The S-70B ASW Helicopter of RTN Fired the Mk 46 Light Torpedo for the First Time

05 April 2021

The torpedo running right on the  underwater target (designed by LCDR Sarut Puangragsa) at a depth of 25 meters and  at 500 yards from the position at which the torpedo was loosed (all photos : RTN)

Annual Navy Training 2021 on 2 April 2021 by HTMS Chakri Naruebet CVH-911 who returned from training in the Andaman Sea at the end of March. Sailing to the Gulf of Thailand in early April  has acted as an operating base for a S-70B anti submarine helicopter.

One Sikorsky S-70B (SH-60B) Seahawk mounted with Light Torpedo Anti Submarine Mk 46 Mod 5 with a corvette HTMS Rattanakosin FS-441 as a control ship for Anti-Submarine Warfare, in which S-70B Seahawk fired a light torpedo Mk 46 with a real warhead (Live Warhead) destroying underwater targets for the first time.

The Royal Thai Navy has shown a picture of a training that has led the S-70B with a light torpedo Mk 46 for the first time in the Guardian Sea 2016 combination exercise between the Royal Thai Navy and the US Navy, but as a trainee.

Practice which in the submarine warfare, a helicopter carrier or a frigate with a landing the aft of the ship will serve as a flight base for  pick-up and drop-off anti submarine helicopter. The control ship will serve to detect underwater targets from a distance and give orders. The helicopter flew towards the target as a torpedo-shooting system to destroy the target.

The Royal Thai Navy has ordered a more modern US anti-submarine Mk 54 torpedo supplying, but it still does not appear to be installed with S-70B.

(AAG)