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Weapon Alpha
USS Norfolk (DL-1) was one of the few ships outfitted with Weapon Alpha. Two of the four mounts can be seen side-by-side forward of the bridge.
Type	standoff anti-submarine rocket
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1951-1969
Used by	United States Navy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Production history
Designer	Naval Ordnance Test Station
Designed	1946-1950
Specifications (Mark 1)
Mass	525 pounds (238 kg)
Length	8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m)
Diameter	12.75 inches (324 mm)
Warhead	High explosive
Warhead weight	250 pounds (110 kg)
Detonation mechanism	Depth charge
Engine	5.25 in (133 mm) rocket
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational range	800 yards (730 m)
Maximum speed	190 miles per hour (310 km/h)

The RUR-4 "Weapon Alpha" (originally Weapon Able) was an American naval ahead-throwing ASW rocket launcher.

Similar to the earlier American Mousetrap, 375mm (14.8") Swedish Bofors, and 250mm (9.8") and 300mm (11.8") Soviet systems, all of which use multiple rockets, Weapon Alpha was developed toward the end of World War II, in response to the German Type XXI U-boat. Begun in a crash program in 1944-5 and put in service before undergoing operational evaluation, it emerged in 1950 as a 227 kg (500lb) 127mm (5") rocket with a 113 kg (250lb) warhead that sank at 12m/s (40ft/s) (compared to a depth charge, which sank at between 2.7-5m/s {8.9-16.5ft/s}), an influence or time pistol, and a range of 360-730m (400-800yd). Coupled to the new SQG-1 depth-finding sonar (for setting the time fuse, rather than the hydrostatic pistol of a depth charge), it was to be fired from a revolving Mark 108 launcher (with 22 rounds of ready ammunition) at up to twelve rounds per minute. The ready-service magazine could not be reloaded while Weapon Alpha was in use.

Large, complex, expensive, and unreliable, Weapon Alpha was made obsolete by Soviet Navy submarines (such as the Whiskey-class) that incorporated design features of the advanced Type XXIs, and it was mainly replaced by the more reliable Hedgehog. Nonetheless, Weapon Alpha remained in service through the 1960s until supplanted by ASROC.

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References

1. Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "Depth Charge", in Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus Publishing Co, 1978), Volume 7, p.730.

Sources

• Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus Publishing Co, 1978), "Weapon Alpha", Volume 24, p. 2589.
• __________. "Mousetrap", ibid., Volume 19, pp. 1946-7.
• __________. "Depth Charge", ibid., Volume 7, p. 730.
• Parsch, Andreas (2002). "NOTS RUR-4 Weapon Alpha". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2011-01-28.

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