Historical review of underwater acoustic cylindrical transducer development in Russia for sonar arrays

Beginning with the introduction of piezoelectric ceramics in the 1950’s, underwater acoustics transducer development for active sonar arrays proceeded in different directions in Russia (formerly USSR) than in the United States (US). The main sonar arrays in Russia were equipped with cylindrical transducers, whereas in the US, the implementation was most often made with extensional bar transducers of the classic Tonpilz design. The presentation focuses on the underlying objectives and humane factors that shaped the preference towards the widespread application of baffled cylindrical transducers for arrays in Russia, the history of their development, and contributions to theory of the transducers made by the pioneering developers.