Unknown Minefield clearance rocket - can anyone identify

[Aussiecollector]

Hello

great to have joined this forum ..excellent


Can anyone identify this piece of ordnance

It is ex Australian Army , It is shown next to an inert 2 inch mortar
Dated 5 / 1957 with MR 6 inch No 3 MK 3
approx. 55 cm long and 13 cm diameter with a rail held on with two bands ... looks as if the nose cone is smashed off , and there is a nozzle for propellent to discharge from ...ends unscrew and it is empty

I have been told it is a rocket to propel a detonator cord charge across a minefield in order to breech the minefield , fired from a rail mount ( sled ??_)

I have been told it was called a "Wombat "in Australian service possibly used up until the early 1980's but I cannot find any information

any help appreciated

cheers
Eric

 

[kahu1]

Maybe something like 'Mattress' or Harp'?

 

[kiwieod]

i have this info from a british manual dated 1962,same markings and the manual only goes up to 5in. and only covers markings.comes under rockets for land use.

 

[Bonnex]

I don't think we did a six inch rocket. This is probably a five inch rocket for the Charge Line, Mine Clearing, No 1 also known as a Baby Viper. The rocket is housed in an insulating container which will account for the oversize body.

 

[MINENAZ16]

Operation of same device : Giant Viper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHszRV5-bd4

 

[Bonnex]

Similar but whereas Giant Viper has 5 or 6 rockets and fires a length of 'firemans' hose filled with PE6, and is primarily for clearing a path for tanks, the baby viper uses a single motor, firing 'garden' hose filled with explosive and was for clearing a path through anti-personnel mines.

 

[Bonnex]

A couple of images from the provisional handbook (PDF).


View attachment Viper.pdf

 

[AE501]

Charge Line Mine Clearing No 1 (Baby Viper)

Here are some pictures of the packaging, layout and motor.