GTR-18 Smokey Sam
Encyclopedia
The GTR-18A, commonly known as the Smokey Sam, is a small unguided rocket developed by the Naval Weapons Center as a threat simulator for use during military exercise
s. Widely used in training, the Smokey Sam remains in operational service with the United States military.
s (SAMs) during training exercises.
Constructed from phenolic paper
and styrofoam
, the Smokey Sam is designed for minimal cost and, in the event of accidentally striking low-flying aircraft, to cause minimal damage.
When launched, the GTR-18's rocket motor produces a distinctive white plume, providing a realistic simulation of the launch of a surface-to-air missile. While the ordinary GTR-18A has a simple, model rocket
type motor, an improved 'Dual Thrust Smokey Sam' tested in the early 2000s featured a modified rocket motor, providing a 1.5 second boost period, followed by a lower-thrust sustainer burn with burnout occurring at 7.1 seconds after launch.
Receiving the altered designation DGTR-18A in the early 1990s, the Smokey Sam remains in production and operational service, being extensively used by the U.S. military.
Military exercise
A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
s. Widely used in training, the Smokey Sam remains in operational service with the United States military.
Design and development
The development of the GTR-18 was undertaken by the Naval Weapons Center (NWC) during the early 1980s, with the intent of developing a simple and inexpensive rocket for visually simulating the launch of surface-to-air missileSurface-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...
s (SAMs) during training exercises.
Constructed from phenolic paper
Phenolic paper
Phenolic paper is a material often used to make printed circuit board substrates . It is a very tough board made of wood fibre and phenolic polymers. It is most commonly brown in colour, and is a fibre reinforced plastic. These PCB materials are known as FR-1 and FR-2 - FR-1 is rated to 130C,...
and styrofoam
Styrofoam
Styrofoam is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company for closed-cell currently made for thermal insulation and craft applications. In 1941, researchers in Dow's Chemical Physics Lab found a way to make foamed polystyrene...
, the Smokey Sam is designed for minimal cost and, in the event of accidentally striking low-flying aircraft, to cause minimal damage.
Operational history
The complete launch system, known as the Smokey Sam Simulator, includes single- and four-rail launching pads, an AN/VPQ-1 radar set, and the GTR-18A rockets themselves, making up the SMU-124/E system as a whole.When launched, the GTR-18's rocket motor produces a distinctive white plume, providing a realistic simulation of the launch of a surface-to-air missile. While the ordinary GTR-18A has a simple, model rocket
Model rocket
A model rocket is a small rocket that is commonly advertised as being able to be launched by anybody, to, in general, low altitudes and recovered by a variety of means....
type motor, an improved 'Dual Thrust Smokey Sam' tested in the early 2000s featured a modified rocket motor, providing a 1.5 second boost period, followed by a lower-thrust sustainer burn with burnout occurring at 7.1 seconds after launch.
Receiving the altered designation DGTR-18A in the early 1990s, the Smokey Sam remains in production and operational service, being extensively used by the U.S. military.