"Real" ring fin rockets

[Sooner Boomer]

There are several military rockets that use ring fin designs. Most (if not all) are tube launched. Most are used by the navies. Two examples of these are chaff rockets and anti-submarine rockets. These do not include the Hedgehogs and demolition devices; they are "spigot mortars" (see next post).

Some reference pix.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

More ring fin stuff. Looks like I was mistaken - not all the bombardment rockets were spigot mortars. I can't find those right now. But here ya go...




These look a lot like the FFAR











And some bazooka rockets...

 

[Sooner Boomer]

OK, the British anti-submarine "Hedghogs" were spigot mortars. The similar-looking demolition rockets were actual rockets. While researching this, I saw a picture of a bombers' bomb bay loaded with racks holding dozens of Hedghogs as bombs. No idea about effectiveness. The Russians use/used a similar ASW rocket.

More pics:



















This is not a spigot mortar, but an actual rocket. It is an American ASW weapon called the "Alpha Weapon"

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Last post on this subject for now. A few more photos:

Mousetrap rockets under the wing of a fighter plane



Hedgehog mortars in the bay of a bomber


Hedgehog on display in a museum


Takin' a break with the Hogs...



This is what makes them "spigot" mortars - the spigots are the rods sticking out, the black dots in the middle of the rods are the firing pins. Blast from the mortar firing re-cocked the firing pins. The trunion bearings are to allow the rows of spigots to move to compensate for the roll of the ship.



The "Alpha Weapon" being fired - notice blast of fire at the far right. This was directly in front of the bridge!