This is a Hale 24-pounder war rocket of ca. 1865-1870, a type of "stickless" or "rotary" war rocket developed from 1844 by the Englishman William Hale to eliminate the long and cumbersome wooden guidesticks of other war rockets. Hale rockets evolved over the years until the final pattern of ca. 1865 shown here.
The basic principle was that the exhaust gases propelled the rocket and also caused it to rotate in flight by impinging on curved exhaust vanes in the rear. The spinning helped deflect any wind and kept the rocket on course during its flight, known as spin stabilization. Hale rockets were widely used up to about 1899 but became obsolete due to advances in other artillery. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1968 by the Royal Artillery Institute, U.K.
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
Date
ca. 1865-1870
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Manufacturer
Royal Arsenal
Dimensions
3-D (Diameter x Length): 8.9 × 58.4cm (3 1/2 × 23 in.)
Storage: 64.8 × 280.7 × 94cm, 234.1kg (25 1/2 × 110 1/2 × 37 in., 516lb.)
Materials
Steel
Paint
Inventory Number
A19680019000
Credit Line
Gift of Royal Artillery Institute
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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