Quote:
The second system is the Tomahawk Weapons System. This is an offensive missile system which gives the Iowa class a very long-range strike capability against both surface and land targets. The Iowas generally carry thirty-two BGM-109 series missiles in eight Armored Box Launchers. Each box launcher holds a cluster of 4 missiles.
The Tomahawk series has three basic configurations: the Anti-Ship Missile (TASM); the Land-Attack Missile-Conventional (TLAM-C); and the Land-Attack Missile-Nuclear (TLAM-N). All variants are similar in appearance and use the same airframe body and launcher.
All listed as load out on the Iowa Class. So yes it was in service at the time and yes it most certainly did exisit.
Just where do you see the designation SPS-49 in there? If I can remember posting the information in books is not always correct.
At last time I checked the nuclear version of the Tomahawk does not need an impact to do its job and it is pre programmed from the get go before it leaves.
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Wow. So much to consider here.
What you are proposing to do is use a missile, the Tomahawk
Land Attack Missile-Nuclear (TLAM-N or BGM109A Block 1 for short) that relies on Terrain Comparison for accurate guidance to attack a moving ship in the open ocean at ranges as great as 1,500nm, am I correct? How exactly does this particular weapon accomplish this task? It takes hours, if not days to program a flight and once launched, this missile can not change targets. All the while the Kirov is moving at whatever speed and in whichever direction she chooses. Once launched time of flight to maximum range is about 2 hours during which time of course the target will move further still.
Of course we are not looking for a direct hit, but you still need to get in the neighborhood to make your EMP scenario work - which presents other problems. For EMP you need a burst high in the atmosphere. Tomahawk
Land Attack Missile-Nuclear is a low-flyer. She has no ability to climb high into the atmosphere to detonate - unless of course this is the same capability secretly used to down TWA 800. Even if Tomahawk
Land Attack Missile-Nuclear could perform such a manuever, this will expose the weapon to detection and attack by the Kirov, which has the ability to detect and engage any high-flying target within approximately 100km.
But how does an Iowa even find a target 1,500nm away? You claim she has a radar capable of detecting
surface ship targets up to 2,000 miles away! This seems a bit odd. Her biggest, most powerful, longest-ranged radar is SPS-49(V)1, a low-frequency long-range air-search set generally credited with an effective range of around 400km against a bomber. According to you however, this is not the radar in question.
So what other radar systems do we see on the Iowa's.
Looking at the photo in front of me I see SPS-67(V)1, basically the old SPS-10 surface-search/navigation/snorkel detection radar with new solid-state below-decks equipment. Unless you want to convince me a Knox class frigate can pick out surface ships an ocean away with this puppy I think we can move on.
SPQ-9 is a short-range, precision, TWS gunfire control radar. Really a non-starter for those kinds of ranges.
The ships navigation radar is certainly not a candidate, neither are the various gunfire control radars.
So what is this uber-secret magical miracle radar that makes SPY-1 look like a hot steaming pile of puke, and more importantly, where is it?
I know, it must be invisible. The first
stealth radar. That is the only possible explanation.
Since you refuse to name this amazing technical device, either because you think your being cute with some
special secret knowledge (like Mormon underwear) and it is not mentioned in any of the technical journals or the usual sources, we shall have to give this puppy a name.
I christen thee
the Unicorn because this radar, like the mythical creature from which it gets its name, is about as real.
So we have a real missile employing imaginary capabilities relying for target detection on a mythical radar.
This is getting really interesting.
PS
SLQ-25A is a what type of decoy?
An acoustic decoy.
What type of guidance is used in the 53-65 surface ship torpedo (hint: its not "acoustic")