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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0691.PDF
FLIGHT, 13 April 1951 429 WO OMERA Post-War Progress with British Guided Missiles: The Australian Rocket Range BECAUSE almost all work on guided missiles is regardedin Britain as top secret very little has been heard ofdevelopments in this field. The absence of information here has been accentuated by the variety of descriptions and photographs which have come out of the U.S.A. Some examples of American missiles are illustrated on the previous page. However, that no news can be taken as good news of progress was made clear by Air Chief Marshal Sir Alec Coryton in his recent statement (reported briefly in Flight last week). In fact, the appointment last August of Sir Alec as Chief Executive, Guided Weapons, Ministry of Supply, was a clear indication of the growing importance of such armament. He has now been able to report publicly on certain aspects of his visit to Australia and to give an indication of the scope and progress of the Woomera project. Some additional information was given by Mr. G. W. H. Gardner who is Director of Guided Weapons, Research and Develop- ment, under Sir Alec. As long ago as July, 1946, the Ministry of Supply circu- lated a printed statement regarding their research and development activities, and portions of this may be quoted to give a background to the present Guided Weapons organization. "The fighting Services have indicated an active interest in guided weapons and missiles. The list of requirements covers a wide range and presents a formidable programme of research and development work. The programme is under the supervision of the Director of Guided Projectiles and is carried out at a new establishment of guided projectiles. The necessity for liaison and collaboration between the Guided Projectile Establishment and, for example, the establishments responsible for radio and radar research needs no comment, and provision has been made for this exchange of information and ideas at all levels. In this, as in all other branches of scientific research and development, a careful survey has been made of German achievement, and a Ministry party with Army co-operation recently carried out the first non-German firing of a V-2 at Cuxhaven. The information which was gained in Germany on the construc- tion, assembly and firing of large liquid-fuel rockets will be of great value to our scientists and engineers. "The testing of long-range projectiles of this kind requires a very extensive uninhabited area, and an interdepartmental mission, headed by Lt.-Gen. J. F. Evetts, has recently been in Australia to examine a suitable area there and to discuss with the Australian government the technical and industrial facilities which would be required for the development and production of test projectiles in Australia." In the same statement mention was made of the fact that fan of the village of Woomera. Communications with its directing base « Salisbury are by air (there are two airstrips) or via the Pimba siding of the Trans-Continental railway, which lies six miles to the south. Considerable further progress has been made at Woomera since certain of these pictures, including that of the group on the right, were taken. What is officially described as a "conventional rocket" being fired at Woomera during proving experiments in preparation for more advanced missiles. as early as in 1936 a programme had been laid down for the investigation of the potentialities of rockets as anti-aircraft missiles, long-range offensive weapons, recoilless armament for aircraft and take-off tests for aircraft. The project, known as "Projectile Development," was concerned with rockets designated U.P. or unrotated projectiles. Additionally, the first proposals regarding proximity fuses made in 1939 were referred to. Progress was made in 1940 with radio proximity fuses employing reflected radio waves and in the form of self- contained equipment within a projectile, and a scientific mission took full details to the United States for further examination. Before giving some details of Woomera, it may be interest- ing to consider certain rockets, missiles and kindred equip- ment which have been announced in this country since the war. The name of the Fairey company has been prominent. In April, 1947, information about a Fairey guided missile was released. This was an anti-aircraft weapon designed for the Japanese war but not completed in time for use by the Army (who originally ordered it) or for the Navy. The Ministry of Supply nevertheless requested that work should be completed, and the Stooge, illustrated, was the outcome. It had a length of 7ft 5£in, a span of 6ft loin, chord of 17m, incidence of 3 deg, and a weight of 738 lb, with warhead. Propulsion was by four 75lb-thrust sofid-fuel main rockets, but initially four additional booster rockets of standard 3m Members of the original Long Range Weapons Board of Administration who had flown to Woomera: (left to right) C. J. W. Gillan, L S. Williams, £. L. Cook (secretary), Brig. J. K. Coffey, L. F. Loder, A.V-M. f. C. Wackett, Lt.-Gen. J. F. Evetts (chief executive), Maj.-Gen. L. £. Beavis, W. A. Butement (chief scientific officer), Capt. R. R. Dowling, R.A.N.
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