Anti-shipping airplanes were a major threat during World War II. These aircraft could be flown low above water and attacked warships from high altitude. These aircraft were soon replaced with attack aircraft equipped with anti-ship missiles or guided bombs. Although anti-shipping was not a common feature after World War II many navies worked on anti surface ship technology.
Two types of air-launched missiles were used by the US Navy during World War II. The RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk was the most commonly used, followed by the S-2. These torpedoes were also operated by land-based air forces and armies. These were relatively inaccurate.
The RUR-5 ASROC, also known as the AntiSubmarineROCket, is a US Navy torpedo with a rocket attached. It is very similar to the Mk 46 torpedo but has a greater range. The nuclear depth bomb can be carried on the torpedo, which can be used to destroy any submarines located within two miles of its impact point. The US Navy also owns several TLAMs which have an anti-ship mode.
The dominant weapon against surface ships was once heavyweight anti-ship torpedoes. They could also be guided by magnetic detonators. These could reach distances of dozens of miles. They also have larger warheads and can be used in conjunction with other naval weapons. These torpedoes are large enough to catch submarines, but they can be difficult to decoy. They are too big to be carried by most planes. They are also too big for surface ships.
Modern anti-ship missiles are lighter and smaller than their predecessors but still deadly. These torpedoes cause an explosion that can cause massive damage to the target ship. They can move twice as fast as most ships. They are guided using wires and magnetic detonators. They can also rely on acoustic searchers for guidance.
Modern missiles fly very low and are extremely fast. They can be programmed for multiple targets simultaneously. If they are shot down, they can be programmed to split among multiple targets. They can also be programmed to self-guide. These weapons were previously used in Vietnam or Korea but are becoming less common.
A depth charge, which is an anti-shipping weapon, is a third option. These bombs are dropped into water. They behave like depth charges, but the bomb cannot be followed by the target. They can be programmed with pressure or a timer to explode. They are not made for direct hits but can be used by sonar to blind it and cause sonar contact to cease. These are far less dangerous than torpedoes. They were used in World War I, and World War II. These bombs were also very popular in Vietnam.
Today's anti-shipping missiles can be launched from both ships and aircraft. They can also been shot before launch. They can also been fired from submarines. Torpedoes could be guided by wires or acoustic searchers. They can be used to destroy submarines and surface ships. They are also capable to hit regular aircraft.