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!
The rockets look like U.S. 5 inch HVAR's (High Velocity Aircraft Rocket). They were fired from prop aircraft in WWII and Jets, at least through Korea. Production started in 1944 and stopped in 1955, with over a million produced.
Certainly look like HVAR Motors (writing on fin, "FIN M192, FOR 5" ROCKET"), but the warhead looks to be extended, heavily welded, and over bore (about 6"+). The fuzes (impeller armed) have a Brit look. Could it be a High Capacity version? Cheers, Bruce.
With the welds on the forward section of the warhead it looks like an experimental smoke or CW, I'll try and check a couple of pubs on E series weapons later today.
Sorry Pete, checked 6 different pubs, everything from 1958 Navy Rocket OPs to US experimental chem, nothing here. Doesn't necessarily mean anything, lately I've been finding more and more US experimental info - just not your warheads. Let you know if I trip across anything.
Trolling through some old posts, these rocket warheads could be CW, or more likely Geletrol(napalm?).
The Australians used an oversize warhead (8") on the British 3" rocket motor for Geletrol ,these were tested from the CAC Mustangs in the early 50's and were used in service on the Meteor aircraft in Korea.
The aussies also had a smaller 'gas bottle' shaped(like your pic) warhead for the 3" rocket, tested/used in the same period,part of my reasoning for it to most likely be geletrol over CW.
The Australian incendiary rockets are an interesting issue:
The first generation, used on CA-18 CAC produced Mustangs (see attached photograph from 1946) were similar to the makeshift incendiary rockets used by the RAF in 1945 in the Netherlands: attaching the 25 lb. Shell Smoke Mk I from the 5 inch Barrage Rocket Sea Mattress to the 3 inch rocket motor (although on the CA-18 photo on can distinctly read 30lb on the warhead).
The second generation - the so called "napalm rocket" containing Geletrol was developed during the Korean war by an ordnance officer of the RAAF 77th squadron (see attached pics from the Australian National Archives and the warhead displayed at the RAAF Williamtown base)
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.