Editing RUR-5 ASROC (section)

==Description==
[[File:Inert ASROC missile on JS Shimakaze(DDG-172) left front view at JMSDF Hanshin base December 10, 2017 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=dummy ASROC round in IJN service|Dummy ASROC round]]
The first ASROC system using the MK-112 "Matchbox" launcher was developed in the 1950s and installed in the 1960s. This system was phased out in the 1990s and replaced with the [[RUM-139 VL-ASROC|RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC]], or "VLA".<ref name="NavInstGuid98" />

After a surface ship, patrol plane or anti-submarine helicopter detects an enemy [[submarine]] by using [[sonar]] or other sensors, it could relay the sub's position to an ASROC-equipped ship for attack. The attacking ship would then fire an ASROC missile carrying an acoustic homing [[torpedo]]<ref name=Brit>"Asroc" in ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica|The New Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. Chicago: [[Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.]], 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 639.</ref> or a W44 [[nuclear depth bomb]] onto an unguided ballistic trajectory toward the target. At a pre-determined point on the missile's trajectory, the payload separates from the missile and deploys a parachute to permit splashdown and water entry at a low speed and with minimum detectable noise. Water entry activates the torpedo, which is guided by its own sonar system, and homes in on the target using either [[active sonar]] or [[passive sonar]].

===W44 nuclear depth charge===
The W44 nuclear depth charge entered service in 1961,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Polmar |first=Norman |year=1983 |title=Tactical Nuclear Weapons |journal= [[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]] |volume=109 |issue=7 |page=125 |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] }}</ref> but was never used beyond one or two tests before the Limited [[Nuclear Test Ban Treaty]] banning underwater nuclear tests went into effect. A total of 575 weapons were produced. The W44 weighed {{convert|170|lb|kg|abbr=on|order=flip}} with a diameter of {{convert|13.75|inch|cm|sigfig=2|abbr=on|order=flip}} and length of {{convert|25.3|inch|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}}. Following payload separation, the unguided W44 sank quickly to a predetermined depth where the 10-[[kiloton]] warhead detonated. The nuclear-armed ASROC was never used in combat. W44-armed ASROC missiles were retired by 1989, when all types of nuclear depth bombs were removed from deployment.<ref name="NavInstGuid98" />