KAN Little Joe
Encyclopedia
The Little Joe, also known by the United States Navy
designation KAN, was an early American
ship-based, short-range surface-to-air missile
, the development of which was initiated in 1945 as a response to the Kamikaze
tactics used by the Japan
ese. Although the missile was successfully tested, the end of World War II
removed the requirement for the missile had passed, and the project was abandoned in 1946.
sought an effective point defense against Japanese Kamikaze
aircraft. The definitive surface-to-air missile
project, Lark, was expected to take some time to come to fruition, so a simpler missile, based on existing parts, was proposed by the Naval Air Material Unit.
Named "Little Joe", and designated KAN-1, the missile was the first SAM developed and tested by the United States. The Little Joe's fuselage was essentially the same as the standard Aerojet
Jet-Assisted Take-Off (JATO) rocket, ordinarily used to provide additional takeoff thrust for heavily-loaded aircraft. Cruciform
wings and canard
control surfaces were fitted to the missile; guidance was provided by a radio command-to-line-of-sight
system. Four auxiliary rockets were mounted as boosters to provide for the rapid launch response needed to deal with Kamikaze aircraft.
The warhead used was a standard 100 pounds (45.4 kg) general-purpose aerial bomb. A proximity fuse would cause the warhead to detonate within lethal distance of the target; the heavy warhead was expected to ensure the destruction of the attacking aircraft.
In an attempt to deal with the missile's issues, an improved version of Little Joe, designated KAN-2, was developed. This used a new, less smokey propellant for the sustainer; in addition, flares were installed on the missile's tail to assist in visual tracking, while two additional boosters, for a total of six, were added to boost performance.
A total of 15 Little Joe missiles were built and flown during the test program. With the end of World War II having removed the immediate requirement for the missile, in addition to the test program continuing to be problematic, the Little Joe program was canceled during 1946.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
designation KAN, was an early American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ship-based, short-range 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...
, the development of which was initiated in 1945 as a response 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....
tactics used by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese. Although the missile was successfully tested, the end of 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...
removed the requirement for the missile had passed, and the project was abandoned in 1946.
Design and development
The development of the Little Joe rocket began in 1945, as the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sought an effective point defense against Japanese 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....
aircraft. The definitive 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...
project, Lark, was expected to take some time to come to fruition, so a simpler missile, based on existing parts, was proposed by the Naval Air Material Unit.
Named "Little Joe", and designated KAN-1, the missile was the first SAM developed and tested by the United States. The Little Joe's fuselage was essentially the same as the standard Aerojet
Aerojet
Aerojet is an American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer based primarily in Rancho Cordova, California with divisions in Redmond, Washington, Orange, Gainesville and Camden, Arkansas. Aerojet is owned by GenCorp. They are the only US propulsion company that provides both solid rocket...
Jet-Assisted Take-Off (JATO) rocket, ordinarily used to provide additional takeoff thrust for heavily-loaded aircraft. Cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
wings and canard
Canard
Canard may refer to:*Nicolas-François Canard , French mathematician and economist*Canard , a small wing mounted on the front of some aircraft, which can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the design of the plane and its intended use*Canard , a phenomenon in some slow-fast dynamical systems...
control surfaces were fitted to the missile; guidance was provided by a radio command-to-line-of-sight
MCLOS
MCLOS is a first-generation method for guiding guided missiles.With an MCLOS missile, the operator must track the missile and the target simultaneously and guide the missile to the target. Typically the missile is steered with a joystick, and its path is observed through a periscope-type...
system. Four auxiliary rockets were mounted as boosters to provide for the rapid launch response needed to deal with Kamikaze aircraft.
The warhead used was a standard 100 pounds (45.4 kg) general-purpose aerial bomb. A proximity fuse would cause the warhead to detonate within lethal distance of the target; the heavy warhead was expected to ensure the destruction of the attacking aircraft.
Operational history
Initial tests of Little Joe took place in July 1945. Testing showed that the missile's performance was less than had been anticipated. In addition, smoke from the boosters and the sustainer made it difficult for the missile's controller to keep track of the weapon.In an attempt to deal with the missile's issues, an improved version of Little Joe, designated KAN-2, was developed. This used a new, less smokey propellant for the sustainer; in addition, flares were installed on the missile's tail to assist in visual tracking, while two additional boosters, for a total of six, were added to boost performance.
A total of 15 Little Joe missiles were built and flown during the test program. With the end of World War II having removed the immediate requirement for the missile, in addition to the test program continuing to be problematic, the Little Joe program was canceled during 1946.
External links
- "Rocket Built For Warships" , March 1947, Popular Science article and photo middle of page 26
- "Pacific Shooting Gallery" , July 1947, Popular Mechanics photo left-top page 101