ASROC addressed an old anti-submarine warfare problem: a ship or aircraft might locate a submarine without being in the right place to deliver a weapon. The discussion covers the Mark 112 launcher, torpedo and nuclear-depth-charge payloads, later VLS versions, and the related Subroc concept. One proposed modern arrangement separates detection from weapon carriage by using several smaller rotary drones with dipping sonar to triangulate a contact while the ship launches torpedoes toward it. A crewed helicopter could then handle more distant work, while the ship could deliver several weapons against an aggressive submarine. The comparison with World War II depth-charge attacks and Hedgehog places ASROC in the longer search for a way to attack without first breaking sonar contact.
Notable Point · 24:55-32:33
ASROC extended anti-submarine reach
The ASROC section explains why rocket-delivered torpedoes and depth charges helped escorts attack submarines beyond helicopter or shipboard torpedo limits.