Lobber

Lobber
Type Cargo missile
Place of origin United States
Service history
Used by United States Army
Production history
Designer Convair
Designed 1958
Unit cost $1,000 (projected)
No. built 27
Specifications
Weight 135 lb (61 kg)
Length 9 ft (2.7 m)
Diameter 10 in (250 mm)
Warhead Cargo
Warhead weight 50 lb (23 kg)
Engine Rocket
Propellant Solid fuel
Operational
range
 8 mi (13 km)
Flight ceiling 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Speed 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h)
Guidance
system
 Ballistic
Accuracy ~100 yd (91 m)

The Lobber was a surface-to-surface cargo missile developed during the mid 1950s by Convair for use by the United States Army. Intended to deliver supplies to troops in combat, it was successfully tested, but failed to go into production.

History

Inspired by the use of artillery shells to resupply surrounded troops during the Battle of the Bulge,[1] a contract for the development of a cargo missile was awarded to Convair in 1958 by the U.S. Army.[2] Developed by a team led by Bill Chana,[3] the missile was capable of delivering 50 pounds (23 kg) of cargo over a distance of approximately 8 miles (13 km); once the rocket motor burned out, a parachute was deployed to deliver the cargo.[2] A portable, mortar-like launcher was used;[4] it allowed for a three-man team to transport and fire the missile;[5] Lobber was described as being able to reliably hit a target "within the length of a football field" and was expected to cost less than $1,000 USD per round.[6] It was proposed that modular cargo sections be pre-packaged with supplies, with nose and tail sections attached to the needed section just before launch.[7]

The first test launch took place in December 1958 at Camp Irwin in California.[8] Flight testing proved highly successful, and Convair proposed variants with explosive, chemical, and nuclear warheads;[2] the United States Marine Corps also considered adopting the missile,[9] and it was also proposed to develop a variant for anti-submarine warfare usage by the United States Navy.[10] Larger variants were also proposed, as well as civilian usage for firefighting.[11] However the inherent inaccuracy of the unguided, solid-fueled rocket,[2] combined with logistical issues, meant that Lobber was not adopted for service.[5]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Griswold 1959, p.116.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Yenne 2006, p.47.
  3. ↑ Walker and Powell 2005, p.286.
  4. ↑ Rottman 2013, p.117.
  5. 1 2 Parsch 2003
  6. ↑ Cromley, Ray (December 31, 1958). "Cargo Missiles to Supply Mobile Army". The Owosso Argus-Press. Owosso, MI. p. 21. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  7. ↑ Griswold 1959, p.117.
  8. ↑ "In Brief" (PDF). Flight and Aircraft Engineer. London: Iliffe and Sons. 74 (2604): 933. 19 December 1958. Retrieved 2014-05-17.
  9. ↑ Yenne 2006, p.48.
  10. ↑ "ASW Problems Attacked" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Washington, D.C.: Navy Department, Bureau of Aeronautics. 40 (5): 10. May 1959.
  11. ↑ Griswold 1959, p.236.
Bibliography
  • Griswold, Wesley S. (April 1959). "America's Supersonic Cargo Rocket". Popular Science. New York: Popular Science Publishing Co. 174 (4). 
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (2013). The Big Book of Gun Trivia. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782009504. Retrieved 2014-05-17. 
  • Parsch, Andreas (2003). "Convair Lobber". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2014-05-17. 
  • Walker, Chuck; Joel Powell (2005). Atlas: The Ultimate Weapon. Burlington, Ontario: Apogee Books. ISBN 978-1894959186. 
  • Yenne, Bill (2006). Secret Gadgets and Strange Gizmos: High-Tech (and Low-Tech) Innovations of the U.S. Military. Minneapolis, MN: Zenith Press. ISBN 978-0760321157. 
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