Masurca
Encyclopedia
The Masurca missile was a first generation naval surface-to-air missile
system developed and used by the French Navy
. Planned as the primary air defence missile system of the first generation of French guided missile ships it was to be used only aboard the two Suffren-class destroyers
and as a retrofit to the cruiser Colbert.
France had already been working on an anti-aircraft missile the Maruca, derived from the wartime German Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling. Although the MARUCA program was ultimately abandoned because of impracticability, experience from its development would not go to waste.
In 1955 ECAN de Ruelle began work on a supersonic missile using solid-propellants. The MASURCA was a DTCN (Direction Technique des Constructions Navales i.e Naval Construction Department) program working through ECAN de Ruelle and Matra
.
The first tests were made on the Île du Levant
, the focus moving in 1960 to the Ile d'Oléron
in a building especially built for experimentation. 50 test firings would be made in the period up to 1968, concluding with operational validation aboard the then newly commissioned frigate Suffren.
After the initial version, known as the Mark 1, came the Mark 2 which benefited from knowledge and technology transfer from the United States
. France was in the process of modernising it's T 47 class
fleet escorts and it received data from the RIM-2 Terrier
program offered by the United States as equipment for the Dupetit-Thouars, and experience from the deployment of the RIM-24 Tartar
aboard the Kersaint, Bouvet, and Du Chayla.
France subsequently developed the Mk2 mod2 (Mark 2 modification 2) which deployed from 1966. This was later improved to MK2 mod 3 standard in 1970, and was updated again between 1983 and 1985.
MASURCA had been intended as the principal weapon of France's first generation of guided-missile ships (known as FLE or frégates lance-engines in the French parlance of the time). Initially MASURCA was to have armed the six units of the Suffren class
, however with the termination of the class at two ships, the only ships to ship with the system were Suffren, her sister-ship Duquesne and, in her incarnation as a guided missile, the cruiser Colbert.
Over time the number of missiles has declined with the winding down of the program and the retirement of is launch platforms. The Duquesne was placed into reserve in 2009 replaced by the air-defence destroyer Forbin.
s (designed to separate the two stages when the propellant in the first had been exhausted). The missile had a range of 55 km and possessed a large, for an anti-aircraft weapon, 100kg HE blast fragmentation warhead. This was perhaps to overcome shortcomings in accuracy as, coupled with a proximity fuse, any aircraft the missile failed to hit could still be caught in its blast.
The booster was designed to expend all its fuel in about 5 seconds, accelerating the missile to a velocity of 800 meters per second (2880 km / h about mach 2.7) on separation. After separation of the two stages, and the missile was heading towards the target at a terminal velocity of Mach
3, the terminal radar guidance system was initiated.
This mode of operation meant that the missile had a minimum intercept altitude of 30 m which in theory left it unable to intercept sea skimming
anti-ship missiles and low flying
aircraft. However even blind the 100 kg warhead meant that some result would have been achieved.
MASURCA was manufactured in three versions:
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
system developed and used by the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
. Planned as the primary air defence missile system of the first generation of French guided missile ships it was to be used only aboard the two Suffren-class destroyers
Suffren class frigate
The Suffren type anti-air frigates are first-rank destroyers of the French Navy, designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide fire power against land objectives...
and as a retrofit to the cruiser Colbert.
History
In 1948 France embarked on a number of programs to develop guided missile systems, the aim being to keep pace with the other Great Powers. The proliferation of high-speed threats be they underwater, surface or aerial threats required the development of effective defences. High priority programs were initiated to cover all areas: anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-submarine. Of these programs two achieved operational status, these were:- MALAFON (MArine LAtécoère FONd i.e. LatécoèreGroupe LatécoèreThe Groupe Latécoère is an aircraft company based in Toulouse, France. Founded by Pierre-Georges Latécoère in 1917, the company was known in the past particularly for its seaplanes...
Naval underwater) for the anti-submarine role - MASURCA (MArine SURface Contre-Avions i.e Naval surface anti-aircraft) for the area and high-priority air defense role
France had already been working on an anti-aircraft missile the Maruca, derived from the wartime German Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling. Although the MARUCA program was ultimately abandoned because of impracticability, experience from its development would not go to waste.
In 1955 ECAN de Ruelle began work on a supersonic missile using solid-propellants. The MASURCA was a DTCN (Direction Technique des Constructions Navales i.e Naval Construction Department) program working through ECAN de Ruelle and Matra
Matra
Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...
.
The first tests were made on the Île du Levant
Île du Levant
Île du Levant , sometimes referred to as Le Levant, is a Mediterranean French island off the coast of the Riviera, near Toulon. It is one of the three that constitute the Îles d'Hyères of France. The island is 8 km long, 2 km wide, and located in the Gulf of Lion...
, the focus moving in 1960 to the Ile d'Oléron
Oléron
Île d'Oléron is an island off the Atlantic coast of France , on the southern side of the Pertuis d'Antioche strait....
in a building especially built for experimentation. 50 test firings would be made in the period up to 1968, concluding with operational validation aboard the then newly commissioned frigate Suffren.
After the initial version, known as the Mark 1, came the Mark 2 which benefited from knowledge and technology transfer from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. France was in the process of modernising it's T 47 class
T 47 class destroyer
The T 47 class were the first destroyers built for the French Navy after the Second World War. Twelve ships were built between 1955 and 1957. The ships were modernised in the 1960s and decommissioned in the 1980s when they were replaced by Georges Leygues-class frigatesThese ships were larger than...
fleet escorts and it received data from the RIM-2 Terrier
RIM-2 Terrier
The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg...
program offered by the United States as equipment for the Dupetit-Thouars, and experience from the deployment of the RIM-24 Tartar
RIM-24 Tartar
The General Dynamics RIM-24 Tartar was a medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships...
aboard the Kersaint, Bouvet, and Du Chayla.
France subsequently developed the Mk2 mod2 (Mark 2 modification 2) which deployed from 1966. This was later improved to MK2 mod 3 standard in 1970, and was updated again between 1983 and 1985.
MASURCA had been intended as the principal weapon of France's first generation of guided-missile ships (known as FLE or frégates lance-engines in the French parlance of the time). Initially MASURCA was to have armed the six units of the Suffren class
Suffren class frigate
The Suffren type anti-air frigates are first-rank destroyers of the French Navy, designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide fire power against land objectives...
, however with the termination of the class at two ships, the only ships to ship with the system were Suffren, her sister-ship Duquesne and, in her incarnation as a guided missile, the cruiser Colbert.
Over time the number of missiles has declined with the winding down of the program and the retirement of is launch platforms. The Duquesne was placed into reserve in 2009 replaced by the air-defence destroyer Forbin.
The missile
The complete missile weighed over two tonnes composed of two stages joined by pyrotechnic fastenerPyrotechnic fastener
A pyrotechnic fastener is a fastener, usually a nut or bolt, that incorporates a pyrotechnic charge that can be initiated remotely. One or more explosive charges embedded within the bolt are typically activated by an electric current, and the charge breaks the bolt into two or more pieces...
s (designed to separate the two stages when the propellant in the first had been exhausted). The missile had a range of 55 km and possessed a large, for an anti-aircraft weapon, 100kg HE blast fragmentation warhead. This was perhaps to overcome shortcomings in accuracy as, coupled with a proximity fuse, any aircraft the missile failed to hit could still be caught in its blast.
The booster was designed to expend all its fuel in about 5 seconds, accelerating the missile to a velocity of 800 meters per second (2880 km / h about mach 2.7) on separation. After separation of the two stages, and the missile was heading towards the target at a terminal velocity of Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
3, the terminal radar guidance system was initiated.
This mode of operation meant that the missile had a minimum intercept altitude of 30 m which in theory left it unable to intercept sea skimming
Sea skimming
Sea skimming is a technique many anti-ship missiles use to avoid radar and infrared detection during their approach.-Method:Sea skimming anti-ship missiles try to fly as low as is practically achievable, which is almost always below 50 meters , and is often down towards 5 meters .-Advantages:By...
anti-ship missiles and low flying
Nap-of-the-earth
Nap-of-the-earth is a type of very low-altitude flight course used by military aircraft to avoid enemy detection and attack in a high-threat environment....
aircraft. However even blind the 100 kg warhead meant that some result would have been achieved.
MASURCA was manufactured in three versions:
- The Mark 1: this was a basic version, it was used during all qualification tests but also for a time aboard the Suffren.
- The Mark 2 Mod 2: this was the first operational version. This relatively primitive version was retired in 1975.
- The Mark 2 Mod 3: this was the last operational version.