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<html> <head> <meta HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="../dusrm.css" /> <title>McDonnell RTV-N-2 Gargoyle</title> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table class="app-header"> <tr><td><a href="../index.html">Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="index.html">Appendix 1: Early Missiles and Drones</a></td></tr> <tr><td>RTV-N-2</td></tr> <tr><td>Copyright © 2003 <a href="mailto:aparsch@gmx.net">Andreas Parsch</a></td></tr> </table> <div class="content"> <center> <h1>McDonnell LBD/KSD/KUD/RTV-N-2 Gargoyle</h1> </center> As a response to the German efforts in the field of guided anti-ship glide bombs (Hs 293 and FX-1400), the U.S. Navy issued a requirement in October 1943 for a similar weapon, to be named Gargoyle. The Gargoyle was to be carried by carrier-based aircraft, and be equipped with an armour-piercing warhead in the 450 kg (1000 lb) class. In June 1944, the design had been finalized, and McDonnell was awarded a contract for the production of the first batch of LBD-1 Gargoyle glide bombs for test and evaluation purposes. Its anticipated low-cost and then unique armour-piercing capability saved the Gargoyle program in early Naval missile program reviews. <table class="image-ref-table"> <tr><td><img src="rtv-n-2.jpg"></td></tr> <tr><td>Photo: Boeing</td></tr> <tr><td align="center">RTV-N-2</td></tr> </table> Except for its V-tail, the LBD-1 was of very conventional layout. Although it was essentially a glide bomb, it had an Aerojet solid-propellant rocket booster to achieve a high diving speed. After release from the launching aircraft, Gargoyle was visually tracked using a bright flare in the missile's tail, and corrective commands could be sent via a radio command link. <table class="image-ref-table"> <tr><td><img src="rtv-n-2-1.jpg"></td></tr> <tr><td>Photo: Smithsonian Institution</td></tr> <tr><td align="center">RTV-N-2</td></tr> </table> Glide tests of the LBD-1 began in March 1945, followed by the first powered flights around July that year. In October 1945, the LBD-1 was redesignated as KSD-1 anti-shipping missile, but this was changed in early 1946 to KUD-1, when Gargoyle was downgraded to research vehicle status. The success rate of early Gargoyle flight tests was disappointing, and the first fully successful powered and guided flight of a KUD-1 did not occur before July 1946. When the production of the first 200 Gargoyles was completed in mid-1947, no follow-up orders were placed. The remaining missiles, again redesignated as RTV-2 in September 1947 and RTV-N-2 in early 1948, were subsequently used to test components for other guided missile programs. In December 1950, the RTV-N-2 program was officially terminated and surviving missiles were scrapped. <h2>Specifications</h2> Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate! Data for KSD-1 (RTV-N-2): <table class="specs-table"> <tr><td>Length</td><td>3.08 m (10 ft 1 in1)</td></tr> <tr><td>Wingspan</td><td>2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)</td></tr> <tr><td>Weight</td><td>680 kg (1500 lb)</td></tr> <tr><td>Speed</td><td>965 km/h (600 mph)</td></tr> <tr><td>Range</td><td>8 km (5 miles)</td></tr> <tr><td>Propulsion</td><td>Aerojet 8AS1000 solid-fueled rocket; 4.4 kN (1000 lb) for 8 s</td></tr> <tr><td>Warhead</td><td>450 kg (1000 lb) armour-piercing</td></tr> </table> <h2>Main Sources</h2> [1] Norman Friedman: "US Naval Weapons", Conway Maritime Press, 1983 [2] Frederick I. Ordway III, Ronald C. Wakeford: "International Missile and Spacecraft Guide", McGraw-Hill, 1960 [3] Bill Gunston: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rockets and Missiles", Salamander Books Ltd, 1979 [4] US Navy: "Model Designations of Naval Aircraft", 1947 and 1950 Back to <a href="index.html" style="color:#206060">Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1</a> <hr /> Last Updated: 4 February 2003 </div> </body> </html>