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Since there is a few days to kill till AE is in my nicotine stained fingers, I thought I would read Vol VI of Morison's Naval Ops book.

The question is about the 4 1/2" rocket projectiles. What are they? I will paraphrase the passage: (pg 375 vol VI)

"SC-742's sister sub chasers launched 4 1/2" rocket projectiles and silenced the MG nest. Two DUKW's also had been equiped with rocket guns and did their part."

I know there were modified landing craft that had rocket launchers on it but are these the same thing?

For the record, I am not asking that these be added to AE [:D]

I would guess they are what we used to call recoilless rifles.

The 4.5in rockets were just that, rockets. Nothing to do with RCLs. They were indeed mounted on landing craft, along with their bigger 5in cousins, but also on subchasers, PT's, DUKW's (apparently) and even a submarine.

I would think they were probably similar to, or identical to, the US Army's 4.5in rocket.

The idea of a DUKW mounting a rocket launcher seems a little extreme.

ORIGINAL: oldman45

The idea of a DUKW mounting a rocket launcher seems a little extreme.

A number of DUKWs were so modified toward the end of the war. It was called the "scorpion" conversion, and the craft each carried 120 4.5" rockets.

ORIGINAL: pasternakski

ORIGINAL: oldman45

The idea of a DUKW mounting a rocket launcher seems a little extreme.

A number of DUKWs were so modified toward the end of the war. It was called the "scorpion" conversion, and the craft each carried 120 4.5" rockets.

I would have to throw the BS flag. I know the DUKW was a pretty fair sized vehicle, but 120 rockets?

ORIGINAL: oldman45

ORIGINAL: pasternakski

ORIGINAL: oldman45

The idea of a DUKW mounting a rocket launcher seems a little extreme.

A number of DUKWs were so modified toward the end of the war. It was called the "scorpion" conversion, and the craft each carried 120 4.5" rockets.

I would have to throw the BS flag. I know the DUKW was a pretty fair sized vehicle, but 120 rockets?

Not so fast with your flag..The U.S.M.C. was using truck mounted multiple barrelled 4.5" launchers on the backs of your basic duece and a half and the Army had them mounted atop Sherman tanks, same (standard) sized rocket used against ground targets from approx 1943 in Italy..Something like 60 tubes mounted on an M 4, and can see quite a few on a SC?..

ORIGINAL: oldman45
I would have to throw the BS flag. I know the DUKW was a pretty fair sized vehicle, but 120 rockets?

Here's one of any number of sources. I refer you to sec. 11. By 1945, just about everything that moved (and some things that didn't move) was having 4.5" rockets mounted on it. Here, you can have your flag back now - and just for future reference, polite conversations do not generally include one party calling the other a bullsh1tter.

No offense was meant! just an expression of disbelief.