Brakemine facts for kids

Brakemine was an early surface-to-air missile (SAM) project. It was developed in the United Kingdom during World War II. Brakemine used a special guidance system called "beam riding." This system was created by a company called A.C. Cossor. The test missiles were built by the REME.

Testing of Brakemine missiles happened between 1944 and 1945. The project slowed down when the war ended. Even though Brakemine was never used in battle, its unique "twist-and-steer" guidance method was very important. This method was later used in a more advanced missile called LOPGAP. LOPGAP eventually became the Bristol Bloodhound missile. Today, one Brakemine missile is kept at the REME Museum.

How Brakemine Started

Brakemine began because two people had similar ideas about missile guidance. In 1942, Captain Sedgfield of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) wrote about a "beam riding" guidance system. Then, in 1943, Leslie Herbert Bedford, who worked at A.C. Cossor, thought of the same idea on a train ride.

Because of these similar ideas, a meeting was held. Important military leaders attended, including General Frederick Alfred Pile. They decided that Cossor would work on the guidance system. Major Sedgfield would develop the rockets at the AA Command's workshops. Work on Brakemine started in February 1944.

How the Missile Worked

The Brakemine missile looked like a simple cylinder. It had a pointed nose and small, oval-shaped wings near its middle. It also had four small fins at the back. The missile was powered by eight solid rockets. These rockets came from another anti-aircraft rocket called the Unrotated Projectile. Later versions used six rockets.

The missile was controlled using a special method called "twist-and-steer." The two main wings could pivot (rotate) where they connected to the missile body. To turn the missile, the wings would first rotate in opposite directions. This made the missile roll. Once the wings were in the right position, they would rotate in the same direction. This created lift to change the missile's path.

Testing the Missile

A special launcher was built at Walton-on-the-Naze. It used parts from a QF 3.7 inch AA gun. Test firings began in September 1944. This was the first time a British-designed anti-aircraft missile was launched.

Many early tests failed. But since the missiles fell into the ocean, they could be found and studied. This helped engineers fix problems. As the missile's design improved, the failure rate dropped. Later tests included the guidance system, though it wasn't always turned on. Twenty of these early missiles were built and flown. The last ten had the guidance system installed.

An improved missile body was later introduced. Then, tests of the fully working system began. A radar system called "Blue Cedar" provided guidance. This radar later became known as "Radar, Anti-Aircraft No. 3 Mk. 7" after the war. A proximity fuse was ready, but a warhead (the explosive part) was never tested. When the war in Europe ended, the Army lost interest in the project. At that time, Brakemine was the most developed missile system in Britain.

What Happened Next

The Ministry of Supply (MoS) took over the project. They also took over another missile project called Stooge. The MoS moved Brakemine to their rocket testing site at RAF Aberporth in Wales. However, no more Brakemine missiles were launched there. The Stooge project also ended. Both projects were stopped to focus on a much more powerful missile called the English Electric Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was very different from Brakemine.

However, Brakemine did have a lasting impact. The MoS wanted a missile that could fly much higher, up to 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). They chose Brakemine's "twist-and-steer" system for this new, improved design called LOPGAP. Over time, these early ideas led to the Bristol Bloodhound missile for the Royal Air Force.

What Brakemine Looked Like

The Brakemine missile at the REME Museum is about 8 feet long and 2 feet wide. It has two wide, oval-shaped wings on its sides, just below the middle. Much smaller, rectangular fins are at the very back. The launcher had two rails on top of a frame. The missile sat between these rails. The rockets were wrapped around the missile body and fell off after launch.

One problem with the guidance system was not solved during Brakemine's development. It needed to know which way was "up" when it launched. If the missile rolled during its first flight before the guidance system turned on, it wouldn't know the correct "up" direction. This meant the system trying to keep the missile in the radar beam would send wrong corrections, pushing the missile further away.

Where to See One

A single Brakemine missile is kept at the REME Museum of Technology.