The initial purpose of the Harpoon was to provide a high-subsonic, long-range, sea-skimming, over-the-horizon missile capable of striking enemy warships with lethal accuracy. The transition to Harpoon Block II marked a significant shift in the missile's operational capabilities as it was adapted to confer upon the Harpoon an anti-ship capability in littoral or coastal waters. | Interesting Engineering

108K views · 571 reactions | #OTD in 2008, the decommissioned USS Horne (CG-30) sank after being hit by three AGM-84 Harpoon missiles during RIMPAC. The Horne was the last of the Belknap-class cruisers due to all the other ship already having been scrapped or sunk as targets. | U.S. Naval Institute | Facebook