| Spearfish | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavyweight dual-purpose ASW and ASuW torpedo |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1992–present |
| Used by | Royal Navy |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Underwater Systems |
| Produced | 1988–2003, 2020- present |
| No. built | 550 produced [citation needed] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1,850 kg (4,080 lb) |
| Length | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Diameter | 533 mm (21 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 30 nmi (56 km)[1][2] |
| Warhead | Aluminised PBX explosive |
| Warhead weight | 300 kg (660 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | Proximity or contact detonation |
| Engine | Sundstrand gas-turbine with pump-jet |
| Propellant | HAP / Otto fuel II[2] |
| Maximum speed | 80-knot (148 km/h) |
Guidance system | Wire-guided with autonomous active terminal homing sonar |
Launch platform | submarine |
The Spearfish torpedo (formally Naval Staff Target 7525) is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability. Spearfish development began in the 1970s, with production starting in 1988, and deployment in 1992. By 2004, the new weapon had completely replaced the older Tigerfish torpedo.