Anti-shipping airplanes were a major threat during World War II. These aircraft were capable of flying low over the water and attacking warships from 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. 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 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. It is also designed to carry a nuclear depth bomb, which can destroy all submarines within two miles of 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 be guided by magnetic detonators and could have ranges in the dozens of miles. They can also carry larger warheads that other naval weapons. These torpedoes, despite being large, are difficult to decoy and can capture submarines. They are also too heavy to transport by most aircraft. They are also too big for surface ships.
Modern anti-ship torpedoes are smaller and lighter than their predecessors, but they are still deadly. These torpedoes create a massive explosion on the target ship, which can cause chaos. They can travel twice as fast as other ships. They can be guided by wires or magnetic detonators. They can also be guided by acoustic seekers.
Today's missiles fly very fast and at an extremely low altitude. They are programmed to engage multiple targets simultaneously. They can also split between targets if they're shot down. They can also be programmed to self-guide. Although these weapons were used in Vietnam and Korea, they are now less common.
A depth charge is the third type of anti shipping weapon. These bombs are dropped into the water. They act like a depth charger, but the target is unable to follow the bomb. You can program them to explode by either pressure or a timer. Although they are not intended for direct hits, they can be used to blind sonar or cause sonar contact loss. They are quite harmless in comparison to torpedoes. These bombs have been used in World War I (and World War II). These bombs were also quite common in Vietnam.
Anti-shipping missiles of today can be launched from aircraft or ships. They can also been shot before launch. They can also been fired from 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 are also capable of hitting regular aircraft.