gyrojet

[KnightTemplar]

Here is the story of the gyrojet family of firearms.
The gyrojet pistol was an interesting concept. It fired 13 mm rocket that was designed to spin like a rifled bullet towards the target.

The firing method was unique as well, the hammer was actually in front of the round. Upon the trigger being pulled fully the hammer would push the round backwards onto a fixed firing pin in the back of the gun, igniting the round.

Unfortunately the concept proved to work better on paper, as the rounds suffered from a lack of accuracy and a lack of velocity (rumor has it the velocity is so low coming out of the barrel that one could stop it with one's own hand, but I wouldn't want to find out). The projectiles needed to reach a certain distance before getting up to penetration speed. Being a gun designed for close range, this was unacceptable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet

 

[Orionblamblam]

While the gyrojet was neato... this is not what you'd call a "secret project." Wasn't secret, and it actually got built.

 

[cluttonfred]

I have always wondered why the Gyrojet didn't make it as a payload-carrying round, whether explosive or CS gas, etc. Here's a very Gyrojet-like concept for a rocket grenade launcher with ranged fusing to explode above or behind a target.
NICWS Automatic Grenade Launcher

 

[shaba]

here is some more on the gyro jet http://www.deathwind.com/project.HTML does anybody have information on pre gyrojet rocket smallarms Ian V, hogg describes a German ww2 project and a fifties U.S army project that led to gyrojet.

 

[Cutaway]

Assault Rifle variant with full auto capability and removeable grip mounted magazine:

Gyrojet Ammo:

 

[Colonial-Marine]

Are there any records of the Gyrojet seeing use in combat (in Vietnam) by soldiers who bought them?

 

[sagallacci]

I seem to recall that a type of signal flare was developed from/in parallel with the gyrojet and did see wide distribution?

 

[shaba]

i found this while looking for some thing else. it seems to be the forward to a never published book about the gyro jet it has every rocket amunition round explored prior to the gyro jet. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/101583465/Methodology

 

[Sea Skimmer]

I have always wondered why the Gyrojet didn't make it as a payload-carrying round, whether explosive or CS gas, etc. Here's a very Gyrojet-like concept for a rocket grenade launcher with ranged fusing to explode above or behind a target.
NICWS Automatic Grenade Launcher

That link isn't working for me.
The whole idea seems like more trouble then it could ever be worth though. Making an exploding round for Gyrojet would be complicated because of among other things you have no sudden impulse to arm the projectile, which will make fuse design much harder. Meanwhile what would be the point of a small caliber payload carrying round? Very small projectiles are highly inefficient and expensive for that role because of fusing issues and generally small payload weight, while by the time you hit existing 40mm grenade launchers employing the high pressure-low pressure system, they are already partially rocket launchers in effect. The propellant charge turns the projectile into a short lived rocket. Its hard to see what advantage Gyrojet would ever have while retaining acceptable accuracy, which was always a problem with the Gyrojet guns in the first place. Having a rocket burn outside of a gun barrel is never going to work that great.

 

[shaba]

The whole idea seems like more trouble then it could ever be worth though. Making an exploding round for Gyrojet would be complicated because of among other things you have no sudden impulse to arm the projectile, which will make fuse design much harder. Meanwhile what would be the point of a small caliber payload carrying round? Very small projectiles are highly inefficient and expensive for that role because of fusing issues and generally small payload weight, while by the time you hit existing 40mm grenade launchers employing the high pressure-low pressure system, they are already partially rocket launchers in effect. The propellant charge turns the projectile into a short lived rocket. Its hard to see what advantage Gyrojet would ever have while retaining acceptable accuracy, which was always a problem with the Gyrojet guns in the first place. Having a rocket burn outside of a gun barrel is never going to work that great.

link works fine for me . here is another link with the same content and more http://gigconceptsinc.com/Rocket-Index-1a1a.html the deathwind people claimed to have liked the accuracy problem by useing a puller moter instead of apusher but idont see anyone beating apath to thier door.

 

[RanulfC]

here is some more on the gyro jet http://www.deathwind.com/project.HTML does anybody have information on pre gyrojet rocket smallarms Ian V, hogg describes a German ww2 project and a fifties U.S army project that led to gyrojet.

[quote author=colonial-marine]
Are there any records of the Gyrojet seeing use in combat (in Vietnam) by soldiers who bought them? [/quote] The Deathwind project site has some testamonials on operational use of the Gyrojet pistol including some on Vietnam: http://www.deathwind.com/review.htm This site describes a "rocket-musket" developed by Denmark, though it was mostly used for incindary effect or signalling. http://www.milhist.dk/vaaben/lands/rifle_rockets/rifle_rocket_uk.htm Side note here; Somewhat related to the development of rocket Arms by Denmark ended up in the development and deployment of a "Metalstorm" type weapon system in the early 1800s. Called the "Espingolen" it fired a consecutive set of "nested" ball-and-powder charges with the barrel/magazine being removed and replaced with a fresh one once discharged. http://www.milhist.dk/vaaben/lands/espingorgel/espingorgel_uk.htm Randy

 

[sferrin]

GyroJet for sale up on Gunbroker:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333706778

;D

 

[Grey Havoc]

(2) Microrocket Pistol and Projectile

Objective - To investigate the potential uses of very-small-caliber microrocket

projectiles in various weapons systems and to develop a very-low-cost, defensive handheld
weapon suitable for use by local paramilitary or civilian forces.

Progress to Date - The feasibility study and experimental research program
initiated in July, 1962, to investigate small-caliber microrocket projectiles was concluded
during the period. Participating in this effort were the U. S. Naval Ordnance
Test Station, the Naval Weapons Laboratory, the U. S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory,
and MB Associates. Two secret reports were received late in the reporting
period covering this effort. One is from the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station and is
entitled "Microrockets; Applied Research on the Performance Characteristics of
Microrockets" (U). It reaches conclusions and makes recommendations in problem
areas such as: projectile propellant, ignition, nozzles, and shape, and launcher design.
The other, "Report on Parametric Evaluation of Hand-Held Microjet Weapon"
(U), is from the U. S. Naval Weapons Laboratory. It is a study of the effectiveness of
the hand-held microjet weapons against personnel targets.

Under contract to ARPA, MB Associates fabricated a test quantity of
experimental . 49-caliber microrocket pistols and projectiles. As reported in the 1 April -
30 June 1963 Quarterly Report, these weapons were subjected to engineer design tests
at the H. P. White Laboratory. The results of these tests disclosed reliability and
accuracy problems that required correction before proceeding further. Following these
tests, MB Associates modified a number of the pistols and improved the projectiles in
an attempt to overcome the deficiencies noted. The modified weapons and improved
ammunition were retested at White Laboratory in September, 1963. The results of this
test showed improvement over those of the first test. However, considerable development
effort is still required before this weapon can meet the objective of a low-cost,
defensive, hand-held weapon suitable for use by local paramilitary or civilian forces.

Plan and Schedule to Complete - No further effort on a hand-held microrocket
weapon is planned until such time as the state of the art in small-caliber micorocket
projectiles is advanced to a point of greater assurance of success than now exists.
Therefore, with the rendering of a final report, this subtask is completed.
<hr>
Project Agile Semiannual Report, 1 July-31 December 1963

 

[tround]

http://www.gyrojet.net/Ch27.pdf

They have tried anything to sell the Gyrojet concept .

For the larger calibers , a GBR (gun boosted rocket ) is better than the Gyrojet .

 

[Grey Havoc]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ForgottenWeapons/comments/ygxqvs

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/ForgottenWeapons/comments/ygxqvs/flyer_for_the_gyrojet_carbine_not_sure_what_year/

 

[riggerrob]

MBA Associates/Gyrojet's main product line was flare launchers for the USAF.