Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

HVAR

Missile · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American air-to-air rocket. High-Velocity Air Rocket. An unguided fighter weapon, it was later adapted for use by NACA in the early 1950's to boost subscale aerodynamic models to supersonic speed.

HVAR began with service frustration with original 5-inch version of the FFAR. Development of a larger rocket motor, still using the same 5 inch diameter, resulted in a rocket with a velocity 1530 km-h (950 mph) while delivering a warhead of the same size. First tests began in December 1943. Dubbed Holy Moses, the rocket became operational in July 1944 and was used by both the US Army Air Force and Navy. The GP round was fitted with tail and nose fuses, the armor-piercing round with a nose fuse. After the war versions with shaped-charge anti-tank warheads and proximity fuses were developed. More than one million HVARs were built by the time production ended in 1955.

0 kg (5.20 lb). Maximum range: 1.50 km (0.90 mi). Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Maximum speed: 1,610 kph (1,000 mph).

Historical Essay on the Military Version - © Andreas Parsch

The 5-inch FFAR suffered from insufficient speed because of its small motor. Therefore the development of a larger rocket motor with 5-inch diameter was begun, and the first test firings occurred in December 1943. When fitted with the warhead of the 5-inch FFAR, the rocket achieved a velocity of 1530 km-h (950 mph), making it a very powerful weapon for its time. It was officially designated as 5-Inch HVAR (High-Velocity Aircraft Rocket), but often called Holy Moses. It became operational in July 1944, and was used by Army Air Force and Navy aircraft.

During World War II, two versions of Holy Moses were built, one general-purpose with base and nose fuzes, and one with a semi-armour-piercing warhead and a nose fuze only. Postwar developments added a shaped-charge anti-tank warhead, and a new general purpose type with a proximity fuze. More than one million Holy Moses HVARs were built until production ended in 1955.

Subtopics

  • HVAR FFAR American test vehicle. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x HVAR + 1 x Mk7

Related

Country
USA
Propellants
Solid
Agency
NASA
Bibliography
2

Chronology

44 events

1945 October 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1945 October 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-3 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1945 October 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1945 October 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-4 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1945 October 14

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-5 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1945 October 14

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • R-6 - . Nation: USA. Agency: JPL. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1947 April 24

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • RM-10 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1947 May 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • FR-2 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1948 June 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • Rascal Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1948 July 8

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • Rascal Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1948 September 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • Rascal Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1948 October 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • E14 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1949 January 11

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D13 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1949 May 12

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • F25 Drag Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 May 18

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • E2 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 July 18

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • F25 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 August 24

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D28 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 September 15

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D27 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 October 2

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. FAILURE: Failure.
  • D35 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 October 10

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • F25 Drag Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 November 9

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • F25 Drag Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 December 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Rascal Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1950 December 19

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D35 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1951 March 1

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR. FAILURE: Failure.
  • F25 Drag Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1951 July 9

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D27 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1951 July 27

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Hermes A3A model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1951 August 22

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D32 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1951 September 12

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • E2 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1952 May 16

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D18 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1952 June 3

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • F12 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1952 September 5

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Rascal Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1952 October 3

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • E39 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

1952 October 3

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • E39 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

1952 November 14

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.
  • E31 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1952 November 24

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D32 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1953

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D32 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1953 October 7

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D18 F8U-1 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 November 3

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D37 model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1954?

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • E14 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1954 January 21

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Turbojet study test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1954 March 2

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D18 F8U-1 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 September 29

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Nation: USA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1954 September 29

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • Nation: USA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1957 February 15

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D27 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).