L3 (550 mm)

L3 (550 mm) torpedo

Description

The L3 torpedo was developed by France in the 1960s as a successor to the earlier L2 model of the dedicated anti-submarine torpedoes and a last torpedo in that role designed with the 550 mm diameter. The L series focused on anti-submarine roles, complementing the E series, which targeted surface vessels. The torpedo featured new sensors and a guidance package, enabling it to autonomously detect targets and sense near-misses. It could detonate within 20 metres of the target even if the contact fuse failed to hit the hull of the enemy submarine. Initially produced by Alcatel and its successors, production was transferred to DCN International in the late 1970s. The L3 was widely adopted by the navy, being used on destroyers, frigates, and submarines, but achieved only limited export success. In an attempt to capture more of the foreign market, a prototype 533 mm version was developed, but it did not result in any sales. Throughout its production run, approximately 600 units were manufactured in Saint-Tropez. Eventually, it was replaced by the 533 mm L5 and F17 torpedoes.

Similar to other early Cold War torpedoes, the L3 has a low speed, disappointing range, and modest warhead size. However, unlike its direct foreign contemporaries, it featured a 200 kg warhead, making it sufficient to kill destroyers with a typical hit.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• Guichen

General info

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Effective damage

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Comparison with analogues

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Name	Country of origin	Diameter (mm)	Mass (kg)	Explosive type	TNT equivalent (kg)	Max speed (km/h)	Max range (km)
12.75 inch Mark 44		324	235	HBX	54.4	56	5.49
12.75 inch Mark 46		324	235	TNT	44.5	91	7.30
18 inch Mark XII		450	702	TNT	176	74	1.37
18 inch Mark XV		450	817	Torpex	395.2	61	3.20
18 inch Type 38 No.2 B		450	663	Shimose	104.5	59	2.00
18-inch Mk.7		450	720	TNT	93	59	3.65
21 in Mk.8		533	1,252	TNT	146	50	9.14
21 inch Mark I		533	1,270	TNT	102	56	11.00
21 inch Mk.20 Bidder		533	821	TNT	89	37	11.00
21 inch Type 43 (1910)		533	1,187	Shimose	143	50	8.00
45-36NU		450	951	TNT	200	76	4.00
53-38		533	1,615	TNT	300	82	4.00
53-39		533	1,780	TNT	317	94	4.00
53-56		533	2,000	TNT	400	93	8.00
53-57		533	2,000	TNT	306	83	18.00
53-65		533	2,070	TNT	300	126	12.00
Bliss-Leavitt Mk.1		533	680	TNT	91	50	3.66
C/06D		450	810	TNT	122.6	50	5.90
G6c		533	1,008	TNT	160	50	5.00
G7		500	1,365	TNT	249.6	69	4.00
G7a		533	1,528	SW39a	358.4	81	6.00
H/8		600	2,160	SW39a	268.8	67	6.00
LT 1A/1		450	812	TNT	250	74	2.00
Mark 35		533	803	Torpex	196	50	13.71
Mk.8-3 C/D		533	1,373	TNT	174.2	50	12.35
Mk.13		569	884	TNT	178	56	5.21
Mk.15		533	1,559	TNT	224	83	5.50
Mk.16		533	1,766	Torpex	915.2	85	6.40
Mk.IV		533	1,454	TNT	234	65	7.30
Mk.IX		533	1,693	TNT	340	67	9.60
Mk.IX**		533	1,693	Torpex	587.2	76	10.00
Mk.V		533	1,736	TNT	305	74	4.57
Mk.VIII		533	1,566	TNT	327	84	4.57
1909R		450	716	TNT	144	61	2.00
Model 1919V		550	1,358	Picric acid	261.8	80	2.00
Model 1923DT		550	2,100	TNT	308	72	9.00
1926V		400	674	TNT	144	81	2.00
L3		550	910	TNT	200	46	5.00
Pattern 1910		450	665	TNT	100	54	3.00
Pattern 1912		450	810	TNT	100	80	2.00
R.G.F. Mark VI**		450	700	TNT	134	56	5.49
S.I.170/450X5,25		450	860	TNT	170	76	4.00
S.I.270		533	1,715	TNT	270	74	4.00
S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A		533	1,781	TNT	250	76	4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo I		533	1,700	TNT	270	89	4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo M		533	1,715	TNT	270	93	4.00
S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L		533	1,700	TNT	270	93	4.00
Seal DM2A1		533	1,370	TNT	250	61	20.00
SET-40		400	550	TNT	80	54	8.00
SET-53M		533	1,480	TNT	100	54	14.00
SET-65		533	1,740	TNT	205	74	16.00
SET-72		400	730	TNT	80	74	8.00
Type 2		450	1,000	Type 97	448	72	3.00
Type 6		533	1,432	Shimose	223.3	65	7.00
Type 8 No.2		610	2,362	Shimose	380.6	70	10.00
Type 43		450	663	Shimose	104.5	48	5.00
Type 44 No.2		450	750	Shimose	121	65	4.00
Type 54 model 3		533	1,600	TNT	100	44	6.00
Type 72 mod.1		533	1,760	TNT	300	120	10.00
Type 89		533	1,660	Type 97	384	83	5.50
Type 90		610	2,540	Type 97	480	85	7.00
Type 93 Model 1, Mod 2		610	2,700	Type 97	627.2	91	20.00
Type 93 Model 3		610	2,800	Type 97	998.4	91	15.00
W.200/450X5,75		450	930	TNT	200	81	3.00
Whitehead A 110/450		450	936	TNT	110	56	4.00

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

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Pros:

• Warhead large-enough against destroyers

Cons:

• Very low speed
• Below-average range

History

The L3 is a heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo developed by France during the 1960s. The L3 succeeded the earlier L2 torpedo and was the last of the large 550 mm (21.6 in) heavyweight ASW torpedoes designed by the French Navy. A prototype 533 mm (21 in) version was developed for export but did not result in sales.

In French naval service, the L3 torpedo equipped several classes of ships and submarines, being able to be launched from both surface ships and submarines alike. These included the Surcouf (T 47), Duperré (T 53), and La Galissonnière (T 56) class destroyers, the Le Corse (E 50) and Le Normand (E 52) class frigates, the Commandant Rivière and D'Estienne d'Orves (A 69) class frigates, and the Agosta, Daphné, Aréthuse, and Narval class submarines. Initially produced by Alcatel, production later moved to CIT-Alcatel, then Sintra-Alcatel and finally, in late 1970s, to DCN International in Saint-Tropez.

The L3 was designed to complement the E14 and E15, sharing many common components. Its construction featured a light alloy body with a laminated nose-cone and was divided into five compartments. The foremost compartment contained the seeker, the guidance system, and an electromagnetic exploder. Guidance system used was Type AS3T, which employs an active sonar seeker with a range of approximately 600 m. Behind that was the warhead compartment, with 200 kg charge of Tolite A1 connected to an impact fuse. The third compartment contained the secondary battery. The fourth compartment housed a 250-bar air tank and the automatic pilot system which consisted of an electric gyroscope activated by air pressure. The gyroscope worked in conjunction with a depth regulator for rudder control via two pneumatic servo motors. Finally, the rear-most compartment held the electric motor (40 kW at 9,000 rpm) powered by 76 nickel-cadmium batteries providing 80 A/h. Motor also functioned as a rotary converter, supplying 50 V, 400 Hz, single-phase AC to the torpedo's subsystems.

Operationally, the L3 torpedo was capable of attacking submarines moving at speeds of up to 20 knots and at depths of up to 300 m. Before launch, distance and track data were inputted from the fire-control system of the parent vessel based on the approximate location of the target. Upon leaving the launch tube, the torpedo's automatic pilot adjusted the appropriate heading and depth. It then had to travel approximately 2 nautical miles (4 km) while the onboard guidance system was being warmed up, completing this phase about 350 m before initiating the search phase. During the search, the torpedo started zig-zagging at an angle of 20 degrees, activating its safety and arming mechanisms, as well as allowing the seeker to cover a larger area in search of the target. Once the target was acquired, the guidance system calculated the most effective course on a roughly ballistic trajectory. The warhead's fuse was designed to detonate 3.5 seconds after the seeker confirms that the target is within 20 m.

Approximately 600 units of the L3 torpedo were manufactured by ECAN, and torpedo entered service in Portugese, South African, Uruguayan and Pakistani navies, primarily through the exports of the Daphné-class submarines. Although torpedo remained in production for some time after the successors were introduced into the service, it was eventually replaced by the 533.4 mm L5 and 533.4 mm F17 torpedoes which introduced new seeker, higher speed and a greater operational depth.

Media

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See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

• [NavWeaps] Torpedoes of France
• Jane's Naval Weapon Systems