U.S. MGR-1 Honest John Rocket

U.S. MGR-1 Honest John Rocket. . Development began in 1950 with testing of prototypes in 1951 and production in 1953. It was intended to replace super heavy field artillery pieces which were difficult and time-consuming to emplace. Honest John was a spin-stabilized, one stage rocket with a solid propellant propulsion. The spin-stabilization was created by four canted auxiliary rockets behind the warhead and canted fins. The three main components of Honest John (rocket motor, fins and warhead) were assembled and loaded onto the launcher. The launcher was a 6x6 International Harvester 5-ton truck with a canvas cab top and folding windshield to avoid damage during launching. To help preserve the launcher, the canvas top was replaced with a metal cab top. The rocket originally carried a variable yield nuclear warhead with a yield up to 20 kilotons, which was later upgraded to 30 kilotons. It could also carry a high explosive or chemical warhead. An improved and slightly shorter model with improved performance, the MGR-1B was introduced in 1960. The Honest John was replaced by the Lance in the early 1970s., Diameter - 30 in. - 762 mm , Length - 24 ft. 10 in. - 7.57 m , Weight - 4,300 lb. - 1,950 kg , Range - 23 miles - 36.8 km , Warhead - High explosive, Chemical or Nuclear , CCN# 658869, 110972