RBU-1200

The RBU-1200 (Russian: Реактивно-Бомбовая Установка, Reaktivno-Bombovaja Ustanovka; reaction engine-bomb installation & Смерч; waterspout) is a anti-submarine rocket launcher. The weapon system is remotely similar to the British Hedgehog anti submarine mortar launcher from the Second World War.

RBU-1200 on a Pauk-class corvette

Description

RBU-1200 anti-submarine rocket launcher on the bow of the Finnish patrol craft Kurki (51).

The system is very light and was developed in 1955 especially for smaller vessels. It can not be swiveled horizontally, it is targeted with the entire ship, which is a serious disadvantage of the weapon system.

The RBU-1200 has five launcher pipes in one system. Reloading is done manually.

The system is controlled by a PUS-B "Uragan" fire control system.

The system is designed to destroy submarines and torpedoes.

Ammunition RGB-12 uses contact fuzes. The launch is made of solid rocket fuel, the flight itself is ballistic arc with a long range from 400 to 1200 meters. The contact lighter K-3, K-3M, or combined contact-remote lighter KDV is used as a lighter. Lighter K-3 / K-3M activates the warhead in direct hit target (or impact on the bottom), KDV lighter outside impact on the target (bottom) in the range of 25-330 meters can also be set to activate when reaching the specified depths in the range 10-330 meters.

Technical data

Launcher

RBU 1200 launchers in Naval museum complex Balaklava

• Weight: 620 kg (empty)
• 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 (list not complete):

• Albanian Naval Force
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Bangladesh Navy
  • Haizhui-class submarine chaser
  • Type 037 submarine chaser
  • Type 053H1 frigate
  • Type 053H2 frigate
• People's Liberation Army Navy
  • Type 051 destroyer
  • Type 052 destroyer
  • Type 053H1 frigate
• Bulgarian Navy
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
  • Pauk-class corvette
• Cuban Revolutionary Navy
  • Pauk-class corvette
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Egyptian Navy
• Finnish Navy
  • Hämeenmaa-class minelayer
  • Kiisla-class patrol boat
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Indonesian Navy
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Indian Navy
  • Abhay-class corvette
• Libyan Navy
  • Natya-class minesweeper
• Myanmar Navy
  • Aung Zeya-class frigate
  • Kyan Sittha-class frigate
  • Type 053H1 frigate
  • Anawrahta-class corvette
  • Yan Nyein Aung-class submarine chaser
  • Hainan-class submarine chaser
• Polish Navy
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Romanian Naval Forces
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Soviet Navy
  Russian Navy
  • Project 1241.2 (Pauk class)
  • Project 266M (Natya class)
  • Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
• Syrian Arab Navy
  • Natya-class minesweeper
• Vietnam People's Navy
  Vietnam People's Ground Force
  • Installed on Vietnam People's Navy's decommissioned Project 201 subchasers. Usable systems are transferred to the Vietnam People's Ground Force for ground-attacking roles.
    Refurbishing, upgrading and resembling projects are reported.
• Volksmarine
  • Project 12 (Hai-class)

See also

• RBU-1000
• RBU-2500
• RBU-6000
• RBU-12000

References

• The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Systems 1997-1998
• Warfare.ru Smerch system
• "RBU-1200 (реактивно-бомбомётная установка - reaktívny vrhač bômb)" [RBU-1200 ( реактивно-бомбомётная установка - reactive bomb launcher )] (in Czech). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.

External links

• Реактивная бомбометная установка РБУ-1200 of milrus.com (russian)
• World-Wide Ahead Throwing ASW Weapons of alternatewars.com