An older "Matchbox" ASROC launcher, phased out in the 1990s

ASROC (for Anti-Submarine ROCket) is an urgent-attack, all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system, developed by the United States Navy, and installed on over 200 surface ships, generally cruisers and destroyers. A surface ship, patrol plane or anti-submarine helicopter first detects an enemy submarine by using sonar, relaying the range and bearing information to the attacking ship who then fires an ASROC missile on an unguided ballistic trajectory, carrying an acoustic homing torpedo or Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) toward the target. At a pre-determined position on the missile's trajectory the payload separates from the missile and deploys a parachute to slow the torpedo or NDB to permit splashdown and water entry at a low speed and minimum detectable noise. Water entry activates the torpedo, and guided by its own sonar system it homes in on the target using either active or passive sonar and detonates. When the missile carries a nuclear weapon, the unguided NDB, sinks quickly to a predetermined depth and detonates. An ASROC missile can carry a 10 kiloton W44 nuclear warhead, although the W44-based NDBs were retired by 1989.[2] See Ikara for a fuller explanation of the tactical rationale for these 'rocket-thrown' weapons. Image File history File links ASROC_launcher_USS_Columbus_1962. ... Image File history File links ASROC_launcher_USS_Columbus_1962. ... Exocet missile in flight A missile (see also pronunciation differences) is a projectile propelled as a weapon at a target. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... USS Port Royal, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, launched in 1994. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Alvin in 1978, a year after first exploring hydrothermal vents. ... The F70 type frigates (here, La Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C towed sonars SONAR (SOund Navigation And Ranging) â€” or sonar â€” is a technique that uses sound propagation under water (primarily) to navigate, communicate or to detect other vessels. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... A Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge and is used in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) for attacking submerged submarines. ... A Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge and is used in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) for attacking submerged submarines. ... The F70 type frigates (here, La Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C tugged sonars Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft. ... The F70 type frigates (here, La Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C tugged sonars Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft. ... A Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge and is used in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) for attacking submerged submarines. ... A megaton or megatonne is a unit of mass equal to 1,000,000 metric tons, i. ... The W44 was an American nuclear warhead used on the ASROC tactical anti-submarine missile system. ... A Nuclear Depth Bomb (NDB) is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge and is used in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) for attacking submerged submarines. ... The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile, named after an Australian Aborigine word for a throwing stick. The missile concept is quite Disimilar to the American RUM-139 ASROC. It was powered by a two stage solid-fuel rocket engine and guided by radio until it...

The first ASROC system (RUR-5), 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".

Launch of a Vertical Launch ASROC

The VLA missile is a rocket-propelled, three-stage, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon designed for deployment on Ticonderoga-class cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and Spruance-class destroyers equipped with the MK41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and MK 116 fire control system. The VLA missile provides the fleet with the capability for rapid response, all weather delivery of a MK 46 torpedo against threat submarines in any direction at intermediate ranges. VLA missiles were introduced into the fleet in 1993 as a baseline weapon for the cruisers and destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system and as a replacement for the ASROC weapon on Spruance-class destroyers when the original ASROC launchers were replaced by the MK 41 VLS. Vertical Launch ASROC launch Believed to be in the public domain, as the picture was taken from a US Navy web page at [1]. No photo credit on web page. ... Vertical Launch ASROC launch Believed to be in the public domain, as the picture was taken from a US Navy web page at [1]. No photo credit on web page. ... Anti-submarine warfare (ASW or in older forms A/S) is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft or other submarines to find, track and then damage or destroy enemy submarines. ... Ticonderoga class cruiser is a class of warships in the US Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. ... The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, one of the destroyer classes of the United States Navy, is built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. ... The Spruance-class destroyer was developed to replace a large number of World War II-built - and Gearing-class destroyers, and was the primary destroyer built for the U.S. Navy during the 1970s. ... The VLS cells on board USS San Jacinto. ... A fire-control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... USS Lake Champlain, a Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided missile cruiser, launched in 1987 The Aegis combat system is an integrated missile guidance system used by the United States Navy. ... The Spruance-class destroyer was developed to replace a large number of World War II-built - and Gearing-class destroyers, and was the primary destroyer built for the U.S. Navy during the 1970s. ...

VLA missiles were first introduced with the MK 46 torpedo as its payload (RUM139A). In 1996 an upgrade was implemented to allow the enhanced shallow-water capable MK 46 to be incorporated as the VLA missile payload (RUM139B). VLA missiles are delivered to the fleet as All-Up-Rounds (AURs) which consist of the VLA missile installed inside of a MK15 VLS canister. VLA missiles have two basic fleet configurations, Warshot and Exercise. VLA Warshot missiles contain a MK46 warshot torpedo. VLA Exercise missiles contain an exercise torpedo, and are used for fleet exercise firings. A modern torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ...

General characteristics of the VLA

• Primary Function: Surface Launched Missile, Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon.
• Contractor: Lockheed Martin, Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems of Akron, Ohio (formerly Loral Defense Systems, formerly Goodyear Aerospace).

ASROC mission sequence. The range shown was typical of early ASROC rounds, before introduction of the VLA system with slightly extended range.[1]

• Unit cost: Approximately $350,000 (less torpedo payload).
• Power plant: Solid propellant rocket motor.
• Length:
  • Warshot: 16 ft 0.6 in (4.892 m)
  • Exercise: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
• Weight:
  • Warshot: 1407 lb (638 kg)
  • Exercise: 1377 lb (615 kg)
• Diameter: 16.6 in (422 mm)
• Wing Span: 26 7/8 in (683 mm)
• Range: 28 km (15 nm)
• Guidance system: Inertial Guidance
• Warhead: Mark 46 torpedo, 100 lb (45 kg) of PBXN-103 high explosive
• Date Deployed: 1993 (RUM139A); 1996 (RUM139B)

Nickname: The Rubber Capital of the World Location within the state of Ohio Country United States State Ohio County Summit Founded 1825 Incorporated 1835 (village) - 1865 (city) Government  - Mayor Don Plusquellic (D) Area  - City  62. ... Loral Corporation was a small Bronx defense contractor on the verge of bankruptcy when in 1972 it was acquired by Bernard Schwartz, who over the course of the next two decades built it into a major player in the global aerospace and defense industry, acquiring sixteen other defense and aerospace... Image File history File links ASROC-mission. ... Image File history File links ASROC-mission. ... A French Lynx helicopter carrying a mk46 torpedo Designed to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navys lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. ...

See also

ASROC worst-case miss distance when attacking a submarine travelling at 25 knots with the RUR-5 ASROC and Mk.44 torpedo combination. Attempting to splash the torpedo within acquisition-range of the torpedo acoustic seeker was entirely dependent upon a prediction of the submarine's movements. An astute submarine captain would take immediate and unpredictable evasive measures when hearing the ship's sonar echo. Only if the submarine maintained its approximate course and speed could the acoustic seeker be certain to lock-on to the target, and even then, a kill was not assured, especially if the missile's margin of error placed the torpedo astern of the submarine.

• SUBROC
• Ikara: An Australian missile (1960s - 1990s). A rocket-powered winged cruise missile that was guided throughout its flight, unlike the unguided, ballistic trajectory of ASROC.
• Sea Lance
• http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/vla.htm
• http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/asroc.htm
• http://designation-systems.net/dusrm/r-5.html
• http://netmarine.net/armes/malafon/index.htm
• http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malafon
• http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi-bin/xphrase.pl?keyword=malafon