Poseidon[1] allegedly has practically unlimited endurance, a maximum speed ~70kts and a maximum operating depth of ~1000m. Some scaling arguments indicate that a maximum speed closer to 55kts may be likely.
I have addressed the speed requirements for ATTs against conventional torpedoes before, a few posts ago [2], which do not apply if the target is Russia's new "super" torpedo.
Presumably an ATT for use against Poseidon will have to be deployed from an aircraft. Now while at high speed Poseidon should be easily detectable and trackable there is no guarantee of being able to deploy the ATT for a near head-on attack. In which case a higher speed will be needed and so the $3/2$ rule may well be appropriate in this case. As the quoted maximum speed and in H.I. Sutton's article is 70kts the 3/2-rule puts the ATT maximum speed requirement up at 105kts which will present some interesting engineering challenges.. This may well raise issues about detectability of the target using sonar from the ATT.
What other options are there for hard-kill counters to Poseidon are depth charges, mines, ...?
Some further thoughts:
1. What endurance would be required of an ATT for this role? This would be determined by how close to Poseidon's position and track axis the ATT could be deployed. being dropped at ~1000m from the threat and close to the track would require a relatively modest endurance, while being dropped at greater distance might require a prohibitive endurance from a high speed weapon. Maybe a multi-speed ATT would be useful?
2. What speed profile would Poseidon employ? How long would it operate close to its maximum speed? Could it be attacked while at a lower speed?
3. Would it be better to attack/eliminate its launch vessel?
4. In the case of an airdropped ATT there would be no restriction on the ATT heading back towards the launch vessel, so if we have a high enough speed and sufficient endurance, tail chases are acceptable.
References:
- Sutton, H. I., Russia’s New ‘Poseidon’ Super-Weapon: What You Need To Know, Naval News, 2022
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/03/russias-new-poseidon-super-weapon-what-you-need-to-know/ - Larham, R., Maximum Design Speed of Homing Torpedoes. Naval Wargames and related stuff, Blog.
https://navalwargames.blogspot.com/2021/09/maximum-design-speed-of-homing-torpedoes.html
