Bureau of Standards AUM-N-4 Diver

The Diver was part of the Kingfisher family of guided anti-ship/anti-submarine weapons, which was developed under the prime contract of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Originally proposed as Kingfisher D in 1946, it was redesignated in September 1947 as AUM-4 (AUM-N-4 from early 1948) Diver.

The AUM-N-4 was to use a rocket-powered 450 kg (1000 lb) homing torpedo with a motor which could be fired both in the air and the water. I have no information about the planned guidance system, but presumably some sort of radar guidance would have been used, similar to other members of the Kingfisher series like the AUM-N-2 Petrel (Kingfisher C) and AUM-N-6 Puffin (Kingfisher F). However, the development of the rocket torpedo failed and this also meant the end for the Diver guided missile (at some time before 1950). No XAUM-N-4 prototypes were built.

Specifications

I have no information about the physical characteristics of the planned AUM-N-4 missile.

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

Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1

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Last Updated: 6 January 2003