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 The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during the Korean War. Developed rapidly, the rocket proved successful but was phased out shortly after the end of the conflict.

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

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...

s,Parsch 2004 as the existing High Velocity Aircraft Rocket (HVAR) high-velocity aircraft rocket was expected to be ineffective against the armor of IS-3 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, 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 The Bazooka () is a Man-portable anti-tank systems, man-portable recoilless Anti-tank warfare, anti-tank rocket launcher weapon, widely deployed by the United States Army, especially during World War II. Also referred to as the "stovepipe", th ...

'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 The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts ...

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.

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * {{USN missiles Air-to-ground rockets of the United States Cold War rockets of the United States

Design and development

Operational history

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography