Method and apparatus for destroying submarines

Claim 1

An anti-submarine missile adapted to be launched from the torpedo tube of a submarine which comprises; a weapon portion including a guidance section, a rocket motor portion secured to said weapon portion, means fixed to said missile for orienting the missile within the torpedo tube, a cover, explosive bolt means disposed about said cover to releasably secure the cover to said rocket motor portion and prevent water entry therein prior to ignition of said rocket motor, means electrically connected to said guidance section for igniting the rocket motor in the water when the missile is at a safe distance from the submarine, said explosive bolt means being electrically connected to said guidance section for initiation by an electric signal therefrom to release the cover from the rocket motor substantially simultaneously with the ignition of said rocket motor to permit exhaust gases from the rocket motor to blow off said cover, a plurality of vanes disposed in the rocket exhaust and electrically connected to said guidance section whereby said vanes are controlled by signals from the guidance section to stabilize the missile and steer it out of the water, means in said rocket motor portion electrically connected to said guidance section for separating said rocket motor portion from said weapon portion upon receipt of a signal from the guidance section, and aerodynamic control means on said weapon portion operatively connected to said guidance section for guiding the missile toward a predetermined water reentry point.

Claim 5

A method of destroying an enemy undersea craft comprising the steps of; tracking the craft, launching a missile having a warhead and a reaction type motor, igniting the motor under water, steering the missile out of the water toward the craft, steering the missile into the water near the craft, and detonating the warhead within lethal range of the craft.

Claim 6

A method of destroying an enemy undersea craft comprising the steps of; tracking the craft, launching a missile having a warhead and a reaction type motor, igniting the motor under water, steering the missile out of the water toward the craft, steering the missile into the water near the craft, and detonating the warhead within lethal range of the craft.

Claim 8

A system for destroying a submerged target submarine comprising; target tracking and computing equipment aboard a submerged killer submarine for tracking the target submarine and computing its probable future position, a missile disposed within the torpedo tube of the killer submarine for launching therefrom, said missile including a depth bomb having a warhead and a guidance section, a rocket motor releasably secured to said depth bomb, said rocket motor containing a propellant and an igniter electrically connected to said guidance section, lug means fixed to the depth bomb and to said rocket motor to align the missile in the torpedo tube with respect to said target tracking and computing equipment, expendable cable means electrically connecting said shipboard target tracking and computing apparatus to the guidance of said missile, power supply means electrically connected to said cable means for initiation by the killer submarine immediately prior to launching and electrically connected to said guidance section to provide power thereto subsequent to launching, a delay switch connected between said guidance section and the igniter, said switch being open while the missile is in the torpedo tube, spring means on said rocket motor to close said delay switch to detonate the igniter and light off said rocket motor at about 2-5 missile lengths from the attacking submarine, thrust vectoring means disposed within said rocket motor for deflecting the exhaust gases thereof and connected to said guidance section to receive guidance signals therefrom for controlling the missile in roll, pitch and azimuth and steer it out of the water, thrust reversal means on said rocket motor and electrically connected to said guidance section for initiation when the missie is at a predetermined position, explosive bolt means releasably connecting said rocket motor and said depth bomb and electrically initiated by said guidance section to effect separation of the missile and the depth bomb substantially simultaneously with the initiation of said thrust reversal means to thereby separate the depth bomb from the rocket motor, aerodynamic control means for steering the depth bomb toward the target after separation.

Claim 9

A system for destroying a submerged target submarine comprising; target tracking and computing equipment aboard a submerged killer submarine for tracking the target submarine and computing its probable future position, a missile disposed within the torpedo tube of the killer submarine for launching therefrom, said missile including a depth bomb having a warhead and a guidance section, a rocket motor releasably secured to said depth bomb, said rocket motor containing a propellant and an igniter electrically connected to said guidance section, lug means fixed to the depth bomb and to said rocket motor to align the missile in the torpedo tube with respect to said target tracking and computing equipment, expendable cable means electrically connecting said shipboard target tracking and computing apparatus to the guidance of said missile, power supply means electrically connected to said cable means for initiation by the killer submarine immediately prior to launching and electrically connected to said guidance section to provide power thereto subsequent to launching, a delay switch connected between said guidance section and the igniter, said switch being open while the missile is in the torpedo tube, spring means on said rocket motor to close said delay switch to detonate the igniter and light off said rocket motor at about 2-5 missile lengths from the attacking submarine, thrust vectoring means disposed within said rocket motor for deflecting the exhaust gases thereof and connected to said guidance section to receive guidance signals therefrom for controlling the missile in roll, pitch and azimuth and steer it out of the water, thrust reversal means on said rocket motor and electrically connected to said guidance section for initiation when the missie is at a predetermined position, explosive bolt means releasably connecting said rocket motor and said depth bomb and electrically initiated by said guidance section to effect separation of the missile and the depth bomb substantially simultaneously with the initiation of said thrust reversal means to thereby separate the depth bomb from the rocket motor, aerodynamic control means for steering the depth bomb toward the target after separation.

Claim 11

A method of destroying an enemy submarine at distances up to the second sonar convergence zone which comprises the steps of; tracking the enemy submarine from a submerged attacking submarine to determine the probable further position of the enemy submarine, ejecting a missile having a warhead and a solid propellant rocket from the torpedo tube of the attacking submarine, igniting the rocket motor under water when the missile is a safe distance from the attacking submarine, programming the missile out of the water, propelling and guiding the missile toward the probable position of the enemy submarine so that the missile reenters the water when the enemy submarine reaches said position, and exploding the warhead when the missile sinks to a predetermined depth at said position.

Claim 12

A method of destroying an enemy submarine at distances up to the second sonar convergence zone which comprises the steps of; tracking the enemy submarine from a submerged attacking submarine to determine the probable further position of the enemy submarine, ejecting a missile having a warhead and a solid propellant rocket from the torpedo tube of the attacking submarine, igniting the rocket motor under water when the missile is a safe distance from the attacking submarine, programming the missile out of the water, propelling and guiding the missile toward the probable position of the enemy submarine so that the missile reenters the water when the enemy submarine reaches said position, and exploding the warhead when the missile sinks to a predetermined depth at said position.

Claim 13

A method of destroying a submerged enemy submarine which comprises detecting the enemy submarine from a submerged attacking submarine, ejecting a missile from the torpedo tube of the attacking submarine, said missile including a depth bomb section and a rocket motor section, igniting the rocket motor while the missile is in the water, steering the missile out of the water, separating the rocket motor from the remainder of the missile, flying the remainder of the missile semiballistically to reenter the water at a point near the enemy submarine, and detonating the depth bomb in the water to destroy the enemy submarine.

Claim 14

A method of destroying a submerged enemy submarine which comprises detecting the enemy submarine from a submerged attacking submarine, ejecting a missile from the torpedo tube of the attacking submarine, said missile including a depth bomb section and a rocket motor section, igniting the rocket motor while the missile is in the water, steering the missile out of the water, separating the rocket motor from the remainder of the missile, flying the remainder of the missile semiballistically to reenter the water at a point near the enemy submarine, and detonating the depth bomb in the water to destroy the enemy submarine.