a new 513kg hollow charge warhead,slightly increased range, the option of an IR seeker tocomplement the MS-2 radar and the ability to use a l5kTnuclear warhead.The SS-N-2c version was another major redesign with anMS-2A solid-state radar seeker which improved range,bearing accuracy, low level target detection capability andimproved clutter suppression/discrimination. The seeker alsohas improved ECCM (Electronic Counter Counter Measures)capabilities and a home on jam function. The barometricaltimeter was replaced with a radio altimeter to enable seaskimmingattack profiles with a terminal altitude of 2.5m. Themissile also has a maximum speed of Mach 1.3 and a range of80kms.The SS-N-2d is similar to the e' Styx missile but has anL-band (l-2GHz) radar seeker and an electro-optic seeker tosupplement the radar in case of jamming.Users: Indta (B. C. D). North Korea (A) and Vietnam (B.C. D)SY-l/HY-1 & HY-2In 1959 the Soviet Union sold SS-N-2a Styx" ASMs tochina who then reverse-engineered them as the SY-I.However, flight-testing of the Chinese v ariant didn't concludeuntil 1966 when it entered Chinese service and dubbed the'Silkworm' by US intelligence. The missile suffered fromsimple ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) and an unreliablealtimeter w hich w ould cause the missile to drop height duringflight.A Chinese HY-1J ASM being loaded onto one of the PLAN's ships. NCHC thesimilar appearance of the HY-1 to the Russian SS-N-2 Styx ASM whichChina copied to make the H Y-1 series of ASMsNoting the SY-1's deficiencies the Chinese developed animproved version known as the H Y-1. This missile has a muchimproved radar seeker, rocket motor, booster and autopilot butdidn't go into production until 1975 due to flight testproblems. Both missiles have a 454kg hollow charge warheadand a range of 40kms at Mach .9.The HY-2 ASM is thought to be an improved version ofthe HY-1 with greater range (95kms) and a selection of seekerheads. In addition to the I-band seeker of the HY-I the HY-2is offered with an IR seeker (HY-2A) and a monopulse activeradar seeker (HY-2G).Users: Bangladesh (SY-I. HY-2). China (SY-I. H\ 2) andNorth Korea (HY-I).YJ-1 (C-801) & YJ-2 (C-802)The Chinese YJ-I Eagle Strike'/C-80l (C-801 refers tothe export version) was first revealed in 1984 but thought tohave been under development since the mid-1970s. It isdesigned as a replacement to the 'Styx' based ASMs used by-China and was developed during a period of 'Westerninfluence', hence its resemblance to the French Exocet. TheA Chinese YJ-1 (C-X0I i ASM being fired from one of their destroyer*. TheYJ-1 (C-X0I > closely resembles the French Exocet missile and is areplacement for China's .ibsolete SY-I. HY-I and HY-2.YJ -1 uses a solid propellant rocket motor, is radar guided andhas a 165kg semi-armour piercing warhead. Guidance to thetarget area is via an INS (Incrtial Navigation System) with amonopulse J-band (10 - 20 GHz) active radar for the terminalphase. It follows a sea-skimming profile. 20m for mid-courseand then 5-7m for terminal phase, which is controlled by aradio altimeter. The missile has a maximum range of 40kmswhen launched from sea level and a maximum speed of Mach.85.The YJ-2/C-802 (C-802 being the export version) differsfrom the YJ-I in that its solid propellant rocket motor isreplaced by an air-breathing turbo jet engine giving muchgreater range, approximately I30kms. It first entered servicein 1994 and is also thought to use the same guidance andwarhead as the YJ -1.Users: China (YJ-I. YJ-2) and Thailand (C-801).SS-N-22 'Sunburn' (3M80/3M82 Moskit)The SS-N-22 'Sunburn' ASM epitomises the Soviet beliefthat fast is better than smart. The Sunburn ASM travels atMach 2.5 to give its target the least amount of time to reactand thus initiate a hard and/or soft kill counter. It alsodemonstrates that the Soviets realised that their ASMtechnology was behind in the 'smart' area and susceptible toWestern counter measures. The Sunburn entered Sovietservice in 1984 and has a 300kg semi-armour piercingwarhead and a liquid-fuel ramjet engine to maintain itssupersonic flight profile which takes only two minutes tocomplete (over its maximum range of 90 - I2()kms). Themissile uses an INS with data link back to the launch platformto get it to a point I0-I5kms from the target where ils radarseeker is activated. The missile's seeker can function in threemodes; active, passive home on jam and a combination of thetwo. Once the target is fixed the missile enters its terminalphase which can consist of either a sea-skimming, pop-up orweaving manoeuvre. Once the target is acquired the missiledescends to 7m and can execute evasive manoeuvres up tolOg. although this reduces speed and potentially accuracygiven the missile's speed. The missile also has no known reattackcapability which, given its very small acquisitionwindow due its supersonic speed, could produce inaccuracies.Users: ChinaAn SS-N-22 Sunburn' being fired by a Russian Sovremenny class destroyer.The SS-N-22 is a large, rocket powered, supersonic ASM which Chinabelieves will give il an anti-carrier capability against the USN in any futureChina-Taiwan conflict.SS-N-25 'Switchblade' (3M24 Uran)The SS-N-25 Switchblade represents a departure fromstandard Soviet philosophy and technology in ASMs. Ratherthan a large, technically simple, rocket powered supersonicASM. the SS-N-25 mirrors western technology and thinking,it's technically advanced, relatively small, has a turbo jetengine and is subsonic. Its resemblance to the US Harpoon hasearned it the title of 'Harpoonski'. The missile was first seenat the 1992 Moscow air show. It has an active radar seeker, theARGS-35. which operates in the I/J band (8-20 GHz) with arange of 20kms. It can search in azimuth +/- 45 degrees and+ 10/-20 degrees in elevation. It has a 145kg semi-armourpiercing fragmentation warhead with a delayed fuse and arange of approximately 130kms. The missile uses an INS withA Russian SS-N-25 'Switchblade' ASM. Given its resemblance ip looks andmission profile to the US Harpoon many in the West have dubbed it'The Harpoonski'.radio altimeter to arrive at the target area. It cruises at Mach .9at 5-l0m until the radar, switched on at about 25kms from thetarget's expected position, locks on the ship, il then descendsto 3m and then 1.5m for the final few seconds. TheSwitchblade can be salvo fired with a two second delaybetween launches.An Indian Nayy Project 25A missile corvette. The Indian Navy is theregion's prime 'Switchblade' user. Indian ships employing the missile typegenerally have al least lb of the missiles (John Mortimer!Users: China (it was recently revealed that China would beacquiring the air launched version). India and Vietnam.MM 38/AM 39/MM 40 ExocetPerhaps one of the more widely known ASMs. the MM 38Exocet (French for Flying Fish) was first cleared forproduction in 1974. The MM 38 uses an AD AC l-band (8-10GHz) single axis active monopulse radar seeker, with a rangeof 25kms against fast attack craft, and an INS with radioaltimeter. The 165kg fragmentation warhead is linked to anautopilot controlled proximity and delayed impact fuse. Themissile's range is approximately 40kms at Mach .9 using asolid propellant rocket motor.An MM 38 Exocet ASM at the point of launch. Given the MM 38's agemany of the region's slocks of the missile are in desperate need ofmaintenance just to be considered reliable enough to leave the launch tube.Exocet travels lo its target at approximately 100m which isthought to be high enough to provide greater range for theseeker and yet low enough to mask its approach. At around15kms from the target's expected location the ADAC seeker isactivated. Once a target is detected the missile descends to 9mbefore descending to 2m (highly dependant on sea state).The new MM 40 Exocet features a number ofimprovements over its 1970's cousin. The Block I version hasdigital processing and a larger search and acquisition radarangle. The Block II has a new J-band (10-20 GHz) SuperADAC radar seeker with improved ECCM performance, theability to distinguish between different targets and with a chaffVOL64 NO 4THE NAVYTHE NAVY VOL. 64 NO. 4 9
Page 1 and 2: JULY - SEPTEMBER 2002VOLUME 64 NO.
Page 3 and 4: I ROM I 111 ( Kim s M MPublicity -
Page 5 and 6: Sea Harriers began lo enter front l
Page 7 and 8: Ml'MBAI has lour multi-barrelled 30
Page 9 and 10: Support to Operations on I.andAustr
Page 11 and 12: US Navy announcesDDX decisionThe US
Page 13 and 14: A Mk-15 Block IB phalanx This newer
Page 15 and 16: E^2S3322EDLine s ORCADES (his favou
Page 17 and 18: interviewed span time and distance
Page 19 and 20: Two RAF C 11-47 ( hinooks about tu
Page 21 and 22: OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2002 VOLUME 64 N
Page 23 and 24: THE NAVYContentsVolume 64 No. 4THE
Page 25: the mainland to protect the seaappr
Page 29 and 30: The Littoral ProblemWith 80% of the
Page 31 and 32: of large quantities of material. Th
Page 33 and 34: gun launch. The 18-mega joulepropel
Page 35 and 36: Lifted from the OCCM floor. the rev
Page 37 and 38: a result of interminable changes in
Page 39 and 40: The Naval Board was reconstituted i
Page 41 and 42: S I \ I I Ml \ I of |»< )l l( \The
Page 43 and 44: * * *• * ** ¥ *AJERRY BRUCKHEIME

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