MGR-3 Little John
Encyclopedia
The MGR-3 Little John was a free flight artillery rocket system designed and put into service by the U.S. Army
during the 1950s and 1960s.
Carried on the XM34 rocket launcher, it could carry either nuclear
or conventional warhead
s. It was primarily intended for use in airborne assault operations and to complement the heavier, self-propelled Honest John
rocket systems. Development of the missile was started at Army’s Rocket and Guided Missile Agency laboratory at Huntsville, Alabama, the Redstone Arsenal
, in June 1955. In June 1956, the first launch of the XM47 Little John occurred. The Littlejohn was delivered to the field in November 1961 and remained in the Army weapons inventory until August 1969.
It was a fin-stabilized field artillery rocket that followed a ballistic trajectory to ground targets. The rocket XM51 consisted of a warhead, a rocket motor assembly, and an igniter assembly. The components were shipped in separate containers and assembled by the user.
The Littlejohn differs from the Honest John in not only its size but how it is stabilized in flight. The flight of the Honest John
is stabilized by a spin that is imparted to the rocket by spin rockets after the round leaves the launcher. The Littlejohn rocket flight is stabilized by applying spin to the rocket while on the launcher, just before firing. This manual method of stabilization was called "spin-on-straight-rail" (SOSR). The system was maufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company
.
The missile and launcher system were light enough to be easily transported by helicopters and other aircraft or towed by a vehicle. The Phase II Littlejohn weapon system was initially deployed with the 1st Missile Battalion, 157th Field Artillery in Okinawa, Japan.
The missile was retired beginning in July, 1967, with the final missile removed from inventory in 1970. Five hundred missiles were produced during the life of the weapon program.
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United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the 1950s and 1960s.
Description
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
or conventional warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
s. It was primarily intended for use in airborne assault operations and to complement the heavier, self-propelled Honest John
MGR-1 Honest John
The MGR-1 Honest John rocket was the first nuclear-capable surface-to-surface rocket in the US arsenal.The first nuclear-authorized guided missile was the MGM-5 Corporal. Designated Artillery Rocket XM31, the first such rocket was tested 29 June 1951 and the first production rounds were delivered...
rocket systems. Development of the missile was started at Army’s Rocket and Guided Missile Agency laboratory at Huntsville, Alabama, the Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal
Redstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, in June 1955. In June 1956, the first launch of the XM47 Little John occurred. The Littlejohn was delivered to the field in November 1961 and remained in the Army weapons inventory until August 1969.
It was a fin-stabilized field artillery rocket that followed a ballistic trajectory to ground targets. The rocket XM51 consisted of a warhead, a rocket motor assembly, and an igniter assembly. The components were shipped in separate containers and assembled by the user.
The Littlejohn differs from the Honest John in not only its size but how it is stabilized in flight. The flight of the Honest John
MGR-1 Honest John
The MGR-1 Honest John rocket was the first nuclear-capable surface-to-surface rocket in the US arsenal.The first nuclear-authorized guided missile was the MGM-5 Corporal. Designated Artillery Rocket XM31, the first such rocket was tested 29 June 1951 and the first production rounds were delivered...
is stabilized by a spin that is imparted to the rocket by spin rockets after the round leaves the launcher. The Littlejohn rocket flight is stabilized by applying spin to the rocket while on the launcher, just before firing. This manual method of stabilization was called "spin-on-straight-rail" (SOSR). The system was maufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
.
The missile and launcher system were light enough to be easily transported by helicopters and other aircraft or towed by a vehicle. The Phase II Littlejohn weapon system was initially deployed with the 1st Missile Battalion, 157th Field Artillery in Okinawa, Japan.
The missile was retired beginning in July, 1967, with the final missile removed from inventory in 1970. Five hundred missiles were produced during the life of the weapon program.
Specifications
- Length: 14.5 feet (4.4 m)
- Diameter: 12.5 inches (31.8 cm)
- Missile weight: 780 pounds (353.8 kg)
- Combined weight of missile and launcher: 2000 pounds (907.2 kg)
- Warhead: W45W45The W45 was a multipurpose American nuclear warhead developed in the early 1960s, first built in 1962 and fielded in some applications until 1988. It had a diameter of 11.5 inches , a length of 27 inches and weighed 150 pounds . The yields of different W45 versions were 0.5, 1, 5, 8, 10, and 15...
with a yield of 1 ktonTNT. - Propellant: solid rocket fuel
- Maximum range: 10 nautical miles (18.5 km)