User:Delmar-16

Development of The T-5 Nuclear Torpedo
The Soviet Union was the first to initiate an underwater arms race, by introducing an innovative alternative to aerial nuclear bombs. Since the early 1940’s when the Soviets had successfully engineered their own form of a nuclear bomb, aided of course by the use of espionage, the Soviets began to look for better alternatives of delivery to streamline their success for Cold War dominance. The Soviets main outpost for nuclear testing was located in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. Semipalatinsk played a major role in the design, and creation of the T-5 torpedo, and tipped with nuclear warhead dubbed the RDS-9 containing 5 kilotons of payload. Moreover, the first real test of the T-5 took place in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, on the 10th of October 1954. Unfortunately, this test was unsuccessful, but the Soviets were not deterred by this failure. After a year of refining the Soviets chose a new location, and a proper test site to advance their efforts of making an underwater nuclear-armed-torpedo. The Kremlins decided on the Arctic, specifically Novaya Zemlya to test the T-5. On the 21st of September 1955 the Soviets underwent their 2nd testing of the T-5 armed with the RDS-9, and with much jubilation the test was successful. Marking the first successful underwater nuclear-armed-torpedo launch in the world, eclipsing the Americans. This success of the T-5 spurred a greater competition between the two factions, resulting in future development.

Furthermore, the Soviets began to refine their T-5 design. Three years after the first launch, and failure of the initial testing the Soviets decided to test the T-5 against targets. The Soviets once again chose Novaya Zemlya as their test site and on the 10th of October 1957 the T-5 was once again launched under the name Project-613. This launch was successful as well, and proved its power against decommissioned Soviet submarines. The Soviets chose the S-144 to launch the T-5, and chose the S-20, S-34, and the S-19 as targets from a distance of 6.5 miles. Of the three subs the S-20 and S-34 were sunken completely; moreover, the damage was so devastating that it critically damaged the S-19 as well, with such a successful test the Soviets began to respect the T-5 for what it can do. Also, of the people present that day of the test one man stood out as one of the most prominent figures within the Soviets nuclear-armed-torpedo. This figure was Nikolai Shumkov. Shumkov’s mission was to test the Navy’s RDS-9, and bring back information for the Soviets. Polmar, N., & Moore, K. J. (2004). Cold War submarines: The design and construction of U.S. and Soviet submarines. Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books/ref> Shumkov played a vital role within his ranks of Soviet Russia, and was one the head figures during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His research and involvement within the testing at Novaya Zemlya allowed for the T-5 to become operational during the Cuban crisis.

“His mission, to test the soviet Navy's latest addition to their arsenal, a torpedo tipped with RDS-9 nuclear warhead. The test weapon code named Korall, detonated with a force of 4.8 kilotonnes twenty meters under the surface of the bay sending a huge plume of highly radioactive water high into the air.” Arkhipov, V. (n/a, September 29). The Man Who Saved The World. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://www.sonicbomb.com/modules.php?name=News/ref>

In fact, in 1958 the T-5 became fully operational in all subs. This is extremely important to note, because Russia finally had an ace up their sleeve that they could play in an event like the Cuban Missile Crisis. Moreover, the T-5 was commissioned as the Type 53-58 torpedo in 1958, and was streamlined to meet all requirements needed by the Russian Navy. Another major benefit of the T-5 is that its warhead was interchangeable allowing for quick time decision making in regards to warfare. If the timing were right the necessary measures would be met to quickly change a RDS-9 warhead onto a T-5 torpedo to get it ready for war.

The T-5 was designed to focus not on direct hits, but to maximize kill zones. A direct hit would be a positive, but was not necessary to kill large swaths of enemies. This is due to the fact that the physics in water are completely different than the physics of land assault bombs. In water a T-5 can send shock waves that are powerful enough to bounce the crews inside enemy subs around and with such mass powering through the water it was capable of breaking hulls of subs like they were an egg. Also, the T-5 was an extremely versatile weapon that could be outfitted on most Soviets submarines. The main sub chosen for such a powerful weapon was the S-144 a whiskey class submarine, which also was the catalyst for the first test of the T-5. Not only did the bomb not sufficiently meet detonation it was experiencing problems indicative to diving. Also, the warhead had issues with command capabilities. This inhibited the torpedoes guidance system, and halted the technical recording process. Another issue was the thermal regime of the nuclear warhead, because it’s normal operation required temperature +5 … +25 Co, it was hard to provide an unheated submarine torpedo tube, especially if it is based in the North.

U.S. Vs. Russia Including the Cuban Missile Crisis
Interestingly enough the U.S. had no clue of nuclear-armed-torpedoes that the Russian’s possessed. It had only come to the surface during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 that we as a country nearly reached a nuclear torpedo attack brought by the hands of the Kremlin. Prior to this incident Russia was partaking in tests of nuclear-armed-torpedoes in the arctic, which they had not only perfected, but were ready for deployment by 1962. In by far one of the most gut wrenching times within U.S. and Russian relations was the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviets had agreed with Cuba to put nuclear weapons on their land in retaliation to the U.S. putting warheads in Turkey. This culminated into one giant blow up as the U.S. formed a blockade to prevent the Soviets from carrying more weapons into Cuba.

Prior to this incident the U.S. was stalking and documenting most Soviet manned submarines. In fact, “After a day of persistent tracking by the U.S. destroyer, the Charles P. Cecil, commanded by Captain Charles Rozier, Soviet submarine B-36, commanded by Captain Aleksei Dubivko, exhausted its batteries forcing it to come to the surface. On 27 and 30 October respectively, U.S. Navy anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces surfaced Soviet submarines B-59 and B-130.” The U.S.’ effort to eradicate all Soviet presence in the Caribbean Sea was met with mass amounts of patience and hard work. Soviet submarines were an increasing presence during this time, and the U.S. wanted to do as much as they could to pinpoint all subs.

The largest implication, and overall hair raising situation during this era was when the blockade actually occurred. The U.S. was to not let any sub pass their blockade, and nearly sparked a war. An account of this is necessary to explain this tumultuous time.

“Possibly even more dangerous was an incident on submarine B-59 recalled by Vadim Orlov, who served as a communications intelligence officer. In an account published by Mozgovoi (see document 16), Orlov recounted the tense and stressful situation on 27 October when U.S. destroyers lobbed PDCs at B-59. According to Orlov, a "totally exhausted" Captain Valentin Savitsky, unable to establish communications with Moscow, "became furious" and ordered the nuclear torpedo to be assembled for battle readiness. Savitsky roared "We're going to blast them now! We will die, but we will sink them all." Deputy brigade commander Second Captain Vasili Archipov calmed Savitsky down and they made the decision to surface the submarine. Orlov's description of the order to assemble the nuclear torpedo is controversial and the other submarine commanders do not believe that that Savitsky would have made such a command.”

This event was the closest our country has ever gotten to nuclear war. Interestingly the payload nearly deployed by the Soviets would have been a T-5 torpedo tipped with the RDS-9. If Savitsky would have proceeded a war would have begun, and history would have been changed forever.