During World War II, a major threat to warships was anti-shipping aircraft. These aircraft were capable to fly low over water and attack warships by the air. These aircraft were replaced by attack aircraft with guided bombs and anti-ship missiles. After World War II, anti-shipping planes were less common but some navies did not stop working on anti-surface vessel technology.
During World War II, the US Navy had two types of air-launched torpedoes. The RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk was the most commonly used, followed by the S-2. These torpedoes could also be operated by air-based armies and air forces. These were fairly inaccurate.
The US Navy torpedo, the RUR-5 ASROC (also known as AntiSubmarineROCket), has a rocket attached. It is a close copy of the Mk 46 torpedo, but with a much longer range. It is designed to carry a nuclear depth bomb, which can eliminate all submarines within two nautical miles of the point of impact. The US Navy also has several TLAMs modified to include an anti-ship mode.
Heavyweight anti-ship missiles were once the primary weapon against surface ship. They could be guided using magnetic detonators, and could travel for a few miles. They can also carry larger warheads that other naval weapons. Despite their size, these torpedoes were difficult to decoy and can catch submarines. In addition, they are too large for most aircraft to carry. They also take up a lot of space on surface vessels.
Modern anti-ship torpedoes are smaller and lighter than their predecessors, but they are still deadly. These torpedoes can explode, causing chaos on the target vessel. They can move twice as fast than most ships. They are guided by wires and magnetic detonators. They can also use acoustic seeker to guide them.
Today's missiles fly very fast and at an extremely low altitude. They can be programmed for multiple targets simultaneously. They can also split between targets if they're shot down. They can also self-guide. They were once used in Vietnam, Korea, but are much less common today.
A depth charge, which is an anti-shipping weapon, is a third option. These bombs can also be dropped into the seawater. They work like a depth charge, but the target can not follow the bomb. They can be programmed to detonate by pressure or by a timer. They are not designed for direct hits, but can be used to blind sonar and cause loss of sonar contact. Compared to torpedoes, these are relatively harmless. They were used in World War I, and World War II. These bombs were also very popular in Vietnam.
Today's antishipping missiles can both be launched from ships or aircraft. They can also been shot before launch. They can also fire from submarines. Torpedoes are guided by wires and magnetic detonators, as well as acoustic hunters. They are designed to catch and destroy surface ships and submarines. They can also strike regular aircraft.