M26 Honest John - 762mm rocket launcher

M26 HONEST JOHN


TYPE: Rocket launcer

ARMAMENT

  • 1x MGR-1A Honest John 762mm ground to ground rocket
    -Warhead: 500 Kilogram
    -Explosive type: TNT
    -Nuclear warhead possibility
    -Various ammunition such as bomblets

TECHNICAL DATA
Eigne: Continetal R6602 6cyl
Fuel: Gasoline
Power: 196Hp
Top speed: 120 km/h
Length: 12.9m
Widht: 3.05m
Weight: 21.5 Tons

CREW
Crew: Unknown, most likely driver, commander and a couple for the shooting

History
i just want to state this first, Norway used this for a while, and so did many other countries.The country of origin, wich in this case is USA, will of cource recieve this before any of the other nations with this being used in their military.

Launcher, Rocket, 762-mm, Truck-Mounted, M289, “Honest John” rocket launcher on M139D (modified M139C) chassis. The development of the “Honest John” missile started as early as 1950 and was the USA’s first tactical nuclear weapon.

It was launched as a preliminary system in the spring of 1954. Since a lot of technology was chosen that was already available on the market, the development time was just over two years. The rocket, which had a range of approx. 34 km, could be equipped with conventional warheads (500 kg TNT) as well as nuclear and chemical weapons. The M series (G744), Truck, 5-Ton, 6x6 were used as rocket carriers. This was a type of car that was developed in the late 1940s and production started in 1950. Manufacturers were Diamond T, International Harvester, Kaiser Jeep (now AM General) and Mack.

Norwegian usage
In Norwegian service for 4 and a half year

The USA offered Norway this weapon in 1959 when it was in widespread use in European countries such as Denmark, West Germany, Belgium, Italy and Great Britain. In total, Norway received 5 such rocket vehicles, as well as 8 ammunition wagons.

A Rocket Battalion was set up consisting of staff, staff battery and a rocket battery. The rockets themselves were delivered in 1961. The use of communication and the collection of weather data was important in order to get good hits. It was fired with a 500 kg TNT warhead and a practice warhead with a small charge. The department was regularly visited by American evaluation teams that came from West Germany. The department always received high scores from the evaluation team. The battalion received additional equipment and clothing such as fur hats and fur coats and boots with Vibram soles (antistatic).

Practical range was 25 km. Testing in northern Norway showed that the system worked in -40 degrees if the rockets were wrapped in heating blankets.

Political pressure did its part to have the missile weapon returned to the United States already after five years. In 1964, the equipment was tektylized and sent back to the USA. Nuclear warheads were never stored in Norway.

Usage in game
This vehicle could be hard to implement, but i think it could do fine. it would proably be implemented as a reward during an event, and mostly be used as a meme vehicle or just for fun, and mostly used by content creators. it has no armor, it can only fire one shot at the time before reloading at one of the captured points in the game, and will therefor have to be fired at a distance and covered by teammtes. but the rocket, with a 500kg tnt warhead, should be able to deal quite a bit of damage to the enemies when fired. i believe this could eleminate a group of 4-5 tanks when they are grouped.

to compensate for it’s long an dangerous way to reload a new rocket it could mabye cost less spawn points or even have one free backup.

I guess this vehicle would be around the same br as the sturmtiger, mabye a little bith higher due to the options it have in terms of ammunition, both bomblets, tnt or antomic warheads (those antomic warheads would likely never be a thing, but could serve as a option for 2500sp in addition to the planes? hehe) many possibilites!

The vehicle in Norwegian camouflage

i believe it would work!

As seen in the video below, this vehicle has some elevation and options to aim the rocket.

Spoiler

75295933-soldiers-prepare-honest-john-missile-and-perform-atomic-atta

AMMUNITION -MGR-1A Honest John

Spoiler

General Information

Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
No. built: 7000+
Variants: MGR-1A, MGR-1B, MGR-1C

Specifications MGR-1A
Mass: 2,640 kg
Length: 8.30 m
Diameter: 760 mm
Wingspan: 2.77 m
Engine: Hercules M6 solid-fueled rocket 441 kN
Propellant: Double base solid propellant
Operational range: 5.5–24.8 km
Flight ceiling: 9 km
Maximum speed: Mach 2.3

PICTURES AND IMPORTANT DETAILS

Spoiler

M26 Honest JOHN — ImgBB

SOURCES

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Main Sources
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MOTORISERTE MILITÆRKJØRETØY I NORGE - HMKSHOP - Depot Moane

[Would you like to see this in-game?]
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This post was made by
Til_Dovre_Faller
Also known as
Warthunder_Norway

2 Likes

Small update

Changed the post a bit so it is easier and clearer to read, in addition a new picture wich show the vehicle much better.

+1 but only if added on the M386 Launch Vehicle since that variant allowed for some limited horizontal traverse, about 14 degrees left and right, as well as the ability to bring the launcher down all the way to zero degrees of elevation. Of course, you’re never supposed to fire the rocket at zero degrees but this is War Thunder.

South Korean M386 Launch Vehicle with the rail fully extended and the launcher pressed all the way down to zero degrees of elevation. You can probably see why you wouldn’t want to fire it from here.

The vehicle can absolutely “work” in War Thunder. It would be purely for memery though.

2 Likes