Hello, All,

I'm wondering if anybody knows of any good references for truck-mounted rocket launchers? I'm trying to find any photos of the type of 4.5" rocket launchers the Marines mounted on the WC51 3/4 ton weapons carrier on Iwo Jima and elsewhere... I know these were also mounted in LVTs and on various landing craft... I'd like to take a crack at scratchbuilding them...

Mr. Roo helped me out with a great rear angle photo --- I'm now hoping for a front angle and some of the elevation gear. Of course, I will look at anything!!

Thanks!!!

Aloha,

Johnny B.

You need to either find the TM for rockets or the Technical Bulletin for that item. What is the model number you are looking for? The ones I know of were 7.2-inch gravity feed launchers in USMC 1/2-ton IHC trucks.

KL

Hiya, Kurt,

Truth be told, I don't know the model rocket launchers... I'm pretty sure that they are the 4.5 inch models...and that they were mounted on the back of the Marine WC51 Weapons carriers on Iwo Jima.

Dunno if this helps --- thanks either way, Kurt!!

Much obliged,

Aloha

Johnny B

Johnny, I think what you're looking for is the T45, which was a set of 14 rocket launchers fitted on a jeep or light vehicle. I only have a bit of technical info. I'll look around for some pics.

Do you know how many rockets were on it?

Did it look something like this?:

Ken this is the pic I supplied mounted on a Dodge 6X6



PS> Ken if you have any info on them could I have copies please

sorry could not make it a smaller pic size.

Cliff, I have one other if I can get my scanner to behave I'll add it here.

PS: Isn't that a WC-53 carrying the launcher?

WC53 is the carry all van body . It is either a WC62 (no winch) or WC63 (with winch)6X6.

Yup, that's a T45 4.5-inch automatic rocket launcher. I was thrown by the bulged warhead. One good reference is the 7 February 1945 edition of TM 9-394, 4.5-inch Rocket Materiel for Ground Use. I think there was a preliminary TB issued on it as well. Also, I think I saw blueprints of it in the archives of Watervliet Arsenal this summer.

The rockets, BTW, were 4.5-inch Navy Beach Barrage rockets. The warhead was 4.5 in diameter but the rocket motor itself was only 2.25 diameter.

KL

Thanks again, Guys!

Excuse the pun, but you are all blowing me away with your knowledge, resources, and just being good guys...

I believe that these were also the rockets that were experimentally mounted on the rear of the LVT amtanks in the Pacific.

Unfortunately, the Iwo Jima footage I have isn't a very good angle, so it's impossible to tell how many rockets are present... But that side angle illustration pretty much mirrors Mr. Roo's great picture. I'm going to assume that the rig mounted on the WC51 Weapons Carrier was a scaled down version of the one pictured on it's biger brother.

Would love to see any additional pix --- and can you tell me if that TM has pictures of this rocket array as well...?

Thanks again, guys --- you are a great bunch!!!

Much Aloha,

Johnny B.

The TM shows various pics of the launcher complete and in sub-assemblies, loading and operation, and of the rocket and fuze. It also has dimensions that ought to be enough to scratchbuild one. There is also a picture of a par mounted on an LVT(1), but it's probably just a trial photo. Contact me directly and we can arrange to get you a copy of my copy.

KL

I thought I had another pic which showed the T45 as used in the PAO. My bad. I thought I'd show it anyway - perhaps for future projects or for further research.

this one was fitted with 12 tubes called "blowpipes", was used by the US Army in Alsace, France in 1944.



Kurt, do you have anything on this?

That looks improvised, using one of the lower banks of tubes from a T34 or T34E1 Calliope launcher. The frame is probably just angle iron and such.

KL

Johnny,

There was a T27 (and T27E1) truck-mounted 4.5 inch rocket launcher that went into use in late 1944 in the ETO/MTO, perhaps also in the PTO. This consisted of 8 steel tubes, was pedestal mounted, and weighed 800 lbs. It was designed to be fired from a 1.5 ton or larger truck, and was operated by a 2-man crew. The rockets were fired electrically at half-second intervals, and the power source was a small generator. These method of employment was to simultaneously launch rockets from 50 vehicles at a time to achieve maximum effect and saturation. Depending upon elevation, the range was between 2000 and 4000 yards.

Technical info on this equipment can be found in War Department Technical Bulletin 9X-53, dated 14 February 1944. I also have some additional technical information on the 4.5 T34 and 7.2 inch T40 tank-mounted launchers, plus an interesting story about the testing and use of rocket tanks in the MTO on my website:

http://www.752ndtank.com/RocketTanks.html

Hope this helps.

Bob

Wow, you guys are truly awesome and most helpful!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all for your input, expertise and time --- what a great bunch!!

Many thanks and Aloha,

Johnny B