Brakemine
Encyclopedia
Brakemine was an early surface-to-air missile
(SAM) development project carried out in the United Kingdom
during World War II
. Brakemine used a beam riding
guidance system developed at A.C. Cossor
, while REME
designed the testbed airframes. Trial launches were carried out between 1944 and 1945, and the effort wound down as the war ended. Although Brakemine would never be used in its original form, its use of the "twist-and-steer" guidance method would later be used on the much more capable Bristol Bloodhound. A single Brakemine survives in the REME Museum.
guidance system concept. In 1942, Captain Sedgfield of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
(REME) wrote a technical paper on the concept. In 1943, L. H. Bedford, director of research at A.C. Cossor
, independently developed the same idea while on a long train ride.
The filing of two similar concepts led to a conference at the headquarters of Anti-Aircraft Command
, attended by Sir Frederick Pile
and Brigadier J.A.E. Burls, Chief Mechanical Engineer of AA Command (and inventor of the Pile Platform). A follow-up meeting started planning for a number of committees to study development of the concept, but worried that this would lead to lengthy delays, Burls decided to allow Cossor a free hand to develop the guidance system while (now) Major Sedgfield would handle rocket development at the AA Command's workshops at Park Royal
. Development began in February 1944.
The Brakemine missile developed as a simple cylindrical airframe with an ogive
nosecone, small elliptical wings mounted near the center of gravity
, and four small fins at the rear. The missile was powered by eight solid rocket
s taken from the existing Unrotated Projectile
anti-aircraft rocket (also used on the RP-3
). Later models used six rockets.Baxter mentions the change from eight to six, Morton mentions only six 3-inch rockets. During 1943/44 the 2-inch design was being phased out in favour of the 3-inch, so it is likely the change was the move from eight 2-inch to six 3-inch rockets. This would take up about the same room on the missile, and provide somewhat greater thrust. Its flight was controlled using the "twist-and-steer" method where the main wings would first rotate in opposite directions to rotate in the direction of the maneuver, and then in the same direction to provide lift
and change its course.
A launcher consisting of a rail mounted to an QF 3.7 inch AA gun
traversal mechanism was built at Walton-on-the-Naze
and test firings started in September 1944. This pre-dates the Fairey Stooge
, and is the first launch of an anti-aircraft missile of British design. Early tests resulted in numerous failures, but as the missiles fell into the ocean they could be retrieved for study and the flaws corrected. As the missile aerodynamics improved and the failure rate dropped, further launches were fit with the guidance system, although they were not turned on. A total of 20 of these early designs were built and flown, shots 11 through 20 with the guidance system installed.
At this point an improved missile body was introduced, and launches of the fully operational system took place.Apparently in 1945, although it is not specifically recorded in existing sources. See Baxter, pg. 370 This was guided using the Radar, A.A. No. 3 Mk. 7 "Blue Cedar", a version of the A.A. No. 3 with a lock-on function. A proximity fuse was ready for use, but a warhead was never tested. When the war in Europe ended in the midst of testing, the Army lost interest in the project. It was, at this time, the best-developed missile system in Britain.
Further development was taken up by the Ministry of Supply
(MoS), who also took over development of the competing Stooge. The MoS moved the project to their rocket testing facilities at RAF Aberporth in Wales
, but no further launches took place. The dozen existing Stooge test airframes were fired from Aberporth before that program also ended. Further development on both projects ended in favour of the much more powerful English Electric Thunderbird
, which had little in common with either project.
Brakemine would have one lasting influence on British missile development, however. The MoS was interested in a much more capable design with altitude performance to 40,000 feet (12,000 m) and selected Brakemine's twist-and-steer maneuvering system as the basis for this greatly improved LOPGAP design developed, ironically, by Fairy. Over time these early developments culminated in the Bristol Bloodhound, which competed with the Thunderbird.
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
(SAM) development project carried out in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Brakemine used a beam riding
Beam riding
Beam-riding, also known as beam guidance, is a technique of directing a missile to its target by means of radar or a laser beam. The name refers to the way the missile flies down the guidance beam, which is aimed at the target...
guidance system developed at A.C. Cossor
A.C. Cossor
A.C. Cossor Ltd. was a British electronics company founded in 1859. The company's products included valves, radios, televisions and military electronics.-Early history:...
, while REME
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
designed the testbed airframes. Trial launches were carried out between 1944 and 1945, and the effort wound down as the war ended. Although Brakemine would never be used in its original form, its use of the "twist-and-steer" guidance method would later be used on the much more capable Bristol Bloodhound. A single Brakemine survives in the REME Museum.
History
Brakemine was the result of two independently developed versions of the beam ridingBeam riding
Beam-riding, also known as beam guidance, is a technique of directing a missile to its target by means of radar or a laser beam. The name refers to the way the missile flies down the guidance beam, which is aimed at the target...
guidance system concept. In 1942, Captain Sedgfield of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
(REME) wrote a technical paper on the concept. In 1943, L. H. Bedford, director of research at A.C. Cossor
A.C. Cossor
A.C. Cossor Ltd. was a British electronics company founded in 1859. The company's products included valves, radios, televisions and military electronics.-Early history:...
, independently developed the same idea while on a long train ride.
The filing of two similar concepts led to a conference at the headquarters of Anti-Aircraft Command
Anti-Aircraft Command
Anti-Aircraft Command was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the anti-aircraft artillery units of the British Isles.-History:...
, attended by Sir Frederick Pile
Frederick Alfred Pile
General Sir Frederick Alfred Pile, 2nd Baronet GCB DSO MC was a British Army officer who served in both World Wars...
and Brigadier J.A.E. Burls, Chief Mechanical Engineer of AA Command (and inventor of the Pile Platform). A follow-up meeting started planning for a number of committees to study development of the concept, but worried that this would lead to lengthy delays, Burls decided to allow Cossor a free hand to develop the guidance system while (now) Major Sedgfield would handle rocket development at the AA Command's workshops at Park Royal
Park Royal
Park Royal is an area in northwest London, UK. It is the largest industrial and business park in London, occupying about , and is promoted commercially by the Park Royal Partnership...
. Development began in February 1944.
The Brakemine missile developed as a simple cylindrical airframe with an ogive
Ogive
An ogive is the roundly tapered end of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object.-Applied physical science and engineering:In ballistics or aerodynamics, an ogive is a pointed, curved surface mainly used to form the approximately streamlined nose of a bullet or other projectile.The traditional...
nosecone, small elliptical wings mounted near the center of gravity
Center of gravity
In physics, a center of gravity of a material body is a point that may be used for a summary description of gravitational interactions. In a uniform gravitational field, the center of mass serves as the center of gravity...
, and four small fins at the rear. The missile was powered by eight solid rocket
Solid rocket
A solid rocket or a solid-fuel rocket is a rocket engine that uses solid propellants . The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder; they were used by the Chinese in warfare as early as the 13th century and later by the Mongols, Arabs, and Indians.All rockets used some form of...
s taken from the existing Unrotated Projectile
Unrotated Projectile
The Unrotated Projectile, or UP, was a short range rocket-firing anti-aircraft weapon developed for the Royal Navy to supplement the 2 pounder Pom-Pom gun due to a critical lack of close-range anti-aircraft weapons. It was used extensively by British ships during the early days of World War II...
anti-aircraft rocket (also used on the RP-3
RP-3
The RP-3 , was a British rocket used in the Second World War. Though primarily an air-to-ground weapon, it saw limited use in other roles. Its 60 lb warhead gave rise to the alternative name of the "60 lb rocket"; the 25 lb solid-shot armour piercing variant was referred to as the "25 lb rocket"...
). Later models used six rockets.Baxter mentions the change from eight to six, Morton mentions only six 3-inch rockets. During 1943/44 the 2-inch design was being phased out in favour of the 3-inch, so it is likely the change was the move from eight 2-inch to six 3-inch rockets. This would take up about the same room on the missile, and provide somewhat greater thrust. Its flight was controlled using the "twist-and-steer" method where the main wings would first rotate in opposite directions to rotate in the direction of the maneuver, and then in the same direction to provide lift
Lift
Lift may mean:* Lift , a mechanical force generated by an object moving through a fluid* Lift , rising air used by soaring birds and glider, hang glider and paraglider pilots for soaring flight...
and change its course.
A launcher consisting of a rail mounted to an QF 3.7 inch AA gun
QF 3.7 inch AA gun
The 3.7-Inch QF AA was Britain's primary heavy anti-aircraft gun during World War II. It was roughly the equivalent of the German 88 mm FlaK but with a slightly larger calibre of 94 mm and superior performance. It was used throughout World War II in all theatres except the Eastern Front...
traversal mechanism was built at Walton-on-the-Naze
Walton-on-the-Naze
Walton-on-the-Naze is a small town in Essex, England, on the North Sea coast in the Tendring district. It is north of Clacton and south of the port of Harwich. It abuts Frinton-on-Sea to the south, and is part of the parish of Frinton and Walton. It is a resort town, with a permanent population of...
and test firings started in September 1944. This pre-dates the Fairey Stooge
Fairey Stooge
Fairey Aviation's Stooge was a command guided surface-to-air missile development project carried out in the United Kingdom starting in World War II. Development dates to a British Army request from 1944, but the work was taken over by the Royal Navy as a potential counter to the Kamikaze threat...
, and is the first launch of an anti-aircraft missile of British design. Early tests resulted in numerous failures, but as the missiles fell into the ocean they could be retrieved for study and the flaws corrected. As the missile aerodynamics improved and the failure rate dropped, further launches were fit with the guidance system, although they were not turned on. A total of 20 of these early designs were built and flown, shots 11 through 20 with the guidance system installed.
At this point an improved missile body was introduced, and launches of the fully operational system took place.Apparently in 1945, although it is not specifically recorded in existing sources. See Baxter, pg. 370 This was guided using the Radar, A.A. No. 3 Mk. 7 "Blue Cedar", a version of the A.A. No. 3 with a lock-on function. A proximity fuse was ready for use, but a warhead was never tested. When the war in Europe ended in the midst of testing, the Army lost interest in the project. It was, at this time, the best-developed missile system in Britain.
Further development was taken up by the Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
(MoS), who also took over development of the competing Stooge. The MoS moved the project to their rocket testing facilities at RAF Aberporth in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, but no further launches took place. The dozen existing Stooge test airframes were fired from Aberporth before that program also ended. Further development on both projects ended in favour of the much more powerful English Electric Thunderbird
English Electric Thunderbird
The English Electric Thunderbird was a British surface to air missile produced for the British Army. The Thunderbird was primarily intended to attack higher altitude targets at ranges of up to thirty miles or so. AA guns were still used for lower altitude threats...
, which had little in common with either project.
Brakemine would have one lasting influence on British missile development, however. The MoS was interested in a much more capable design with altitude performance to 40,000 feet (12,000 m) and selected Brakemine's twist-and-steer maneuvering system as the basis for this greatly improved LOPGAP design developed, ironically, by Fairy. Over time these early developments culminated in the Bristol Bloodhound, which competed with the Thunderbird.