OVERVIEW: The Type 65 is a ship-mounted, unguided, short-range Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rocket salvo launcher developed by China for close-in defense against submerged threats. It fires fin-stabilized rockets in 6-round salvos to saturate underwater target zones.

DETAILS: The Type 65 ASW rocket launcher is a Chinese anti-submarine system based on the Soviet RBU-1200. It consists of a fixed-angle, forward-facing launcher with six barrels arranged in a fan shape, designed to fire unguided depth rockets equipped with impact or proximity fuzes. The system provides rapid-reaction ASW coverage for naval platforms operating in coastal or littoral zones. Its projectiles are launched in salvos to generate a lethal pattern over an estimated target area at short range, typically within 1,200 meters.

Type 65 is employed on ships such as the Type 053K, FFG-16, FFG-19 and Type 618 class vessels. It uses a mechanical or manual reload system, and fire control is often integrated with basic sonar inputs or targeting data from surface sensors. The system offers a low-cost, low-maintenance ASW capability for second-tier or legacy platforms.

It is mounted at a fixed angle on the bow of the ship, requiring the vessel to be oriented toward the target. Salvo firing is coordinated through basic onboard ASW control panels, and the launcher is usually operated in conjunction with hull-mounted sonar to determine range and bearing before launch.

NOTE:
IOC: Late 1960s
Operators: China, North Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Platforms: Type 053K, FFG-16, FFG-19, Type 618
Conflict used in: No confirmed combat use; deployed in routine coastal ASW patrols during Cold War period

SOURCE:
Jane’s Naval Weapon Systems ; GlobalSecurity.org: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-65.htm ; U.S. Naval Institute: https://www.usni.org ; China Defense Industry Yearbook