Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles
Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles
Ram
Copyright © 2004 Andreas Parsch

NOTS Ram

After the start of the Korean War in 1950, the U.S. Navy had no suitable aircraft rocket for use against large tanks. The NOTS (Naval Ordnance Test Station) at China Lake thus developed a new 6.5 inch diameter shaped-charge anti-armour warhead for use with the existing Holy Moses 5-Inch HVAR (High Velocity Aircraft Rocket) in the record time of only 23 days. The result was the 6.5-Inch ATAR (Anti-Tank Aircraft Rocket), nicknamed Ram.

Photos: U.S. Navy (via G. Verver collection)
Ram


The Ram was used with some success in Korea, but was withdrawn from service immediately after the end of the war. It was probably replaced by the anti-tank version of the Holy Moses.

Specifications

No details of the physical characteristics of the Ram are available. However, dimensions and general performance were presumably similar to the Holy Moses 5-Inch HVAR.

Main Sources

[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


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Last Updated: 22 June 2004