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 soon replaced with attack aircraft equipped with anti-ship missiles or guided bombs. Although anti-shipping aircraft became less common after World War II than before, some navies still worked on anti-surface ship technology.
During World War II, the US Navy had two types of air-launched torpedoes. The most popular were the RGM/UGM-109B Tomahawk or the S-2. These torpedoes may also have been operated by land-based military forces and air forces. These torpedoes were not very accurate.
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 can also be equipped with a nuclear bomb to destroy submarines up to two miles away from the impact point. The US Navy also has several TLAMs that are modified to have an anti-ship mode.
Heavyweight anti ship torpedoes used to be the main weapon against surface vessels. They could be guided via magnetic detonators. This could allow them to travel hundreds of miles. They are also equipped with larger warheads than any other naval weapon. Despite their size, these torpedoes were difficult to decoy and can catch submarines. They are too big to be carried by most planes. They can also take up too many space on surface ships.
Modern antiship torpedoes have smaller and lighter weapons than their predecessors. However, they are still extremely 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, magnetic detonators and magnets. They can also be guided using acoustic hunters.
Today's missiles can fly very low at high speeds and fly very fast. They are programmed to engage multiple targets simultaneously. They can also programmed to split targets between them if they are hit. They can also be programmed to self-guide. They were once used in Vietnam, Korea, but are much less common today.
A depth charger is a third type anti-shipping weapon. These bombs are dropped into water. They act like a depth charger, but the target is unable to follow the bomb. They can be programmed with pressure or a timer to explode. They are not meant to be hit directly, but they can be used blindly or cause loss of contact with sonar. These are far less dangerous than torpedoes. They were used during World War I and World War II. These bombs were also very popular in Vietnam.
Anti-shipping missiles of today can be launched from aircraft or ships. They can also withstand being shot before launch. They can also be fired by submarines. Torpedoes can also be guided using wires, magnetic detonators, and acoustic seeker. They are designed to capture and destroy submarines and surface vessels. They can also hit regular aircraft.