Quote:
Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
Derek,
We are not sure about the "CN" marking, but I also thought it could mean " Canadian". Sadly there is no clarification in the text anyware.
The Typhoon/RP-3 rocket is also the only rocket I could think of, but I am not sure how the shape shape and vins at the back would work with the Conger launch tube, which looks very similar to the Z-gun/Z-rocket.
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Alex, you've raised an interesting question which prompted me to do a little more research. I dug through my library looking for articles on rockets and found this information. In 1937 a 3" rocket was proposed by the British as an alternative to the anti-aircraft gun. Under strict security the UP (Unrotated Projectile) project began and final test firings were completed by 1939 in Jamaica Mon! The "Z" batteries were all variations of the "Projector, 3", No. whatever, Mk. whatever for the various permutations. The 3" rocket taken up later in the war (1944?) as an aircraft weapon was basically the same as the one used in the Z gun and the Land Mattress. The differences being the warheads. The Z gun had a 4.28lb warhead, the Land Mattress used a 5" naval shell and the aircraft weapon variously used an AP, SAP (Semi-armour piercing), HE, or HEF (High explosive fragmentation) in weights varying from 25 to 60lbs. I've looked at several pictures of the RP-3 used on the Z gun, Land Mattress, and Aircraft and there are small differences in the tail fin design but they appear to be the same rocket. There was one reference to early 5" rocket trials that was a predeccesor to the RP-3 but with no details. Once again, I'm sure someone like Clive could probably shed more light on the Conger rocket.
22-04-07, 18:36
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