Project Kingfisher

Last updated
Kingfisher
Kingfisher A windtunnel model.jpg
Wind tunnel model of Kingfisher A
Type Anti-ship missiles
Anti-submarine missiles
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1956–1959
Used by United States Navy
Production history
Designer National Bureau of Standards
Designed1944–1956

Project Kingfisher was a weapons-development program initiated by the United States Navy during the latter part of World War II. Intended to provide aircraft and surface ships with the ability to deliver torpedoes to targets from outside the range of defensive armament, six different missile concepts were developed; four were selected for full development programs, but only one reached operational service.

Contents

Background

Project Kingfisher was initiated in August 1944, [1] in response to the increasing difficulty of torpedo bomber aircraft to successfully complete attacks in the face of the increasing defensive firepower of ships during late World War II. The program was intended to produce standoff delivery systems to allow for the release of torpedoes from outside of the range of enemy defenses, specifically calling for "radar-controlled, subsonic, self-homing, air-borne missiles...to deliver explosive charge[ sic ] below water line of floating targets". [2] Developed by the Bureau of Ordnance (BuOrd) and the National Bureau of Standards, [3] under the direction of Hugh Latimer Dryden and Edward Conden. [2] Kingfisher was derived from the Pelican and Bat guided-bomb projects, [4] and produced a series of six different missile designs, designated 'A' through 'F', using a variety of payload and guidance options. Of these designs, four – Kingfisher C through F – were determined to be suitable for full development; due to the end of World War II, reducing the priority of the project, [1] development was slowed, with flight testing of early, glider models of Kingfisher taking place in late 1946, [5] and full development of the selected operational versions beginning during 1947. [1]

Variants

Kingfisher A

SWOD Mark 11 Kingfisher A (SWOD Mark 11) layout.jpg
SWOD Mark 11

Kingfisher A, also known as SWOD (Special Warfare Ordnance Device) Mark 11, [1] and later as SWOD Mark 15, [6] was a glide bomb design, intended to carry a Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo; the weapon was intended for use against surface targets in low-threat environments, where the attacking aircraft did not have to worry about defensive cover from fighter aircraft. Considered to be an interim design before fully powered missiles were available, [1] the Kingfisher A design was used as a basis for glide tests to verify the aerodynamic properties of the Kingfisher family as a whole; [7] these took place late in 1946 using the PB4Y-2 Privateer as a launch aircraft. [5] The Kingfisher A itself was cancelled in early 1947 as no longer being required by the Navy, [4] however the SWOD Mark 15 airframe design was used as a basis for the Kingfisher C. [8]

Kingfisher B

Kingfisher B, or SWOD Mark 21, was of similar design to Kingfisher A, but was designed to be lightweight, the design calling for a weapon only 2/3 the weight of the Bat guided bomb. [9] Its payload was intended to be a plunge bomb, an unguided projectile that upon release would glide briefly along a ballistic trajectory before sinking alongside a target and detonating underwater. [1] Unpowered, it was also cancelled in 1947 as no longer meeting requirements. [4]

Kingfisher C

Two Petrels on a P2V-6 P2V-6M Neptune with AUM-2-N Petrel missiles c1956.jpg
Two Petrels on a P2V-6

Kingfisher C was the only member of the Kingfisher family to reach operational service. Developed from the SWOD Mark 15 airframe, and given the definitive designation AUM-N-2 Petrel, construction of the missile was contracted to the Guided Missiles Division of Fairchild Aircraft. As designed, Petrel was essentially a Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo fitted with flying surfaces and a Fairchild J44 turbojet; the missile had a range of 20 nautical miles (23 mi; 37 km) at Mach 0.5, and used semi-active radar homing for guidance. [8] By the time Petrel entered operational service in 1956, [1] the Mark 41 torpedo had been selected as its definitive warload; [10] launched by the P2V Neptune patrol aircraft, Petrel was withdrawn from operational use by 1959, as it was useless against submerged submarines and the U.S. Navy placed a low priority on defense against surface vessels, considering them an insignificant threat by comparison. [1] Surviving Petrels were repurposed as target drones, which were redesignated as AQM-41A shortly before leaving service in the early 1960s. [8]

Kingfisher D

Kingfisher D was similar in concept to Kingfisher C, but was intended to utilize a new torpedo with a novel dual-purpose propulsion system; a solid-propellant rocket would provide thrust both during the flight of the missile and, following the release of the torpedo, underwater during its terminal run. Given the designation AUM-N-4 Diver, the torpedo's propulsion system proved too complex to successfully develop, and the missile was subsequently cancelled. [1]

Kingfisher E

Grebe with wings folded XSUM-N-2 Grebe on launcher.jpg
Grebe with wings folded

The only surface-launched variant of the Kingfisher family, Kingfisher E evolved into the SUM-N-2 Grebe anti-submarine missile, intended to deliver a Mark 41 torpedo at ranges of up to 5,000 yards (2.8 mi; 4.6 km) from the launching ship. Construction of Grebe was contracted to the Goodyear Aircraft Company; it was powered by a solid-propellant rocket in its base version, while pulsejet-powered variants were planned to extend the range of the weapon to 40,000 yards (23 mi; 37 km). Flight testing of the missile began in 1950, but it was soon cancelled as sonar systems of the time were incapable of detecting targets at sufficient range to utilize the full capabilities of the missile, rendering it impractical for operational use. [1]

Kingfisher F

Kingfisher F was in some respects a powered version of the Kingfisher B; [1] the missile's intended payload was, like Kingfisher B, a plunge bomb, [11] and the missile was fitted with a pulsejet engine for a range of up to 20 miles (32 km) from its launching aircraft at a speed of Mach 0.7, with guidance via active radar homing. [12] Built by McDonnell Aircraft and given the designation AUM-N-6 Puffin, the missile began flight testing in 1948, [1] and was considered for carriage by United States Air Force bombers as well as U.S. Navy aircraft. [13] Trials demonstrated, however, that Puffin did not meet the Navy's changing requirements, and it was cancelled in October 1949. [1]

Aftermath

Although Project Kingfisher largely failed to result in the operational weapons it had been intended to produce, with only Kingfisher C, the AUM-N-2 Petrel, seeing operational service, [1] much was learned about the issues of aerodynamics and control of guided weapons; while the U.S. Navy chose to use fully ballistic rocket-powered weapons for antisubmarine use, developing the RUR-5 ASROC as its standard anti-submarine missile, [14] the concept of an unpiloted torpedo-carrying aircraft-type missile was developed by other nations, with the French Malafon missile and Australian Ikara being markedly similar in concept to the Kingfisher E/Grebe. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

ASM-N-2 Bat Conventional

The ASM-N-2 Bat was a United States Navy World War II radar-guided glide bomb which was used in combat beginning in April 1944. It was developed and overseen by a unit within the National Bureau of Standards with assistance from the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Bell Telephone Laboratories. It is considered to be the first fully automated guided missile used in combat.

AUM-N-2 Petrel Anti-ship missile

The AUM-N-2 Petrel, also known as Kingfisher C and AUM-2, was an air-to-surface missile produced as part of Project Kingfisher for the United States Navy. Intended for use against enemy surface ships and surfaced submarines, giving aircraft the ability to deliver aerial torpedoes from outside the range of defensive armament, it saw brief operational service in the late 1950s. The project was never considered a high priority by the Navy however, as it was useless against submerged submarines, which were considered the greatest potential threat.

Project Gorgon Missile / test vehicle / target drone

The Gorgon missile family was a series of experimental air-to-air, air-to-surface, and surface-to-surface missiles developed by the United States Navy's Naval Aircraft Modification Unit between 1943 and 1953. The immaturity of the technology involved meant that none of the Gorgon missiles achieved operational service, however they were extensively used in the development of guided missile controls and guidance technologies.

LBD Gargoyle Anti-ship missile / guided bomb

The LBD-1 Gargoyle was an American air-to-surface missile developed during World War II by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy. One of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles, it was extensively used as a test vehicle during the late 1940s.

The Mark 35 torpedo was the first of the United States Navy deep-diving anti-submarine torpedoes designed for surface launch. This electrically propelled 21-inch (53-cm) torpedo was 162 inches long, weighed 1770 lb (803 kg), and carried a 270 lb (122.5 kg) Torpex high explosive warhead. This torpedo used one of the earliest active guidance systems and was introduced in 1949, and was classified as obsolete in the 1960s.

RGM-59 Taurus Surface-to-surface missile

The RGM-59 Taurus was an American project, conducted by the United States Navy, that was intended to develop a surface-to-surface missile for use as a fire support weapon during amphibious landings, replacing heavy-caliber naval guns. Developed during the early 1960s, the project was cancelled before any hardware development was undertaken.

3.5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket Anti-submarine rocket

The 3.5-inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket, or 3.5-Inch FFAR, was an American rocket developed during World War II to allow aircraft to attack enemy submarines at range. The rocket proved an operational success, and spawned several improved versions for use against surface and land targets.

Pratt-Read LBE Type of aircraft

The Pratt-Read LBE-1 was a prototype glide bomb, or "Glomb", developed for the United States Navy during World War II. Although there were high hopes for the concept, the limitations of the Glomb led to the production contract for the LBE-1 being reduced, then cancelled, and only four examples of the type were ever built.

Piper LBP Type of aircraft

The Piper LBP was a glide bomb, or "Glomb", developed by Piper Aircraft for the United States Navy during World War II. Developed as one of three "Glomb" aircraft, the inherent limitations of the Glomb and the technology of the time, combined with difficulties encountered in testing of the prototype, led to the production contract for the LBP-1 being reduced, then cancelled, with none of the Glomb aircraft ever seeing operational service.

Taylorcraft LBT

The Taylorcraft LBT was a glider designed and built by Taylorcraft during World War II, in response to a United States Navy requirement for a glide bomb. One of three prototype "Glomb" models ordered by the Navy, the LBT suffered from technical and performance difficulties, and was cancelled early in production, none of the aircraft seeing operational service.

GT-1 (missile) Air-to-surface missile

The GT-1 was an early form of stand-off weaponry developed by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Intended to deliver an aerial torpedo at a safe range from the launching aircraft, the weapon proved successful enough in testing to be approved for operational use, and the GT-1 saw limited use in the closing stages of the war.

The ASM-N-5 Gorgon V was an unpowered air-to-surface missile, developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company during the early 1950s for use by the United States Navy as a chemical weapon delivery vehicle. Developed from the earlier PTV-N-2 Gorgon IV test vehicle, the program was cancelled without any Gorgon Vs seeing service.

AAM-N-4 Oriole Air-to-air missile

The AAM-N-4 Oriole was an early American air-to-air missile, developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company for the United States Navy. Designed for launch from carrier-based aircraft, the missile programme was cancelled before flight testing began, and the missiles produced were utilized as test vehicles.

AAM-N-5 Meteor Air-to-air missile

The AAM-N-5 Meteor was an early American air-to-air missile, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Bell Aircraft for the United States Navy. Initially, both air-launched and ship-launched versions were considered. Versions designed for launch from carrier-based aircraft proceeded to the flight testing stage before the project was cancelled.

The Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo, was a passive acoustic homing variant of the Mark 13 torpedo. It used the widely used Mark 13 torpedo as a basis, with the addition of passive acoustic homing developed by Bell Labs.

CTV-N-2 Gorgon IIC Propulsion test vehicle

The CTV-N-2 Gorgon IIC – also designated KGN, KUN, and CTV-2 – was an experimental drone, originally intended as a surface-to-surface missile, developed by the United States Navy near the end of World War II. It was used to test control and homing systems for guided missiles, and was also produced in small numbers as a target drone under the designations TD3N and KD2N.

Pelican (bomb) Guided bomb

The Pelican, also known as Bomb Mark 55 and, in one version, SWOD Mark 7, was a guided bomb developed by the United States Navy during World War II. Guided by semi-active radar homing, Pelican was produced in 1,000 lb (450 kg) and 1,500 lb (680 kg) sizes; the program reached the stage of live trials before being cancelled.

The AUM-N-4 Diver, also known as Kingfisher D and AUM-4, was a proposed anti-ship and anti-submarine missile, developed for use by the United States Navy in the late 1940s. It was intended to carry a rocket-propelled torpedo that used a single rocket motor for both airborne and underwater propulsion; due to technical issues encountered in the development of the torpedo, no missiles were built before the program was cancelled.

AUM-N-6 Puffin Anti-ship missile

The AUM-N-6 Puffin, also known as Kingfisher F and AUM-6, was an anti-ship and anti-submarine missile developed for use by the United States Navy in the late 1940s. Pulsejet-powered and intended to allow an aircraft to launch a torpedo or bomb from stand-off range, it was flight-tested but failed to enter operational service.

SUM-N-2 Grebe Anti-ship missile

The SUM-N-2 Grebe, also known as Kingfisher E and SUM-2, was a rocket- and pulsejet-powered anti-ship and anti-submarine missile developed by the United States Navy in the late 1940s. Intended to allow a ship to deliver a torpedo at a significant distance from the launch location, it proved impractical in trials, and did not enter operational service.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Friedman 1982, p. 203.
  2. 1 2 Dryden and Condon 1947, Abstract
  3. ↑ Ordway and Wakeford 1960, p. 122.
  4. 1 2 3 Dryden and Condon 1947, p. 2.
  5. 1 2 Dryden and Condon 1946, frontispiece
  6. ↑ Dryden and Conden 1946, frontispiece and p.7.
  7. ↑ Dryden and Condon 1947, pp. 5–6
  8. 1 2 3 Parsch 2005
  9. ↑ Parsch 2004
  10. ↑ Freidman 1982, p. 119.
  11. ↑ Dryden and Condon 1947, p. 4.
  12. ↑ Parsch 2003
  13. ↑ Yenne 2006, p. 25.
  14. ↑ Friedman 1982, p. 127.
  15. ↑ Friedman 1986, p. 82.

Bibliography

  • Dryden, Hugh L.; E. U. Condon (December 1946). Quarterly Progress Report No 1 for Period Ending Dec. 31, 1946 on Project Kingfisher (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Bureau of Standards. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  • Dryden, Hugh L.; E. U. Condon (March 1947). Quarterly Progress Report No 2 for Period Ending March 31, 1947 on Project Kingfisher (PDF). Washington, D.C.: National Bureau of Standards. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  • Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Naval Weapons: Every gun, missile, mine, and torpedo used by the U.S. Navy from 1883 to the present day. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-87021-735-7.
  • Friedman, Norman (1986). The Postwar Naval Revolution . Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-0-8702-1952-8.
  • Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill. ASIN   B000MAEGVC.
  • Parsch, Andreas (6 January 2003). "NBS/McDonnell AUM-N-6 Puffin". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  • Parsch, Andreas (16 June 2004). "SWOD Series". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  • Parsch, Andreas (17 September 2005). "Fairchild AUM-N-2/AQM-41 Petrel". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Designation-Systems. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  • Yenne, Bill (2006). Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos: High-Tech (and Low-Tech) Innovations of the U.S. Military. Minneapolis, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN   978-0760321157.
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