The 7.2-Inch Demolition Rocket, also known as the T37, was a 7.2-inch (180 mm) rocket developed and used by the United States military during World War II. Derived from the "Mousetrap" anti-submarine rocket, it was intended for use in demolishing concrete bunkers and fortifications, and saw use from August 1944.[2]
The 7.2-Inch Demolition Rocket was developed by Section L of the National Defense Research Committee, located at Caltech,[3] in late 1943 as a modification of the existing 7.2 in (180 mm) ASW rocket (Mousetrap) for use against heavily fortified ground targets. Assigned to the United States Navy for development and production in July 1944,[4] An additional high-explosive rocket, the T24, was planned, but was dropped in favor of the T37.[5] The rockets utilized a standard 2.25-inch (57 mm) rocket motor, fitted with a larger-diameter warhead; a longer-ranged version utilizing a 3.5-inch (89 mm) motor was also produced.[6]
Operational historyedit
The T37 saw its first operational use during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France, in August 1944,[7] fired from 120-round "Woofus" launchers mounted aboard Landing Craft Rocket vessels offshore.[8]
The rocket was also intended to be fired from tanks for the clearing of bunkers and anti-tank obstacles. The initial launcher, dubbed "Cowcatcher", was mounted on the front of M4 Sherman tanks;[9] it was quickly found unsatisfactory, and was replaced by 20-round (T40 "Whiz Bang")[10] and 24-round ("Grand Slam") launchers mounted atop the tank's turret.[7][9] The 20-round launcher could fire its entire loadout of rockets in approximately 10 seconds;[11] however the tank installation was unpopular with crews, as the launcher prevented the tank's turret hatches from being opened.[9]
Referencesedit
Citationsedit
^"U.S. ROCKET, 7.2-IN, DEMOLITION, T37". ORDATA Online. Mine Action Information Center. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
^TM 5–220: Passage Of Obstacles Other Than Mine Fields. War Department Technical Manual. United States War Department. July 1945. p. 50. T37 demolition rocket.
Bibliographyedit
Baxter, James Phinney (1968). Scientists Against Time. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. p. 114. ISBN978-0-262-52012-6.
Parsch, Andreas (2006). "Surface-Launched 7.2-Inch Rockets". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles. Designation-Systems.net. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
von Braun, Wernher; Frederick I. Ordway III; Dave Dooling (1985). Space Travel: A History : An Update of History of Rocketry & Space Travel. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN978-0-06-181898-1.
Zaloga, Stephen (2011). Armored Attack 1944: U.S. Army Tank Combat in the European Theater from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 35–36. ISBN978-0-8117-0769-5.
Zaloga, Stephen (2012). US Marine Corps Tanks of World War II. New Vanguard. Vol. 186. New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 16. ISBN978-1-84908-560-1.
January 01, 1970
inch, demolition, rocket, also, known, inch, rocket, developed, used, united, states, military, during, world, derived, from, mousetrap, anti, submarine, rocket, intended, demolishing, concrete, bunkers, fortifications, from, august, 1944, t37typesurface, surf. The 7 2 Inch Demolition Rocket also known as the T37 was a 7 2 inch 180 mm rocket developed and used by the United States military during World War II Derived from the Mousetrap anti submarine rocket it was intended for use in demolishing concrete bunkers and fortifications and saw use from August 1944 2 T37TypeSurface to surface rocketPlace of originUnited StatesService historyUsed byUnited States Army United States NavyProduction historyDesignerCaltechDesigned1943Produced1944 1945SpecificationsMass61 lb 28 kg Length35 in 890 mm Diameter7 2 in 180 mm WarheadC2 explosive 1 Warhead weight32 lb 15 kg EngineSolid fuel rocketOperationalrangeMinimum 300 yd 270 m Maximum 3 400 yd 3 100 m Maximum speed110 mph 49 m s GuidancesystemNone Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 References 3 1 Citations 3 2 BibliographyDevelopment editThe 7 2 Inch Demolition Rocket was developed by Section L of the National Defense Research Committee located at Caltech 3 in late 1943 as a modification of the existing 7 2 in 180 mm ASW rocket Mousetrap for use against heavily fortified ground targets Assigned to the United States Navy for development and production in July 1944 4 An additional high explosive rocket the T24 was planned but was dropped in favor of the T37 5 The rockets utilized a standard 2 25 inch 57 mm rocket motor fitted with a larger diameter warhead a longer ranged version utilizing a 3 5 inch 89 mm motor was also produced 6 Operational history editThe T37 saw its first operational use during Operation Dragoon the invasion of southern France in August 1944 7 fired from 120 round Woofus launchers mounted aboard Landing Craft Rocket vessels offshore 8 The rocket was also intended to be fired from tanks for the clearing of bunkers and anti tank obstacles The initial launcher dubbed Cowcatcher was mounted on the front of M4 Sherman tanks 9 it was quickly found unsatisfactory and was replaced by 20 round T40 Whiz Bang 10 and 24 round Grand Slam launchers mounted atop the tank s turret 7 9 The 20 round launcher could fire its entire loadout of rockets in approximately 10 seconds 11 however the tank installation was unpopular with crews as the launcher prevented the tank s turret hatches from being opened 9 References editCitations edit U S ROCKET 7 2 IN DEMOLITION T37 ORDATA Online Mine Action Information Center Archived from the original on 15 July 2012 Retrieved 24 May 2012 https www designation systems net dusrm app4 7inch html von Braun Ordway III and Dooling 1985 p 97 Hearings of the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments United States House of Representatives 1947 p 117 Ordnance School Text Rockets and Launchers All Types PDF Aberdeen Maryland Ordnance School Aberdeen Proving Grounds February 1944 p 93 Rocket Solid Fuel H E High Explosive 7 2in National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 29 February 2012 a b Parsch 2006 Baxter 1968 p 114 a b c Zaloga 2011 pp 35 36 Zaloga 2012 p 16 TM 5 220 Passage Of Obstacles Other Than Mine Fields War Department Technical Manual United States War Department July 1945 p 50 T37 demolition rocket Bibliography edit Baxter James Phinney 1968 Scientists Against Time Cambridge Massachusetts The MIT Press p 114 ISBN 978 0 262 52012 6 Parsch Andreas 2006 Surface Launched 7 2 Inch Rockets Directory of U S Military Rockets and Missiles Appendix 4 Undesignated Vehicles Designation Systems net Retrieved 29 February 2012 von Braun Wernher Frederick I Ordway III Dave Dooling 1985 Space Travel A History An Update of History of Rocketry amp Space Travel New York Harper amp Row ISBN 978 0 06 181898 1 Zaloga Stephen 2011 Armored Attack 1944 U S Army Tank Combat in the European Theater from D Day to the Battle of the Bulge Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania Stackpole Books pp 35 36 ISBN 978 0 8117 0769 5 Zaloga Stephen 2012 US Marine Corps Tanks of World War II New Vanguard Vol 186 New York Osprey Publishing p 16 ISBN 978 1 84908 560 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7 2 Inch Demolition Rocket amp oldid 1184366484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
