The United States Navy in the Cold War Era: What ifs.

[dragoon500ly]

While not exactly a “what if”, still an interesting weapon.

The SUBROC (Submarine Rocket) is a rocket-propelled nuclear depth bomb that can be launched from standard 21in submarine torpedo tubes. After being launched, the missile streaks to the surface leaves the water, and then releases the nuclear depth bomb to descend by parachute to the water.

The weapon is analog and therefore is not compatible with U.S. attack submarines fitted with the Mark 117 digital fire control system. Thus, only about 25 submarines of the PERMIT (SSN 594) and later classes can carry the weapon. The remaining missiles are wearing out rapidly and all will probably be discarded prior to the replacement ASW SOW becoming available in the early 1990s.

Weight: 4,000lbs
Length: 21ft (6.4m)
Diameter: 21in (533mm)
Propulsion: solid-propellant rocket and booster
Range: approx.. 25nm
Guidance: inertial
Warhead: Nuclear (W55)
Platforms: Submarines equipped with the Mark 113 analog fire control system only