The High Velocity Aircraft Rocket, or HVAR, also known by the nickname Holy Moses, was an American unguided rocket developed 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...

 to attack targets on the ground from aircraft. It saw extensive use both 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...

 and during the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

.

Design and development

The HVAR was designed as an improvement on the Forward firing aircraft rocket

Forward firing aircraft rocket

The 5-inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket or FFAR was an American rocket developed during World War II for attack from airplanes against ground and ship targets.-Operational history:...

 or FFAR, which was underpowered and not fast enough for many uses. The HVAR was 5 inches (12.7 cm) in diameter, and carried a 21-kg (45-lb) high-explosive warhead.

Operational service

Two different versions of the HVAR were built 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...

. One was a general-purpose missile with base and nose fuzes, and the other had a semi-armour-piercing warhead with a nose fuse. After World War II, newer versions included a new general purpose type with a proximity fuse, and a shaped-charge warhead for use against tanks.

The HVAR was normally used to attack tanks, trains and bunkers. More than one million HVARs were built, and the rocket saw widespread service 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...

 and the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

 before production ended in 1955.

See also

• 3.5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket
  3.5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket
  The 3.5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket, or 3.5-Inch FFAR, was an American rocket developed during World War II to allow aircraft to attack enemy submarines at range...
  
  
• 5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket
• Ram (rocket)
  Ram (rocket)
  The Ram, also known as the 6.5-Inch Anti-Tank Aircraft Rocket or ATAR, was an air-to-ground rocket used by the United States Navy during the Korean War...
  
  
• Tiny Tim (rocket)
  Tiny Tim (rocket)
  The Tiny Tim was an American air to ground rocket used near the end of the Second World War. One source states it was built in response to a US Navy requirement for an anti-shipping rocket capable of hitting ships outside of their anti-aircraft range, with a payload capable of sinking heavy shipping...
  
  
• BOAR (rocket)
  BOAR (rocket)
  The Bombardment Aircraft Rocket, also known as BOAR, the Bureau of Ordnance Aircraft Rocket, and officially as the 30.5-Inch Rocket, Mark 1, Mod 0, was an unguided air-to-surface rocket developed by the United States Navy's Naval Ordnance Test Station during the 1950s...