AN/SQS-26

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The USS Garcia (FF-1040) is seen with a AN/SQS-26 installed while in dry dock. USS Garcia (FF-1040) in dry dock.jpg
The USS Garcia (FF-1040) is seen with a AN/SQS-26 installed while in dry dock.

AN/SQS-26 was a United States Navy surface ship, bow mounted, low frequency, active/passive sonar developed by the Naval Underwater Sound Laboratory [1] and built by General Electric and the EDO Corporation. At one point, it was installed on 87 [2] US Navy warships from the 1960s to the 1990s and may still be in use on ships transferred to other navies.

Contents

Capabilities

The AN/SQS-26 weighed 27,215 kg (59,999 lb). It could be operated as a passive sonar on the 1.5 kHz frequency or as an active sonar at 3–4 kHz. Its maximum output was 240 kW and it had a range from 18 to 64 km (11 to 40 mi). It had direct path, bottom reflected, passive and convergence zone (CZ) capabilities. [3]

Variants

The original AX sonars were manufactured by General Electric Heavy Military Electronics. The "R" suffix was the result of a "Retrofit" by GE that incorporated improved designs derived from the AN/SQS-26CX sonar, also manufactured by GE.

BX sonars were manufactured by EDO Corporation.

CX sonars were manufactured by General Electric Heavy Military Electronics. AN/SQS-26CX sonar performs a 360-deg, long-range sector search at low frequency. [4]

AN/SQS-53

AN/SQS-53 is an improved version of AN/SQS-26CX. The main difference between the SQS-26CX and SQS-53 sonars is the digital computer interface with the Mk 116 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon control system in the latter. [4] In addition, AN/SQS-53 sonar can be fitted with the Kingfisher small obstacle (mines) avoidance sonar. [4]

Specifications: [4]

Versions:

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References

  1. Thaddeus G. Bell: Probing The Oceans For Submarines -- A History of the AN/SQS-26 Long-Range, Echo-Ranging Sonar. Peninsula, Los Altos Hills, CA (U.S), 2010, p. 3. ISBN   978-0932146267
  2. Thaddeus G. Bell: Probing The Oceans For Submarines -- A History of the AN/SQS-26 Long-Range, Echo-Ranging Sonar. Peninsula, Los Altos Hills, CA (U.S), 2010, p. 180. ISBN   978-0932146267
  3. Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Kampfsysteme der U.S. Navy. Koehler, Hamburg (Germany), 2001, p. 212. ISBN   3-7822-0806-4
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "AN/SQS-53". Archived from the original on November 5, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2014.

See Also