Anti-shipping aircraft were a significant threat to warships during World War II. These aircraft were capable of flying low over the water and attacking warships from the air. These aircraft were later replaced by attack aircraft that could use guided bombs and antiship missiles. Although anti-shipping aircraft became less common after World War II than before, some navies still worked on anti-surface ship technology.
The US Navy used two types of air launched torpedoes during World War II. These were the most used. These torpedoes may also have been operated by land-based military forces and air forces. These were surprisingly inaccurate.
The US Navy torpedo RUR-5 ASROC is also known as AntiSubmarineROCket. It has a rocket attached. The RUR-5 ASROC is an exact copy of the Mk 46, but has a longer range. It can also carry a nuclear-depth bomb that can destroy all subs within two miles from the impact point. The US Navy also has several TLAMs that are modified to have an anti-ship mode.
Heavyweight anti-ship torpedoes were once the dominant weapon against surface ships. They could also be guided by magnetic detonators. These could reach distances of dozens of miles. They can also carry larger warheads that other naval weapons. Despite their size, these torpedoes were difficult to decoy and can catch submarines. These torpedoes are too heavy to be carried by most aircraft. They also take up too little space on surface ships.
Modern anti-ship torpedoes are smaller and lighter than their predecessors, but they are still deadly. These torpedoes will explode and cause havoc on the target ship. They can move twice as fast as most ships. They are guided using wires and magnetic detonators. They can also be guided by acoustic seekers.
Today's missiles can fly very low at high speeds and fly very fast. They can be programmed simultaneously to engage multiple targets. They can also programmed to split targets between them if they are hit. They can also be self-guided. These weapons have been used in Vietnam and Korea, but they are less common today.
A third type of anti-shipping weapon is a depth charge. These bombs are dropped into water. They behave like depth charges, but the bomb cannot be followed by the target. 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 are used in World War I and World War II. These bombs were also used in Vietnam.
The modern anti-shipping weapons can be launched both from ships and planes. They can also withstand being shot before launch. They can also be fired from submarines. Torpedoes could be guided by wires or acoustic searchers. They are designed to catch and destroy surface ships and submarines. They are also capable to hit regular aircraft.