MGR-1 Honest John
Encyclopedia
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
-capable surface-to-surface rocket in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
arsenal.The first nuclear-authorized guided missile was the MGM-5 Corporal
MGM-5 Corporal
The MGM-5 Corporal missile was the first guided weapon authorized by the United States to carry a nuclear warhead.The first nuclear-authorized unguided rocket was the MGR-1 Honest John...
. Designated Artillery Rocket XM31, the first such rocket was tested 29 June 1951 and the first production rounds were delivered in January 1953. The designator was changed to M31 in September 1953. The first Army units received their rockets by year's end and Honest John battalions were deployed in Europe in the Spring of 1954. Alternatively, the rocket was designed to be capable of carrying an ordinary high-explosive warhead weighing 1500 pounds, even though that was not the primary purpose for which it was originally envisioned.
History and development
Developed at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, Honest John was a large but simple fin-stabilized, unguided artillery rocket weighing 5820 pounds in its initial M-31 nuclear-armed version. Mounted on the back of a truck, HJ was aimed in much the same way as a cannon and then fired up an elevated ramp, igniting four small spin rockets as it cleared the end of the ramp. The M-31 had a range of 15.4 miles with a 20 kiloton nuclear warhead but was also capable of carrying a 1500 pound conventional warhead. Early tests exhibited more scatter on target than was acceptable when HJ was conventionally armed. Development of an upgraded Honest John, M-50, was undertaken to improve accuracy and extend range. The size of the fins was greatly reduced to eliminate “weathercocking” (the tendency of crosswinds to turn a rocket to face into the wind). Increased spin was applied to restore the positive stability margin that was lost when fin size was reduced. The improved M-50, with the smaller fins and more “rifling”, had a maximum range of 30+ miles with a scatter on target of only 250 yards, demonstrating an accuracy approaching that of tube artillery. Honest John was manufactured by the Douglas Airplane Company of Santa Monica, California.The M31 consisted of a truck-mounted, unguided, solid-fueled rocket transported in 3 separate parts. Before launch they were combined in the field, mounted on an M289 launcher and aimed and fired in about 5 minutes. The rocket was originally outfitted with a W7
Mark 7 nuclear bomb
Mark 7 "Thor" was the first tactical nuclear bomb adopted by US armed forces. It was also the first weapon to be delivered using the toss method with the help of the low-altitude bombing system . The weapon was tested in Operation Buster-Jangle. To facilitate external carry by fighter bomber...
variable yield
Variable yield
Variable yield — or dial-a-yield — is an option available on most modern nuclear weapons. It allows the operator to specify a weapon's yield, or explosive power, allowing a single design to be used in different situations...
nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 20 ktonTNT and later a W31
W31
The W31 was an American nuclear warhead used for two US missiles and as an atomic demolition munition.The W31 was produced from 1959, with the last versions phased out in 1989....
warhead with three variants was deployed with yields of 2 ktonTNT, 10 ktonTNT, or 30 ktonTNT. There was a W31 variant of 20 ktonTNT used in the Nike Hercules antiaircraft system exclusively. M-31 had a range between 5.5 kilometre.
In the 1960s Sarin
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
nerve gas cluster munitions were also available for Honest John launch.http://www.tpub.com/content/decontaminationequipment/TM-9-1300-2753/css/TM-9-1300-2753_18.htm
The 2 basic versions of Honest John were:
- MGR-1A (M31) was 27ft 3in long, had an engine diameter of 22.875in, a warhead diameter of 30in (762mm), a span of 104in, weighed 5820 pounds (nuclear), and had a maximum range of 15.4 miles. The Hercules Powder Company X-202 rocket motor was 197.44in long, weighed 3937 pounds, and had 90,325 pounds average thrust.
- MGR-1B (M50) was 24ft 10.53in long, had an engine diameter of 22.8in, a warhead diameter of 30in, a span of 56in, weighed 4332 pounds (nuclear), and had twice the range of the M31. The Thiokol composite propellant solid rocket motor had 150,000 pounds thrust.
Production of the MGR-1 variants finished in 1965 with a total production run of more than 7,000 rockets. Honest John’s bulbous nose and distinctive truck-mounted launch ramp made it an easily recognized symbol of the Cold War at Army bases world-wide and National Guard armories at home. Even though HJ was unguided and the first U.S. nuclear ballistic missile, it had a longer service life than all other U.S. ballistic missiles except Minuteman. The system was replaced with the MGM-52 Lance missile in 1973, but was deployed with NATO units in Europe until 1985 and National Guard units in the United States as late as 1982. Conventionally armed Honest John remained in the arsenals of Greece, Turkey and South Korea until at least the late 1990s.
By the time the last Honest Johns were withdrawn from Europe in 1985, the rocket had served with the military forces of Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark (non-nuclear), France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway (non-nuclear), South Korea, Taiwan (non-nuclear), and Turkey.General Dynamics, Free World Tactical Missile Systems (Pomona, CA: General Dynamics, June 1973) p.251; Jane's Weapon Systems 1987-1988 (London: Jane's, 1987) p.127.
Support vehicles
Vehicles used with Honest John- M33 trailer, launcher,
- M46 truck, heating and tie down unit (G744)
- M289 truck, rocket launcher, (M139 truck) (G744),
- M329 trailer, rocket transporter, (G821)
- M386 Truck, Rocket, 762mm, short launch rail, 5-ton (M139 truck)
- M405 handling unit, trailer mounted,
- M465 cart assembly, transport, 762mm rocket,
Survivors
Canada- CFB Petawawa Military Museum CFB Petawawa, Petawawa, Ontario.
- The Central Museum of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, Shilo Manitoba
Denmark
United Kingdom
- Imperial War Museum DuxfordImperial War Museum DuxfordImperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near the village of Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven...
- Royal Air Force Museum
United States
- 4th Infantry Museum, 7th Cav Museum, Fort Hood, Texas
- 45th Infantry Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Air Force Space & Missile MuseumAir Force Space & Missile MuseumThe Air Force Space & Missile Museum is located at Launch Complex 26 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It includes artifacts from the early American space program and includes an outdoor rocket garden displaying rockets, missiles and space-related equipment chronicling the US Air...
, Cape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... - American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank & Ordnance War Memorial Museum, Danville, Virginia
- Bedford, IndianaBedford, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile . There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile...
, displayed outside a Military surplusMilitary surplusMilitary surplus are goods, usually matériel, that are sold or otherwise disposed of when no longer needed by the military. Entrepreneurs often buy these goods and resell them at surplus stores. Military surplus rarely includes weapons or munitions, though they are occasionally found in such stores...
store, at the Southwest corner of US-50/IN-37 and IN-450 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Indiana+37+%26+Indiana+450,+Bedford,+Lawrence,+Indiana+47421&aq=&sll=38.861006,-86.52191&sspn=0.001633,0.002411&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Indiana+37+%26+Indiana+450,+Bedford,+Lawrence,+Indiana+47421&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.860911,-86.522054&panoid=T5XC8xnCIOZV8Aw9DrTxLg&cbp=12,188.07,,0,-0.64&ll=38.860911,-86.522054&spn=0.001368,0.002312&z=19Google Maps streetview link ]). - Camp Atterbury Military Museum, Camp Atterbury, Indiana
- Carolinas Aviation MuseumCarolinas Aviation MuseumThe Carolinas Aviation Museum is an aviation museum on the grounds of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mission of the Museum is to educate the public about the importance of aviation to our society and inspire the next generation to excel academically in the...
, Charlotte, North Carolina (Two missiles are on display - both came from the Florence Air & Missile MuseumFlorence Air & Missile MuseumThe Florence Air & Missile Museum was an aviation museum which was located at the entrance to the Florence Regional Airport , in Florence, South Carolina. This airport was original known as Florence Field, a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps training field for A-26 Invader attack aircraft...
) - Combat Air Museum, Topeka, Kansas
- Fort Lewis MuseumFort Lewis MuseumThe Fort Lewis Military Museum is a military museum at Fort Lewis in the state of Washington, U.S. It is housed in the historic former Red Shield Inn, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be seen prominently from Interstate 5. It is the only certified U.S...
, Fort Lewis, Washington - Fort SillFort SillFort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
, Oklahoma - National Atomic MuseumNational Atomic MuseumThe National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is a national repository of nuclear science information chartered by the 102nd United States Congress under Public Law 102-190, and located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "The mission of the National Atomic Museum is to serve as America's resource for...
, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico - Rock Island ArsenalRock Island ArsenalThe Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. The island was originally established as a government site in 1816, with...
, Arsenal Island, between Iowa and Illinois - Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/exhibits/outdisplay/pages/001.htm
- Underwood Community Center, Underwood, MinnesotaUnderwood, MinnesotaUnderwood is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 341 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. - United States Space & Rocket CenterUnited States Space & Rocket CenterThe U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is a museum showcasing rockets, achievements, and artifacts of the U.S. space program. The facility is also home to United States Space Camp and Aviation Challenge...
, Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census.... - Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona
Operators
- French ArmyFrench ArmyThe French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
- Hellenic ArmyHellenic ArmyThe Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
- Norwegian ArmyNorwegian ArmyNorway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
(1961-65)
Republic of China- Turkish ArmyTurkish ArmyThe Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
- British ArmyBritish ArmyThe 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...
- United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
See also
- W7Mark 7 nuclear bombMark 7 "Thor" was the first tactical nuclear bomb adopted by US armed forces. It was also the first weapon to be delivered using the toss method with the help of the low-altitude bombing system . The weapon was tested in Operation Buster-Jangle. To facilitate external carry by fighter bomber...
- W31W31The W31 was an American nuclear warhead used for two US missiles and as an atomic demolition munition.The W31 was produced from 1959, with the last versions phased out in 1989....
- M139 bombletM139 bombletThe M139 bomblet was a U.S. sub-munition designed for use in warheads as a chemical cluster bomb. Each bomblet held a little more than one and a quarter pounds of sarin nerve agent.-History:...
- G-numbers
- MGR-3 Little JohnMGR-3 Little JohnThe MGR-3 Little John was a free flight artillery rocket system designed and put into service by the U.S. Army during the 1950s and 1960s.-Description:...
External links
- http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/r-1.html
- http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/hontjohn.htm
- Redstone Arsenal (Alabama) (includes declassified military monograph on the Honest John, chronology, pictures, and a movie of an Honest John firing) http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/systems/HONEST_JOHN.html
- Honest John Missile Base in Germany http://www.herzobase.org
- http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m39_missiletrk.php launchers