Late in World War II, the U.S. Navy began development of a pulsejet-powered bombardment missile,[1] intended to be launched from ships for use against targets ashore; in April 1945, plans for the invasion of Japan called for the production of "several hundred" missiles, named Gorgon IIC; initially, 20 prototype missiles were to be produced by the Naval Aircraft Modification Unit in Pennsylvania,[2] while an order for 100 was placed with the Singer Manufacturing Company, a sewing machine manufacturer, in August 1945.[3][4] The end of the war saw the cancellation of the production plans, however development continued, and in October 1945 the Gorgon IIC received the designation KGN-1.[2]
The Gorgon IIC was very similar in design to the Gorgon IIA air-to-air missile, being of canard configuration with a high-mounted monoplane wing and vertical and ventral stabilizing fins.[1] The pulsejet, developed at the Naval Engineering Experiment Station, was 14 inches (360 mm) in diameter and was mounted above the rear fuselage; launch was from the ground using a catapult or sled with a 900 lbf (4,000 N) rocket booster, or from a carrier aircraft.[2] In its original, bombardment configuration, the Gorgon IIC was intended to use active radar homing, similar to that used on the Bat guided bomb.[3]
Operational history
Testing of the Gorgon IIC began in 1946; late that year it was redesignated KUN-1 to reflect its non-combat role, while in September 1947 it was redesignated CTV-2, and in 1948 received its definitive designation of CTV-N-2.[2] Gorgon IIC was used to test guidance and control devices for guided missile development;[1] in 1950, an active radar guidance system was trialled using a CTV-N-2, successfully homing from a distance of 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi).[5] Trials of the Gorgon IIC were considered generally satisfactory by the Navy.[1]
Eight target drone versions of the Gorgon IIC, originally designated TD3N-1 but, in March 1946, redesignated KD2N-1, were also produced;[2] the KD2N was used in parachute-recovery trials around 1950.[6]
RTV-N-15
RTV-N-15 at the Udvar-Hazy Center
The RTV-N-15 Pollux was derived from the Gorgon IIC airframe,[2] the pulsejet engine being moved to an internal mounting, and it was intended to use a mixture of radar and infrared guidance. Pollux was first flown in 1948, however by 1951 it had been flown only three times, and the program was cancelled.[7]
^ ab"RTV-N-15 drone". National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-07-21. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
Bibliography
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.
Ordway, Frederick Ira; Ronald C. Wakeford (1960). International Missile and Spacecraft Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill. ASINB000MAEGVC.
White, Maxwell (1991). An Interpretative History of the Pacific Missile Test Center: The Genesis, Road to Point Mugu, 1936–1946. Point Mugu, CA: Pacific Missile Test Center. ASINB00010AIGU.
