Unguided rocket: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz No edit summary |
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz No edit summary |
||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
Rockets are fired from '''rocket launchers'''. These fall into two general categories, individual rocket launchers and '''multiple rocket launchers'''. The rockets carry a variety of payloads, including high explosive (i.e., blast), blast-fragmentation, various types of armor-piercing, incendiary, chemical, [[cluster submunition]], smoke, electronic jammers, etc. The payload triggers by any of a variety of fuzing methods, using [[contact fuze]]s, [[time fuze]]s, [[proximity fuze]]s, etc. | Rockets are fired from '''rocket launchers'''. These fall into two general categories, individual rocket launchers and '''multiple rocket launchers'''. The rockets carry a variety of payloads, including high explosive (i.e., blast), blast-fragmentation, various types of armor-piercing, incendiary, chemical, [[cluster submunition]], smoke, electronic jammers, etc. The payload triggers by any of a variety of fuzing methods, using [[contact fuze]]s, [[time fuze]]s, [[proximity fuze]]s, etc. | ||
While they may have a large, visible, and locally dangerous backblast emanating from their engines, rockets are recoilless, and thus rocket launchers can be constructed far more lightly than would be a [[cannon]] of equivalent payload, which has to absorb the recoil of the explosion that propels an artillery shell through the barrel and into the open. | While they may have a large, visible, and locally dangerous backblast emanating from their engines, rockets are recoilless, and thus rocket launchers can be constructed far more lightly than would be a [[cannon]] of equivalent payload, which has to absorb the recoil of the explosion that propels an artillery shell through the barrel and into the open. All modern unguided rockets use [[solid fuel rocket|solid fuel]]. | ||
==Individual rocket launchers== | ==Individual rocket launchers== | ||
Revision as of 23:22, 1 March 2009
In a military context, an unguided rocket is a self-contained unit of ammunition which, when fired at a point or area target, flies to its destination primarily by the energy provided by a rocket motor until the motor exhausts its fuel; see rocket science for the formal analysis of its performance. During its flight, the rocket stays on the preset course using aerodynamic methods, either fin stabilization or spin stabilization. Aerodynamic surfaces, such as the fins (or, in some cases, the overall rocket body) only stabilize; they do not adjust the course to increase the probability of hitting the target.
Rockets are fired from rocket launchers. These fall into two general categories, individual rocket launchers and multiple rocket launchers. The rockets carry a variety of payloads, including high explosive (i.e., blast), blast-fragmentation, various types of armor-piercing, incendiary, chemical, cluster submunition, smoke, electronic jammers, etc. The payload triggers by any of a variety of fuzing methods, using contact fuzes, time fuzes, proximity fuzes, etc.
While they may have a large, visible, and locally dangerous backblast emanating from their engines, rockets are recoilless, and thus rocket launchers can be constructed far more lightly than would be a cannon of equivalent payload, which has to absorb the recoil of the explosion that propels an artillery shell through the barrel and into the open. All modern unguided rockets use solid fuel.
Individual rocket launchers
Launchers for individual rockets fall into two general categories: man-portable for infantry support, and artillery rockets that may come close in accuracy to that of unguided cannon shells. Infantry support rockets are usually direct fire, and most commonly are used against fortifications, buildings, and armored vehicles.
Multiple rocket launchers
Early multiple rocket launchers were area-effect weapons; the relative inaccuracy of each rocket was desirable, as it allowed tens of rockets fired from the compact launcher to spread out to blanket an area.