Fairey Stooge
Encyclopedia
Fairey Aviation's Stooge was a command guided
surface-to-air missile
(SAM) 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. Development was not complete when the war ended, but the Ministry of Supply
funded further development and numerous test launches into 1947, assisting in the development of more advanced successor missiles.
a number of efforts were started to develop surface to air missiles as it was generally considered that flak was of little use against bomber
s of ever-increasing performance. While the Germans developed a number of systems in an attempt to deter Allied bombing, the overwhelming air superiority held by the Allies meant that the prospect of developing similar weapons was largely ignored as unnecessary. This changed when the Kamikaze
threat spread in the later half of 1944. This led to the British Stooge and Brakemine
efforts, and the US Navy's SAM-N-2 Lark.
The British Army
had already ordered early studies on these weapons. According to a common account of its development, possibly apocryphal, Fairey was asked to carry out some basic research on these plans by a Royal Navy
request, but instead presented a revised design of some depth. The Ministry of Supply
(MoS) signed a contract for development of the system in 1944. The ending of the war in August 1945 led to a lower level of urgency, but the MoS continued funding as a development project.
with the engine removed from the top and shrunk in size. The missile fuselage was 7 foot long and 12.5 inches (31.8 cm) in diameter, with a main wingspan of 6 in 10 in (2.08 m), and a tail span of 4 feet (1.2 m). Ready for launch, it weighed 738 lbs.
The rear part of the fuselage was taken up by four 5 inches (12.7 cm) air-to-ground "Swallow" solid fuel rockets. The thrust and burning time could be controlled by varying the size of a venturi
nozzle. At 75 lbf (333.6 N) the missile reached speeds of 520 mph (232.5 m/s), but was normally tested at a thrust level of 40 lbf (177.9 N) which gave a much slower cruising speed.
For launch, four additional RP-3 3-inch solid rockets
were strapped in pairs to either side of the fuselage, under the horizontal stabilizer. These produced 5600 lbf (24,910 N) for 1.6 seconds, launching the missile off the 10 feet (3 m) long launching rail at an accelleration of 8 gee
. As the booster rockets gave the missile a tail-heavy center of gravity
, a cup-shaped counterweight was fitted to the nose. At booster burnout, the missile having reached a speed of over 265 mph (118.5 m/s), the boosters and counterweight were ejected and the main rockets fired.
Like many early missiles of the era, the Stooge was boosted to the approximate altitude of the attacker and then flown onto an intercept course. Flare
s located in fairings on the wing tips provided a bright source for the operator to track visually. After launch the missile levelled off and a simple gyroscope
-controlled autopilot
, located in the forwards portion of the fuselage, kept the Stooge flying in a straight line. Using radio control, the operator would fly the missile into a position in front of the target, and then adjust the path in order to collide with the target. Control was via the ailerons and elevator, there was no rudder.
) at Aberporth
, Wales
. It is believed that around twelve Stooges were constructed by Fairey, the most successful of the test launches being that of the sixth missile, achiveving an altitude of 1600 feet (487.7 m) and a range of 3 miles (4.8 km) before the flight was terminated by range safety
, the missile having passed out of sight of the operator.
Although the programme failed to yield an operational weapons system, experience gained from the testing of Stooge assisted in the development of the Fairey Fireflash
air-to-air missile.
Command guided
Command guidance is a type of missile guidance in which a ground station or aircraft relay signals to a guided missile via radio and tell the missile where to steer in order to intercept its target. Additionally, it is possible to send a command to the missile to detonate, even if the missile...
surface-to-air missile
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...
starting in 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...
. Development dates to a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
request from 1944, but the work was taken over by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a potential counter to the Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
threat. Development was not complete when the war ended, but 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...
funded further development and numerous test launches into 1947, assisting in the development of more advanced successor missiles.
Development
During World War IIWorld 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...
a number of efforts were started to develop surface to air missiles as it was generally considered that flak was of little use against bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s of ever-increasing performance. While the Germans developed a number of systems in an attempt to deter Allied bombing, the overwhelming air superiority held by the Allies meant that the prospect of developing similar weapons was largely ignored as unnecessary. This changed when the Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
threat spread in the later half of 1944. This led to the British Stooge and Brakemine
Brakemine
Brakemine was an early surface-to-air missile 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...
efforts, and the US Navy's SAM-N-2 Lark.
The British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
had already ordered early studies on these weapons. According to a common account of its development, possibly apocryphal, Fairey was asked to carry out some basic research on these plans by a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
request, but instead presented a revised design of some depth. 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) signed a contract for development of the system in 1944. The ending of the war in August 1945 led to a lower level of urgency, but the MoS continued funding as a development project.
Description
The Stooge was essentially a small subsonic aircraft with straight wings and a conventional tail layout. The missile looked substantially similar to a V-1V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
with the engine removed from the top and shrunk in size. The missile fuselage was 7 foot long and 12.5 inches (31.8 cm) in diameter, with a main wingspan of 6 in 10 in (2.08 m), and a tail span of 4 feet (1.2 m). Ready for launch, it weighed 738 lbs.
The rear part of the fuselage was taken up by four 5 inches (12.7 cm) air-to-ground "Swallow" solid fuel rockets. The thrust and burning time could be controlled by varying the size of a venturi
Venturi
-People:*Giovanni Battista Venturi , physicist*Ken Venturi , professional golfer*Remo Venturi , Italian motorcycle racer*Rick Venturi , American football coach*Robert Venturi , architect...
nozzle. At 75 lbf (333.6 N) the missile reached speeds of 520 mph (232.5 m/s), but was normally tested at a thrust level of 40 lbf (177.9 N) which gave a much slower cruising speed.
For launch, four additional RP-3 3-inch solid rockets
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"...
were strapped in pairs to either side of the fuselage, under the horizontal stabilizer. These produced 5600 lbf (24,910 N) for 1.6 seconds, launching the missile off the 10 feet (3 m) long launching rail at an accelleration of 8 gee
Gee
Gee may refer to:In fiction:*Al Giardello , a fictional character on the television drama Homicide: Life on the StreetIn record labels:*Gee Records*Gee Street RecordsIn music:...
. As the booster rockets gave the missile a tail-heavy 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...
, a cup-shaped counterweight was fitted to the nose. At booster burnout, the missile having reached a speed of over 265 mph (118.5 m/s), the boosters and counterweight were ejected and the main rockets fired.
Like many early missiles of the era, the Stooge was boosted to the approximate altitude of the attacker and then flown onto an intercept course. Flare
Flare
-In culture and the arts:*Flare , an acrobatic move employed in b-boying, commonly known as breakdance, and gymnastics*Flare , a female hero who is a member of the League of Champions...
s located in fairings on the wing tips provided a bright source for the operator to track visually. After launch the missile levelled off and a simple gyroscope
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...
-controlled autopilot
Autopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
, located in the forwards portion of the fuselage, kept the Stooge flying in a straight line. Using radio control, the operator would fly the missile into a position in front of the target, and then adjust the path in order to collide with the target. Control was via the ailerons and elevator, there was no rudder.
Flight testing
The first prototypes, with fixed controls, flew after seven months from the start of development at the end of World War II. Development continued with a number of test firings at the Rocket Experimental Establishment at RAF Aberporth (today's ParcAberporthParcAberporth
ParcAberporth is a technology park created on what was Royal Air Force station Aberporth, near the village of that name in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The station was one of two local sites that had been used as a site for a missile range that stretched out for some miles into the nearby...
) at Aberporth
Aberporth
Aberporth is a community and small town in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. The population was 2,485 in 2001.- Location :The town lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north of Cardigan and ten miles south of New Quay approximately one mile west of the A487, on the...
, 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...
. It is believed that around twelve Stooges were constructed by Fairey, the most successful of the test launches being that of the sixth missile, achiveving an altitude of 1600 feet (487.7 m) and a range of 3 miles (4.8 km) before the flight was terminated by range safety
Range safety
In rocketry, range safety is assured by the systems which protect people and assets on the rocket range in cases when a launch vehicle might endanger them. Range safety is usually the responsibility of a Range Safety Officer...
, the missile having passed out of sight of the operator.
Although the programme failed to yield an operational weapons system, experience gained from the testing of Stooge assisted in the development of the Fairey Fireflash
Fairey Fireflash
Fireflash was the first British air-to-air guided missile. Constructed by Fairey Aircraft, the missile utilised radar beam-riding guidance. Generally unsuccessful, it served only in small numbers.-Development:...
air-to-air missile.
See also
- BrakemineBrakemineBrakemine was an early surface-to-air missile 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...
, another early UK missile using beam ridingBeam ridingBeam-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 rather than radio control