Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Naval Combat
Message-ID: <12164@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 11 Dec 89 05:19:31 GMT
References: <12147@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute (formerly OGC), Beaverton, OR
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From: terryr@ogicse.ogc.edu (Terry Rooker)
In article <12147@cbnews.ATT.COM> randy@ms.uky.edu (Randy Appleton) writes:
>
>I have noticed there seem to be two distinct types of magazines in naval
>missiles.  There seem to be the new, American type that hold >40 rounds,
>and the older type that hold around 8 or so.
>
>Is the difference important?  Would a ship with a 40 round magazine be
>*much* better than an 8 round one?  Could a single 40 round ship be the
>equal of 2 or more 8 round ships?
>
>A related question would be this: Do most ships have more than the listed
>number of missiles on board, so as to reload after a battle?
>
First, I am not sure of which launchers you are refering.  Some of
the earliset USN launchers had 40 rounds.  I belieave your question
can be answered in the abstract.  The number of rounds available
is not the only factor in effectiveness.  If the launchers have the
is only one of the factors applicable.  For the same rate of fire (ROF)
more missiles simply means you can fire longer.  For AAW missiles 
(those launchers I think you were refering to) ROF isn't as 
important since the fire control systems can only guide one or two
missiles at a time (I know that Aegis is different).  For anti-ship
missiles you want the missiles fired as rapidly as possible to 
minimize the dispersion of the missiles so they can overwhelm
the defenses.  Consequently many SSMs are canister launched.  In
essence they have 8 launchers, each with only 1 round.  To sumarize
there are a variety of factors involved in answering your first
question.  Some of those factors are; speed of reload, ROF, 
guidance capabilities, missile size, and application.

The number of launchers is somewhat independent of the magazine size.
More launchers enable you to cover more area, or to launch (and
hopefully guide) more missiles.  As a rough rule of thumb, more
launchers with fewer rounds indicates a design for a short intense
conflict (as many earlier soviet designs).  Fewer launchers with
more missiles each indicates a design for a longer conflict (as 
most USN designs).  As usual only a war will determine which decision 
was best.

In wartime, most ships would carry their maximum number of rounds.
Usually, the ammunition in wrahdips can only be carried in
designated magazines, and most captains wouldn't care to have
ammo stored anywhere else.  When the ammo in the magazine is
expended, that's all there is.  The magazine then must be reloaded
from off ship.  Some weapons have ready service rounds, that are 
ready to load and usually on the mount.  These rounds come out
of the magazine and the magazine still determines the total number
of rounds carried.  

Terry Rooker
terryr@cse.goi.edu