Supercavitating torpedo, illustration. Cavitation is the formation and rapid collapse of bubbles in a liquid due to changes in pressure. Supercavitation is the use of cavitation effects to create a bubble of gas or vapor large enough to encompass an object traveling through a liquid (here, a torpedo travelling through water) and allow it to travel faster. This is a Russian VA-111 Shkval torpedo, developed in the 1970s. It has a rocket engine, gas tanks, and a cavitator in the nose cone area. It can reach speeds in excess of 370 kilometres per hour. For this illustration with labels, see image C048/2868.