Projector, Rocket 3-inch, No 8 Mk 1 (Land Mattress)

Projector, Rocket 3", Story #8 Mk 1 (floor mat)

Compared to the Germans and Soviets, the British (along with the Americans) were late in developing useful portable rocket launchers as an additional artillery support system. Such weapons have proven their worth on the Eastern Front, where they are used with extreme lethality to relieve the concentration of enemy forces at long distances. A collection of missiles that land in an area, while largely inaccurate for each missile launched, provides excellent saturation and the second benefit of being at the receiving end of such instruments.

Enemies inflict psychological damage. The British finally introduced their famous "floor mat" rocket projector in late 1944. Its full name is "Projector, Rocket 3-inch, No. 8 Mk 1".

The land pad is so named because it follows the naval version known as the "sea pad". The land-based version contains 16 or 30 launch tubes neatly arranged in blocks. The block then sits on the jig as part of a two-wheeled wagon.

The car runs on two rubber tire wheels and has a folding tow arm at the front. This allows the land mattress unit to be transported behind the mover to where it is needed.

Its rocket payload revolves around the RP-3 (Rocket Projectile 3-inch) rocket, a high-explosive air-to-surface (HE) missile already in use on British fighter jets, its 60-pound The warhead is called "60 lbs". Each rocket has a diameter of 76.2 mm and is fitted with a 5-inch TNT/TN/RDX-filled Navy shell as a warhead. Propulsion comes from solid-fuel rockets that use cordierite as propellant.

The muzzle velocity of each exit rocket is rated at 1,160 feet per second, and the entire salvo can be launched in about seven seconds. The unit has a maximum charging range of 7,900 yards, providing ample "range".

The floor mat gun was tested in combat in mid-1944 and remained in service until the end of the war in 1945, and then for a period of time until it was retired. It is operated jointly by the British and Canadian armies.

Projector, Rocket 3", No. 8 Mk 1 (floor mat) spec

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

16 OR 30 x 76.2mm rockets (requires refills later)

Changes