Overview: Wake-homing torpedo seekers are designed to passively detect and follow the turbulent wake of a surface vessel. This seeker type offers a counter-countermeasure advantage by homing on the persistent hydrodynamic trail left by ships, making it particularly effective against evasive targets.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Wake-homing seekers operate by detecting the physical disturbances and microbubbles within a ship’s wake using specialized acoustic or pressure sensors. Unlike traditional acoustic seekers, they are less susceptible to noise countermeasures and are especially effective in cluttered littoral environments or against quiet targets. These seekers are typically installed in heavy-weight torpedoes intended for anti-surface warfare.

ROLE SUMMARY:
Category: Torpedo Seeker
Primary Use: Anti-ship warfare
Function: Passive wake detection and homing
Platform: Submarine- or ship-launched heavy torpedoes
Guidance: Passive wake-homing (hydrodynamic and/or acoustic signature tracking)

Detection Mode: Passive (wake turbulence detection)

See Specific information under [Sensors/EW] and [Properties] sections.

SOURCE:
Naval technical documentation, torpedo guidance system overviews, unclassified defense analyses