A weaponized UUV has a sliding barrel and accessible breech. The barrel slides in response to the firing of a projectile, and moves a first distance un-arrested, providing time for the projectile to clear the barrel. After the projectile clears the barrel, a recoil mechanism engages the barrel, transferring the recoil load to the hull of the UUV.

A broach recoil mechanism includes an arresting cartridge and a broach having plural cutting surfaces. The broach is disposed on the exterior of the barrel of a weapon. As a projectile is fired from the barrel, the barrel recoils, moving toward the arresting cartridge. The broach engages the arresting cartridge, shaving off pieces thereof, slowing progress of the barrel while transferring the recoil load to the hull of a unmanned underwater weapon containing the weapon.

A broach recoil mechanism includes an arresting cartridge and a broach having plural cutting surfaces. The broach is disposed on the exterior of the barrel of a weapon. As a projectile is fired from the barrel, the barrel recoils, moving toward the arresting cartridge. The broach engages the arresting cartridge, shaving off pieces thereof, slowing progress of the barrel while transferring the recoil load to the hull of a unmanned underwater weapon containing the weapon.

An article comprising an electronic safe-arm and fire (ESAF) device for a supercavitating cargo round (SCR) includes discrete electronics, a high-voltage capacitor, a high-voltage switch, and an exploding foil initiator. The discrete electronics includes digital-delay timer circuits, discrete logic circuits, accelerometers, and circuitry for enabling the high-voltage switch. In a method for implementing the safe and arm protocols, sensor readings from sensors on a weaponized UUV are obtained and, when certain conditions are achieved, remove inhibit signals are forwarded to a controller onboard the UUV. When such signals are received in a specified order, and within certain optional specified time delays, the controller arms the ESAF within the SCR. After the SCR fire and leaves the barrel on the UUV, the ESAF monitors certain acceleration/deceleration conditions unique to supercavitation, and applies same to determine whether to detonate the SCR's energetic payload.

A broach recoil mechanism includes an arresting cartridge and a broach having plural cutting surfaces. The broach is disposed on the exterior of the barrel of a weapon. As a projectile is fired from the barrel, the barrel recoils, moving toward the arresting cartridge. The broach engages the arresting cartridge, shaving off pieces thereof, slowing progress of the barrel while transferring the recoil load to the hull of a unmanned underwater weapon containing the weapon.

A broach recoil mechanism includes an arresting cartridge and a broach having plural cutting surfaces. The broach is disposed on the exterior of the barrel of a weapon. As a projectile is fired from the barrel, the barrel recoils, moving toward the arresting cartridge. The broach engages the arresting cartridge, shaving off pieces thereof, slowing progress of the barrel while transferring the recoil load to the hull of a unmanned underwater weapon containing the weapon.

A weaponized UUV has a sliding barrel and accessible breech. The barrel slides in response to the firing of a projectile, and moves a first distance un-arrested, providing time for the projectile to clear the barrel. After the projectile clears the barrel, a recoil mechanism engages the barrel, transferring the recoil load to the hull of the UUV.

An article comprising an electronic safe-arm and fire (ESAF) device for a supercavitating cargo round (SCR) includes discrete electronics, a high-voltage capacitor, a high-voltage switch, and an exploding foil initiator. The discrete electronics includes digital-delay timer circuits, discrete logic circuits, accelerometers, and circuitry for enabling the high-voltage switch. In a method for implementing the safe and arm protocols, sensor readings from sensors on a weaponized UUV are obtained and, when certain conditions are achieved, remove inhibit signals are forwarded to a controller onboard the UUV. When such signals are received in a specified order, and within certain optional specified time delays, the controller arms the ESAF within the SCR. After the SCR fire and leaves the barrel on the UUV, the ESAF monitors certain acceleration/deceleration conditions unique to supercavitation, and applies same to determine whether to detonate the SCR's energetic payload.

A launch canister for ejection from a submerged launch platform, the launch canister being adapted for ejection in a direction substantially along a first axis of the launch canister and comprising: an enclosure for carrying a UAV; a nose cap releasably located in a launch opening at a forward end of the launch canister; a launch mechanism for driving a UAV carried in the enclosure out of the launch canister through the launch opening in a direction substantially along said first axis; and a water surface sensor for detecting when the nose cap of the canister broaches the surface of the water; wherein the launch canister is configured to, on the water surface sensor detecting that the nose cap of the canister has broached the surface of the water, immediately release the nose cap and initiate the launch mechanism to drive a UAV carried in the enclosure out of the launch canister through the launch opening.

A launch canister for ejection from a submerged launch platform, the launch canister being adapted for ejection in a direction substantially along a first axis of the launch canister and comprising: an enclosure for carrying a UAV; a nose cap releasably located in a launch opening at a forward end of the launch canister; a launch mechanism for driving a UAV carried in the enclosure out of the launch canister through the launch opening in a direction substantially along said first axis; and a water surface sensor for detecting when the nose cap of the canister broaches the surface of the water; wherein the launch canister is configured to, on the water surface sensor detecting that the nose cap of the canister has broached the surface of the water, immediately release the nose cap and initiate the launch mechanism to drive a UAV carried in the enclosure out of the launch canister through the launch opening.