Object Details
Manufacturer
Avco Corportation
Summary
This is the U.S. Navy's solid-fuel Subroc (Submarine Rocket), the first guided missile capable of underwater launch, guided airborne trajectory, and underwater detonation. It was therefore very complex and underwent an extensive development program from 1955 until it became operational in 1965. Subroc could either be used as an underwater-to-air, underwater-to-underwater, or surface-to-underwater weapon and carried a nuclear warhead.
It was fired from a standard torpedo tube, then rose to the surface, flew for 25-50 miles before re-entering the water with its rocket motor already ejected, then homed in on an enemy submarine. It went out of service in 1987. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1966 by the U.S. Naval Ordnance Lab.
Alternate Name
Subroc Antisubmarine Missile
Credit Line
Transferred from U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory
Date
ca. 1965
Inventory Number
A19660031000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Materials
Motor section, steel or cast iron; torpedo or warhead section, steel
Dimensions
Overall: 20 ft. 6 in. long x 1 ft. 9 in. diameter, 4085 lb. (624.84 x 53.34cm, 1852.9kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Exhibit Station
Rockets & Missiles
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19660031000