# RBU-1200

The RBU-1200 (Russian: Реактивно-Бомбовая Установка, Reaktivno-Bombovaja Ustanovka; reaction engine-bomb installation & Смерч; waterspout) is a anti-submarine rocket launcher. The weapon system is remotely similar to the British Hedgehog anti submarine mortar launcher from the Second World War.

## Description

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.

## Technical data
### Launcher

* Weight: 620 kg (empty)
* Length: 1.38 m
* Height: 1.1 m
* Width: 1,115 m
* Elevation: 0 to 51 °
* Traverse: 0°

### RGB-12 projectile

* Weight: 73 kg
* Warhead: 30 kg
* Diameter: 251.7 mm
* Length: 1.24 m
* Range: 400 m to 1200 m
* Depth: up to 350 m
* Rate of descent: 6.25 m/s

## Operators

Ship classes fitted with RBU-1200 (list not complete):
* Albanian Naval Force
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Bangladesh Navy
** Haizhui-class submarine chaser
** Type 037 submarine chaser
** Type 053H1 frigate
** Type 053H2 frigate
* People's Liberation Army Navy
** Type 051 destroyer
** Type 052 destroyer
** Type 053H1 frigate
* Bulgarian Navy
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
** Pauk-class corvette
* Cuban Revolutionary Navy
** Pauk-class corvette
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Egyptian Navy
* Finnish Navy
** Hämeenmaa-class minelayer
** Kiisla-class patrol boat
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Indonesian Navy
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Indian Navy
** Abhay-class corvette
* Libyan Navy
** Natya-class minesweeper
* Myanmar Navy
** Aung Zeya-class frigate
** Kyan Sittha-class frigate
** Type 053H1 frigate
** Anawrahta-class corvette
** Yan Nyein Aung-class submarine chaser
** Hainan-class submarine chaser
* Polish Navy
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Romanian Naval Forces
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Soviet Navy Russian Navy
** Project 1241.2 (Pauk class)
** Project 266M (Natya class)
** Kronshtadt-class submarine chaser
* Syrian Navy
** Natya-class minesweeper
* Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Ground Force
** Installed on Vietnam People's Navy's decommissioned Project 201 subchasers. Usable systems are transferred to the Vietnam People's Ground Force for ground-attacking roles. Refurbishing, upgrading and resembling projects are reported.
* Volksmarine
** Project 12 (Hai-class)