TOW's: Antiship Capable?

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by The Dark

With regards to firing TOW over water, FM 23-34 says it can be done. For a scenario like is being discussed here (ship-to-ship), a BGM-71A, BGM-71A-2, or BGM-71A-2A can be fired across 1400 meters of water, and any other type up to BGM-71E over 1100 meters of water.

Not to impune a manual from my dear Army -- the BGM-71A or BGM-71A-2 are NOT going to go over that much water without the guide wires hitting the water and shorting out. It was fixed later, but the earlier TOWs are not going to zoom over water for any real distance without going BOOM early. Especially not salt water. Ask an 80s or 90s 11-Hotel.

That said, an aerial shot from a high angle with one of those early TOWs might do it. And anything can be an antiship weapon - - just depends on how you deploy it.