RBU-1200


The RBU-1200 is an anti-submarine rocket launcher. The weapon system is remotely similar to the British Hedgehog anti submarine mortar launcher from the Second World War.

Description

The RBU-1200 system was developed in 1955 to provide anti-submarine capability against submarines and torpedoes by surface vessels. In order to allow installation on small warships the design was made very lightweight.
The RBU-1200 system has five tubes with rocket-propelled depth bombs per each launcher. Reloading is performed manually. The launcher cannot be swiveled horizontally, but rather has to be aimed by turning the entire warship, which is a serious disadvantage of the weapon system and limits its flexibility.
The system is controlled by a PUS-B "Uragan" fire control system.
The system uses RGB-12 rocket-propelled depth bombs,which are fitted with contact fuzes. The projectile is propelled by a solid rocket fuel motor initially, and for the rest of the flight it follows a ballistic arc. The effective range of the system extends from 400 to 1200 meters. The contact fuze K-3 / K-3M, or combined contact-delay fuze KDV are used as a detonators. K-3 / K-3M fuze detonates the warhead if a target is hit directly or if the projectile sinks to the bottom. The KDV fuze besides activating on impact on the target at the depths of 25-330 meters can also be set to activate upon reaching a specified depth in the range of 10-330 meters.

Technical data

Source:

Launcher

  • Weight: 620 kg
  • 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 :
*

Vietnam People's Ground Force
Refurbishing, upgrading and resembling projects are reported.
  • *Project 12