The RBU-1200 (Russian: Реактивно-Бомбовая Установка, Reaktivno-Bombovaja Ustanovka; reaction engine-bomb installation & Смерч; waterspout) is an anti-submarine rocket launcher. The weapon system is remotely similar to the British Hedgehog anti submarine mortar launcher from the Second World War.
The RBU-1200 system was developed in 1955 to provide anti-submarine capability against submarines and torpedoes by surface vessels. In order to allow installation on small warships the design was made very lightweight.
The RBU-1200 system has five tubes with rocket-propelled depth bombs per each launcher. Reloading is performed manually. The launcher cannot be swiveled horizontally, but rather has to be aimed by turning the entire warship, which is a serious disadvantage of the weapon system and limits its flexibility.
The system is controlled by a PUS-B "Uragan" fire control system.
The system uses RGB-12 rocket-propelled depth bombs, which are fitted with contact fuzes. The projectile is propelled by a solid rocket fuel motor initially, and for the rest of the flight it follows a ballistic arc. The effective range of the system extends from 400 to 1200 meters. The contact fuze K-3 / K-3M, or combined contact-delay fuze KDV are used as a detonators. K-3 / K-3M fuze detonates the warhead if a target is hit directly or if the projectile sinks to the bottom. The KDV fuze besides activating on impact on the target (or bottom) at the depths of 25–330 meters can also be set to activate upon reaching a specified depth in the range of 10–330 meters.
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Ship classes fitted with RBU-1200 (list not complete):
Albanian Naval Force
Bangladesh Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
Bulgarian Navy
Cuban Revolutionary Navy
Egyptian Navy
Finnish Navy
Indonesian Navy
Indian Navy
Libyan Navy
Myanmar Navy
Polish Navy
Romanian Naval Forces
Soviet Navy
Russian Navy
Syrian Navy
Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam People's Ground Force
Volksmarine