1945-1991: Cold War world Wiki

USS Harder with the three distinctive shark-fin PUFFS domes.

What is 'pasive sonar'?[]

Fin and central section of HMAS Onslow. The three orange covers on the casing are protective sheathes over the submarine's Micropuffs sonar.



The plan[]

Passive Underwater Fire Control Feasibility System (or Study) (PUFFS) was a passive sonar system for submarines. It was to be used om United States Navy conventional submarines converted to GUPPY III or otherwise modernised in the 1960s.

The system[]

The planned subs[]

The system was designated AN/BQG-4 and was primarily equipped on United States Navy conventional submarines converted to GUPPY III or otherwise modernized in the 1960s. It was also equipped on the nuclear-powered USS Tullibee (SSN-597). A version known as "Micropuffs" was fitted on Oberon-class submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, and as Type 2041 on Upholder/Victoria-class submarines for the British Royal Navy. This class still serves in the Royal Canadian Navy, where Micropuffs is known as BQG-501.

The system was notable for three tall, fin-like domes topside, except on Micropuffs installations. The system was retained on several submarines transferred to foreign navies. It was associated with long-range passive detection of targets for the Mark 45 nuclear torpedo and other torpedoes as well.

The retrofitted subs[]

Most submarines backfitted with it were also lengthened 12-16 feet to accommodate additional electronics and plotting rooms. It was also planned for Thresher and Sturgeon-class nuclear submarines, but was not fitted on them except Micropuffs experimentally on Barb and Haddock. With the exception of the four Canadian Upholder/Victoria class submarines, all PUFFS-equipped submarines have been disposed of or preserved as museum ships.

Also see[]

  1. Radar
  2. Sonar
  3. Radome
  4. Submarines
  5. Mark 45 nuclear torpedo
  6. Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY)

Outside links[]

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_Underwater_Fire_Control_Feasibility_System
  2. http://www.acronymfinder.com/PUFFS.html
  3. http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Passive_Underwater_Fire_Control_Feasibility_System
  4. http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/Passive+Underwater+Fire+Control+Feasibility+System
  5. https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEV0fqQzhYpYsArBpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNGJsOGU5BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjMxMTNfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=Passive+Sonar&fr=dss_yset_chr
  6. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sonar.html
  7. http://www.tutapoint.com/knowledge-center/view/passive-vs-active-sonar/
  8. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sonar#/Passive_sonar
  9. http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Passive+sonar