Why there isn't any anti ship missile with torpedo warhead?

[T. A. Gardner]

The Belgrano was 40 years ago. And Conqueror's skipper chose Mk 8 simply because of reliability issues with early Tigerfish. Not only is Mk 8 long gone from service, but so is Tigerfish.

Interestingly, photos of the Belgrano going down show the same sort of damage similar US cruisers suffered versus Japanese 'long lance' torpedoes. One hit and blew the bow off the ship, a pretty common thing that happened to US cruisers off Guadalcanal. The other hit somewhat aft of amidships and caused major flooding in the main spaces. Given the age and material condition of the ship it's almost certain that serious progressive flooding followed that hit and that's what sank the ship.

For example, USS Helena suffered similar damage and went down in WW 2

 

[Stargazer5]

TomS said:
I can't think of a single operational example where a missile exited intact out the far side of a real ship.

Russian missile warheads are not infallible. You only have to look at number being retrieved by EOD techs in Ukraine to see that. Given the number of weapons fired during the iran iraq conflict and more recently in black and red sea area I suspect there are already operational examples which we are yet to see.

However from trials and accidents. The first is entry hole from a shaddrock hitting a merchant ship in the radio room. It exited the other side out of the captains cabin. The second is a Uran SS-N-25 entry hole above and exit below. The exit hole on MS Vereshchagino
was similar, but I cannot locate pics at present. First missile is supersonic second subsonic. While it is possible both warheads were inert neither broke up and neither caused fire and damage to vessel needs limited repair.

 

[TomS]

The second example is exactly what I was saying. Very neat entry hole, but a shotgun blast exit, because the missile disintegrated on impact.

 

[Stargazer5]

Yes but that shot gun effect is limited to a single flat by deck above and blow and transverse bulkheads. Missiles cannot guarantee a fire that will spread beyond this making a decent warhead essential. Compromise on that warhead for speed or range and you may well end up with a technological marvel which will more often that not be impotent.