Summary
The GTR-18A, commonly known as the Smokey Sam, is a small unguided rocket developed by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) in China Lake, California as a threat simulator for use during military exercises. Widely used in training, the Smokey Sam remains in operational service with the United States military.
| GTR-18 | |
|---|---|
 Two GTR-18 "Smokey Sams" on LMU-23/E single-bay launchers | |
| Type | SAM simulator rocket |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980s-present |
| Used by | United States military |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) |
| Designed | early 1980s |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.430 pounds (649 g)[1] |
| Length | 15.5 inches (394 mm)[2][3] |
| Diameter | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Wingspan | 6.0 inches (152 mm)[2] |
| Engine | Solid fuel rocket 15 lbf (6.80 kgf) (66.72 N) of thrust[1] |
| Propellant | 499 grams (17.6 oz) X-60[2] |
| Flight ceiling | 1,800 feet (550 m) to 2,000 feet (610 m)[3][1][4] |
| Boost time | 6 seconds at 70° [1] |
| Maximum speed | 165 m/s (540 ft/s)[3] |
Guidance system | None |
Steering system | None |
Launch platform | single-bay LMU-23/E or four-bay LMU-24/E[5] |
Design and development edit
The GTR-18 was conceived in the late 1970s by Robert A. McLellan, a Weapons Range Scientist working with Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base. He first searched for a commercially available system that would perform as he envisioned. It quickly became apparent that no commercial product would perform adequately, so the development of the GTR-18 was undertaken by the Naval Weapons Center (NWC) during the early 1980s, with the intent of developing Mr. McLellan's idea of a simple and inexpensive rocket for visually simulating the launch of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) during training exercises.[6]
The design of the GTR-18A rocket is very simplistic and intended for minimal cost with the fuselage and nose cone being constructed from phenolic paper while the fins are constructed out of styrofoam.[6][5] The fuselage and fins are joined to the nose cone by the motor tube which contains 499 grams (17.6 oz) of X-60 solid fuel propellant.[2] Because of its very light construction, the Smokey Sam will only cause minimal damage even if it accidentally strikes a low-flying aircraft.[6][2][5]
Operational history edit
The complete launch system, known as the Smokey Sam Simulator, includes single-rail LMU-23/E and four-rail LMU-24/E launching pads, an AN/VPQ-1 radar set, the PVU-3A/E Igniter[7] and the GTR-18A rockets themselves, making up the SMU-124/E system as a whole.[6][5]
When launched, the GTR-18's rocket motor produces a distinctive white plume, providing a realistic simulation of the launch of a surface-to-air missile.[8] While the ordinary GTR-18A has a simple, model rocket type motor, an improved "Dual Thrust Smokey Sam" tested in the early 2000s featured a modified rocket motor, providing a 1.5 second boost period, followed by a lower-thrust sustainer burn with burnout occurring at 7.1 seconds after launch.[9]
This motor was altered to use a two-part laminated grain propellant which utilized both the standard zinc based grain and a high thrust aluminium based grain as used by other US rockets. The new propellant allows the "Dual Thrust Smokey Sam" to have a boost and sustain signature to better imitate a surface-to-air missile and while thrust is initially low, the higher thrust for the majority of the motors burn time gives an improved trajectory.[10]
The GTR-18A received the altered designation DGTR-18A in the early 1990s, despite the use of the D ("Dummy") prefix usually being limited to non-flying rockets/missiles used for ground handling training only.[5] The Smokey Sam remains in production and operational service, and is extensively used by the U.S. military.[6]
Gallery edit
-
A GTR-18A Smokey Sam being set up during Exercise PATRIOT PEACH '86 -
A Smokey Sam being launched at an aircraft approaching the Crow Valley Electronic Warfare Tactical Range, Luzon, Philippines, during exercise "Cope Thunder '84-7" -
Ordnancemen of VMGR-152 aim a Smokey Sam at pilots during threat reaction training
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d "GTR-18 National Stock Number". nationalstocknumber.info. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "GTR-18A UXO". uxoinfo.com. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "GTR-18 A Smokey Sam". manfred-bischoff.de. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "GTR-18A Smokey Sam". everyspec.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "GTR-18 Smokey Sam". designation-systems.net. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Parsch 2002
- ^ "GTR-18 Military Specifications". everyspec.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Kitfield 1995, p.166.
- ^ Taylor 2006
- ^ "Dual Thrust Smokey Sam" (PDF). ndiastorage.us. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
Bibliography edit
- Kitfield, James (1995). Prodigal Soldiers: How the Generation of Officers Born of Vietnam Revolutionzed the American Style of War. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-76925-1.
- Parsch, Andreas (2002). "NWC GTR-18 Smokey Sam". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. designation-systems.net. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- Taylor, Bill (9 March 2006). "Dual Thrust Modified Smokey Sam for Low Cost Testing and Simulation" (PDF). NDIA 22nd National Test & Evaluation Conference. Sensor Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
External links edit
- [1] Webpage covering the GTR-18A
Military specifications edit
- [2] GTR-18A
- [3] SMU-124/E