The RBU-1200 ( Russian: Реактивно-Бомбовая Установка, Reaktivno-Bombovaja Ustanovka; reaction engine-bomb installation & Смерч; waterspout) is a Russian anti submarine rocket launcher. The weapon system is remotely similar to the British Hedgehog anti submarine rocket launcher from the Second World War.

Description

The system is very light and was developed in 1955 especially for smaller vessels. It can not be swiveled horizontally, it is targeted with the entire ship, which is a serious disadvantage of the weapon system. The RBU-1200 has five launcher pipes in one system. Reloading is done manually. The system is controlled by a PUS-B "Uragan" fire control system. The system is designed to destroy submarines and torpedoes. Ammunition RGB-12 uses contact fuzes. The launch is made of solid rocket fuel, the flight itself is ballistic arc with a long range from 400 to 1200 meters. The contact lighter K-3, K-3M, or combined contact-remote lighter KDV is used as a lighter. Lighter K-3 / K-3M activates the warhead in direct hit target (or impact on the bottom), KDV lighter outside impact on the target (bottom) in the range of 25-330 meters can also be set to activate when reaching the specified depths in the range 10-330 meters.

Technical data

Launcher

* Weight: 620 kg (empty) * Length: 1.38 m * Height: 1.1 m * Width: 1,115 m * Elevation: 0 to 51 ° * Traverse: 0°

RGB-12 projectile

* Weight: 73 kg * Warhead: 30 kg * Diameter: 251.7 mm * Length: 1.24 m * Range: 400 m to 1200 m * Depth: up to 350 m * Rate of descent: 6.25 m/s

Operators

Ship classes fitted with RBU-1200 (list not complete): * ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * ** Haizhui-class submarine chaser ** Type 037 submarine chaser ** Type 053H1 frigate ** Type 053H2 frigate * ** Type 051 destroyer ** Type 052 destroyer ** Type 053H1 frigate * ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser ** Pauk-class corvette * ** Pauk-class corvette ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * ** Hämeenmaa-class minelayer **

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** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * **

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* ** Natya-class minesweeper * **

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** Type 053H1 frigate **

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** Hainan-class submarine chaser * ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser *
** Project 1241.2 (Pauk class) ** Project 266M (Natya class) ** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser * ** Natya-class minesweeper * Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam People's Ground Force **Installed on Vietnam People's Navy's decommissioned Project 201

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. Usable systems are transferred to the Vietnam People's Ground Force for ground-attacking roles.
Refurbishing, upgrading and resembling projects are reported. * **Project 12 (Hai-class)

References

* ''The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Systems 1997-1998''
Warfare.ru Smerch system
*

External links

''Реактивная бомбометная установка РБУ-1200'' of ''milrus.com''
(russian)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rbu-1200 Naval weapons of the Cold War Anti-submarine missiles Cold War weapons of the Soviet Union