A report on Seaslug (missile)

Seaslug Mk. II missile
Seaslug on display at Wickenby Aerodrome, Lincolnshire, UK
Test firing from the trials ship HMS Girdle Ness (A387), circa 1961.
The Seaslug launcher mounted on the quarterdeck of HMS Glamorgan, circa 1972
The firing of the first Seaslug test missile from HMS Girdle Ness (A387). This version is based on the RAE's early GPV, and retains the rear-mounted boosters before they moved forward on the "long round".
Map with Seaslug operators in blue

First-generation surface-to-air missile designed by Armstrong Whitworth for use by the Royal Navy.

- Seaslug (missile)
Seaslug Mk. II missile

20 related topics with Alpha

Overall
An artist's depiction of a Soviet surface-to-air missile system engaging two F-16 Fighting Falcons

Surface-to-air missile

4 links

Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles.

Missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles.

An artist's depiction of a Soviet surface-to-air missile system engaging two F-16 Fighting Falcons
A Wasserfall missile lifts off during a test flight.
Typical of the "boost-glide" type weapons, the Fairey Stooge was an armed drone aircraft flown to a collision with the target. Enzian and Schmetterling were similar in concept, design and performance.
Nike Ajax was the first operational SAM system.
SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missiles, one of the most widely deployed SAM systems in the world
A moment after an S-75 Dvina (SA-2) hits an F-105 over North Vietnam, the fighter-bomber starts to spew flame.
An S-75 detonates directly below an RF-4C reconnaissance plane. The crew ejected and were taken captive.
The Osa was the first system to include search, track and missiles all on a single mobile platform.
The Strela-2 was an early and widespread MANPADs system.
Starstreak laser-guided surface-to-air missile of the British Army.
Long-range SAMs like the RIM-161 are an important part of modern naval forces.
The David's Sling Stunner missile is designed for super-maneuverability. A three-pulse motor activates only during the kill-stage, providing additional acceleration and maneuverability.
Israel's Arrow 3 missiles use a gimbaled seeker for hemispheric coverage. By measuring the seeker's line-of-sight propagation relative to the vehicle's motion, they use proportional navigation to divert their course and line up exactly with the target's flight path.
A JASDF soldier uses the optical sight on the Type 91 Kai MANPADS to acquire a mock airborne target. The prominent vertical metal devices on the left are the IFF antennas.
A U.S. Marine antiaircraft gunner aims his Stinger at a location indicated by a spotter.

A third design followed the American Bumblebee efforts in terms of role and timeline, and entered service in 1961 as the Sea Slug.

A Bloodhound missile at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.

Bloodhound (missile)

4 links

British ramjet powered surface-to-air missile developed during the 1950s.

British ramjet powered surface-to-air missile developed during the 1950s.

A Bloodhound missile at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
Bloodhound as used by the Royal Australian Air Force from 1963 with No. 30 Squadron in Darwin, Australia
Bloodhound of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
Before-and-after detonation of a K11A1 continuous rod warhead intended for Bloodhound Mk.2

This was initially known as LOPGAP, for Liquid-Oxygen and Petrol, the proposed fuel.

Thunderbird II at Imperial War Museum Duxford

Thunderbird (missile)

4 links

British surface-to-air missile produced for the British Army.

British surface-to-air missile produced for the British Army.

Thunderbird II at Imperial War Museum Duxford
Thunderbird II at Imperial War Museum Duxford
A Thunderbird I missile minus finned-boosters, a museum exhibit at the Midland Air Museum, England.
Thunderbird missile (front)
Colourful display of Thunderbird II airframe in Anti-Aircraft Museum, Tuusula, Finland. Note the changes to the main fins.
Missile rear end connector details. The Artillery Museum of Finland, Hämeenlinna.
Thunderbird at RAF Museum Cosford

From their work the LOPGAP experimental design emerged, short for "Liquid Oxygen and Petrol Guided Anti-aircraft Projectile".

Rainbow Code

4 links

The Rainbow Codes were a series of code names used to disguise the nature of various British military research projects.

The Rainbow Codes were a series of code names used to disguise the nature of various British military research projects.

Blue Shield – see Armstrong Whitworth Sea Slug

Brakemine

2 links

Early surface-to-air missile development project carried out in the United Kingdom during World War II.

Early surface-to-air missile development project carried out in the United Kingdom during World War II.

Although Brakemine would never be used in its original form, its use of the "twist-and-steer" guidance method would later be used on the more capable LOPGAP design, which, after major changes, emerged as the Bristol Bloodhound.

Blue Envoy

3 links

British project to develop a ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile.

British project to develop a ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile.

They started the New Guided Missile Program, or NIGS for short, to replace the existing Seaslug missile on the County-class destroyers with a missile of much higher performance and a fire control system and radar that could track multiple targets, similar to the modern Aegis Combat System.

Sea Dart drill missiles on in 2012

Sea Dart

1 links

Royal Navy surface-to-air missile system designed in the 1960s and entering service in 1973.

Royal Navy surface-to-air missile system designed in the 1960s and entering service in 1973.

Sea Dart drill missiles on in 2012
Sea Dart missile illustration. The Chow booster is on the extreme right. The four small receiver antennas for the semi-active radar homing are visible on the left. The antennas are arranged to provide phase-comparison to improve accuracy.
Sea Dart on in 1982 (taken after the Falklands War had ended)
Canberra bomber B-108 of Grupo de Bombardeo 2. This Argentine aircraft was shot down by a Sea Dart on 13 June 1982.
Sea Dart on Invincible
conducting the final Sea Dart missile firing at the north western Scottish range of Benbecula. The ship fired five missiles, three single missiles and a two-missile salvo at an unmanned drone target.
Map with former Sea Dart operators in red

Britain's first naval surface-to-air missile was GWS1 Seaslug, which entered service in 1963.

A Fireflash missile at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford (2014)

Fireflash

2 links

The United Kingdom's first air-to-air guided missile to see service with the Royal Air Force.

The United Kingdom's first air-to-air guided missile to see service with the Royal Air Force.

A Fireflash missile at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford (2014)
A Fireflash missile at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford (2014)
A Supermarine Swift with two Fireflash missiles (1956)
Drawing of a Fireflash missile

In the immediately following period, a rationalized development program was laid out that called for the development of a surface-to-air missile (SAM) for the Royal Navy that became Seaslug, a similar SAM design for the British Army and Royal Air Force known by the code name "Red Heathen", the Blue Boar anti-shipping bomb, and ongoing development of Red Hawk.

Hawker Siddeley

2 links

Group of British manufacturing companies engaged in aircraft production.

Group of British manufacturing companies engaged in aircraft production.

Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1A, with its pilot. This aircraft, used for aerobatic displays, is in a special colour scheme.
Caboose built in the Hawker Siddeley plant of Thunder Bay, Ontario
A Hawker Siddeley Trident.

Sea Slug – Armstrong Whitworth surface-to-air missile.

Ministry of Supply

1 links

Department of the UK government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply.

Department of the UK government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply.

As a result, secret weapon projects—including numerous nuclear weapons—were given lighthearted names such as Green Cheese, Blue Slug or Red Duster.