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This is a grapnel rocket launch kit for use with World War II vintage U.S. Navy rockets for throwing lines. The kit was developed by the American inventor Wadsworth W. Mount for the purpose of throwing life lines for rescue work at sea, or from ship to shore as life saving rockets. They were also to be used to climb cliffs and for breaching beach defenses. Standard U.S. Navy 1.25-in.and 3.25-in. rockets provided propulsion.

Successful tests of these rockets were conducted from 1944 to 1946 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and elsewhere. However, Mount's rockets were not adopted by the Coast Guard or other services, although they were allegedly adapted for testing soil samples during post-war Atomic bomb tests. Mount donated the kit to the Smithsonian by in 1976.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets Manufacturer Intertype Corporation
Dimensions Storage (Rehoused on an aluminum pallet): 121.9 × 121.9 × 90.2cm, 165.6kg (48 × 48 × 35 1/2 in., 365lb.)
3-D (round wooden case): 26.4 × 54cm (10 3/8 × 21 1/4 in.)
3-D (cylindrical wooden case): 95.6 × 28.3cm (37 5/8 × 11 1/8 in.)
Approximate (circular reel): 22.9 × 49.5cm (9 × 19 1/2 in.)
3-D (cylindrical reel): 84.8 × 26.7cm (33 3/8 × 10 1/2 in.)
3-D (motor): 84.5 × 20.6 × 28.9cm (33 1/4 × 8 1/8 × 11 3/8 in.)
Materials Steel
Wood
Paint
Natural Fiber Rope
Unknown Plating
Copper Alloy
Paper
Adhesive
Ink
Graphite
Natural Thread
Inventory Number A19770988000 Credit Line Gift of Wadsworth W. Mount Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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