OVERVIEW: The SAET‑60M WH is a Soviet heavyweight, submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo introduced in 1969. It is electrically powered and uses passive acoustic homing for surface target engagements.

DETAILS: “SAET‑60” stands for “Self‑guided Acoustic Electric Torpedo, model 1960”; “M” indicates the 1969 modernization, and “WH” denotes the passive acoustic (wake-homing) variant optimized against surface vessels. It measures approximately 7.80 m in length, 533 mm in diameter, and weighs about 2,000 kg. The torpedo carries a 300 kg high-explosive warhead and is propelled by a silver‑zinc battery driving twin wakeless propellers, achieving speeds of ~40 kn with a range up to ~15 km. Guidance is autonomous passive acoustic homing, designed to detect and track ship noise while minimizing acoustic signature detection. The 1969 SAET‑60M upgrade introduced a secondary speed/range setting, a new ZET‑1M silver-zinc sponge battery, improved fuses and control systems, and increased reliability and operational endurance.

TYPE: Heavyweight submarine-launched passive acoustic homing anti-ship torpedo

FUNCTION: Launched from 533 mm submarine tubes, the torpedo runs a preset speed and depth profile using battery propulsion. Its passive acoustic seeker homes in on ship propeller noise to intercept surface vessels, detonating on contact or via proximity fuse when within engagement envelope.

NOTE:
IOC: 1969 (SAET‑60M entry)
Manufacturer: NPF Gidropribor / Dagdizel Plant, Soviet Union
Operators: Soviet Navy (now Russian Navy)
Platforms: Soviet/Russian submarines with 533 mm tubes (Kilo, Victor, Alfa, Tango classes)
Conflict used in: No confirmed combat deployment

SOURCE: Torpedo SAET‑60 – TopWar (Russian); SAET‑60 WeaponsSystems.net; Russian Post‑WWII Torpedoes – NavWeaps; Naval‑Encyclopedia “SAET‑60M” data