- McDonnell LBD Gargoyle
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For other uses see Gargoyle and SA-20 Gargoyle.
LBD-1 Gargoyle 
Gargoyle on display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in target colors.Type anti-ship missile / guided bomb Place of origin United States Service history In service never used operationally Wars World War II Production history Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Produced 1945 Specifications Weight 1517 lb (688 kg) Length 10 ft 2 in (3.1 m) Diameter 20 inches (508 mm) Warhead amatol Warhead weight 1000 pounds (454 kg) Engine 8AS1000 JATO bottle
1000 lbf (4,448 N) static thrustWingspan 8.5 feet (2.6 m) Operational
range5–7 nautical miles (9.3–13 km; 5.8–8.1 mi) Speed 600 mph (960 km/h) Guidance
systemradio command Launch
platformaircraft The McDonnell LBD-1 Gargoyle (later KBD-1) was an American air-to-surface missile developed during World War II . It was one of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles.
Following German success with the Hs-293 and Fritz-X, the U.S. began work on a series of similar weapons. These included Bat, Felix, GB-8, and Gargoyle.
Gargoyle had a 1000 pound (450 kg) warhead (M65 general purpose or M59 semi–armor piercing), intended to be launched from carrier-borne aircraft in conditions of good visibility, against maneuvering targets. Launched from 15,000 ft (4,600 m), it had a range of almost 5–7 nautical miles (9.3–13 km; 5.8–8.1 mi), and could be controlled at up to 28 nautical miles (52 km; 32 mi).
A launch speed of at least 200 mph (320 km/h) was necessary, so its low wings would not stall; a 1000 pound-force (4,400 N) static thrust 8AS1000 jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) bottle in the tail boosted it to a maximum speed of 600 mph (960 km/h).
Operated by radio command guidance, Gargoyle was tracked visually by means of flares in the tail, much as Fritz-X was; this limited its maximum range to how far the flares could be seen. Gargoyle relied on simultaneous or separate operation of the elevator and rudder functions on the weapon's butterfly tail; it was capable of 4g (40 m/s²), for a turning circle of 2,550 feet (777.2 m).
Production by McDonnell Aircraft began in 1944 and the missile was tested from March to July 1945, but the war ended before it entered operational service. Testing continued, however, until it was cancelled in 1947.
See also
- Related lists
Sources
- This article contains material that originally came from the placard at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
- Fitzsimons, Bernard, editor. "Gargoyle", in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 10, p. 1090. London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.
External links
- Gargoyle Missile at the National Air and Space Museum
- Allied & German guided weapons of WW2
- The Dawn of the Smart Bomb
- Guided weapons of WW2
- GB series weapons
USN glider aircraft designations pre-1962 Glider Bomb LBDPratt-ReadLBELBPTaylorcraftLBTGlider, Trainer Pratt-ReadLNELNPSchweizerTaylorcraftGlider, Transport AGA AviationLRGSneadLRHLRN • LR2N
BristolLRQUSN drone and missile designations 1946–1947 Anti-aircraft missiles Martin: KAM · Naval Aircraft Factory: KAN • KA2N • KA3N · Fairchild: KAQ · Sperry: KAS · Consolidated-Vultee: KAYDrones KDB • KD2B
GlobeKDG • KD2G • KD3G • KD4G • KD5G • KD6G
RadioplaneKDR • KD2R • (KD3R not assigned) • XKD4R
KDT
Ground-attack missiles Willys-OverlandKGWAnti-ship missiles KSDResearch missiles Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Anti-ship missiles of the United States
- Air-to-surface missiles of the United States
- McDonnell aircraft
- World War II aerial bombs of the United States
- World War II guided missiles of the United States
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