- Mousetrap (weapon)
-
4-missile launcher "anti-submarine projector Mk. 20"
Mousetrap (ASW Marks 20 and 22) was an anti-submarine rocket used mainly during the Second World War by the U.S. Navy[1] and the U.S. Coast Guard.[2] Its development was begun in 1941 as a replacement for Hedgehog, a British-made projector, which was the first ahead-throwing ASW weapon. These, however, were spigot-launched, placing considerable strain on the launching vessel's deck, whereas Mousetrap was rocket-propelled. As a result, Mousetrap's four or eight rails for 7.2-inch (183 mm) rockets saved weight and were easier to install.
The rockets weighed 65 pounds (29 kg) each, with a 33-pound (15 kg) Torpex warhead and contact pistol, exactly like Hedgehog.
By the end of the war, over 100 Mousetrap Mark 22s were mounted in U.S. Navy ships, including three each on 12 destroyers[1], and submarine chasers (usually two sets of rails)[3].
Statistics
- Round weight: 65 lb (29 kg)
- Warhead: 33 lb (15 kg)
- Range: about 280m
- Firing speed: one round every 3 seconds (maximum)
- No. of rails:
- Mark 20: 4
- Mark 22: 8
References
- ^ a b http://www.microworks.net/pacific/armament/mk20&22_mousetrap.htm
- ^ "CUYAHOGA, 1927" (html). US Coast Guard. November 2001. http://www.uscg.mil/tcyorktown/info/cuyhistspecs.asp. Retrieved 2008-10-08.[dead link]
- ^ "Submarine Chaser SC-718". NavSource Naval History. http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/150718.htm.
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. "Mousetrap", in Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 18, pp1946-7. London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.
- http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMUS_ASW.htm
- http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMRussian_ASW.htm
- http://www.microworks.net/pacific/armament/mk20&22_mousetrap.htm
External links
Media related to Mousetrap anti-submarine rocket at Wikimedia CommonsWorld War II rockets of the United StatesAir-to-ground rockets 2.25" SCAR · 3.5" FFAR · 4.5" M8 · 4.5" T22 · 5" FFAR · 5" HVAR · 7.2" Retrorocket · 11.75" Tiny Tim
Surface-to-surface rockets 2.36" Bazooka · 3.5" GPSR · 4.5" M8 · 4.5" M16 · 4.5" Old Faithful · 5" HVSR · 7.2" Mousetrap · 7.2" Demolition Rocket
Types of missile By platform Air-to-air missile (AAM) · Air-to-surface missile (ASM) · Surface-to-air missile (SAM) · Surface-to-surface missile (SSM) · Ballistic missile · Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) · Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) · Anti-ballistic missile (ABM) · Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) · Cruise missile · Anti-ship missile (AShM) · Anti-submarine missile · Anti-tank missile (ATGM) · Anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) · Air-launched ballistic missile · Anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)By guidance Anti-radiation · Wire guidance · Infrared guidance · Beam riding · Laser guidance · Active radar guidance · Semi-active radar guidance · Unguided rocketsLists Categories:- Explosive weapons
- Naval weapons of the United States
- Anti-submarine rockets and missiles of the United States
- World War II weapons of the United States
- World War II naval weapons
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