The following are (summaries of) translated pieces regarding the equipage of warships with rocket weaponry, 1947-1948.
From: Chef Marinestaf (CMS)
To: Vlagofficier Materieel (VOM)
In response to the note sent to me by the head of the Armament Subdivision, I have the honour to inform your Most Honourable Lord the following.
1 - I have read the matter discussed in the memorandum with great interest and fully agree with the opinion of the Head of Armament that it is necessary to follow the expirations and maintain close contact with the Oerlikon company.
2 - Both in the United States and England, and very probably also in Russia, the development of guided missiles - as you know - is being worked on with great speed. According to the press, several favourable results have already been achieved.
3 - As far as I am currently aware, these results are not yet of such a nature that ships will be equipped with "guided missile arrays".
4 - However, in my opinion it is by no means a stretch to assume now that in a few years' time warships will be equipped with guided missiles, either against air or against sea targets or against both.
5 - It is understandable that these weapons will require special training for the personnel responsible for their use. The Americans have already decided to create a special service area for "guided missiles".
6 - However, it seems to me that this - in typical American fashion - has gone a bit too far.
7 - A closer look at the guided missile, with everything that goes with it, shows that the targeting and control devices are essentially the same as the targeting and radio or radar transmitting devices already present on ships. The setup itself is a lot simpler than the artillery setups currently in use, so that only the actual guided projectile is something completely new.
8 - If, as the memorandum from the Chief of Armaments already indicates, these projectiles are stored on board as ammunition, the problem does not seem complicated from the user's point of view.
9 - However, special training will prove to be very necessary for the technical staff who will be responsible for maintenance and repairs
10 - It is still difficult to predict whether we will be able to benefit from this if the Americans and/or the British were to arm their warships with guided missiles. Presumably this will certainly not be the case, at least in the beginning.
11 - It is therefore a gratifying fact that Europe is also working hard to solve this problem and, where it appears, with a good chance of success.
12 - Since, as already explained in point 4, arming warships with guided missiles can be expected with certainty in the, perhaps near, future, we have a duty to remain extremely diligent in this matter.
13 - Due to numerous unknown factors and the limited knowledge we currently have about this new weapon, it is currently premature to draw any conclusions from the Chief of Armament's memorandum regarding the application of the new weapon on ships.
14 - However, I imagine that it would be desirable, as soon as more information regarding the Oerlikon guided missile arrives, to appoint a committee of several officers by mutual agreement. This committee should be instructed to conduct a study of the design of the missile, its uses and provisions that would have to be made for the training of personnel if the Koninklijke Marine were to introduce guided missiles.
15 - I request you to inform me whether you agree with the suggestions contained in this note and furthermore whether and when more information regarding the Oerlikon projectile can be expected.
signed, Vice Admiral Chef of the Marinestaf, Jhr. E.J. van Holthe.
Oerlikon, memo dated 15 April 1947
AA Powder rocket, particulars
This type of rocket is intended for defence against low-flying aircraft. It is fired from a volley device that contains 9 - 64 rockets, depending on the customer's wishes, which can be fired simultaneously or one after the other or in individual groups.
Weight of single rocket: 11 kg (at launch)
Explosive payload: 1 kg
Propellant weight: 2,7 kg
V max: ca. 600 mps
Acceleration time: 0,95 seconds
Fuze: Impact fuze
Stabilisation: Wing and twist combined
Intended range: 100 - 1500 m
Self destruction: after ca. 2500 m
(TL note: the original said Flügel and Drall Kombiniert for Stabilisation)
AA Liquid rocket, particulars
Propulsion: Homemade 2-substances liquid rocket engine.
Range: 3000 - 20.000 m
V max: ca 700 mps
Burn time: 60 - 70 seconds
Steering: Self guided in short wave beam
Flight path: Tractrix
No computer, but direct tracking of the target with an optical or radar target tracking device.
Aerodynamic design: Cruciform with a structure of constant lift, i.e. the lift does not change when the projectile rotates around its longitudinal axis.
Control: by deflection of the drive beam using an electro-hydraulic amplifier arrangement
Stabilisation of the rocket: by means of a gyro combination and subsequent electrical computing device combined with a new type of electrical amplifier to ensure aperiodically damped turning flight. No control surfaces, flaps, rudders and the like, no jet deflection rudders, no auxiliary launch rockets, but a new type of starting arrangement for inclined take-off to realise any start between horizontal and vertical directions.
Shot into the ultra-short wave beam with the help of a strongly opened coarse beam, which automatically ensures centering and thus entry into the fine beam.
Data:
Total startweight: 250 kg
Payload: 20 kg
Fuze: Proximity fuze
Transmitter wavelength: ca. 15 cm
Self destruction etc.
Translated summary of “guidelines for rocket armament on board newly constructed ships”
From: Chef Marinestaf (CMS)
To: Vlagofficier Materieel (VOM)
The Hague, 25th March 1947
One could separate the rocket types into two categories: solid fueled and liquid fueled.
The liquid fueled rockets are frequently prepared for long range and possibly guided purposes. The technology is most definitely a future item to be on board ships, but development has not started yet and in foreign countries is held secretively. Thus for now this endeavour belongs to the scientific research department.
Solid fuel rocketry development has not yet started but on the market there are a few types available. Development in this area was very feasible and it would have to be looked at in the possibilities to replace artillery in certain sections: a) illumination. b) smoke c) radar countermeasures d) short range AA fire.
The British navy used the 2-inch illumination rocket during the war and by the end had two models, the 3-inch and 5-inch model. Length 1,80 / 2,40 m, Weight 21,5 / 55 kg, Range 11.500 / 22.500 meter respectively.
Starshells were used from the 4½ and 5¼-inch guns at maximum 18.000 meters. These were envisioned to be used during radar inoperation or jamming, or for illumination of coastal or coastal covered units.
For the new cruisers, Bofors would make a new 51 kg starshell for 24.000 range with an illuminative strength like the older 12 cm shells. Bofors is also investigating if a new 5 or 6-inch illumination rocket could be developed with the same particulars as the British 5-inch.
After an extensive comparison, the 15cm starshells would be used for illumination past 10 à 12.000 meters.
At shorter ranges, illumination rockets would be used with two installations per side for all round sectors and the ability to have one active during the other’s reload time. Each installation needed to carry 12 rockets and a simple hoist system would be used. The size of the rockets would be 3-inch since those would be particularly light (21 kg) and would allow “window” rockets to be used from the same installation.
For smoke rockets the same system could be used. Smoke shells would not need to be carried, though if during wartime British ammunition has to be used and the barrels are swapped to accept British shells the British smokeshell could be used.
Window rockets would be recommended for the new cruisers. They did not need to be of the same calibre but for it should be possible to use the same installation.
Furthermore, all rockets would employ flameless gunpowder.
Translated summary of additional requirements.
From: Chef Marinestaf (CMS)
To: Vlagofficier Materieel (VOM)
The Hague, 15th March 1947
For the cruiser:
4 rocket assemblies for 3-inch rockets of 2 starboard and 2 portside.
Each assembly must carry at least 12 rockets. They must be fit to fire the following:
Illumination rockets with a maximum range of 10 to 12 km. Required to have at least two range settings (e.g. 7 km and max range)
Smoke rockets with a maximum range of 10 to 12 km. Required to have three range settings.
Window rockets.
Phosphor shell requirements dropped.
It is to be strived to use flameless powder for all munitions.
For destroyers:
1 or 2 rocket assemblies for 3-inch rockets. As per cruiser.
Starshell requirements dropped.
Source:
Kruiser en torpedobootjager met betrekking tot de te plaatsen bewapening 1946-1948
Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Marinestaf, nummer toegang 2.12.19, inventarisnummer 873
Kruiser en torpedobootjager met betrekking tot de te plaatsen bewapening 1946-1948
Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Marinestaf, nummer toegang 2.12.19, inventarisnummer 873
Additional notes:
It seems this endeavour is what in cooperation with Bofors led to the development of the Lichtrakerwerper van 10,3 cm № 1. On some blueprints these can still be found.
Max range of this device was 11.000 m with an effective range of 10.500 m. Burning time of the illumination rockets was approximately 65 seconds. Weight of the rocket was 30 kg and V(0) 605 mps.
Sources:
Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Bouwtekeningen van Schepen van de Nederlandse Marine, nummer toegang 4.MST, inventarisnummers 3300, 3306, 3340, 3341, 3343, 3393
Artillerieatlas 1966, MK Erfprins.
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