During the Second World War, the British Corps of Royal Engineers acquired new means of dealing with enemy mines - the Conger device. This device cleared the area with the explosion of a special elongated charge stacked with a solid-propellant rocket. It had a number of serious shortcomings, and therefore was not exploited too actively. However, in the post-war period, the existing ideas were developed, as a result of which a new installation called the Giant Viper appeared.
In the early fifties, the British command again began to study the topic of engineering vehicles suitable for the rapid clearance of large areas. The analysis showed that the best performance ratio should be shown by a system using a flexible elongated charge - a sleeve with an explosive. With the help of the simplest solid-propellant rocket, it could be laid on a minefield and then detonated. This principle was already used in the Konger project, but then the sappers faced the most serious problems.
Installing the Giant Vyper at a firing position. Photo Thinkdefence.co.uk
The wartime reactive mine clearance system had two main drawbacks, which, moreover, complemented each other. Firstly, the used chassis of the armored personnel carrier had only bulletproof protection and did not provide high survivability. The second problem was the use of a liquid explosive mixture based on nitroglycerin, which could explode even on impact. So, one of the Conger device installations was destroyed during refueling due to an unexpected detonation of the mixture. The unexpected explosion killed several dozen people and damaged a lot of equipment.
The reasons for using liquid explosives were simple enough. While working in a minefield, the installation had to lay a light and long fabric sleeve, which was then filled with an explosive mixture. This way of working reduced the requirements for the towing rocket. At the same time, it was necessary to use an unstable explosive composition, which led to serious risks for the calculation.
Based on the experience, the command has drawn up requirements for a new model of the engineering system. It demanded the development of a towed demining installation with a rocket principle of laying a completely new elongated charge. The latter should have been performed on the basis of explosives resistant to detonation, which, however, should have led to an increase in its mass. It was proposed to compensate for the large weight of the charge with the help of a more powerful towing rocket.
The new project received a rather cumbersome official designation - Giant Viper Antitank Mine Clearing Line Charge - "Extended charge for neutralizing anti-tank mines" Giant viper ". In addition, various modifications of the system had indices from L3A1 to L7A1. However, for greater convenience, the mine clearance facility is almost always called "by name", and the full designation is found only in documents.
In accordance with the customer's requirements, a simple technical appearance of the future installation was formed, which, however, made it possible to solve all the main tasks. They decided to make the "giant viper" in the form of a towed wheeled trailer with a set of necessary devices. It was assumed that this system will work together with tanks and other armored vehicles of the engineering troops. They were supposed to bring the installation to the required position, and also be responsible for evacuating it after firing.
The Giant Viper was based on a conventional single-axle car trailer. It was built on the basis of a rectangular platform of sufficient size, under which there was a single wheel axle with a dependent leaf spring suspension. Also, under the platform, it was planned to install a pair of additional supports, thanks to which it could stand level and without a tractor.
The Centurion AVRE engineering tank tows the Giant Vyper. Photo Weaponsandwarfare.com
During the development of the original design, various components were replaced, including the base trailer. So, in the L6A1 modification, the installation was based on a two-axle trailer. To increase cross-country ability on rough terrain, caterpillar belts could be installed directly on the wheels. At the same time, regardless of the type and design of the trailer, the composition of other devices remained the same.
The special equipment of the trailer was extremely simple. Most of it was occupied by a metal or wooden box for transporting ammunition in the form of an elongated charge. It is curious that instead of a special box for the "ammunition", which is part of the installation, a standard elongated charge capping was used. When preparing the complex, it was installed on the landing gear and the cover was removed. This simplified both the design of the installation and its operation. After being mounted on a trailer, the capper was open at the top. During transportation and storage, it should be covered with a tarpaulin awning.
According to some reports, experiments were carried out in which special boxes made of armored steel were used to provide protection against bullets and shrapnel. Nevertheless, if such products existed, then not in large quantities and could hardly compete in this respect with unprotected closures.
Behind the box was a support with a launcher for a towing rocket. The support was welded from several metal sheets of complex shapes, due to which the installation itself was located at the required distance from the box and at the required height, ensuring free passage of the rocket.
The launcher for the Giant Viper was distinguished by its original design, which was associated with the specific appearance of the rocket for it. The simplest guide rod was placed on the support. Due to simple mechanisms, it could move in a vertical plane: to transfer the installation to the stowed position or to change the firing range. At the junction of the support and the guide, the control devices for starting the rocket engines were placed.
Based on the experience of the short-term operation of the previous demining installation, in the new project it was proposed to use a flexible elongated charge, pre-equipped with an explosive. The standard "weapon" of the Giant Viper product was an elongated charge in the form of a small-diameter fabric sleeve 250 m long. Inside the sleeve were PE-6 / A1 type explosives with a total mass of about 1.5 tons. The shape of the checkers was determined so that the charge retained a certain flexibility, but could explode at the same time. Also, the charge was equipped with a fuse, providing detonation after a specified period of time. Several braking parachutes were attached to the extended charge, which were responsible for its correct packing.
Rocket launch and extended charge. Photo Weaponsandwarfare.com
It was proposed to lay the charge on the field using a special design towing rocket. It included eight solid-fuel engines at once, similar to those used in the previous project. Cylindrical bodies with a diameter of 5 inches (127 mm) were connected to each other using several transverse cage discs with holes around the circumference. In the center of each disc there was a hole for interaction with the guide rod. The rocket was connected to the elongated charge using a cable. The second cable connected the other end of the charge and the launcher.
The Giant Viper rocket launcher was not very large, which could affect its survivability. The total length of the product did not exceed 3 m with a width of about 2 m and a similar height (in transport position). The mass of the trailer with the launcher and "ammunition" is less than a ton. It should be noted that the dimensions and weight of the product in the working position depended, first of all, on the platform-trailer.
The principle of operation of the Giant Viper complex of all modifications was quite simple. Before entering the firing position near the minefield, it was necessary to raise the launcher guide and install a towing rocket on it. The latter was joined by a cable connected to an elongated charge. The charge itself lay in the box in the correct way: it had to leave the installation freely, without twisting or forming loops. The second long cable connected the elongated charge and the launcher.
The installation was brought to the position using any available armored vehicle. It should have been placed in front of the minefield, pointing in the right direction. At the command of the operator, the engines of the towing vehicle were ignited, after which it rose into the air. The thrust of eight engines was enough for acceleration and subsequent extraction of the extended charge from the box. A flying rocket and a set of braking parachutes straightened the sleeve with explosives right in the air, after which it had to fall to the ground. The second cable, connected to the launcher, limited the range of the charge. Next, an explosion occurred, designed to damage the mines in the ground or provoke their detonation.
During the tests, it was possible to determine the real characteristics of the demining installation. Overall, they were in line with expectations. The new towing vehicle could send a 250-meter extended charge over a considerable distance from the installation. With the help of a cable, the range of its flight was limited to 200 meters (at the near end). Due to possible bends of the charge when falling on the ground, the guaranteed length of the cleared passage was only 200 m. The width of the clearance zone reached 6 m. This was more than enough for free passage for people and equipment. The detonation power was sufficient to effectively destroy anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.
However, there were also problems. First of all, certain restrictions were imposed by the use of a non-self-propelled chassis. The installation needed a tractor. In addition, the protection of the installation itself and the explosives on it left much to be desired. Any hit from a projectile or even a bullet could provoke the detonation of a powerful elongated charge. This imposed certain restrictions on the operation of the "Viper" and the choice of a firing position.
"Viper" on trials in the United States. The M113 armored personnel carrier is used as a tractor. Photo "Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles"
Nevertheless, the new sample was considered successful. In the mid-fifties, the L3A1 Giant Viper rocket launcher was adopted by the Royal Corps of Engineers. The simplest design made it possible to produce the required number of installations in the shortest possible time and fully equip the engineering troops. By the end of the decade, the Corps had a sufficient number of towed installations and had every opportunity to clear minefields.
In the future, the "Giant Viper" has been repeatedly upgraded. First of all, the revision or even replacement of the base trailer, on which all other units were installed, was carried out. The improvement of the elongated charge and the towing rocket was also carried out. As a result of such updates, the complex retained its basic combat qualities, but at the same time, its operational characteristics increased noticeably.
Most of the time, the Royal Engineers' technicians were at the bases, from time to time going to the proving grounds to participate in training events. For several decades, the British army did not participate in major land conflicts where demining equipment might be needed, which determined the main features of the operation of the Giant Viper.
However, over time, this technique still had to be sent to war. During the 1991 Gulf War, the British Army reportedly used several mine-clearing installations. There have been several applications of elongated charges in minefields set up by Iraqi forces. The following episodes of the use of such weapons relate to the next war in Iraq, which began in 2003. Also "Vipers" were used in Afghanistan.
At the beginning of the last decade, the British command came to the conclusion about the need for a deep modernization of existing demining systems or the creation of completely new models of this kind. A promising demining installation was supposed to have a longer firing range and an increased efficiency of an extended charge. These tasks were successfully completed by the end of the decade, and in 2010 a new Python installation was used for the first time in Afghanistan.
In this decade, the British Army acquired a number of new Python demining units, with the help of which it was possible to gradually replace at least most of the existing Vipers. Not later than in the near future, the latter should finally go out of service, giving way to modern systems.
As part of the Giant Viper project, the designers had to create an effective rocket launcher for mine clearance, devoid of the characteristic shortcomings of its predecessor. This problem was successfully solved, which led to very interesting results. "Giant viper" remained in the ranks for more than half a century and occupied a special niche, having no competitors in it. Several successive upgrades have improved the performance of this system, ensuring that the required potential is maintained. As a result, the need to replace the existing installations has matured only at the beginning of the last decade. All of this can be seen as a sign of success.
