Helicopter Antisubmarine Operations Essay Research Paper Helicopter

Helicopter Antisubmarine Operations Essay, Research Paper

Helicopter Antisubmarine Operations

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SA367, Mathematical Modeling

09 November 2000

Summary

The purpose of this report was to determine whether the effectiveness of the antisubmarine warfare helicopter would be enhanced if an additional torpedo would be added to its payload. As of now, the helicopter carried two torpedoes for its missions.

It was found that in developing the model, an estimate of the probability of killing a submarine was based on the distance to contact datum and the number of torpedoes carried. Limiting the size of the problem to fifty and seventy-five nautical miles, the question became how many torpedoes should the helicopter carry.

It was found to be more effective for the SH-60 anti-submarine helicopter to carry two torpedoes. Simply put, the kill probability drops too significantly at long ranges with three torpedoes. An 87% drop in kill probability between two and three torpedoes is undoubtedly very significant. However, kill probability at short ranges differ by only 17%, and remain high while carrying both two and three torpedoes.

Unfortunately, our naval forces cannot always count on enemy submarines appearing within the fifty nautical mile range, so it’s important to have an anti-submarine platform that retains its mission outside of this range. If an SH-60’s payload could be increased to carrying three torpedoes and twenty sonobuoys, the SH-60 loses this mission ineffectiveness.

Introduction

Anti-submarine warfare is becoming an integral part of the protection of our naval forces in foreign seas. The proliferation of extremely quiet, diesel engine submarines has proved to be a deadly threat particularly in the littoral areas.

To combat this silent threat, the United States Navy developed the most capable anti-submarine helicopter forces in the world. Today’s SH-60 helicopter, equipped with technically advanced sonobuoys, detection equipment, and torpedoes, are a great asset to protecting our surface forces from the threat of foreign submarines.

Initially, submarines were spotted by long-range airborne antisubmarine units that patrol continuously in the assigned operational area. Once sighted, the patrol relayed the contact’s range and bearing from the task force. The helicopters then deployed and began their search using sonobuoys. After locating the submarine, the SH-60 helicopter attacked using the highly capable ADCAP torpedoes.

Problem

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or nor it is more effective for the helicopter to carry an additional torpedo.

Measure of Effectiveness

The measure of effectiveness (MOE) used for this problem was the probability that the submarine was detected and killed by the SH-60.

Goals

The problem was addressed through the following steps:

1. Using the supplied data, determine how much weight was available for sonobuoys and torpedoes.

2. Determine whether it was more effective to carry type A or type B sonobuoys.

3. Determine whether it was more effective to carry two torpedoes or carry three torpedoes.

Assumptions

The testing of our model was based on the following assumptions:

1. The initial contact datum was obtained from fleeting visual periscope detection by a long-range airborne anti-submarine unit patrolling continuously within the operational area of the task force.

2. Information on the contact datum was not be updated during the passage of the helicopter.

3. The submarine was submerged and heading in an unknown, but constant, direction from the contact point.

4. Once the helicopter reached station, it was assumed that the submarine had no further significant movement.

5. The helicopter scattered the sonobuoys in a uniform random pattern over the area defined that the submarine could possibly be in.

6. The total distance traveled by the helicopter during the deployment of the sonobuoys and torpedo kill phase was defined as eight times the radius of the circle defining the maximum area that the enemy submarine could be in.

7. Maximum submerged speed of the submarine was 20 knots.

8. The submarine had an initial contact range from the task force of fifty or seventy-five nautical miles.

Data

The following figures give the performance data that was used in creating the model.

ASW Helicopter Performance Data

Cruising Speed (knots) 100.00

Fuel Consumption (lbs per nm) 5.00

Maximum Payload 2850.00

Emergency Fuel Reserve 50.00

Maximum Sonobuoy Rack Capacity 10.00

Existing Torpedo Rack Capacity 2.00

Typical Time Into Action 5.00

Figure 1

Torpedo Performance Data

P(Kill given detection and location) 0.50

Weight per Torpedo + Rack (lbs) 400.00

Sonobuoy Performance Data Type A Type B

Detection Radius (nm) 3.50 4.00

Detection Area (nm^2) 38.47 50.24

Weight of Sonobuoy + Rack 30.00 40.00

Maximum Speed of Enemy Submarine (knots) 20.00

Figure 2

Model for probability of detection

To determine whether carrying an additional torpe

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