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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. Developed rapidly, the rocket proved successful but was phased out shortly after the end of the conflict.
U.S. Navy: Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed 2011-01-08 which could penetrate of armor, the RAM's warhead was capable of penetrating of armor plate.
Design and development
In 1950, the outbreak of the Korean War resulted in the United States Navy urgently requiring an aircraft-launched rocket that would be effective against enemy tanks,Parsch 2004 as the existingHigh Velocity Aircraft Rocket
The High Velocity Aircraft Rocket, or HVAR, also known by the nickname Holy Moses, was an American unguided rocket developed during World War II to attack targets on the ground from aircraft. It saw extensive use during both World War II and the ...
(HVAR) high-velocity aircraft rocket was expected to be ineffective against the armor of IS-3
The IS-3 (also known as Object 703) is a Soviet heavy tank developed in late 1944. Its semi-hemispherical cast turret (resembling that of an upturned soup bowl), became the hallmark of post-war Soviet tanks. Its pike nose design would also be ...
heavy tanks.
The development of an improved rocket was undertaken with remarkable speed; a directive to start work on the project was issued on July 6, 1950, and the first rockets were delivered to the war zone on July 29. Over the course of those 23 days, the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake is a large military installation in California that supports the research, testing and evaluation programs of the United States Navy. It is part of Navy Region Southwest under Commander, Navy Installat ...
, located in China Lake, California, developed an improved version of the HVAR, with a new, shaped-charge warhead replacing the earlier weapon's charge. The fuse for the shaped charge, developed with the same haste as the rocket itself, was considered dangerous, but proved to be safe enough in service; it was described as being " otas dangerous as the Russian tanks" it was designed to destroy.Babcock 1998, p.179 Claimed as being superior in armor penetration to the conventional 3.5 inch bazooka's warhead,U.S. Navy: Naval History and Heritage Command. Accessed 2011-01-08 which could penetrate of armor, the RAM's warhead was capable of penetrating of armor plate.
Operational history
Officially designated the 6.5-Inch Anti-Tank Aircraft Rocket (ATAR), and commonly known in service as "RAM", the new rocket was rushed to the Korean front, being used in combat for the first time on August 16, 1950. Despite the haste with which the weapon had been developed, the very first shipment included a full set of documentation and firing tables for the use of the rocket.Babcock 1998, p.183 The first 600 rockets were constructed by hand,Babcock 1998, p.177 but a production line was rapidly set up. In operational service, the RAM was fitted to the F-51 Mustang, F-80 Shooting Star and F4U Corsair aircraft, and it proved to be moderately effective, with the first 150 rockets fired scoring "at least" eight confirmed kills of North Korean tanks.Babcock 1998, p.184 However, the rocket proved to be unpopular with pilots, due to the close approach to the target required for accurate firing execution; the HVAR offered a longer range, while napalm was considered more effective if the range had to be closed.Babcock 1998, p.189 With the end of the war in 1953, the ATAR was withdrawn from service, improved versions of the HVAR having become available as an alternative.See also
* FFAR * Tiny Tim (rocket) * BOAR (rocket)References
Notes
Bibliography
* * {{USN missiles Air-to-ground rockets of the United States Cold War rockets of the United States