RP-3 rocket

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	Weapon: RP-3 rocket Type: Air-to-Ground Rocket Country of Origin: United Kingdom Year Adopted: 1943 Overall Length (mm): 1400.0 Overall Length (in): 55.12 Weight (kg): 16.00 Weight (pounds): 35.27

The RP-3 (Rocket Projectile 3-inch) was a British air-to-ground rocket developed during World War II for use against armored vehicles, ships, and hardened targets. Introduced in 1943, it featured a 3-inch diameter steel tube and was typically fitted with either a 60 lb high-explosive warhead or a 25 lb solid armor-piercing warhead. It was unguided and relied on massed firing from aircraft for effectiveness, making it a simple yet deadly addition to the RAF's strike capabilities. The rocket was fired from rails mounted under the wings of fighter-bombers like the Hawker Typhoon, Mosquito, and Beaufighter.

Over 3 million RP-3 rockets were produced during the war, reflecting its broad utility and the effectiveness of its design. Although inherently inaccurate due to its unguided nature, its power and versatility made it a staple of Allied tactical air support. It was used extensively in the European Theater, particularly in the 1944 Normandy campaign, where Typhoons armed with RP-3s devastated German tanks and vehicles attempting to reinforce or escape the front lines. Naval versions were also used by Fleet Air Arm aircraft against enemy ships and U-boats.

The RP-3 earned notoriety for its psychological impact and visible destructive power on the battlefield. German forces came to dread the distinct scream of rocket-armed Typhoons making attack runs, often mistaking them for precision weapons due to the volume of fire. Despite its lack of precision, the RP-3 proved to be a key tool in achieving air-to-ground dominance. After the war, it was quickly replaced by more advanced rocket and missile systems, but it remains an iconic weapon of WWII aerial warfare.

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