M8 (rocket)

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	Weapon: M8 (rocket) Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1941 Overall Length (mm): 840.0 Overall Length (in): 33.07 Weight (kg): 17.00 Weight (pounds): 37.48

The M8 rocket was a 4.5-inch (114 mm) spin-stabilized artillery rocket developed by the United States during World War II. Designed primarily as a surface-to-surface weapon, the M8 was launched from a variety of platforms including truck-mounted launchers, trailers, and later aircraft. It featured a solid-fuel propellant and a simple steel construction with stabilizing fins for in-flight accuracy. The warhead typically carried high-explosive or smoke payloads, and the rocket itself was relatively inexpensive and easy to mass-produce.

Production of the M8 began in the early 1940s, with over 2.4 million units produced by the end of World War II. It was deployed in a number of combat theaters, particularly in the European and Pacific campaigns. The rocket was fired from multiple rocket launchers such as the T34 Calliope mounted on Sherman tanks, and the M16 multiple rocket launcher system. Though not as accurate as conventional artillery, the M8's ability to deliver devastating barrages in a short time made it a powerful tool for area suppression and soft target destruction.

The M8 gained notoriety for its psychological and tactical impact on the battlefield. Its distinct shrieking noise and massive salvos disrupted enemy formations and morale. Despite its inaccuracy, it laid the groundwork for more advanced battlefield rocket systems in the postwar era. The M8's deployment marked an important milestone in the evolution of modern rocket artillery, bridging the gap between conventional artillery and the guided missile systems that would follow in later decades.

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