Armstrong Siddeley Snarler

Unlike other British rocket engine projects that used hydrogen peroxide as an oxidiser, Armstrong Siddeley's used liquid oxygen. The rocket engine is described as having a dry weight of {{convert|215|lbf|abbr=on}} thrust of {{convert|2000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} and a specific fuel consumption of 20 (lb/h)/lbf thrust. Work began in 1947 and the final configuration was first tested on 29 March 1950.

The prototype of the Hawker P.1040 Sea Hawk, VP 401, had a Snarler rocket of 2,000 lbf thrust added in its tail. The Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet, of 5,200 lbf thrust, had a split tailpipe which exhausted either side of the fuselage. The combination was termed the Hawker P.1072.{{cite journal |journal=Flight |title=Armstrong Siddeley Snarler |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1952/1952%20-%202020.html?search=snarler |date=25 July 1952 |pages=92–93}}{{cite journal |journal=Flight |title=The Quest for Power... |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%200976.html |date=6 August 1954 |page=444 |quote=Transferring liquid oxygen from a B.O.C. spherical tanker to the Hawker P.1072 in which the Sn rocket was tested. The gas is exhausting through the lower vents and rapidly evaporating.}}

This gave approximatelyAlthough the Nene's thrust, as for any turbojet, fell with increasing altitude the Snarler's remained constant. 50% greater thrust, although with twenty times the fuel consumption. It was first used in flight on 20 November 1950, by Hawker's test pilot Trevor "Wimpy" Wade. Half a dozen flights were made using the rocket motor before a minor explosion damaged the aircraft. Although methanol was used in the P.1072, jet fuel could be used for the Snarler. It was decided that reheat was a more practical proposition for boosting jet thrust than rockets.

An unusual feature of the engine was that the fuel/oxidiser pump was externally driven, by a drive from the gearbox of the P.1072's turbojet engine. This feature continued into the first versions of the subsequent Screamer engine, but was later replaced with a turbine-driven turbopump.{{cite journal |journal=Flight |title=Armstrong Siddeley Screamer |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%201014.html |date=27 July 1956 |pages=160–164}}

;ASSn.1 Snarler:The prototype and test engines, (Ministry of Supply designation ASSn.).

• Hawker P.1072

{{rocketspecs

|ref=Aircraft engines of the World 1953,{{cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Paul H. |title=Aircraft engines of the World 1953 |year=1953 |publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. |location=London |edition=11th}} Flight:6 August 1954:Armstrong Siddeley Snarler{{cite journal |title=Armstrong Siddeley Snarler:THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PUMP-FED LIQUID-FUEL AIRCRAFT ROCKET |journal=Flight |date=6 August 1954 |volume=66 |issue=2376 |pages=176–180 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202203.html |accessdate=7 January 2019 }}

|type=rocket engine booster

|length={{cvt|94|in}} (overall length); {{cvt|25.4|in}} (combustion chamber length)

|diameter={{cvt|12.5|in}} (nozzle diameter)

|weight={{cvt|215|lb}}

|fueltype=65% methanol, 35% water

|oxidiser=liquid oxygen

|capacity={{cvt|120|impgal|USgal l}} fuel; {{cvt|75|impgal|USgal l}} oxidiser

|pumps=externally driven accessory gearbox mounted centrifugal pumps with de-aerators

|thrust={{cvt|1350|-|2350|lbf|kN}} at {{cvt|20000|ft}} (dependent on main engine speed)

{{aircontent

|see also=

|related=

• Armstrong Siddeley Screamer

|lists=

• List of aircraft engines

|similar engines=

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Armstrong Siddeley aeroengines}}

{{Aviation rocket engines}}

Snarler

Category:Aircraft rocket engines

Category:Rocket engines using alcohol propellant