OVERVIEW: The Yu‑5 is a Chinese heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, first entering service in 1989. It marked China’s first use of wire-guidance paired with acoustic homing in a submarine-launched weapon.

DETAILS: “Yu” (鱼) means “fish,” and “5” indicates its position in the development sequence. Developed from the early 1970s and tested extensively during the 1980s, the Yu‑5 combines copper-wire mid-course guidance and active/passive acoustic homing in the terminal phase. It uses Otto‑fuel II propulsion, reaches speeds up to 50 kn, has a range of approximately 30 km, and carries a ~400 kg warhead. It is based on a composite of Soviet and Western designs, with propulsion inspired by the American Mk 46, though not a direct clone.

TYPE: Heavyweight Anti‑Submarine Warfare (ASW) Torpedo

FUNCTION: After launch from a diesel-electric submarine, the Yu‑5 follows a wire-guided mid-course path, allowing operator updates, and switches automatically to active/passive acoustic homing in the terminal phase or upon wire severance. It is optimized for engaging submerged submarines at medium to long ranges.

NOTE:
IOC: 1989 (series production started 1990)
Manufacturer: China (CSIC and associated institutes)
Operators: China
Platforms: Song‑class (Type 039) diesel-electric submarines

Conflict used in: none

SOURCE:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu-5_torpedo ; GlobalSecurity.org: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/yu-5.htm ; Norman Friedman, The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems