GWS20/22 SeaCat
| In service | : 1962 | Range | : 3NM | Maximum speed | : Mach 0.9 |
| Body dimensions | : 1.48m x 0.19m | Wing span | : 65cm | Launch weight | : 68kg |
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Sea Cat was designed by Shorts to deal with the problem of fast aircraft at close range as the
weapons and targetting systems of WW2 were not up to the job. It was also required to be small
and lightweight, to be fitted on small frigates. Originally the missile was guided visually,
with human aimers using binocular sights and a joystick to command the missile. Later
versions added radar homing and TV guidance gave a limited capability against surface targets.
The missile carried a combined impact/proximity fuse and a solid fuel motor. Sea Cat is mounted on a 4 round trainable launcher. Reloading is by hand, carrying missiles by trolley from the magazine. The missile proved accurate, reliable and cheap, and 7 other countries have used it although it has been replaced in Royal Navy service by the Sea Dart and Sea Wolf. |
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Quad SeaCat launcher with visual director | ||||
GWS30 SeaDart
| In service | : 1973 | Range | : 25NM | Maximum speed | : Mach 3.5 |
| Body dimensions | : 4.36m x 0.31m | Wing span | : 91cm | Launch weight | : 550kg |
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SeaDart was designed by British Aerospace as a lightweight, easy to handle replacement for
he Sea Slug. Trials started in 1965, and the first orders placed in 1967. The missile first
entered service on the Type 81 destroyer Bristol. It was later fitted to the Type 42 destroyers
and the Invincible class carriers.
The warhead combines proximity and impact fuzing and weights 21.7kg. The missile is propelled by a solid fuel launch booster which propells the missile to Mach 2, when a ramjet sustainer takes over. In the Falklands conflict, Sea Dart accounted for 7 kills, and in the Gulf War, the missile shot own an Iraqi missile heading for an American cruiser. Perhaps ironically, the only export customer were the Argentinians, who ordered 100 missiles in 1986. Sea Dart is mounted on a twin arm launcher, which features automatic reloading from below due to the weight of the missiles. The Sea Dart is being removed from Royal Navy service. Bristol has been decommissioned, and the Invincibles have been refitted with Sea Wolf. |
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Sea Dart practice rounds | ||||
GWS25 SeaWolf
| In service | : 1979 | Range | : 3NM | Maximum speed | : Mach 2+ |
| Body dimensions | : 1.90m x 0.18m | Wing span | : 56cm | Launch weight | : 82kg |
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Sea Wolf was designed by BAC as an entirely automatic missile system to reduce the chance of
human error, and to decrease reaction time. The system also had to be highly reliable. The
missile is propelled by a Bristol Aerojet Blackcap soolid fuel motor.
The requirement was issued in 1964, and work began as project Confessor. In 1967, BAC was given the contract for the missile, and Vickers were to build the launcher. Firing trials took place between 1970 and 1976 in Aberporth, Wales, and Woomera, Australia. Trials of the guidance ystem took place in 1976 on the Leander class frigate Penelope, and shipboard missile trials took place the next year. On various trials, the missile intercepted both practice and telemetry missiles, aircraft, and even a 4.5" shell. Sea Wolf first became operational on the Type 22 frigates, and was retrofitted to the Leanders. Targets are detected with the Type 968 S band set, and the Type 967 L band pulse doppler set. They re tracked with a Type 910 pulse doppler set with monopulse capability for all weather capability against small targets. After launch, the Type 910 acqires the missile and uses 2 small aerials mounted next to the 910 to pass commands to the missile. The missile can also be guided by a TV camera mounted with the Type 910, but this would normally only be used for low flying targets. TV guidance also allows surface targets to be attacked if necessary. GWS25 is placed in single cannisters on a trainable mount with a total of 6 cannisters. Reloading is by hand using trolleys to move the missiles from the magazines. |
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Six round Sea Wolf launcher Sea Wolf missile Sea Wolf missile launched from a Type 22 frigate |
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GWS26 SeaWolf VLS
| In service | : 1990 | Range | : 4NM | Maximum speed | : Mach 2+ |
| Body dimensions | : 3.30m x 0.18m | Wing span | : 56cm | Launch weight | : 140kg |
| In 1968, an experimental vertical launch Sea Wolf was demonstrated, but it was not until 1990 that SeaWolf VLS became operational. It is essentially a standard GWS25 missile with a boost rocket allowing thrust vectoring, which enables the missile to be manouvered as soon as it leaves the silo. So far, GWS26 is fitted to the Type 23 frigates. GWS26 is mounted in single cannisters in a block on the ships foredeck. Reloading is done by hand from below. | |||||
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