Weapons are the mainstay of the military. Without them, the Navy could not carry out its combat missions or defend its ships, planes, bases, and personnel.
Major Topics Covered:
Weapons Designations
Missiles and Rockets
Bombs
Torpedoes
Mines
Guns
Small arms
To Learn More:
www.usni.org/BlueAndGoldProfessionalBooks/TheBluejacketsManual
Basic Military Requirements (NAVEDTRA 14325)
Seaman (NAVEDTRA 14067)
Gunner’s Mate (NAVEDTRA 14324A)
Principles of Naval Weapon Systems, 2nd ed., by Craig Payne (Naval Institute Press, 2010)
Navy Program Guide (current year)
How We Fight: Handbook for the Naval Warfighter – available from U.S. Government Printing Office and online at http://navyreading.dodlive.mil/files/2015/08/HWF-Book-Combined-Final-27-Apr-15.pdf
Associated Tabs:
TAB 17-A: Weapons Designation Systems
TAB 17-B: Types of Naval Weapons
TAB 17-C: Joint Electronics Type Designation System
TAB 17-D: Proper Use of Small Arms
17-A Weapons Designation Systems
MISSILE AND ROCKET DESIGNATIONS
Navy rockets and missiles are often identified by a specialized system of letters and numbers as shown in the table below.
Note that the letters in the first column (“Status”) are optional, which means that you will not always see them used—in fact, you will rarely see them used. Most often you will encounter three letters (representing the launch platform, the mission, and the type) followed by a number. For example, the Navy’s Sparrow missile is identified as an “AIM-7.”
• The first letter (“A”) tells you that this weapon is launched from an aircraft.
• The second letter (“I”) tell you that the weapon’s mission is to shoot down other aircraft (“intercept aerial”).
• The third letter (“M”) tells you that this weapon is a guided missile.
The number following the letters and the dash is a unique identifier for that particular rocket or missile. In other words, if the Navy developed another air-to-air missile it would also be identified by the letter combination of “AIM” but would have a number other than 7 to distinguish it from the Sparrow.
Just as with aircraft designations, if there are subsequent major modifications (versions) to the basic design of a particular rocket or missile, they are indicated by a follow-on alphabetically sequential letter (A, B, C, and so on). For example, the third modification of the AIM-7 would be designated AIM-7C, the fourth would be AIM-7D, and so on.
MARK AND MOD SYSTEM
The Navy assigns MARK and MOD numbers to many types of equipment not covered by other designation systems. Bombs, torpedoes, guns, fire control systems (and the gun directors within them), rocket motors, missile launchers, warheads, and so on fall within this system, which has been around since World War II.
The system is less revealing in some ways than some of the other designation systems, but it is relatively simple. Beginning with a simple word description of the item (such as “torpedo” or “launcher”), it is then specified by a unique MARK number and followed by a MOD number. For example:
Torpedo, MARK 46 MOD 5
The MARK number is assigned sequentially and is the means of distinguishing one similar item from another. If the Navy accepts a modified version, that is indicated by the MOD number. The original version is designated MOD 0 and the first modified version is MOD 1.
According to MIL-STD-1661 (the governing instruction for this system—which you do not want to read unless you really have to), the name of the item is to precede the MARK number, and it is to be separated from the latter by a comma, as you see in the example above. (Talk about “military precision”!)
The governing instruction also calls for the words “MARK” and “MOD” to be written unabbreviated and in uppercase. However, the instruction allows some variations, and in actual practice, you may well see MARK as “MK” (or even “Mk”) and you may also see “Mark” and “Mod” used. Therefore, the following variations are acceptable and you will see them used often:
Mark 46 Mod 4 Torpedo
MK 46 MOD 4 Torpedo
Mk 46 Mod 4 Torpedo
Although the MOD part of the system is important in some contexts, it is often expendable in normal usage. So you will often see, for example, the MARK 46 MOD 5 Torpedo referred to as simply the “MARK 46 Torpedo” (or “MK 46 Torpedo” or “Mk 46 Torpedo”).
Dashes and other punctuations should not be used (and are not sanctioned by the governing instruction), but in truth you will see such things as these:
Mark-46 Mod 4 Torpedo
Mk.46 Mod 4 Torpedo
The instruction goes on to say that items with adjective descriptors, such as a “missile launcher,” should be written in “reverse nomenclature” (with a separating comma) as in “launcher, missile.” There is a reason for this standardization. When these items are listed in inventory documents and the like, they will be grouped more logically when alphabetized. In other words, all the torpedoes will be listed together:
Torpedo, MARK 14 MOD 5
Torpedo, MARK 46 MOD 5
Torpedo, MARK 48 MOD 1
And all fire control systems will be grouped together:
Fire Control System, Gun, MARK 75 MOD 2
Fire Control System, Gun, MARK 86 MOD 1
Fire Control System, Guided Missile, MARK 13 MOD 1
Experimental
The prefix “EX” is used instead of “MARK” for experimental items. If an EX item is adopted for operational use, it will use MARK from then on but will retain the originally assigned number. When an item is redesignated from EX to MARK, the MOD numbers are restarted from zero. For example, if an experimental item is designated EX 37, and the MOD numbers 0 through 3 were assigned during development, once the item is put into operational service, the new designation would be MARK 37 MOD 0. However, if more than one of the versions (modifications) is put into service, say EX 37 MOD 1 and EX 37 MOD 3, the new item designations would be MARK 37 MOD 0 and MARK 37 MOD 1. It is logical, if not pretty.
LASER-GUIDED BOMBS
A joint Navy–Air Force program, laser-guided bombs (LGB) are highly accurate munitions with a laser guidance unit fitted onto the nose that is used to guide the bomb onto the target. These guidance units are used with various bombs, such as the MK 83 1,000-pound bomb. The bomb-dropping aircraft (or some other source) illuminates the target with a laser beam and the bomb follows the reflection of that beam onto the target.
Like joint direct attack munitions (JDAM), these weapons are also designated using the Air Force system, so you will encounter such designations as GBU-10 (using the MK 84 bomb), GBU-12 (using the MK 82), and GBU-16 (using the MK 83).
The Navy’s weapons are listed below in alphabetical order by their more commonly used names or acronyms.
AARGM. See Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile.
Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). An air-to-ground missile used for destruction of enemy air defenses. Similar to the High-speed Anti-Radar Missile (HARM), it is a more sophisticated weapon that targets enemy radar systems by homing in on their electronic emissions while minimizing collateral damage.
Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). An all-weather, all-environment, radar-guided missile developed as a follow-on to the Sparrow missile series. AMRAAM is smaller, faster, and lighter and has improved capabilities against very low-altitude and high-altitude targets in an electronic countermeasure environment. Its active radar, in conjunction with an inertial reference unit and microcomputer system, makes the missile less dependent on the aircraft fire control system, enabling the pilot to aim and fire several missiles at multiple targets. The AMRAAM is a result of a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force development effort and is in service with numerous NATO and allied countries.
Aegis. The Aegis Weapon System (AWS) is a centralized, automated weapons control system that was designed as a total weapon system, from detection to kill. The heart of the system is the AN/SPY-1, an advanced, automatic detect-and-track, multi-function phased-array radar. This high-powered (four megawatt) radar is able to perform search, track, and missile guidance functions simultaneously, with a tracking capacity of more than one hundred targets.
AMRAAM. See Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.
Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC). An anti-submarine rocket that carries a torpedo, allowing a ship to attack a submarine from a safer distance than would be required to simply launch the torpedo from a standard shipboard launcher. The vertical launch ASROC (VLA) is launched from vertical missile tubes in Aegis-equipped ships.
ASROC. See Anti-Submarine Rocket.
AWS. See Aegis.
Bombs, General Purpose. See MK 80 Series General-Purpose Bombs.
CIWS. See Phalanx.
Evolved Sea Sparrow. An improved version of the Sea Sparrow, this missile is faster and has an improved payload and range.
HARM. See High-Speed Anti-Radar Missile.
Harpoon. Because Harpoons can be fired from virtually every combatant in the Navy (surface ships, submarines, and aircraft) the Harpoon is designated as the RGM-84, the UGM-84, and the AGM-84. It has a range of more than seventy-five miles, and a version called SLAM-ER (for Stand-Off Land Attack Missile-Extended Range) is used to attack land or sea targets at greater distances.
High-Speed Anti-Radar Missile (HARM). Designated AGM-88, this missile is designed specifically to knock out enemy radars (by homing in on their electronic emission) at sea and ashore.
JDAM. See Joint Direct Attack Munition.
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Jointly developed with the U.S. Air Force to provide increased accuracy for air-launched bombs, the JDAM kit converts a “dumb bomb” (one that is simply dropped from an aircraft without any additional guidance) into a “smart bomb” by adding a special assembly that includes an inertial navigational system and a global positioning system component for guidance control.
These can be attached to 500-, 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs (see MK 80 Series General-Purpose Bombs).
Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW). The JSOW is an air-launched weapon that can be dropped on a target from as far away as sixty nautical miles (known as a “stand-off range”). Currently, two variants of JSOW are in the fleet: AGM-154A, which uses electronic guidance to hit targets, and AGM-154C, which adds a terminal imaging infrared seeker and a special two-stage warhead.
JSOW. See Joint Stand-Off Weapon.
Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM). Basically a JDAM with a modular laser sensor to provide moving target kill capability. The laser sensor kit is field-installed (meaning attached on board ship or at an airfield, rather than at a factory) on the 500-pound version of JDAM.
LCDB (Low Collateral Damage Bomb). See MK 80 Series General-Purpose Bombs.
LJDAM. See Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition
Maverick. The AGM-65 is a short-range, air-to-surface missile designed for day or night sea warfare (antiship) and land interdiction missions. The AGM-65E/E2 is a laser-guided missile employed by F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8 Harrier aircraft. The AGM-65F is an infrared-guided missile employed by Navy patrol aircraft.
MK 38 25mm machine gun. This single-barrel, air-cooled, heavy machine gun is effective up to two thousand yards. Designed for ship self-defense from small craft attacks and other localized attacks.
MK 45 5-inch 54/62 caliber gun. This fully automatic naval gun provides surface combatants accurate naval gunfire against fast, highly maneuverable, surface targets, air threats, and shore batteries during amphibious operations.
MK 46 30mm Gun Weapon System (GWS). A remotely operated naval gun system that uses a 30mm high-velocity cannon, a forward looking infrared sensor, a low-light television camera, and a laser rangefinder for shipboard self-defense against small, high-speed surface targets. The gun can be operated locally at the gun turret or remotely from a remote operating console.
MK 48 Torpedo. This heavyweight torpedo is used solely by submarines and is employed as their primary antisubmarine and anti-surface ship weapon. Its latest version, MK 48 Mod 7 common broadband advanced sonar system torpedo, is optimized for both deep and littoral waters and has advanced counter-countermeasure capabilities.
MK 50 Torpedo. A highly capable undersea weapon for U.S. Navy aircraft and surface ships. It is an advanced lightweight digital torpedo designed for use against faster, deeper-diving and more sophisticated submarines.
MK 54 Torpedo. This lightweight torpedo integrates existing torpedo hardware and software from the older MK 46, MK 50, and MK 48 torpedoes with state-of-the-art digital signal processing technology. It incorporates an advanced guidance and control section and tactical software improvements to increase shallow water counter-countermeasure capability significantly at reduced lifecycle costs.
MK 67 Submarine-Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM). This submarine-deployed mine was developed from an older torpedo and is used for clandestine mining in hostile environments.
MK 80 Series General-Purpose Bombs. Originally created in the late 1940s, these bombs have been the standard air-launched bomb for Navy and Air Force services ever since. Designed to provide blast and fragmentation effects and used extensively in a number of configurations including laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions (JDAM), and air-delivered mining applications. The unguided versions of the general-purpose bomb can also be delivered in free-fall or delayed modes depending upon mission requirements. The three basic versions of these bombs are:
MK 82 500 pound (BLU 111)
MK 83 1,000 pound (BLU 110)
MK 84 2,000 pound (BLU 117)
The MK 80 system is being replaced by the newer “BLU” (for “Bomb-Live Unit) series as indicated above. The Navy’s MK 80 series bombs remaining in inventory are filled with H-6 high explosive. The newer BLU series bombs incorporate a PBXN-109 explosive that provides less sensitive characteristics and is considered safer to handle and stow.
The Navy’s newest member to the BLU series is the BLU-126 that is designed as a low-collateral warhead. It is identical to the BLU-111 with the exception of the amount of PBXN-109 explosive filler. The aft end of the BLU-126 bomb is packed with approximately twenty-seven pounds of explosive filler, with the remainder of the bomb being filled with inert material. It is sometimes referred to as the LCDB (for Low Collateral Damage Bomb).
Phalanx. The Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) combines a 20mm Gatling gun with search and tracking radar to provide surface ships with terminal defense against anti-ship missiles. Phalanx automatically detects, tracks, and engages air warfare threats. A special “man-in-the-loop” system allows local control to counter small craft attacks or other localized threats.
Quickstrike Mines. A family of shallow-water, aircraft-laid mines. Versions include the MK 62, MK 63, and MK 65, which are converted general purpose bombs of the 500-pound, 1,000-pound, and 2,000-pound sizes, respectively.
Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). Designated RIM-116 this surface-to-air missile was developed jointly with the Federal Republic of Germany and provides ships with a low-cost self-defense system against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats.
Sea Sparrow. A modified version of the Sparrow air-to-air missile, this missile is carried by ships having no Standard missile capabilities. This missile has a range of about ten nautical miles and is designed to provide close-in protection when other means of anti-air defense have been ineffective.
Shrike. Designated AGM-45, this missile is delivered by fighter aircraft and is designed to home in on enemy antiaircraft radars.
Sidewinder. The AIM-9 is an all-weather heat-seeking (infrared) missile with a range of five to ten nautical miles depending upon conditions. It has been through a number of modernizations, and the current fleet weapon is the AIM-9M.
SLAM-ER. See Harpoon.
SLMM. See MK 67 Submarine-Launched Mobile Mine.
Sparrow. Designated the AIM-7, this highly maneuverable radar-guided missile can attack enemy aircraft from any direction in virtually all weather conditions and has a range of more than thirty nautical miles.
Standard Missile. The U.S. Navy’s primary surface-to-air air defense weapon is an integral part of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) aboard Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke–class destroyers and is launched from the MK 41 Vertical Launcher System (VLS). Its primary missions are fleet area air defense and ship self-defense. It has a range of about ninety nautical miles, but an extended-range version can reach as far as two hundred nautical miles.
TASM. See Tomahawk.
TLAM. See Tomahawk.
Tomahawk. An all-weather, ship- or submarine-launched cruise missile, the Tomahawk has proven to be a highly survivable weapon due to its low radar detectability and terrain/wave-skimming flight. Designated BGM-109, it can be used in several variations, including a TASM (Tomahawk anti-ship missile) and a TLAM (Tomahawk land-attack missile).
Trident II. The Navy’s fleet ballistic missiles are submarine-launched ICBMs with MIRV capability and were designed for strategic deterrence and attack. The earliest version was the Polaris, followed by the Poseidon. Today, U.S. fleet ballistic-missile submarines carry the Trident missile. The most advanced version, the Trident II (UGM-133), has a range of more than six thousand miles and is capable of carrying up to eight independent thermonuclear warheads.
VLA (Vertical Launch ASROC). See Anti-Submarine Rocket.
17-C Joint Electronics Type Designation System
Radar, sonar, and other Navy electronic equipments are identified by this system, sometimes referred to by its acronym “JETDS.” First developed during World War II, it was originally called the “Army-Navy Nomenclature System.” Even though it is now a joint system including the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps, it still retains the prefix identifier “AN” (for “Army-Navy”), and you will sometimes hear it called the “AN System.”
The rest of the designation consists of three letters plus a number (with an optional letter sometimes following). Each letter tells you something about the equipment, and the number is the model number that is unique to that design.
As with other designation systems, different versions (modifications) of the same basic equipment are indicated by a sequential alphabetical letter; the original version has no letter, the first modification would be “A,” the second “B,” and so on.
The table below provides the meanings of the three letters that are the main part of the system.
For example, you might encounter the JETDS designator
AN/SPY-1D
The “AN” simply tells you that this is a designation within JETDS. Because that is the only function of these letters, you will often see them dropped, so you might simply see “/SPY-1D” referring to this same equipment. When the “AN” is used, it is followed by a slash (/) to avoid confusion. The three letters following tell us the most about the equipment:
• The first letter (“S” in our example) indicates where this equipment is installed (the “platform” using it).
• The second letter (“P” in our example) tells us the type of equipment.
• The third letter (“Y” in our example) defines the purpose of the equipment.
So, we can determine that the AN/SPY-1D is a surveillance and control (Y) radar (P) that is installed on surface ships (S).
The number after the letters (“1” in our example) is the model number. Each new model of an equipment is normally assigned the next number in sequence, so if the Navy acquired a new surveillance and control radar for use on surface ships, it would be designated “SPY-2.”
The appended letter at the end (“D” in our example) tells you that this is a modified version from the original design. The first (original) version would have no suffix. The first modification uses “A,” the second would be “B,” and so on. The letters “I,” “O,” “Q,” “S,” “T,” “X,” “Y,” and “Z” are not used for modifications for reasons too complicated to go into here. Since our example uses the letter “D”—the fourth letter of the alphabet—we can assume that this radar system has been significantly modified four times since the original design first appeared.
With what we now know about electronic designations, we can determine that an
AN/PRC-66B
is a portable (P) radio (R) used for communications (C) purposes with a model number of “66,” and this is the second modification (B) to the original design.
As part of your military duties, you may be required to carry and perhaps even use a firearm. You will, of course, receive practical training in the use of weapons before you will be expected to carry one, but certain universal fundamentals will help to prepare you.
WATCHSTANDING UNDER ARMS
Make certain that you know the special orders of your watch pertaining to weapons. In some situations, your orders will be to carry your weapon with a clip or magazine of ammunition inserted but no round (bullet) in the chamber; in others, you will be expected to carry your clips or magazines in a pouch on your belt and only insert them when imminent danger threatens.
When being relieved of the watch while carrying a loaded weapon, you should remove the clip or magazine from the weapon, point it in a safe direction, and check the chamber, making sure there are no rounds present. Release the slide, and with the weapon still pointed in a safe direction, let the hammer go home (return it to the uncocked position). Your relief should repeat this procedure after you have turned the weapon over to him or her.
WHEN TO FIRE
Armed personnel are authorized to fire their weapons only under the following conditions:
• To protect their own lives or the life of another person where no other means of defense will work
• To prevent the escape of a dangerous prisoner
• To prevent sabotage, arson, or other crimes against the government after all other means have failed
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The following general safety precautions apply whenever you are handling any type of firearm:
FOUR IMPORTANT RULES:
• TREAT EVERY WEAPON AS IF IT WERE LOADED (even if you are sure it is not).
• NEVER POINT A WEAPON AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SHOOT, AND POSITIVELY IDENTIFY YOUR INTENDED TARGET BEFORE FIRING.
• KEEP WEAPON ON “SAFE” UNTIL YOU INTEND TO FIRE.
• WHEN HOLDING A WEAPON, KEEP YOUR FINGER STRAIGHT AND OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO ACTUALLY AIM AND FIRE.
Additionally:
• Know your weapon—its shooting characteristics, its safeties, and its loading and handling procedures.
• Be aware of the safety of innocent bystanders.
• Warning shots are prohibited.
• Always make sure the bore (inside of barrel) is clear and that all oil and grease have been removed from the outside of the weapon before firing.
• Use only the proper size of ammunition.
• Point the weapon in a safe direction when loading.
• Unload firearms before transporting them unless they may be needed during the transit.
• Unload unattended weapons. If you have weapons at home, stow them with trigger locks installed and keep ammunition out of the reach of children.
• Do not climb trees or fences with a loaded firearm if it can be avoided.
• Do not pull a firearm toward you by the muzzle.
• Be aware of the possibility of ricochet when firing. Keep in mind that a bullet may skip like a stone on water if fired at a shallow angle over a hard or liquid surface.
• It should be obvious that firearms and alcohol don’t mix. Also, be aware that many prescription drugs also have side effects that can add to the danger of handling weapons.
• Never play around when carrying a weapon.
FIRING TECHNIQUES
When firing a small arm, whether on a target range or in an actual real-life combat situation, remembering some basic rules will help you to be more effective.
Proper sight alignment is essential to accuracy. Although it may seem illogical to you, the point at which you are aiming should be resting on top of the two aligned sights. When aiming, you want the front and rear sights to be perfectly aligned and the target appearing to rest directly on top of them.
![[17-D] Effects of correct and incorrect small arms](../images/f0663-01.jpg)
[17-D] Effects of correct and incorrect small arms sight alignment
Blackening your sights will prevent glare. Use a smudge pot, carbide lamp, candle, cigarette lighter, or ordinary match to blacken your sights.
Take a normal breath before firing, exhale part of it, and hold the rest as you squeeze the trigger. Squeeze the trigger steadily—do not jerk it. If your sight alignment shifts while you are squeezing, do not release the pressure on the trigger; hold it while you realign the sights, then continue squeezing. You should be surprised when the weapon fires.
See OPNAVINST 3591.1 (series) Small Arms Training and Qualification for more detailed instructions and procedures.