RUR-5 ASROC - History

History

ASROC started development as the Rocket Assisted Torpedo (RAT) program by the Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake in the early 1950 to develop as surface warship ASW weapon counter to the new post-WWII submarines which ran quieter, at much higher speed and could attack from much longer range with high speed homing torpedoes. In addition to take advantage of modern sonars with a much larger detection range. Also an extended range torpedo delivered by parachute from the air allowed warships the stand-off to attack hostile submarines with very little advance notice to the hostile submarine. The RAT program came in three phrases. RAT-A, RAT-B and RAT-C. RAT-A and RAT-B was a program to develop a compact and economical stand-off ASW for smaller warships, but was found to be either unreliable or had too short a range. RAT-C was a program to develop a stand-off ASW weapon that used a nuclear depth charge. This would require a range of at least 8,000 yards to escape potential damage from the underwater blast. Unlike the original RAT program rockets, the RAT-C was considerably larger to accomplish the extended range needed and was to be fitted to larger warships. With the failure of both the RAT-A and RAT-B programs, RAT-C was redesigned from a stand-off nuclear ASW weapon to one that could use not only a nuclear depth charge but also homing ASW torpedo. To obtain the accuracy needed, the RAT-C rocket launcher had to be redesigned with larger side fins. This program finally combined reliability and accuracy, along with the necessary stand-off range. However, before RAT-C reached initial operational status in 1960 aboard the large US Navy destroyer-leader Norfolk, its name was changed to the present ASROC.