Wire/net trailing AA Rockets

Smokey · 12-06-2005, 10:31 AM

Apparently in WW2 anti aircraft rockets trailing long wires or nets designed to snare aircraft were used. I have heard of a Dornier Do 17 being damaged or destroyed in 1940 by one of these rockets during an attack on an allied airfield. They were apparently also carried on ships. Does any one have any info on these wire/net trailing rockets?

FLYBOYJ · 12-06-2005, 10:41 AM

Wire guided missles - still used today - The Henschel Hs 293B was wireguided. USSR had the Sagger the US TOW missle are wire guided.

Smokey · 12-06-2005, 11:15 AM

Not wire guided - Wire trailing like a lassoo

FLYBOYJ · 12-06-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokey

Not wire guided - Wire trailing like a lassoo

Same thing - the wire is providing control inputs from the operator

toffigd · 12-06-2005, 01:33 PM

For example HMS Hood had such rockets (in 1940 5 launchers on deck). They were called UP (Unrotated Projectile). One launcher consisted a block of 20 tubes. Caliber was probably 170mm. Probably there were also 2,3 and 5 inches caliber rocket launchers.
Their efectivness was rather poor, so they were withdrawn from "service" quickly.
And they were NOT wire guided, that's for sure

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 12-06-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokey

Not wire guided - Wire trailing like a lassoo

Same thing - the wire is providing control inputs from the operator

He is not talking wire guided, but rather a missle that has a net on it to snare an aircraft and make it crash.

carpenoctem1689 · 12-06-2005, 04:40 PM

Does anyone have any information on the AA rockets that were on japanese battleships, mainly the Musashi and yamato? Ive heard they carried, along with many 25mm aa guns, several rocket launchers for shooting down an enemy aircraft. Since both ships were sunk by air power, and allied losses during the attacks were minimal if any, does anyone have any information, pcitures, or links to sites that would give me more information?

Gnomey · 12-06-2005, 04:48 PM

There you go, page on the Yamato class: http://www.combinedfleet.com/yamato_c.htm.

FLYBOYJ · 12-06-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokey

Not wire guided - Wire trailing like a lassoo

Same thing - the wire is providing control inputs from the operator

He is not talking wire guided, but rather a missle that has a net on it to snare an aircraft and make it crash.

I got it, my mistake

Glider · 12-06-2005, 05:37 PM

Launchers were installed on a large number of ships in the RN from trawlers upwards.
The small ones were single launchers and were fired using compressed air not rockets. The projectile trailed a wire that had a small explosive on it and a parachute. The idea being to dangle the wire in the air snag the wing and drag the explosive onto the aircraft. Fine in theory against torpedo bombers and totally useless in action. They were often used to fire spuds at rival allied ships. Versions were also installed around airfields to try to protect them from attack.
The ones on the Battleships were 'proper' rockets and equally useless as well as being heavy and a huge fire risk and were replaced as fast as possible by multiple 2pd AA guns.
An interesting variation was designed to be dropped by bombers flying ahead of and above of incoming bomber formations. A Hampden or Wellington could carry a lot of these and the idea was to lay a curtain in front of the enemy who would fly into them. Amazingly we actually managed to destroy one German bomber in the Blitz using this but there were two massive drawbacks: -
a) It took a massive amount of effort for negligible gain
b) They kept falling and littered the ground with hundreds of explosives which sort of defeated the object.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 12-06-2005, 05:39 PM

Hmm that is interesting. I never knew all of that stuff.

Gnomey · 12-06-2005, 06:15 PM

Good post Glider. Never knew about that stuff.