SumGui wrote:
SMARTROC:
ref: Sumerall, Robert F; Sumner Gearing Class Destroyers, Their Design, Weapons, and Equipment, pg 142-3
"SMARTROC was a means of providing destroyers with a heavy shore bombardment/surface attack round that could be delivered with precision accuracy. The Naval Weapons Center (NWC), Dahlgren, developed the unique and inexpensive weapon during the Vietnam War, using existing technologies and weapons systems. SMARTROC consisted of a Mk82 laser-guided bomb projected by an ASROC booster from the Mk112 launcher. The program was originally called SMARTAS, a derivative of smart bomb (Paveway) and ASROC. The acronym was changed to SMARTROC for obvious reasons. A mark number (Mk) was never assigned..."
I won't reproduce the entire section here, but the numbers:
Two phases:
First Phase 72-73, using existing rocket motor and parts - 10,000yd (5nm) range, same as an ASROC round.
Second Phase 75-78, improved rocket motor and improved airframe (still fit in Mk112 box). 24,000yd (12nm) range
Tests seem to show approx. 20ft accuracy, for both, same as Paveway.
The mentioned reference also has information about Sea Chaparral, Firebee, DASH, Weapon Alfa, RAT, and SOB (Shrike On Board). An outstanding reference which I cannot recommend enough.
It has the only references I hold on SMARTROC, and SOB. It holds the best references I have to RAT, Weapon Alfa, DASH, Sea Chaparral, and the electronics fits of the late 60's-early 70's. It covers the FRAM processes, which can also help envisioning your conversion. I wish there was a reference like this for the conversion of the CGs...
(SOB was Shrike added to Gearings used for Shore Bombardment in Vietnam, with the intention of being able to respond to shore targets illumination the bombardment vessel. Four weapons were added to the top of the Mk112 box in a basic frame, and elevated and trained with the ASROC box. Installed in 10 Gearings from May 72 to Oct 73)
I mention these because they may have a bearing on how you might arm a 1972 version.
SMARTROC is on an early version of a shore-bombardment enhanced Spruance I intend to build - with SMARTROC and ASROC mixed in the magazine - along with the Mk71. Probably the Hayler DDH version, and a this be the first to get the ABLs in my altered timeline. Sounds to me like that is a near match for the roles you have for your build. (Of course, Laser guided 203mm rounds may make the SMARTROC less relevant...)
I also thought a SMARTROC equipped Knox might be reasonable for a get in close bombardment platform with the Mk42.
Basically, I love the SMARTROC idea - anything with an ASROC box becomes a potential bombardment platform.
They could have called it SMARTAS(P) as in Anti surface (Paveway) I would have gone with SMARTASS.....
CGN9 could have used this weapon with multiple reloads (And a mast mounted Laser/FLIR on top of fwd mast) would have been a serious shore bombardment weapon. A mk2 or 3 version with improved booster and 20nm range would have been NASTY.
Great looking ship !! If you think about a hanger it is only the flight deck, elevator mechanisms and supports that are the heavy items, the sides are relatively thin (compared to the flightdeck). And if built using the same techniques as the Albany rebuilds (lots of light alloys...) might not be as heavy as it looks.
Cheers Bruce
PS I have something similar drawn on paper.....only for a somewhat larger model!
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What a riot that would have been.
