- Aye!! 🤩🤩🤩
- Nay!! 😡🤬😡
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Piper L-4H Grasshopper, specifically the legendary “Rosie the Rocketer,” as a potential addition to the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. Rosie the Rocketer gained fame as an unlikely ground-attack platform during its wartime service in France in 1944 when it was equipped with the Bazooka rocket launchers and credited with disabling or immobilizing German panzers and armored cars. For what it’s worth, it could become an unique addition as an event premium or squadron vehicle in the attacker role.
Key Characteristics
- Liaison light aircraft
- Piper J-3 Cub converted to Piper L-4 Grasshopper as a military variant
- Only armed with six Bazooka rocket launchers
History
BackgroundThe Piper L-4 Grasshopper was derived from the civilian Piper J-3 Cub, produced between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The J-3 Cub, a popular American light aircraft, was a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with a large rectangular wing area. Its fuselage was a welded steel frame covered with fabric, featuring tandem seating for two occupants. Powered by an air-cooled flat-four piston engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller, the J-3 Cub could reach 85-87 mph. Often painted in “Cub Yellow,” it became very popular as a trainer aircraft.
For military purposes, Piper developed a variant of the J-3 Cub known as the L-4 Grasshopper. Originally designated the O-59 (“O” for observer), it was reclassified as the L-4 (“L” for liaison) in April 1942. Painted in olive drab, the L-4 proved invaluable for reconnaissance, liaison, and artillery spotting. Its small size, low speed, and agility made it ideal for these roles. While largely identical to its civilian counterpart, the L-4 could be distinguished by its Plexiglas greenhouse skylight and additional rear windows, which provided excellent visibility. Approximately 5,000 L-4s were produced during World War II, and all models were nicknamed “Grasshoppers,” though they were often referred to simply as “Cubs.”
The L-4H, the most produced variant of the Grasshopper, saw 1,801 units built during World War II. This variant featured improvements over the L-4B, including updated equipment and a fixed-pitch propeller. It was this variant that Major Charles Carpenter flew during his legendary missions.
Bazooka CharlieMaj. Carpenter, who had volunteered as a U.S. Army officer and observation pilot at the age of 30, began his service and training at rank Major in 1942 during World War II. He would be assigned to fly a Grasshopper L-4H, serial number 43-30426, and this aircraft was built and completed in early April 1944. It was shipped overseas and was a part of the D-Day build up. It may have been assembled in either England or France in 1944. Nevertheless, it was assigned to the 1st Bombardment Division, supporting the US Army’s 4th Armored Division, and General George Patton’s Third Army. This was where Maj. Carpenter would be assigned to fly for his observation and artillery spotting missions.
After the Allied breakout in France, L-4 Grasshoppers were occasionally equipped with improvised racks. Hearing this, Carpenter made no hesitation and requested official approval to modify his L-4H to be attached with the Bazookas. Granted with the approval, his aircraft was initially equipped with two M1A1 bazookas mounted on either side of the wings, which were fired via cockpit switches. On his first mission with the armed Grasshopper, Carpenter successfully disabled a German armored car, prompting him to further modify the plane by adding four additional bazookas, bringing the total to six. It was during this period that Rosie the Rocketer earned its nickname.
One of Carpenter’s most notable and longest missions occurred during the Battle of Arracourt near Nancy, France, on September 20, 1944. As German forces launched a tank assault on the U.S. 4th Armored Division, Carpenter flew multiple sorties in Rosie the Rocketer, targeting advancing Panther tanks and armored vehicles. Carpenter fired a total of 16 rockets, disabling two German tanks and several armored cars. His daring attacks helped delay the German advance, likely contributing to the survival of trapped U.S. forces. Carpenter’s actions gained widespread recognition in the press.
By the end of the war, Carpenter had been credited with disabling six tanks and numerous armored vehicles. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and received both the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his bravery. After leaving military service in 1946 with an honorable discharge, Carpenter became a high school teacher until his death in 1966 at the age of 53.
Rosie the Rocketer in Postwar YearsLike many other L-4 Grasshoppers, Rosie the Rocketer was sold as surplus after the war and reconverted to a civilian aircraft. It passed through private ownership in Switzerland and Austria, eventually being placed in storage. The Collings Foundation acquired it after it was rediscovered in 2017, and it was brought to the United States for restoration. Rosie the Rocketer was repainted in its original olive drab livery along with its artwork in honor of Carpenter.
Specifications
Piper L-4H Grasshopper “Rosie the Rocketer”General Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 22 ft 4.5 in (6.83 m)
- Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
- Span: 35 ft 3 in (10.74 m)
- Wing Area: 178.5 sq ft (16.58 sq m)
- Propeller Type: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
- Powerplant: Continental A-65-8 air-cooled piston engine
→ 65 hp (48 kW)- Internal Fuel: 12 US gal. (45 L)
- Basic Weight: 708 lb (321 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 1,220 lb (553 kg)
Performance
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.092 hp/lb (0.15 kW/kg)
- Cruise Speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)
- Maximum Speed: 87 mph (140 km/h)
- Maximum Dive Speed: 122 mph (196 km/h)
- Stall Speed: 37.5 mph (60.35 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 3.96 lb/sq ft (19.33 kg/sq m)
- Takeoff Distance: 352 ft (107 m)
- Rate of Climb: 300 fpm @ 55 mph (1.5 m/s @ 88.5 km/h)
- Service Ceiling: 11,500 ft (3,505 m)
- Range: 220 miles (354 km)
Armament
- Rockets:
- 6 x M1A1 Bazooka Rocket Launchers
- M6A1 2.36 in (60-mm) HEAT rockets
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The addition of the F-117, a bomb-only aircraft, as a squadron vehicle was made possible in a recent patch, so the L-4H Grasshopper “Rosie the Rocketer” could find a fitting place in War Thunder as one of the funniest and unique aircraft in the game. With its modest performance, a Battle Rating of 1.0 would be appropriate, and its armament would only consist of six Bazookas, each loaded with a HEAT rocket. While its utility in air battles might be limited due to its six-shot payload, Rosie the Rocketer could be used as a niche meme aircraft, much like the Polikarpov PO-2, in the ground battle modes.
Although aircraft can no longer capture zones in ground battles, reintroducing this feature could make the L-4H Grasshopper a true game-changer. Its ability to land on cap zones and potentially reload would add interesting value to gameplay. Despite its limitations, the L-4H Grasshopper was the most important observation and liaison plane that served in US military branches during World War II.
- Piper J-3 Cub - Wikipedia
- Charles Carpenter (pilot) - Wikipedia
- Bazooka - Wikipedia
- https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/charles-bazooka-charlie.html
- Piper L-4 Grasshopper - History, technical sheet and photos
- Piper L-4H 'Grasshopper' | Planes of Fame Air Museum
- https://www.aircorpsaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/Piper-L-4-Fall-2024-web.pdf
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
