Introduction

The Yu-7 is a lightweight torpedo of Chinese origin. Since 1984 China tried to copy and later produce under license the US Mk 46 torpedo. This proved to be difficult and a batch of Italian A.224S torpedoes was ordered and the two designs were mated. An electrically powered Yu-7 offspring called the ET-52 was developed and put into service before the development of the Yu-7 was finished.

Design

The Yu-7 is a mixture of the Mk 46 Mod 1 and Mod 2 with various components from the A.224S torpedo. The Yu-7 retains the complex Otto fuel engine which provides it with a better performance than the electrically powered ET-52. The layout is conventional with the seeker in the nose, the warhead in the middle and the fuel and engine at the rear.

Guidance

The Yu-7 uses a combination of passive and active acoustic guidance. It is believed that the Mk 46 seeker design is retained, but several components have been replaced by those from the A.224S.

Firepower

The Yu-7 has a range of 10 km and a speed of 42 kt. Submarines can be engaged out to a depth of 400 meters. The 45 kg warhead is more powerful than the one used on the ET-52 and many other lightweight torpedoes.

Launch platforms

The Yu-7 is used on various Chinese frigates and destroyers. It is launched from three round launched mounted on the deck. As with the original Mk 46 the Yu-7 can be dropped by helicopters, but is hardly used in that way. It is possible that the cheaper ET-52 is reserved for use on helicopters.

Users

The Yu-7 is used on the majority of Chinese surface combatants. As far as known the Yu-7 has not been exported. Although it is the latest and most capable Chinese lightweight torpedo the Yu-7 is nowadays considered to be an outdated design. The Yu-11 was designed as a replacement.

The Yu-7 is a lightweight torpedo of Chinese origin. The design is based on the Mk 46 Mod 2 and incorporates features found on the Mk 46 Mod 1 and Italian A.224S. Both the Yu-7 and ET-52 are a mixed design based on the Mk 46 and A.224S. They can be easily identified by the twin propeller on the Yu-7 and single propeller and ring around the control fins on the ET-52.