Piper L-4H Grasshopper “Rosie the Rocketer” - The Fearsome Bazooka-Equipped Cub

[Nostalgistic]

Would you like to see this in-game?

• Aye!! 🤩🤩🤩
• Nay!! 😡🤬😡

Piper L-4H Grasshopper “Rosie the Rocketer”

   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 tree in War Thunder. The L-4H Grasshopper was the most widely produced liaison and observation aircraft used by the U.S. military during World War II, and Rosie gained fame as an unlikely ground-attack platform in France during 1944, when it was fitted with six bazooka rocket launchers and credited with knocking out German tanks and armored cars. I feel it could become a 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 rockets

History

Background

The Piper L-4 Grasshopper was the military derivative of 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. Painted in its iconic “Cub Yellow,” the aircraft became one of the most popular trainers of its era.

For wartime service, the US Army adopted a modified version of the J-3 designated 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 widely produced sub-variant with 1,801 built, incorporated minor equipment updates and refinements over the L-4B, including updated equipment and a fixed-pitch propeller. It was this model that Major Charles Carpenter would fly in his now-legendary missions with Rosie the Rocketer.

Bazooka Charlie

Major Carpenter, who volunteered as a U.S. Army observation pilot at age 30 in 1942, was assigned an L-4H Grasshopper, serial number 43-30426, completed in April 1944 and shipped overseas in support of the D-Day buildup. Assigned to the 1st Bombardment Division in support of the US 4th Armored Division under General George Patton’s Third Army, Carpenter carried out artillery-spotting and reconnaissance missions in France.

After the Allied breakout, reports emerged of Grasshoppers occasionally being fitted with improvised weapon mounts. Carpenter quickly sought and received permission to equip his L-4H with bazookas. Initially, two M1A1 launchers were mounted to the wing struts and wired to cockpit-firing switches. In his first armed sortie, Carpenter destroyed a German armored car, prompting him to expand the modification to six bazookas, three per wing. Thus was born Rosie the Rocketer.

Carpenter’s most famous mission took place during the Battle of Arracourt, near Nancy, France, on September 20, 1944. As German forces launched a major counterattack with Panther tanks and armored vehicles, Carpenter flew repeated sorties in Rosie, firing 16 rockets and disabling two tanks along with several armored cars. His actions helped delay the German advance and bought valuable time for US ground forces. Carpenter’s exploits made international headlines, and he became affectionately known as “Bazooka Charlie.”

By war’s end, Carpenter was credited with disabling six tanks and numerous other vehicles. He earned both the Silver Star and Bronze Star and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After his honorable discharge in 1946, Carpenter returned to civilian life as a high-school teacher until his death in 1966 at age 53.

Rosie the Rocketer in Postwar Years

Like many L-4 Grasshoppers, Rosie the Rocketer was sold as surplus after the war and returned to civilian use. The aircraft passed through private ownership in Switzerland and Austria before eventually being placed in storage. Rediscovered in 2017, it was acquired by the Collings Foundation and brought back to the United States, where it was restored and repainted in its original olive drab finish complete with nose art, honoring Major Carpenter’s legacy.

Specifications

Piper L-4H Grasshopper “Rosie the Rocketer”

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Dimensions:
  • 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: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
• Powerplant: Continental A-65-8 piston engine
  • Type: air-cooled piston
  • Power Output: 65 hp (48 kW)
• Internal Fuel: 12 US gal. (45 L)
• Weight:
  • Weight: 708 lb (321 kg)
  • Takeoff Weight: 1,220 lb (553 kg)

Performance

• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.092 hp/lb (0.15 kW/kg)j
• Speed:
  • Maximum: 87 mph (140 km/h)
  • Cruise: 75 mph (121 km/h)
  • Stall: 37.5 mph (60.35 km/h)
  • Maximum Dive: 122 mph (196 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 (1.52 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

Images

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 and reload on cap zones and potentially reload would add interesting value to gameplay.

Sources

• 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! 😃

[lxtav]

I would have voted yes, but the Embed failed so you get a Nay…

Only joking (or am I?)

[BillyBobDa3rd]

Please give!!!

[JamesPond1200-psn]

This would be really silly and fun, and it could actually do a lot of damage at low tier! +1

[Nostalgistic]

Liaison Pilots Test Mounted Bazookas on L-4 Grasshoppers; Aachen, Germany

Found video footage of L-4 Grasshopper fire-testing with two M9 Bazookas. These Bazookas could penetrate up to 4 inches (102 mm) of armor.

Edit: reuploaded a new YouTube link

[Caernarvon02]

@Nostalgistic

The addition of the F-111, a bomb-only aircraft

The Vark can carry Aim 9 Lemurs tho. unless you mean the F-117 stealth bomber.

I cant see the grasshopper even being viable at reserve tier for CAS, 6 bazookas and no speed isn’t good

[Nostalgistic]

@Caernarvon02

The Vark can carry Aim 9 Lemurs tho. unless you mean the F-117 stealth bomber.

Brain fog moment. Yes, I meant to say the F-117 stealth bomber.

@Caernarvon02

I cant see the grasshopper even being viable at reserve tier for CAS

I understand your stance, but I do not want to put the Grasshopper as a reserve CAS. I’ve proposed it as an event premium CAS aircraft.

@Caernarvon02

6 bazookas and no speed isn’t good

To put it into perspective, the L-4H’s flight performance is comparable to the flight performance of PO-2/PO-2M. L-4H is much more agile and lighter, but I acknowledge that L-4H lacks something viable to defend itself, like a turret of the PO-2. Hence, I think it’s more appropriate to have this L-4H as the exclusive event premium aircraft.

[Caernarvon02]

bit like the AVRE petard in that sense, a good joke event vehicle. Unfortunately wont be as good as a petard in a battle though, that thing can really hold its own in urban maps

[WalletWorrier]

Oh shit didn’t see you made both suggestions at the same time XD

[Nostalgistic]

Haha yes. It’s best to have both ready for possible future event rewards ;)

[Nostalgistic]

@Caernarvon02

bit like the AVRE petard in that sense, a good joke event vehicle

Precisely, yes.

@Caernarvon02

Unfortunately wont be as good as a petard in a battle though

We shall see ;)

[Caernarvon02]

there will be some madlad that will end up on thunder show killing a T90 with it I already know.

[bbbdddaaa]

+1
so funny

[foxtrot19673]

-1 even the sea plane po-2 would be better than this

[joshje100]

+1 This would be an excellent event vehicle for the Dreams Come True events

[Pangolin_Fan]

I’d love to be Bazooka Charlie, it’s just a shame that Gajin doesn’t add legendary planes like these ) :

[BOMBAY9997042-live]

in the words of a local radio station- “OH HELL YES”

[cursive-stare87]

Vote yes for the memes

[cursive-stare87]

this would be an event vehicle I’d actually grind for

[BACKRAGE44428-live]

hope its either a tech tree or sqaudron im not griding 40K score for some prop again