Anti-ship missile

RGM-84 Harpoon firing from USS Leahy.

Martel guided anti-ship missile.

The MBDA Exocet Anti-ship missile.

Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing. A good number of other anti-ship missiles use infrared homing to follow the heat that is emitted by a ship; it is also possible for anti-ship missiles to be guided by radio command all the way.

The first anti-ship missiles, which were developed and built by Nazi Germany, used radio command guidance, these saw some success in the Mediterranean Theater in 1943 - 44, sinking or heavily damaging at least 31 ships with the Henschel Hs 293 and more than seven with the Fritz X, such as the Italian battleship Roma or the cruiser USS Savannah. A variant of the HS 293 had a TV transmitter on board. The bomber carrying it could then fly outside the range of naval AA guns and use TV guidance to lead the missile to its target by radio control.

Many anti-ship missiles can be launched from a variety of weapons systems including surface warships (they can then be referred to as ship-to-ship missiles), submarines, bombers, fighter planes, patrol planes, helicopters, shore batteries, land vehicles, and conceivably, even by infantrymen firing shoulder-launched missiles.

A typical acronym for the phrase "anti-ship missile" is ASM, but AShM can also be used to avoid confusion with air-to-surface missiles, anti-submarine missiles, and anti-satellite missiles.

History

Anti-ship missiles were among the first instances of short-range guided missiles during World War II in 1943 - 44. The German Luftwaffe used the Hs 293, the Fritz X, and others, all launched from its bombers, to deadly effect against some Allied ships in the Mediterranean Sea, seriously damaging ships such as the United States Navy light cruiser USS Savannah (CL-42) off Salerno, Italy. These all used radio command-guidance from the bombardiers of the warplanes that launched them. Some of these hit and either sank or damaged a number of ships, including warships offshore of amphibious landings on western Italy. These radio-controlled missiles were used successfully until the Allied navies developed missile countermeasures - principally radio jamming. The Allies also developed some of their own similar radio-guided AShMs, such as the Tiny Tim and the SWOD-9 Bat, but these saw little to no use in combat.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union turned to a sea-denial strategy concentrating on submarines, naval mines and the AShM. One of the first products of the decision was the SS-N-2 Styx missile. Further products were to follow, and they were soon loaded on to the Soviet Air Force's Tu-95 Bear and Tu-22 Blinder bombers, in the case of the air-launched KS-1 Komet.

In 1967, the Israeli Navy's destroyer Eilat was the first ship to be sunk by a ship-launched missile - a number of Styx missiles launched by Egyptian Komar-class missile boats off the Sinai Peninsula.

In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 the Indian Navy conducted two raids using OSA 1 - class missile boats employing the Styx on the Pakistani Naval base at Karachi. These raids resulted in the destruction or crippling of approximately two thirds of the Pakistani Navy. Major losses included two destroyers, a fleet oiler, an ammunition ship, approximately a dozen merchant ships and numerous smaller craft. Major shore based facilities, including fuel storage tanks and naval installations were also destroyed. The Osas returned to base without loss.

The Battle of Latakia in 1973 (during the Yom Kippur / Ramadan War) was the scene of the world's first combat between anti-ship missile-equipped missile boats. In this battle, the Israeli Navy destroyed Syrian warships without suffering any damage, using electronic countermeasures for defense. After defeating the Syrian navy the Israeli missile boats also sank a number of Egyptian warships, again without suffering any damage in return, thus achieving total naval supremacy for the rest of the war.

Anti-ship missiles were used in the 1982 Falklands War. The British warship HMS Sheffield, a 4,820 ton Type 42 Destroyer, was struck by a single air-launched Exocet AShM, she later sank as a result of the damage that she sustained. The container ship Atlantic Conveyor was also sunk by an Exocet. HMS Glamorgan was damaged when she was struck by an MM38 missile launched from an improvised trailer-based launcher taken from the Argentine Navy destroyer ARA Comodoro Seguí by Navy technicians, but she was able to take evasive action that restricted the damage.

In 1987, a US Navy guided-missile frigate, the USS Stark, was hit by an Exocet anti-ship missile fired by an Iraqi Mirage F-1 fighter plane. Stark was damaged, but she was able steam to a friendly port for temporary repairs.

In October 1987, the Sungari, an American-owned tanker steaming under the Liberian flag and a Kuwaiti tanker steaming under the American flag, the Sea Isle City, were hit by Iranian HY-2 missiles.

In 1988 ASMs were fired by both American and Iranian forces in Operation Praying Mantis in the Persian Gulf. During this naval battle, several Iranian warships were hit by American ASMs (and by the US Navy's Standard missiles - SAMs which were doing double-duty in the anti-ship role). The US Navy hit the Iranian Navy light frigate IS Sahand with three Harpoon missiles, four AGM-123 Skipper rocket-propelled bombs, a Walleye laser-guided bomb, and several 1,000 lb "iron bombs". Despite the large number of munitions and successful hits, the 1,540 ton IS Sahand did not sink until fire reached her ammunition magazine, causing it to detonate, blowing the frigate to bits. In the same engagement, American warships fired three Standard missiles at an Iranian Navy corvette. This corvette had such a low profile above the water that a Harpoon missile that arrived several minutes later could not lock on to it with its targeting radars.

In 2006, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters fired an AShM at the Israeli corvette INS Hanit, inflicting battle damage, but this warship managed to return to Israel in one piece and under its own power. A second missile in this same salvo struck and sank an Egyptian merchant ship.

Comparison

Name	Year	Weight	Warhead	Range	Speed	Propulsion	launched by	Guidance	Country	Comments
Fritz X	1943	1362 kg	320 kg	5 km	1235 km/h	none	Air	manual (radio link)	DE	used in combat
Henschel Hs 293	1943	1045 kg	295 kg	5.0 km	828 km/h	Liquid-propellant, then gliding	Air	manual (radio link)	DE	used in combat
Kh-55	1984	1700 kg	410 kg conventional/200 kt nuclear	3000 km	828 km/h	turbofan	Air	Inertial by Radar, TERCOM, Infrared	USSR/Russia
Blohm & Voss BV 246	1943	730 kg	435 kg	210 km	450 km/h (280 mph)	none	Air	manual (radio link)	DE
Ohka	1943	2140 kg	1200 kg	36 km	630 km/h	Solid-propellant	Air	human kamikaze	JP	used in combat
Bat	1942	1000 kg	727 kg	37 km	260–390 km/h	None	Air	manual (radio link)	USA	used in combat
Harpoon	1977	691 kg	221 kg	280 km	864 km/h	turbojet engine	Air, surface, sub	radar (B3: midcourse update)	USA	used in combat
AS.34 Kormoran	1991	630 kg	220 kg	35 km	1101 km/h	rocket	Air	Inertial, active radar	DE
Penguin	1972	385 kg	130 kg	55+ km	1468 km/h	Solid propellant	Air, surface, sub	Inertial, laser, IR	NOR
AGM-65F Maverick	1972	300 kg	140 kg	30 km)	1,150 km/h	Solid propellant	Air,	Laser, IR	USA	used in combat
Naval Strike Missile	2009	410 kg	125 kg	185 km	high subsonic	turbojet and solid fuel booster	Air, surface	Inertial, GPS, terrain-reference, imaging IR, target database	NOR
AGM-123 Skipper II	1985	582 kg	450 kg	25 km	1,100 km/h	solid-fueled	Air	laser-guided	USA
SS.12/AS.12	1960	76 kg	28 kg	7 km	370 km/h	solid-fueled	Air, surface	wire MCLOS	FR
BGM-109B Tomahawk	1983	1200 kg	450 kg	450 km	880 km/h	turbofan	Air, surface, sub	GPS, TERCOM, DSMAC	USA	used in combat
RB 04	1955	600 kg	300 kg	32 km	subsonic	solid propellant	Air	active radar	SWE
RB 08	1966	?	?	70 km	subsonic	turbojet	surface	radio link active radar	SWE
RBS-15	1985	800 kg	200 kg	200 km	1101 km/h	turbojet	Air, surface	inertial, GPS, radar	SWE
Exocet	1979	670 kg	165 kg	180 km	1134 km/h	solid propellant	Air, surface, sub	Inertial, active radar	FR	used in combat
Gabriel	1962	522 kg	150 kg	60 km	840 km/h	solid-fuel rocket	Air, surface	active radar	IL	used in combat
Otomat	1977	770 kg	210 kg	180+ km	1116 km/h	Turbojet	Surface,Air(Perú)	Inertial, GPS, active radar	IT
Martel	1984	550 kg	150 kg	60 km	1070 km/h	solid propellant	Air	passive radar, video	UK/FR
Sea Eagle	1985	580 kg	230 kg	110+ km	1000 km/h	Turbojet	Air	Inertia, active radar	UK
Sea Skua	1983	145 kg	28 kg	25 km	950 km/h	solid fuel	Air	semi-active radar	UK	used in combat
LRASM	2013	?	?	?	?	liquid fuel	Surface	?	USA
KSShch (SS-N-1 SCRUBBER)	1958	2300 kg	nuclear	40 km	1150 km/h)	liquid-fuel rocket	Surface	inertial	USSR
P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 STYX)	1958	3100 kg	454 kg	80 km	1100 km/h	Liquid fuel rocket	Surface	active radar, IR	USSR	used in combat
P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3 SHADDOCK)	1959	5000 kg	1000 kg	750 km	1000 km/h	turbojet	Surface	Inertial, mid course correction, active radar	USSR
Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen)	1962	5820 kg	1000 kg conventional/nuclear	400 km	4000 km/h	liquid-fuel rocket	Air	inertial	USSR
P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 STARBRIGHT)	1968	3500 kg	500 kg	65 km	1050 km/h	solid rocket	sub	inertial, terminal homing	USSR
Moskit (SS-N-22 SUNBURN)	1970	4500 kg	320 kg	120 km	3600 km/h	ramjet	Surface, Air	active radar, IR	USSR
P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 SIREN)	1972	2953 kg	500 kg	110 km	1101	Turbojet, solid fuel	Surface	Inertial, mid course correction, active radar	USSR	used in combat
P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 SANDBOX)	1975	4500 kg	1000 kg	550 km	3060 km/h	liquid fuel rocket	surface/submerged	Semi-active, terminal active radar	USSR
P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26)	1983	3000 kg	250 kg	300 km	3600 km/h	ramjet	Surface, Air	active-passive, radar	USSR
3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27 SIZZLER)	1993	1300-2300 kg	400 kg	300 km	735–3675 km/h	Turbojet	Surface, Sub	Inertial + Active Radar	USSR
Kh-35 (AS-20 KAYAK)	1983	520 kg	145 kg	130 km	970 km/h	turbofan	Surface, Air	Inertial, active radar	USSR
Kh-15 (AS-16 Kickback)	1988	1200 kg	150 kg conventional/nuclear	300 km	6200 km/h	solid-fuel rocket	Air	inertial or active radar	USSR
Hae Sung-I (SSM-700K)	2005	718 kg	300 kg	150 km	1013 km/h	Turbojet	Ship, Surface	Inertial, active radar	S.Korea
SOM (missile)	2006	600 kg	230 kg	185+ km	1153 km/h	Turbojet	Air	INS / GPS, Terrain Referenced Navigation, Automatic Target Recognition, Imaging Infrared Seeker	Turkey
BrahMos	2006	2500 kg (air), 3000 kg (ground)	300 kg	290 km	3675 km/h	ramjet	Ship,Surface, Air,Sub	Inertial, active radar	India/Russia

Threat posed

Antiship missiles are a large threat to surface ships, which have large radar, radio, and thermal signatures that are difficult to suppress. Once acquired, a ship cannot outrun or outturn a missile, the warhead of which can inflict significant damage. To counter the threat posed, the modern surface combatant has to either avoid being detected, destroy the missile launch platform before it fires its missiles, or decoy and/or destroy all of the incoming missiles.

Modern navies have spent much time and effort developing counters to the threat of antiship missiles since World War II. Antiship missiles have been the driving force behind many aspects of modern ship design, especially in navies that operate aircraft carriers.

The first layer of antimissile defense by a modern, fully equipped aircraft carrier task force is always the long-range missile-carrying fighter planes of the aircraft carrier itself. Several fighters are kept on combat air patrol (CAP) 24 hours a day, seven days a week when at sea, and many more are put aloft when the situation warrants, such as during wartime or when a threat to the task force is detected.

These fighters patrol up to hundreds of miles away from the Aircraft Carrier Task Force and they are equipped with excellent airborne radar systems. When spotting an approaching aircraft on a threatening flight profile, it is the responsibility of the CAP to intercept it before any missile is launched. If this cannot be achieved in time, the missiles themselves can be targeted by the fighters's own weapons systems, usually their air-to-air missiles, but in extremis, by their rapid-fire cannon.

However, some AShM's might "leak" past the Carrier Task Force's fighter defenses. In addition, many modern warships operate independently of carrier-based air protection and they must provide their own defenses againsts missiles and aircraft. Under these circumstances, the ships itself must utilize multilayered defenses which have been built into them.

For example, some warships, such as the U.S. Navy's Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, and the Royal Navy's Type 45 guided missile destroyer, use a combination of powerful and agile radar systems, integrated computer fire-control systems, and agile surface-to-air missiles to simultaneously track, engage, and destroy several incoming antiship missiles and/or hostile warplanes at a time.

The top American defensive system, called the Aegis Combat System, is also used by the navies of Japan, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and South Korea. Aegis is also being built into three new guided-missile destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy, either under construction or in the planning stages. The Aegis system has been designed to defend against mass attacks by hostile antiship missiles and/or warplanes.

Any missiles that can elude the interception by medium-ranges SAM missiles can then be either deceived with electronic countermeasures or decoys; shot down by short-range missiles such as the Sea Sparrow or the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM); engaged by the warship's main gun armament (if present); or, as a last resort, blown to bits by a close-in weapon system (CIWS), such as the American Phalanx CIWS or the European Goalkeeper CIWS.

Current threats and vulnerabilities

To counter these defense systems, countries such as Russia are developing or deploying very low-flying missiles (about five meters above sea level) that slowly cruise at a very low level to within a short range of their target and then, at the point when radar detection becomes inevitable, initiate a supersonic, high-agility sprint (potentially with anti-aircraft missile detection and evasion) to close the terminal distance. Missiles, such as the SS-N-27 Sizzler, that incorporate this sort of threat modality are regarded by U.S. Navy analysts as potentially being able to penetrate the U.S. Navy's defensive systems.

Recent years have seen a growing amount of attention being paid to the possibility of ballistic missiles being re-purposed or designed for an anti-ship role. Speculation has focused on the development of such missiles for use by China's People's Liberation Army Navy. Such an anti-ship ballistic missile would approach its target extremely rapidly, making it very difficult to intercept.

Countermeasures

See also: Countermeasure

Countermeasures against anti-ship missiles include:

• Anti-missile missiles such as the Russian Navy's 9K33 Osa (SA-N-4 Gecko), 9M330 Tor (SA-N-9 Gauntlet), 9M38 Buk (SA-N-12 Grizzly), Sea Sparrow, the Rolling Airframe Missile, the Standard, or the Royal Navy's Sea Wolf or Sea Dart and the newer Sea Viper.

On February 25, 1991, during the first Gulf War, the Phalanx-equipped USS Jarrett (FFG-33) was a few miles from the USS Missouri (BB-63) and the destroyer HMS Gloucester (D96). The ships were attacked by an Iraqi Silkworm missile (often referred to as the Seersucker), at which Missouri fired its SRBOC chaff. The Phalanx system on Jarrett, operating in the automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed upon Missouri's chaff, releasing a burst of rounds. From this burst, four rounds hit Missouri which was two to three miles (about 5 km) from Jarrett at the time. There were no injuries. A Sea Dart missile was then launched from HMS Gloucester, which destroyed the Iraqi missile, achieving the first successful engagement of a missile by a missile during combat at sea.

• Close-in weapon systems (CIWS), including the Soviet-or Russian-made AK-630 or Kashtan/Каштан or the Phalanx and Goalkeeper. These are automated gun systems mounted on the deck of a ship that use radar to track the approaching missile, and then attempt to shoot it down during its final approach to the target.
• Anti-aircraft guns such as the Mk 45 5-inch naval gun or the AK-130
• Electronic warfare equipment (such as SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite)
• Decoy systems (such as "chaff" - the US Navy's RBOC system), and "flares", or more active decoys such as the Nulka

Modern stealth ships – or ships that at least employ some stealth technology – to reduce the risk of detection and to make them a harder target for the missile itself. These passive countermeasures include:

• reduction of their radar cross section (RCS) and hence radar signature.
• limit a ship's infrared and acoustic signature.

Examples of these include the Norwegian Skjold class patrol boat, the Swedish Visby class corvette, the German Sachsen class frigate, the US Navy's Arleigh Burke class destroyer, their Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's close counterparts in AEGIS warships, the Chinese Type 054 frigate and the Type 052C destroyer, the Indian Shivalik-class frigate and Kolkata class destroyer, the French La Fayette class frigate and the newer FREMM multipurpose frigate.

See also

• List of anti-ship missiles

External links

• Warship Vulnerability (tabulated shipping losses)
• List of SSSR/Russian anti-ship missiles