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A200 LCAW (Low Cost Antisubmarine Weapon) is a miniature torpedo developed by Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei S.p.A. (WASS).

Description

The LCAW is a miniature active-sonar homing torpedo originally developed to assist in the classification of targets. In order to deal with a potentially hostile submarine target, either a depth charge or a torpedo would be launched at it, either to kill it or cause it to flee, thus confirming it as a hostile submarine. With the obsolescence of conventional depth charges and the high cost of homing torpedoes, an intermediate solution was developed. The LCAW is intended to fill the gap between conventional depth charge and torpedoes, in the area where depth charges lack propulsion and guidance, while the cost of conventional torpedoes is increasingly becoming prohibitive. The program initially began in 1987, and was completed in 1992. In 1993, the weapon was adopted by Germany and Norway for their low cost antisubmarine weaponry program when the LCAW proved to meet the German and Norwegian requirement of a maximal underwater attack range of 500 m from the point of entry into the water. Norway subsequently developed its own upgraded variant.

In addition to regular deployment, LCAW is also used by Italian naval special forces. The air-dropped version is deployed from aerial sonar buoy dispensers. The weapon is primarily designed to engage targets in shallow water, especially midget submarines, diver propulsion vehicles, human torpedoes, sabotage or espionage-related equipment hauled by frogmen, and other hostile entities engaged in underwater special operations.

In 2014, an improved version of the LCAW was presented at the Euronaval 2014 trade show, titled "Black Scorpion". The Black Scorpion became available in 2021.

Variant

All of LCAW variants share the same operating depth, from 15 to 300 meters, and the same diameter, 123.8 mm. The same 2.5 kg PBX shaped charge warhead is adopted by air-launched variants while a tandem charge is shared by surface-launched variants. A total of five variants have been developed, including:

• A200: The basic version weighing 11.3 kg, with a range of 700 meters at 17 kt. An improved version with 18 kt speed appeared later with either a range of 2 km or an endurance of 2 minutes.
• A200/A: An air-launched variant with a length of 914.4 mm, weighing 12 kg, with an air brake. Maximum range of 2 km.
• A200/N: Norwegian variant with a length of over 2 meters, with vastly improved power reserve which increased the range to a maximum of 8 km, with a stated 70% to 85% probability of hitting a hostile submarine traveling at 8 knots.
• A202: a 16 kg variant for use by frogmen, launched from a man-portable launcher called Medusa, first adopted by the Italian naval special forces.

Operators

 Italy

 Germany

 Norway

See also

• Black Scorpion - Italian torpedo, successor to the A200 LCAW

References

1. Friedman, Norman (1991). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems, 1991/92. United States Naval Institute. p. 698. ISBN 0-87021-288-5.
2. Peruzzi, Luca. "Leonardo's Black Scorpion mini-torpedo is on track to complete qualification for delivery to customers". European Defence Review. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
3. "Black Scorpion". electronics.leonardo.com. Retrieved 30 September 2024.

External Links

• Underwater Warfare Systems: A200 LCAW (dead link; unarchived)

• Torpedoes of Italy
• Aerial torpedoes
• Military equipment introduced in the 1990s