Ship killer....
PACIFIC OCEAN (August 30, 2020) -- Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) conducts a live Harpoon missile firing exercise....with the decommissioned (in 1994), unmanned, United States Navy amphibious cargo ship ex-USS Durham (LKA 114) supplied as the target of opportunity.
HMAS Stuart (FFH 153)....note the Harpoon canisters just behind the gun mount.
It’s not unusual for long-retired warships to be used for realistic target practice....after they’ve been cleansed of all toxic materials....and, then, sunk in carefully pre-determined locations.
The Harpoon missile is designed as a ship killer. After launch, it dives down and cruises near the surface of the ocean (to evade radar detection)....travels at 500+ mph (870+ kph) for up to 170 miles (270 km)....and carries a 500-lb (225-kg) impact warhead.
It’s a deadly accurate ship killer!
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>>Note: In the second photo, that’s a B1RD (aka “seagull”) -- just below the Harpoon missile from this angle -- observing the launch.
>>Note: In the third photo, the Harpoon missile struck amidships on the starboard (right-hand) side....with the explosive force jettisoning out the port side of the stricken vessel.
>>Photos 1, 2, 4: Royal Australian Navy; Photo #3: U.S. Navy
