31–40 of 45 posts
So the short story is that the missiles were essentially radio controlled drones, radar measured the location of the target and the missile and from the ground the analog computer flies them together (or close enough that the bang will bring it down)
I used to live near Sandy Hook in NJ. There was a Nike base there, but also several decades of various gun emplacements. They even secretly had nuclear warheads on the Nike Atlas missiles there to take out incoming bombers where the missiles were less accurate. No one in the towns around was told. It’s an interesting historical place to walk around Fort Hancock as you see the batteries (no guns, sadly), and the Nike…
So the short story is that the missiles were essentially radio controlled drones, radar measured the location of the target and the missile and from the ground the analog computer flies them together (or close enough that the bang will bring it down)
And the bang could be nuclear[1], so it didn't have to get that close. [1] What could possibly go wrong?
Not directly related, but brings to mind the training video for the fire control mechanical computers on US Navy ships: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4
It feels a bit strange when you hear naval people from the 40s talking about 'computing a firing solution'. But these systems must have been reasonably sophisticated for 2 moving warships 10+ miles apart to stand any chance of hitting each other, allowing for wind, changes in atmospheric pressure, the earth's curvature, pitching and yawing and coriolis force.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That would definitely be a fun project. I guess you would connect the sensor to a small processor which would drive steerable fins. Not sure RC aircraft give out much heat for a sensor to track though.
If necessary, use a cooperative target with an IR emitter.
At the same time, I'm not sure if working on cheap guidance systems is the best idea at the moment - it could be used by Russias and North Koreas out there.
I used to live near Sandy Hook in NJ. There was a Nike base there, but also several decades of various gun emplacements. They even secretly had nuclear warheads on the Nike Atlas missiles there to take out incoming bombers where the missiles were less accurate. No one in the towns around was told. It’s an interesting historical place to walk around Fort Hancock as you see the batteries (no guns, sadly), and the Nike…
> They even secretly had nuclear warheads on the Nike Atlas missiles there to take out incoming bombers where the missiles were less accurate. I think you mean Nike Ajax, although Ajax missiles adapted for nuclear warheads were actually called Nike Hercules.
I used to live near Sandy Hook in NJ. There was a Nike base there, but also several decades of various gun emplacements. They even secretly had nuclear warheads on the Nike Atlas missiles there to take out incoming bombers where the missiles were less accurate. No one in the towns around was told. It’s an interesting historical place to walk around Fort Hancock as you see the batteries (no guns, sadly), and the Nike…
Have you toured the Battleship NJ? The firing computer is a mechanical analog computer. It's wild to see what can be done with some precision ground gears.
I used to live near Sandy Hook in NJ. There was a Nike base there, but also several decades of various gun emplacements. They even secretly had nuclear warheads on the Nike Atlas missiles there to take out incoming bombers where the missiles were less accurate. No one in the towns around was told. It’s an interesting historical place to walk around Fort Hancock as you see the batteries (no guns, sadly), and the Nike…
I live near it now and can highly recommend a visit. I’m still surprised how many New Yorkers are unaware of this half of the Gateway area and the summer accessibility via the ferry.. though of course it’s plenty popular nonetheless.
Taught my wife and one of the kids to drive down there too. Up at the end are really good, mostly empty roads and parking lots for beginner drivers to practice on.
Very interesting to see this here. I bought the Nike missile control unit years ago from some guy here in the Netherlands and it still sits in my garage. It has cool mechanical gyroscopes and microwave components. I disassembled most of the electronics modules and made a guitar amplifier from some of the pencil tubes. Sounds great and it's kind of cool I think, making a musical instrument out of a weapon.