RUR-5 ASROC

The RUR -5 ASROC (Anti Submarine Rocket ) is an anti - submarine rocket to combat underwater targets at a great distance. The RUR -5 was developed in the early 1960s in the U.S. for large and medium surface combat ships of the Alliant Group (USA).

Description

The ASROC system is a combination of an anti-submarine torpedo Mk 44 or 46 (Ø 324 mm, 45.5 kg warhead ) and a rocket propellant. After firing the ASROC torpedo flies ballistically without steering in the predefined direction. At a predicted position of the flight phase of the rocket pack is jettisoned, and the torpedo floats on a parachute to water. Upon entering the water, it dissolves, submerges and is independent on search rate against enemy submarines. Here, the torpedo dive, however, a so deep that the use in the shallow North Sea and Baltic Sea was possible only conditionally.

The United States also undertook tests on the use of torpedoes Mk 45 with atomic warhead against underwater targets.

The RUR -5 was used on U.S. destroyers of the Charles F. Adams - class destroyers, and from 1969 to the class 103 ( Lütjens class) of the German Navy. Was fired the weapon system of a pivotably arranged eight -cell box. With the decommissioning of the destroyer of Lütjens class in 2003, the use of ASROC with the German Navy ended.

Meanwhile in the U.S. Navy was the RUR - 5 is replaced by the RUM -139 VL- ASROC. This will no longer be started from the eight -cell starter, but from Vertical Launching System ( VLS).