Totally tubular
July 1st, 2009 | Science and technology Submarines | Posted by Phil Ewing
Block III variant Virginia-class attack subs will carry two large payload tubes in the bow capable of handling several kinds of weapons and accessories. This computer-animated sub is launching a torpedo against a computer-animated target // Navy
We don’t run into many reporters at the Pentagon or on Capitol Hill from KXMC-TV of Minot, N.D., and yet they’ve got the Internet’s first image of the Virginia Payload Tube destined to ride in the bow of the future Virginia-class attack sub North Dakota.
It’s not much to look at yet, but when this tube and its partner are installed in the boat, submarine commanders hope they’ll be able to carry all kinds of weapons and gadgets, from a standard load of six Tomahawk cruise missiles per tube, to unmanned vehicles or larger missiles — who knows what? In fact, the tubes will have a lot in common with the ex-Trident missile tubes carried aboard the Navy’s four SSGNs, meaning the two types of boats will be able to share many payloads.