A Matra Type 155 SNEB rocket launcher pod with two red-tipped 68mm dummy rockets. The SNEB rocket () is an unguided air-to-ground rocket projectile (RP) manufactured by the French company TDA Armements, designed for launch by combat aircraft and helicopters. It is also known as the SNEB rocket pod, and sometimes as the Matra rocket, due to it commonly being carried in pod-like launchers built by Matra. Two other rockets were developed in the and caliber.
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The SNEB appears to have been fit operationally only once, when it was mounted on some British Army Aérospatiale Gazelles during the Falklands War in 1982, but it appears none were actually fired. The SNEB was also cleared for carriage by many other aircraft used in the conflict, but due to the possibility that shipboard radars might fire the electrical ignitors, most used an older Royal Navy 2-inch rocket design instead.
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The 37mm caliber was one of the earliest folding fin free flight rockets developed after World War II; it was developed mainly for air-to-air engagements and is no longer in service. The 100mm caliber variant is in service with the French Air Force and a few other air forces. Besides France, several other nations produce the SNEB 68mm rocket under license. In France today, SNEB has been reorganized into the firm of Thomson-Brandt.
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The trigger was mounted on a spring that extended after launch to ensure the bomb fired at the right range from the armor. The weapon reached its initial in-service version with the No. 1 Mk. 4 design of 1973, with carriage on the Hawker Harrier GR.3, SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1 and Blackburn Buccaneer S.2. Some indication of its effectiveness compared to the SNEB is that calculations suggested 9 aircraft each dropping two BL755s would have the same effect as 20 aircraft firing 36 SNEB each.
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These rockets were fired from a streamlined pod rather than individual rails, which greatly reduced drag and dramatically increased the number of rockets that could be carried. While a Hunter might carry eight RP-3s, it typically carried two 18-rocket pods for a total of 36 SNEBs. The SNEB was also more accurate; the RP-3 had an average dispersion around 2.3 degrees, while the larger snap-out fins of the SNEB reduced this to just over 1 degree. However, the smaller rocket motor did result in slightly lower velocity and longer flight times, although the effective range was slightly longer.
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The Systeme de Roquette A Corrections de Trajectoire (SYROCOT) is a program where a laser-guided seeker is incorporated into the design. It is compatible with the existing SNEB system. It is comparable to the US Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System project.
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In the early 1970s the Ministry of Defense was startled by reports of the effectiveness of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka which first entered service in 1965 and had replaced all earlier systems in Soviet use by the early 1970s. Using older weapons like the 1000 lb iron bomb or the SNEB against tanks required the aircraft to fly low and then "pop up" during the final approach to about altitude and then fly directly at the target. In the case of the SNEB this required a dive at around 10 degrees and firing at a range of about . This was right within the engagement envelope of the Shilka.
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These hardpoints could be fitted with pylons for air-to-ground weaponry, including two bombs or four SNEB rocket pods each carrying 18 68 mm rockets. A gun pack carrying two ADEN cannons and 120 rounds each could replace the forward part of the ventral fuel tank.
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The Matra JL-100 is a special hybrid drop tank and rocket pack; it combines a rocket launcher in front with 19 SNEB rockets and of fuel behind into one single aerodynamically-shaped pod for mounting on combat aircraft such as the Dassault Mirage IIIs and English Electric Lightnings.
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Powered by Turbomeca Makila engines. ; SA.330SM : Lebanese converted gunship version by mounting on hardened side-swivel mounts a single ADEN Mk 4/5 30mm revolver cannon on a modified pod and a pair of SNEB 68mm rocket launchers on each side . ; SA.330Z : Prototype with "fenestron" tail rotor.Lake 2001, p.
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The Sioux was replaced from 1973 by the Westland Gazelle used for Airborne reconnaissance; initially unarmed, they were converted to carry 68mm SNEB rocket pods in 1982, during the Falklands War. The Scout was replaced from 1978 by the Westland Lynx, which was capable of carrying additional firepower in the form of door gunners.
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"RAF Phantom shoots down RAF Jaguar". Flight International, 26 June 1982, p. 1653. In the strike role the FGR.2s could carry the SNEB rocket pod, 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb, the BL755 Cluster Bomb Unit, and U.S.-supplied B28, B43, B57 or B61 nuclear weapons. It could also be fitted with SUU-16/A and SUU-23/A gun pods.
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During the Falklands War, the Gazelle played a valuable role operating from the flight decks of Royal Navy ships. Under a rapidly performed crash programme specifically for the Falklands conflict, Gazelles were fitted with 68mm SNEB rocket pods and various other optional equipment such as armour plating, flotation gear and folding blade mechanisms.Battle for the Falklands (3): Air Forces. Osprey Publishing, 1982. . p. 14.
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The gunner had to jump with his machine-gun strapped to his side and carrying 400 rounds. The Reims-Cessna FTB 337G 'Lynx' was the main light attack aircraft used on Fireforce missions. The Lynxs were armed with twin Browning .303 machine guns mounted above the wing and 37mm SNEB rockets, locally made Mini "Alpha" Bombs (cluster bomb), Mini "Golf" Bombs (450 lb blast and shrapnel bomb) and Frantans (frangible napalm drop tank) .
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Unusually, the barrels of the cannon remained in the aircraft while the pack was removed and changed.Mason 1991, p. 375. In the two-seat version, either a single 30 mm ADEN cannon was carried or, in some export versions, two, with a removable ammunition tank. Later versions of the Hunter were fitted with SNEB Pods; these were rocket projectiles in 18-round Matra pods, providing an effective strike capability against ground targets.
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This was first flown on 28 April 1970. ;SA 341.1001 :First French production machine. Initial test flight 6 August 1971. Featured a longer cabin, an enlarged tail unit and an uprated Turbomeca Astazou IIIA engine. ;SA 341B (Westland Gazelle AH.1) :Version built for the British Army; Featured the Astazou IIIN2 engine, capable of operating a nightsun searchlight, later fitted with radio location via ARC 340 radio and modified to fire 68mm SNEB rockets.
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The General Nursing was discontinued in 1964 and the entire focus was shifted to midwifery training. It was among the first midwifery schools recognized by the Central Board of Midwives of U.K. Since 1994 the School of midwifery has maintained approx. 98% success rate in the qualifying Examination Board (SNEB).In 1994 one student has obtained First Position with honors in the whole province of Sindh as well as all across Pakistan.
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For overland attack, the SAAF Buccaneers carried up to four bombs in the rotary bomb bay, and four bombs, flares, or SNEB rocket packs on the underwing stores pylons. During the 1990s, it was revealed that South Africa had manufactured six air-deliverable tactical nuclear weapons between 1978 and 1993. These nuclear weapons, containing highly enriched uranium, with an estimated explosion yield of 10-18 kilotons, were designed for delivery by either the Buccaneer or the Canberra bomber.
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This served as the successor to the FAW.1 and included many improvements. As well as Firestreak missiles, it could carry the Red Top air-to-air missile, four SNEB rocket pods, and the AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-ground missile. Its enlarged tail boom allowed for additional fuel tanks in the "pinion" extensions above and in front of the wing leading edge, there was an improved escape system and additional room for more electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment.
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303 machine guns of the G-Cars were never indiscriminately fired by the tech. The K-Car Gunners had to be careful, for there was always a shortage of 20mm rounds (they cost around $25 each) and there were many times when friendly troops were only meters away from the target. Tracers, smoke or phosphorus grenade, or miniflare (pencil flare) were used as the "Fireball" to mark a target for strike aircraft. A 37mm SNEB shoulder-launched marker rocket was locally developed and used by the Selous Scouts to identify an enemy position.
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Argentine sources acknowledge that a Pucará and an Aermacchi were damaged. One of the GR3s was also hit either by debris, according to the British version, or by antiaircraft fire, according to Argentine sources. On May 25, the group suffered its first fatality Private Ricardo Mario Gurrieri when a soldier was killed by the blast of an unexploded cluster bomblet. On May 30 a pair of GR3 was initially tasked to attack, with SNEB rockets, entrenched troops on Mount Wall, west of Stanley, one of the first strikes against the defensive ring around the Falklands capital.
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Su-20 aircraft with UB-32 rocket pods, each carrying thirty two S-5 rockets A rocket pod is a launcher that contains several unguided rockets held in individual tubes, designed to be used by attack aircraft or attack helicopters for close air support. In many cases, rocket pods are streamlined to reduce aerodynamic drag. The first pods were developed immediately after World War II, as an improvement over the previous arrangement of firing rockets from rails, racks or tubes fixed under the wings of aircraft. Early examples of pod-launched rockets were the US Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket and the French SNEB.
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As part of the international Convention on Cluster Munitions carried out in Oslo in 2007, the RAF agreed to remove the BL755 from service. Its replacement was the CRV7, another rocket developed from the FFAR, but one with a new solid-propellant rocket of dramatically improved performance. Whereas the RP-3 and SNEB had an effective firing range on the order of 1,500 yards, the CRV7 is effective to about and flies at about three times the speed of these earlier weapons. This allows the launching aircraft to fire whilst still outside the range of weapons like the Shilka.
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At Mapai, the column defeated a numerically-superior and well-prepared FRELIMO–ZANLA force at the airstrip outside the town before resting for the night. Trooper C. J. Edmunds, who was killed during this action, was one of two Rhodesian fatalities during Operation Aztec. Rich's men were now able to call air support, which arrived minutes later in the form of Hawker Hunters, "our saviours", says Swan; the planes showered the guerrillas with SNEB rockets and 40 mm cannon fire, causing them to retreat back to Jorge do Limpopo. At Mapai, an RhAF Dakota was hit by an RPG-7 rocket while taking off at 20:00 on 30 May, killing its co- pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bruce Collocott.
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The fuel pumps for the rocket motor were driven by the jet engine, thus the latter had to be kept running for the former to be ignited or to continue to power the aircraft.Pelt 2012, p. 164. In comparison to other French mixed-power experimental aircraft, such as the competing SNCASO Trident prototype interceptor, it was a heavier aircraft, intended to fly primarily on its jet engine rather than its rocket motor.Pelt 2012, pp. 163-164. Its armament was to consist of a single AA.20 air-to-air missile, which was to be carried underneath the fuselage's centreline; an alternative armament configuration involved a pair of 30 mm DEFA cannon or 24 68mm SNEB rockets.
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For many years the standard RAF anti-armor weapon was the RP-3, the World War II- era air-to-ground rocket made famous by the Hawker Typhoons of the Second Tactical Air Force. These were still being widely used in the 1960s, especially during the battles between Yemen and Radforce in what was then the Aden Protectorate where Hawker Hunters fired a total of 2,508 RP-3 over 642 sorties. With the British withdrawal in November 1967, the Hunters moved to Bahrain and the RP-3 retired after decades of service. The RP-3 was replaced by the Matra-produced SNEB, a version of the seminal post-war rocket design, the US Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR).
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Nobody inside was killed by these rockets, but when Dyck's dog was wounded, the major flew into a rage and ordered his men to pour more aggressive machine gun fire on the advancing ZIPRA combatants. He requested air support from Brigade HQ in the form of a Lynx light bomber. The air force turned down the request, but Flight Lieutenant Colin James took off anyway in his Lynx armed with an FN MAG machine gun and SNEB rockets. The ZIPRA cadres concentrated a huge amount of fire on James' aircraft, and hit it several times, but failed to shoot it down; the pilot put in a number of ground attacks before returning to base.
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Trooper C. J. Edmunds, who was killed during this action, was one of two Rhodesian fatalities during Operation Aztec. Rich's men were now able to call air support, which arrived minutes later in the form of Hawker Hunters, "our saviours", says Swan; the planes showered the guerrillas with SNEB rockets and 40 mm cannon fire, causing them to retreat back to Jorge do Limpopo. At Mapai, an RhAF Dakota was hit by an RPG-7 rocket while taking off at 20:00 on 30 May, killing its co-pilot, Flight Lieutenant Bruce Collocott. The next morning, on 31 May, the Rhodesians at Mapai blew up the damaged Dakota to avoid its discovery by the United Nations, which had warned Rhodesia to keep its troops out of Mozambique.
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Lake 1997, p. 59. Kuwait Air Force Lightning F.53 in 1969 with both underwing and overwing SNEB pods Saudi Arabia officially received F.53 Lightnings in December 1967, although they were kept at Warton while trials and development continued and the first Saudi Lightnings to leave Warton were four T.55s delivered in early 1968 to the Royal Air Force 226 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Coltishall, the four T.55s were used to train Saudi aircrew for the next 18 months.Ransom and Fairclough 1987, p. 258. The new-build Lightnings were delivered under Operation "Magic Palm" between July 1968 and August 1969. Two Lightnings, a F.53 and a T.55 were destroyed in accidents prior to delivery, and were replaced by two additional aircraft, the last of which was delivered in June 1972.
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The Mirage IIIs, with their 30 mm cannons, destroyed 10 BTR-152s before running low on fuel and returning to Ondangwa air force base. The Mirages' cannons were unable to destroy any tanks, but the sole Buccaneer destroyed at least two tanks, an anti-aircraft position and a number of other vehicles with its 68 mm SNEB air- to-ground rockets. The rockets had been omitted from the original Operation Order, but the Buccaneer Squadron Commander had fortuitously chosen to include them in the ordnance that was ferried to the Grootfontein forward air force base by C-130 Hercules, with his ground crews and maintenance spares. The Buccaneer pilot was being fired on continually by a towed 14.5 mm anti- aircraft gun, at which he had to make two passes before he was able to destroy it with rockets.
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He imported five small civilian single engine MFI-9 planes produced by Malmö Flygindustri, at that time owned by SAAB, which he knew could also be used for a ground attack role in warfare. He had the planes painted in camouflage colours and fitted with license manufactured 68 mm SNEB type rockets, and proceeded with a crew of two Swedes and two Biafrans to form a squadron called 'Biafra Babies' to strike the air fields from which the federal Nigerian Air Force launched their attacks against the civilian population in Biafra. On 22 May 1969, and over the next few days, von Rosen and his five aircraft launched attacks against Nigerian air fields at Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin and other small airports. The Nigerians were taken by surprise and a number of expensive jets, including a few MiG-17 fighters and three out of Nigeria's six Ilyushin Il-28 bombers, were destroyed on the ground.
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The Hunters were finally grounded in 1994 after a minor accident with one of the T.66 trainers during landing and the remaining 8 were stored in Rayak. The last loss took place in 1989 near Batroun during routine training, when the undercarriage failed to lower, causing the jet to crash. The pilot ejected safely from the doomed aircraft and landed in the Mediterranean sea, where he was promptly rescued by the Syrian Army, which then handed him over to Suleiman Frangieh, who in turn handed him over to the Lebanese Army at the al-Madfoun crossing. During operations in the Nahr el-Bared camp in North Lebanon, lacking any airworthy, fixed-wing strike aircraft, the Lebanese Army modified several UH-1H Huey helicopters to permit the carrying of 500 pound Mark 82 and 1000 pound Mark 83 bombs (all unguided iron bombs, also known as dumb bombs) as well as Matra SNEB 68 mm rocket pods (taken from stored Hawker Hunters).
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Flight International 5 September 1968, pp. 372–373. Alternative, interchangeable packs in the forward fuselage carried two Firestreak missiles, two Red Top missiles, twin retractable launchers for 44× rockets, or a reconnaissance pod fitted with five 70 mm Type 360 Vinten cameras.Flight International 5 September 1968, p. 373. BAC also proposed clearing the overwing hardpoints for carriage of weapons as well as drop tanks, with additional Matra JL-100 combined rocket and fuel pods (each containing 18 SNEB rockets and of fuel) or bombs being possible options. This could give a maximum ground attack weapons load for a developed export Lightning of six bombs or 44 × rockets and 144 × 68 mm rockets.Gunston and Spick 1983, p. 67.Flight International 5 September 1968, pp. 372–373, 376. The Lightning T.55 was the export two-seat variant; unlike the RAF two-seaters, the T.55 was equipped for combat duties. The T.55 had a very similar fuselage to the T.5, while also using the wing and large ventral tank of the F.6.
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