CONTROLLED BY RADAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26026, 14 December 1945, Page 5

CONTROLLED BY RADAR

AN AMERICAN WEAPON MANY ENEMY SHIPS SUNK WASHINGTGON, Dec. 12. The Navy Department disclosed that many tons of Japanese shipping were destroyed in the last stages of tne war by a radar-controlled missile known as the “ Bat.” It is 12 feet long with a 10 foot wingspan, and carries a heavy explosive charge. It travels at aeroplane speed after being launched from patrol bombers. The Chief of Naval Ordnance, RearAdmiral Hussey, said it was the first fully automatically-guided missile used successfully in combat. The plane crews sighted the target and visually headed the “ Bat ” in the right direction, touched a button, and the missile flew to the target even if it were a specific ship in a convoy which changed its direction. The navy revealed that, besides the bat missile, it is now developing a chaser rocket to overtake and render harmless a larger enemy rocket, possibly carrying atomic bombs. The navy did not reveal the details, but it is learned that the chaser is designed with a super-sonic speed to intercept an enemy projectile after a short run and detonate the projectile and itself far from the enemy’s target. The chasers would be launched from jet fighter planes in mid-ocean or from island bases.