D-40 Cannonball anti tank missile

[Catch-22]

Does any one have a photo of the Cannonball missile?
Started out as a Navy sub launched missile then anti tank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannonball_(missile)

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/cannonball.html

Randolph S Rae is the name on the patent http://www.google.com/patents?id=TfROAAAAEBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=3045596&hl=en&ei=aW8NTsf_EaX8mAXjv-SgDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA
Who later invented the REX hydrogen engine for a U2 replacment, but that's another topic see http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4404/ch7-3.htm

 

[Lauge]

Started out as a Navy sub launched missile then anti tank.

I can just imagine the project manager addressing the team: "People, you've done a great job, but we've been asked to make one small change to the design...." ;D

Regards & all,

Thomas L. Nielsen
Luxembourg

 

[Pat Flannery]

There's a drawing of one being being launched out of the top of a light tank (one of the Continental Motors "Hen" tank's two "Chick" engine/tread units) on page 30 of R.P. Hunnicutt's "Abrams" book. In that case the missiles, called "D-40", are apparently housed in a cylindrical structure atop the tank and emerge through hatches on either side of its roof.
I could never quite figure out why anyone would design a missile of such poor aerodynamic shape.

 

[Dilandu]

I could never quite figure out why anyone would design a missile of such poor aerodynamic shape.

Because it allows to put in shaped charge of the maximum possible diameter while having at least some resemblance of stable aerodynamic, I think. Also, it would probably helped to reduce weight of the whole system.