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Old 05-20-2018, 05:55 PM
swaghauler swaghauler is offline
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Default The ASROC, Harpoon, and Tomahawk Missiles

Here is what I found out about the US Navy's Four other surface-launched missile systems.

RUR-5 ASROC Missile and the RUM139 ASROC Missile:

These missiles are designed to carry a 12" MK46 or MK50 torpedo to a submerged target. They give a "standoff attack capability" to ships without ASW helicopters onboard. Please note that the following ranges DO NOT INCLUDE the range of the torpedo that is launched.
The RUR-5 has a range of from 0.85km (min) to 16km (max) and 1000 such missiles were produced. They are commonly launched from either the 8-round MK16 "Matchbox" Deck-Mounted Launcher or the MK26 Twin-Armed Launcher (the MK13 is too short to support ASROC).
The RUM-139 is the vertically-launched version fitted to the MK41 VLS and has a range of from 1km (min) to 19km (max) range. It is TOO LONG to be fired from any launcher but the MK41 VLS. The US adopts this in 1998 and 1000 missiles were initially purchased.

The RGM-84 Harpoon Missile:

This is the US Navy's universally-deployed anti-ship missile. This missile was in tight supply until about 1990. It is deployed on EVERY SHIP in the US Navy. There are several variants but most were upgraded to the following models by the Twilight War.
The RGM-84E: This is the most advanced version of the basic model with better ECM and IR targeting/target recognition. It has a range of 93km and 3000 were produced (or upgraded to the E variant). This model can be fired from a dedicated 4-Round MK141 Box Launcher, the MK13, the MK26, and certain modified MK16 "Matchbox" ASROC Launchers.
The RGM-84H: Primarily deployed in its MK141 Launcher or in the MK41 VLS, this missile has MUCH improved performance and a range of 280km. About 1000 were available before the Exchange.

The BMG-109 Tomahawk Missile:

This is the standard land-attack missile of the US Navy. There was an anti-ship version but it had very poor performance and all of that version were "remanufactured" into TLAM-A (conventional) Tomahawks in the early 90's. The Tomahawks are used in three main variants with many upgrades to each one. The ranges and payload types vary by model. and ALL of these models are launched from either a 4-Round MK-143 Armored Box Launcher or the MK41 VLS Launcher.
BMG-109 TLAM-A (and remanned B model ASMs): The basic warhead variant without midcourse correction capability or televisual links. It is the longest ranged version with the most basic conventional warhead (1000lbs) or a 200KT nuclear warhead (TLAM-N). Its range is 2590km and around 1000 were made.
BMG-109 TLAM-C: This is an advanced unitary warhead (1000lbs) version with telemetry and advanced mid-course correction. The range of this variant is 1700km and more than 1000 are in service during the Twilight War.
BMG-109 TLAM-D: This is a "cluster bomb" variant of the Tomahawk. It has all of the advanced guidance features but contains 24 canisters of bomblets instead of a unitary warhead. The missile contains 22 canisters of 7 bomblets each (154 total) and 2 more canisters of 6 each (12 total) in order to conform to the missile's shape. That's 166 submunitions in the TLAM-D. The range of this model is 1300km and slightly more than 1000 were made.

The Penguin Mk2 Mod 7 Missile:

While the US Navy primarily used this missile from helos and aircraft, I can see a few box launchers showing up on smaller surface combatants. When fired from a deck-mounted box launcher this missile has a range of 20km (MK I), 27km (MK II), and 34km (MK III) with around 1000 in service (including aircraft-launched versions).

Other Options:

As we have seen from the War On Terror, the Navy would probably experiment with several other missile types. They are using the Griffin laser-guided missile on the Cyclone Class PCs, as well as their smaller patrol boats (like the River Command Boat and the MK6 Patrol Boat). They also bought 100,000 Hellfire IIs and are trying to adapt the Hellfire Longbow to a VLS launcher. The rumor among Navy vets is that the Navy has a Longbow variant with a 10km range (with a booster attachment) and all-weather capability. The Navy has also fielded Stinger Missiles on the Cyclone Class PCs in a novel 8-round compact launcher. I could see ALL of these showing up during the Twilight War.
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