Object Details
Manufacturer
Intertype Corporation
Summary
This is a grapnel rocket launch kit for use with World War II vintage U.S. Navy rockets for throwing lines. The kit was developed by the American inventor Wadsworth W. Mount for the purpose of throwing life lines for rescue work at sea, or from ship to shore as life saving rockets. They were also to be used to climb cliffs and for breaching beach defenses. Standard U.S. Navy 1.25-in.and 3.25-in. rockets provided propulsion.
Successful tests of these rockets were conducted from 1944 to 1946 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and elsewhere. However, Mount's rockets were not adopted by the Coast Guard or other services, although they were allegedly adapted for testing soil samples during post-war Atomic bomb tests. Mount donated the kit to the Smithsonian by in 1976.
Credit Line
Gift of Wadsworth W. Mount
Inventory Number
A19770988000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets
Materials
Steel
Wood
Paint
Natural Fiber Rope
Unknown Plating
Copper Alloy
Paper
Adhesive
Ink
Graphite
Natural Thread
Dimensions
Storage (Rehoused on an aluminum pallet): 121.9 × 121.9 × 90.2cm, 165.6kg (48 × 48 × 35 1/2 in., 365lb.)
3-D (round wooden case): 26.4 × 54cm (10 3/8 × 21 1/4 in.)
3-D (cylindrical wooden case): 95.6 × 28.3cm (37 5/8 × 11 1/8 in.)
Approximate (circular reel): 22.9 × 49.5cm (9 × 19 1/2 in.)
3-D (cylindrical reel): 84.8 × 26.7cm (33 3/8 × 10 1/2 in.)
3-D (motor): 84.5 × 20.6 × 28.9cm (33 1/4 × 8 1/8 × 11 3/8 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19770988000