5-Inch Forward Firing Aircraft Rocket
The five-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.
| Five-inch forward-firing aircraft rocket | |
|---|---|
 FFARs being loaded | |
| Type | Air-to-surface rocket |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United States military |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1943-1945 |
| Specifications (5-inch FFAR) | |
| Mass | 80 pounds (36 kg) |
| Length | 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) |
| Diameter | Warhead: 5 inches (130 mm) Motor: 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Warhead | High explosive |
| Warhead weight | 45 pounds (20 kg) |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Maximum speed | 485 miles per hour (781 km/h) |
Guidance system | None |
Operational history
The first FFARs were developed by the U.S. Navy and introduced in June 1943. They had a 3.5-inch diameter and a non-explosive warhead, since they were used as an aircraft-launched anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rocket and worked by puncturing the hull. It was accurate enough for use against surface ships and land targets, but these missions required an explosive warhead.[1] A five-inch anti-aircraft shell was attached to the 3.5-inch rocket motor, creating the five-inch FFAR, which entered service in December 1943. Performance was limited because of the increased weight, limiting speed to 780 km/h (485 mph).[2] The high-velocity aircraft rocket, or HVAR, was developed to fix this flaw.[2]
The FFAR was used by the Douglas SBD Dauntless (dive bomber), the Grumman TBF Avenger (torpedo bomber) and the Vought F4U Corsair (carrier based fighter).
References
- Citations
- Parsch 2004
- Parsch 2006
- Bibliography
- Parsch, Andreas (2004). "Air-Launched 3.5-Inch Rockets". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- Parsch, Andreas (2006). "Air-Launched 5-Inch Rockets". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2011.