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KAN Little Joe

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KAN Little Joe
TypeSurface-to-air missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States Navy
Production history
Designed1945
ManufacturerNaval Air Material Unit
Produced1945-1946
No.built15
Specifications (KAN-1)
Mass1,210 pounds (550 kg)
Length11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m)
Diameter22.7 inches (57.7 cm)
Wingspan7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
WarheadHigh explosive
Warhead weight100 pounds (45 kg)
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity fuze
EngineBooster, 4x 3 in (76 mm) rockets
990 lbf(4.4 kN) each
Sustainer,Aerojet 8AS1000
990 lbf(4.4 kN)
Operational
range
2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Flight ceiling7,900 feet (2,400 m)
Maximum speed400 miles per hour (640 km/h)
Guidance
system
Radio command

TheLittle Joe,also known by theUnited States NavydesignationKAN,was an early American ship-based, short-rangesurface-to-air missile,the development of which was initiated in 1945 as a response to theKamikazetactics used by the Japanese. Although the missile was successfully tested, the end ofWorld War IIremoved the requirement for the missile, and the project was abandoned in 1946.

Design and development

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The development of the Little Joe rocket began in 1945, as theUnited States Navysought an effectivepoint defenseagainst JapaneseKamikazeaircraft.[1][2]The definitivesurface-to-air missileproject,Lark,was expected to take some time to come to fruition, so a simpler missile, based on existing parts, was proposed by theNaval Air Material Unit.[1][3]

Named "Little Joe", and designated KAN-1, the missile was the first SAM developed and tested by the United States.[4]The Little Joe's fuselage was essentially the same as the standardAerojetJet-Assisted Take-Off(JATO) rocket, ordinarily used to provide additional takeoff thrust for heavily loaded aircraft.[1][3]Cruciformwings andcanardcontrol surfaces were fitted to the missile; guidance was provided by aradio command-to-line-of-sightsystem.[3]Four auxiliary rockets were mounted as boosters to provide for the rapid launch response needed to deal with Kamikaze aircraft.[1]

The warhead used was a standard 100 pounds (45 kg) general-purpose aerial bomb. Aproximity fusewould cause the warhead to detonate within lethal distance of the target;[1][3]the heavy warhead was expected to ensure the destruction of the attacking aircraft.[5]

Operational history

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A KAN-1 missile atPoint Mugu.

Initial tests of Little Joe took place in July 1945.[1]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.[4]

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;[1]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.[4][5]

A total of 15 Little Joe missiles were built and flown during the test program.[1]With the end of World War II having removed the immediate requirement for the missile,[1]in addition to the test program continuing to be problematic,[4][5]the Little Joe program was canceled during 1946.[1]

References

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Citations
  1. ^abcdefghijParsch 2003
  2. ^Weyl 1949, p.115.
  3. ^abcdFriedman 1982, p.149.
  4. ^abcdGunston 1979, p.197.
  5. ^abcFitzsimons 1969, p.1753.
Bibliograpby
  • Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1969).The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare.London: Salamander Books.
  • Friedman, Norman(1982).U.S. Naval Weapons: every gun, missile, mine, and torpedo used by the U.S. Navy from 1883 to the present day.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-0-87021-735-7.Retrieved2011-01-26.
  • Gunston, Bill(1979).The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Rockets & Missiles.London: Salamander Books.ISBN0-517-26870-1.
  • Parsch, Andreas (2003)."NADC KAN Little Joe".Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles.designation-systems.net.Retrieved2011-01-26.
  • Weyl, A.R. (1949).Guided Missiles.London: Temple Press.Retrieved2011-01-28.
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