Sub-fired cruise missile hits land target in US test

March 30, 1981

The Navy for the first time successfully launched a cruise missile from a submerged submarine Saturday to score a hit on a land target 300 miles away. A Navy spokesman said the Tomahawk missile was propelled to the surface of the Point Mugue, Calif., sea test range from the submerged submarine Guitarro. The missile's air-breathing turbofan engine then took over and drove overland to its target at the Tonapah Test Range, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., before being lowered to the ground by parachute. The missile will be used again in other tests.