| RUR-5 ASROC | |
|---|---|
ASROC Launcher |
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| Type | Standoff Anti-Submarine |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1961[1] |
| Used by | United States Navy and others |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Honeywell[1] |
| Unit cost | Approximately $350,000 (less torpedo payload) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1073 lb (488 kg)[1] |
| Length | 14.75 ft (4.5 m)[1] |
| Diameter | 16.6 in (422 mm) |
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| Warhead | Mark 46 torpedo, 96.8 lb (44 kg)[1] of PBXN-103 high explosive; 10kt W44 Nuclear Warhead (Retired) |
| Detonation mechanism |
Payload Specific |
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| Engine | Solid propellant rocket motor[1] |
| Wingspan | 26 7/8 in (683 mm) |
| Operational range |
12 nm (22 km)[1] |
| Speed | Subsonic |
| Guidance system |
Inertial guidance |
| Launch platform |
Surface Ship |
ASROC (for Anti-Submarine ROCket) is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed on over 200 USN surface ships, specifically cruisers, destroyers, and frigates. The ASROC has been deployed on scores of warships of many other navies, including Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of China, Greece, Pakistan and others.[2]
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ASROC started development as the Rocket Assisted Torpedo (RAT) program by the Naval Ordnance Station at China Lake in the early 1950 to develop as surface warship ASW weapon counter to the new post-World War Two submarines which ran quieter, at much higher speed and could attack from much longer range with high speed homing torpedoes. In addition to take advantage of modern sonars with a much larger detection range. Also an extended range torpedo delivered by parachute from the air allowed warships the stand-off to attack hostile submarines with very little advance notice to the hostile submarine. The RAT program came in three phrases.[3] RAT-A, RAT-B and RAT-C. RAT-A and RAT-B was a program to develop a compact and economical stand-off ASW for smaller warships. But was found to be either unreliable or had to short a range. RAT-C was a program to develop a stand-off ASW weapon that used a nuclear depth charge. This would require a range of at least 8,000 yard to escape damage from the under water blast. Unlike the original RAT program rockets the RAT-C was considerably larger to accomplish the extended range needed and was to be fitted to larger warships. With the failure of both the RAT-A and RAT-B program, RAT-C was redesigned from a stand-off nuclear ASW weapon to one that could use not only a nuclear depth charge but also homing ASW torpedo. To accomplish the accuracy needed, the RAT-C rocket launcher had to be redesigned with larger side fins. This program final combined reliability, accuracy along with with the necessary stand-off range. But before RAT-C reached initial operational status in 1960 aboard the large US Navy destroyer-leader Norfolk, it's name was changed to the present ASROC.[4][5]
After a surface ship, patrol plane or anti-submarine helicopter detects an enemy submarine by using sonar and/or other sensors, it could relay the sub's position to an ASROC-equipped ship for attack. The attacking ship would then fire an ASROC missile carrying an acoustic homing torpedo or a Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) onto an unguided ballistic trajectory toward the target. At a pre-determined point on the missile's trajectory, the payload separates from the missile and deploys a parachute to permit splashdown and water entry at a low speed and with minimum detectable noise. The water entry activates the torpedo, which is guided by its own sonar system, and homes in on the target using either active sonar or passive sonar.
In cases where the ASROC missile carried an NDB, the unguided bomb would sink quickly to a predetermined depth where it would detonate. The nuclear-armed ASROC was never used beyond one or two tests in 1961-62. Eventually the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty banning underwater nuclear tests went into effect. The nuclear weapon was never used in combat. An ASROC missile could hypothetically carry a 10 kiloton W44 nuclear warhead, although the W44-armed nuclear weapons were retired by 1989, and all types of nuclear depth bombs were removed from deployment.[2]
The first ASROC system using the MK-112 "Matchbox" launcher, was developed in the 1950s and installed in the 1960s. This system was phased out in the 1990s and replaced with the RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC, or "VLA".[2]
The 31 U.S. Navy Spruance-class destroyers were all built in the shipyard with the Mark 16 Mod 7 ASROC Launching Group and MK 4 ASROC Weapons Handling System (AWHS) reload system. These had one standard Mark 112 octuple ASROC launcher, located immediately above a reload system holding an additional 16 assembled rounds (two complete reloads of eight missiles apiece). Thus, each Spruance-class destroyer originally carried a maximum total of 24 ASROC.[6]
Most other U.S. Navy and allied navy destroyers, destroyer escorts, frigates, and several different classes of cruisers only carried the one ASROC 'matchbox' MK 112 launcher with eight ASROC missiles (although later in service, some of those missiles could be replaced by the Harpoon anti-ship missile). The "matchbox" Mk 112 launchers were capable of carrying a mixture of the two types. Reloads were carried in many classes, either on first level of the superstructure immediately abaft the launcher, or in a separate deckhouse just forward or abaft the Mk 112.
The MK 16 Launching Group also had configurations that supported HARPOON RGM-84 (Onboard Knox Class Destroyer Escorts (Fast Frigates)) or a variation of the Tartar missile in limited distribution.
Ships with the Mk 26 GMLS, and late marks of the Mk 10 GMLS aboard the "Belknap"-class, could accommodate ASROC in these power-loaded launchers (the Mk 13 GMLS was not able to fire the weapon, as the launcher rail was too short).
Most Spruance-class destroyers were later modified to include the Mk 41 VLS, these launchers are capable of carrying a mixture of the VL-ASROC, the Tomahawk TLAM, and other missiles. All of the Spruance destroyers carried two separate quad Harpoon launchers. Other US ships with the Mk 41 can also accommodate VL-ASROC.
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