American Guided Missiles of World War II (New Vanguard)

This Fascinating Title Details The History Of America's Secretive Advanced Guided Weapons Projects Of World War Ii, The Combat They Saw, And How They Influenced Postwar Missile Development. World War Ii Was A Significant Period Of Development For American Missile Programs, During Which Time The Us Built Pioneering Examples Of Guided Weapons Systems. However, Whilst The German Missiles Of World War Ii Are Famous Around The World, Their American Counterparts Have Remained Shrouded In Secrecy, Despite The Fact That They Formed The Basis For The Later Revolutions In Precision Warfare. Among The Most Sophisticated Missiles Of World War Ii Was The Us Navy's Radar-guided Bat Antiship Missile, Which Was On The Verge Of Deployment In The Final Months Of The War. The War Also Saw The First Use Of Guided Assault Drones, Including The Us Army Air Force's Aphrodite Program Of 1944, And The Us Navy's Project Anvil And Tdr-1. This Book Draws Back The Veil On These Weapons, Examining The Principal Avenues Of Missile Development In America During World War Ii, Including The Early Glide Bombs, Radio-controlled Bombs And Electro-optically Controlled Bombs. Some Of The More Peculiar Efforts, Such As The “bat Bomb” And Pigeon-guided Bombs, Are Also Explored. The Text Is Supported By Specially Commissioned, Full-color Artwork, And Diagrams. World War II was a significant period of development for American missile programs, during which time the US built pioneering examples of guided weapons systems. However, whilst the German missiles of World War II are famous around the world, their American counterparts have remained shrouded in secrecy, despite the fact that they formed the basis for the later revolutions in precision warfare. Among the most sophisticated missiles of World War II was the US Navy's radar-guided Bat anti-ship missile, which was on the verge of deployment in the final months of the war. The war also saw the first use of guided assault drones, including the US Army Air Force's Aphrodite program of 1944, and the US Navy's Project Anvil and TDR-1. This book draws back the veil on these weapons, examining the principal avenues of missile development in America during World War II, including the early glide bombs, radio-controlled bombs and electro-optically controlled bombs. Some of the more peculiar efforts, such as the “Bat bomb” and pigeon-guided bombs, are also explored. The text is supported by specially commissioned, full-colour artwork and diagrams. Cover 1 Contents 3 Introduction 4 Cruise Missiles 4 The Aerial Torpedo 4 Project Castor: Weary Willies 6 Project Anvil 8 Navy Assault Drone Programs 13 Jet Bombardment Missiles 18 Guided Glide Bombs 21 Grapefruit and Batty: The AAF Guided Glide Bombs 21 Pelican and Bat: The Navy Guided Glide Bombs 28 Guided Vertical Bombs 34 VB‐1 Azon 34 VB‐3 Razon 39 Air Defense Missiles 41 Air-to-Air Missiles 43 Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missiles 45 Analysis 46 Further Reading 47 Index 48 Imprint 49