What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rocket ???

Tarbelin51

Well-Known Member
Ordnance approved
Hello

Someone might identify these 3 rockets and give me the origin.

Many thanks in advance to all

 
from the top down..

All Swiss munitions btw

1 rocket assisted Rifle Grenade (for shooting Lines)
2 raketenrohr 56 powderhead (the Swiss Blindicide/Super Bazooka)
3 the same as number two.. however the rubber projectile has been broken off.

Cheers..
Dillo
 
some similar rifle grenades (not all)
Swiss_rifle_grenades_bocn.jpg
 
@Tarbelin:

You will notice the Powderhead Training rocket in the middle.
This projectile has a LIVE rocket motor. There is no fuze for the powderhead! On impact it will burst open and leave a orange powder (chalk) stain on the target.

Next to the powderhead (right) is the Rak Rohr Hohl-Panzerrakete 59. Notice the round nose section and the color (grey) for Swiss Live Ammunition (Kriegsmunition).

Right from the Rak Rohr Hohl-Panzerrakete 59 you will find the 57 modell. This is a very interesting Rocket because it is build around the Energa Blindicide warhead. The Swiss (Ruag) developped their own Rocket engine for it and named it Rak Rohr Hohl-Panzerrakete 57. Observe the number and you will notice that it took 2 years to devellop and introduce.

In the pic (far right) you will see the Mecar Blindicide. Notice the projectile (sharp nose section and typical Mecar fuze). Sorry for the state it is in.. it still has to be restored in original condition.

Now.. from the middle (Powder head to the left) you will see the Rak Rohr Le Rak 56 ZZ. The Raketenrohr Leuchtrakete 56 mit Zeitzunder, (Illimunation Rocket 56 with time delayed fuze). Here's another adapted Mecar product. Notice the rocket motor with typical Mecar finns. Ruag devellopped the ZZ 56 (Zeitzunder 56) especially for this rocket.

Next to it (third from the left) the Mecar Practice Rocket 83mm... this is a trainer/simulator projectile for the Blindicide. All markings are Mecar and it is in Nato colors (Bronze Green). I have the Swiss trainer/simulator which is exactly the same, however it is made out of aluminium and is Gold Eloxiert. This rocket is fully innert, it carries a sort of blank 12 Gauge cartridge activated by setback in the tail section. When fired it will create a flash and bang simulating the shot and the projectile is thrown out (approx. 3 meters)on the front of the weapon.

The two 'thingy's' on the left are both Swiss and are subcaliber training aids. On the left the Swiss modern aluminium 'Eloxiert' aid and on the right the first modell issued by Mecar in wood(*1). These can be loaded with a 20mm training round that mimmics the ballistics from the Rak Rohr Hohl-Panzerrakete 58 and 59.

*(1)Note: the original Mecar subcaliber trainer is painted translucent Dark brown, the Swiss repainted it in the shwon colors.

All info on the weapon can be found in Swiss Army Publication No. 53.112d (the weapons handbook) and the AKM (Angaben uber Kriegsmunition) Publication No. 63.132df.

Interesting stuff!

*Regarding the coating proces 'Eloxierung' that gives the aluminium the Gold coloured gloss.. I could not find the correct UK/US word for it. Maybe somebody can help me with this?

PS: it is safe to state that ALL SWISS TRAINING MUNITIONS are gold coated. However this does not mean it is free of energetic materials. In case of the Rifle grenades ther IS a small amount of propellant in the midd sections that functions as a booster.

Another nice 'need to know' item is that all Swiss villages have several Raketenrohr weapons and munitions in stock! After a one day training, the local Avalanche control official gets one at his disposal.. guess what he will do in case of a Avalanche Hazard.

The 83mm Blindicide is developped by Mecar (Belgium)in the late 1940's. It was in service with several countries and was adopted by the Swiss in the early 50's. The Israeli used the same design (copied it) and gave it the name Super Bazooka.. and it's still in operational service. (see picture Israeli 82mm prac rocket). The Swiss traded the Blindicide in (several years ago) for the HK Leichte Panzerfaust (see picture Panzerfaust-museum RUAG Thun)and RUAG redesigned the munitions to Swiss specs.
 
Leichte Panzerfaust Swiss Pattern Projectile (now in service)
Photographed at RUAG (MFT) museum Thun Switzerland.
Panzerfaust_Swiss.jpg
 
Blindicide training (Dutch army early 70's)
(see the subcaliber training aid in front)
blindicide_dutch_army.jpg
 
Posted on behalf of Ammodillo

Israeli Super Bazooka projectile in 82mm.
(left in the pic next to the Mecar simulator/training aid)

Super_Bazooka_Israeli-37c94015f712de843cd0774aa8539fae.jpg
 
Blindicide training (Dutch army early 70's)
(see the subcaliber training aid in front)
blindicide_dutch_army.jpg



No, this is not the Dutch Army, but the Belgium Army. The Netherlands never used the Blindicide, but used in the past the Americam Rocket Launcher 3.5 inch.
 
*Regarding the coating proces 'Eloxierung' that gives the aluminium the Gold coloured gloss.. I could not find the correct UK/US word for it. Maybe somebody can help me with this?


Anodizing
 
Anodizing is correct.

Also the process itself is not related to a color. The anodization (a corrosion protection) is basically translucent but enables the item to be colored afterwards in a very durable (and colorfull) way.
 
Top