M16 (rocket)

Developed during the latter stages of the Second World War, the M16 was the first spin-stabilized {{convert|4.5|in|0|adj=on}} rocket to be standardized for production by the United States Army.Parsch 2006 {{convert|31|in}} in length, it could hit targets as far as {{convert|5200|yd|abbr=on}} from its launcher.Comparato 1965, p. 295 The M16 was launched from T66 "Honeycomb" 3x8 24-tube launchers,Zaloga 2007, p.19 M21 5x5 25-tube launchers, and could also be fired from 60-tube "Hornet's Nest" launchers. The United States Marine Corps developed launching systems for the M16 rocket as well, capable of being fitted to standard 3/4 and 2.5-ton trucks. A version of the M16 rocket for single launchers, the M20, was developed as a derivative; practice rounds designated M17 and M21 were also manufactured.Ordnance Committee Minutes 27687, Research and Development Service, Office of the Chief of Ordnance. 17 May 1945.

During the Cold War years, various state and privately owned scientific institutions were engaged in the research and development projects, concerning development and enhancement of the U.S. Army spin-stabilized rockets, to mention California Institute of Technology, North Carolina State College of Agriculture of the University of North Carolina.{{citation |url=https://archive.org/stream/Aviation_Week_1959-05-04#page/n38/mode/1up |title=Army Contracts |work=Aviation Week & Space Technolog |date= 4 May 1959 |volume=70 |number=18 |page=77 |via=Archive.org}}.

A unit of "Honeycombs" was deployed to the European Theater of Operations in May 1945, and saw limited action in Czechoslovakia before the end of the war; only being used in a single engagement.Bishop 1998, p. 175 Two of five battalions equipped with the M16 were deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations, being stationed on Okinawa and in the Philippines, however the war ended before these units could see combat. The M16 remained in service with the U.S. Marine Corps following the war, with a single 18-launcher battery equipping each Marine Division; these saw combat service during the Korean War,Turner 1990, p.20 as did U.S. Army launchers, the M16 fired from the T66 launcher being considered one of the "principal artillery weapons in the Korean War inventory".{{cite journal|year=1999|title=The Modern Era: 1950-2000|journal=Huachuca Illustrated|publisher=Fort Huachuca Museum|location=Fort Huachuca, Arizona|volume=10|page=36|url=http://www.huachuca.army.mil/sites/history/PDFS/modernera.pdf}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

== Variants ==

; M16 (T38E3)

: Baseline version adopted by U.S. Army

; M16E1

: M16 rocket with deeper fuze cavity for V.T. Fuze M402 (Mk 173).

; M16E2

: M16E1 with purge pellets of 411E to eliminate chunks in burning

; M17

: Practice round for M16 rocket.

; M20

: M16 variant with ignition wires attached to spools instead of contact rings.

; M21

: Practice variant of M20 Rocket

File:M8 and M16 rockets 1.png|M16 and M8 rockets.

File:The Rockets Red Glare-U.S. Marines launch a 4.5 rocket barrage against the Chinese Communists in the Korean fighting. - NARA - 532422.tif|M16 24-tube launchers in Korea.

File:Biggs in the Marines.jpg|M21 25-tube launchers used by the USMC.

File:War Memorial of Korea (summer 2013) 062.JPG|M16 launcher at the War memorial of Korea.

• T66 & T66E2 ("Honeycomb"): Towed, 24 tube. The E2 incorporated multiple improvements such as a new elevation system, blackout lighting, and sights.{{cite book |author=United States War Department |author-link= |date=July 1945 |title=War Department Technical Manual TM 9-392: 4.5-Inch Multiple Rocket Launchers T66 and T66E2 |url=https://www.theshermantank.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/TM9-392-4.5-INCH-MULTIPLE-ROCKET-LAUNCHERS-T66-AND-T66E2.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page= |isbn=}} The 60-tube variant (designation needed), was nicknamed "Hornet's Nest".{{cite web | url=https://www.spaceline.org/history-cape-canaveral/history-of-rocketry/history-rocketry-chapter-5/ | title=History of Rocketry Chapter 5 | Spaceline }}{{cite journal |last1=Schonenberg, Jr. |first1=John J. |date=September 1945 |title=The Rocket Field Artillery Battalion |url=https://tradocfcoeccafcoepfwprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/fires-bulletin-archive/1945/SEP_1945/SEP_1945_FULL_EDITION.pdf |journal=The Field Artillery Journal |volume=35 |issue=9 |pages= |doi= |access-date=19 March 2023}}
• M21 (T123): Towed, 25 tube. Unusual in that it used square, rather than round, tubes.{{cite book |author=Department of the Army |author-link= |date=October 1951 |title=War Department Technical Manual TM 9-392A: 4.5-Inch Multiple Rocket Launcher T123 |url=https://www.bulletpicker.com/pdf/TM%209-392A,%204.5%20Inch%20Multiple%20Rocket%20Launcher%20T123.pdf |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page= |isbn=}}

• Katyusha rocket launcher
• List of U.S. Army rocket launchers by model number
• Multiple rocket launcher
• Nebelwerfer

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|editor=Bishop, Chris|title=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II|year=1998|publisher=Orbis|location=New York|isbn=1-58663-762-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Comparato|first=Frank|title=Age of Great Guns: Cannon Kings and Cannoneers Who Forged the Firepower of Artillery|year=1965|publisher=Stackpole Books|location=Mechanicsburg, PA|asin=B001KJR32I}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/4.5in-barrage.html|title=4.5-Inch Barrage Rockets|last=Parsch|first=Andreas|year=2006|work=Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles|publisher=Designation-Systems.net|accessdate=2012-05-30}}
• {{cite book|last=Turner|first=David J.|title="MLRS": A Rocket System for the Marine Corps|date=1990-03-29|publisher=U.S. Army War College|location=Carlisle Barracks, PA|id=AD-A223 182}}
• {{cite book|last=Zaloga|first=Stephen|title=US Field Artillery of World War II|series=New Vanguard|volume=131|year=2007|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-1-84603-061-1}}

{{refend}}

{{USA WW2 rockets}}

{{USA missiles}}

Category:Rocket weapons of the United States

Category:World War II weapons of the United States

Category:California Institute of Technology

Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1945