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Any thoughts or ideas on what this unknown missile section might be?

C

condor

Well-Known Member
I acquired this several years ago in a trade deal with a museum. It had been sitting in their storage area for years and no one there knew what it was, nor where it came from. It did not fit their collection criteria, which was WWII. I have made attempts off and on over the years to try and figure out what it is, without success. The entire body is made of stainless steel. It does have "guts" in it, which I believe are electronics, but have not been able to get it apart. The rear four pieces look like rocket nozzles, but they are not. One of the nozzles has a multi-pin plug port for attaching some sort of electronic cable. It very well could be missing parts/sections from the rear, or maybe it's not, and it is a test model (wind tunnel?). It is pretty heavy........maybe about 100 pounds. The pics that I've attached illustrate what I am trying to describe, as well as the dimensional details. The only rocket/missile that fits within the 274mm diameter (that I could find) is the MLRS, but I don't think this is related to MLRS. If anybody can help, I would love to solve this mystery! Thanks in advance!!

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Update: we decided to take it apart to see what the internals would reveal. Unfortunately, only more questions, no answers. Took several photos of what the disassembled unit looks like and have included them with this post. If anyone recognizes anything, please feel free to chime in! Thanks!!

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Looks like an engineering test piece, we used to refer to them as telemetry models. Stuff it full of electronics hook it up to an aircraft or test sled and fly it around, get some flight data before you go to the next stage, or kill the project if you don't like the data. The venturis look like they are dummies, as does the nose. The tags and internal markings are also typical, you don't usually need "this side up" type markings once you reach production.
 
Thank you for the input US-Subs! I guess it will remain a mystery as to exactly what it is, and what project it was used for.
 
I would hazard a guess it is US in origin and from some time around the 1960s to 1980s. I came to the same conclusion as US-Subs - telemetry.
 
Reminds me of some air towed bodies I have seen. But there is no obvious attachment point for the tow cable which should be near the centre of the body. Also lacks of obvious attachment points for aircraft carry making sled test most likely. Not my field but heavy gauge of casing seems odd for air flight unless its intended as a penetrator. Is there a possibility heavy gauge was needed to resist water pressure?
 
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