U.S. Army 4.5-Inch Barrage & Bombardment Rockets

Fin-Stabilized 4.5-Inch Rockets (M8, M9, M12)

The 4.5-Inch Rocket M8 was a fin-stabilized aircraft rocket, the first of this kind developed and used by the Army Air Forces. It was also used as a barrage rocket with ground-based launchers, the 8-tube "Xylophone" and 60-tube "Calliope". But since fin-stabilization is not very effective for low-speed ground-launched rockets, it was replaced later in the war by spin-stabilized rockets of the M16 family (q.v. below).

The M9 was similar to the M8, but no further details are available. The M12 was a larger development of the M8, which had collapsible fins and could be fired from a tripod launcher.

Spin-Stabilized 4.5-Inch Rockets (M16, M17, M20, M21)

The M16 was the first of the Army's spin-stabilized 4.5-inch rockets. It was fired from 24-tube "Honeycomb" and 60-tube "Hornet's Nest" launchers. The M17 and M21 rockets were practice rounds, while the M20 was another 4.5-inch spin-stabilized high-explosive rocket. M16 rockets were used by the Army at least until the Korean war.

Image: via ORDATA Website

M16

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for 4.5-Inch Rockets M8, M16, M20:

	M8	M16	M20
Length	91 cm (36 in)	78.7 cm (31 in)
Diameter	11.4 cm (4.5 in)
Weight	17 kg (38 lb)	19.3 kg (42.5 lb)	18.4 kg (40.5 lb)
Speed	?
Range	3660 m (4000 yds)	> 5 km (3 miles)
Propulsion	Solid-propellant rocket
Warhead	High Explosive

Main Sources

[1] Norman J. Bowman: "The Handbook of Rockets and Guided Missiles", Perastadion Press, 1963
[2] Frederick I. Ordway III, Ronald C. Wakeford: "International Missile and Spacecraft Guide", McGraw-Hill, 1960
[3] ORDATA Online Website

Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4

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Last Updated: 1 February 2006