LBD Gargoyle

The McDonnell LBD-1 Gargoyle (later KBD-1) was an American air-to-surface missile developed during World War II. It was one of the precursors of modern anti-ship missiles.

Following German success with the Hs-293 and Fritz-X, the U.S. began work on a series of similar weapons, based on its own success with the Azon guided ordnance. These included Bat, Felix, GB-8, and Gargoyle.

Gargoyle had a 1000 lb warhead (M65 general purpose or M59 semi–armor piercing), intended to be launched from carrier-borne aircraft in conditions of good visibility, against maneuvering targets. Launched from 15000 ft, it had a range of almost 5 - 7 nmi, and could be controlled at up to 28 nmi.

A launch speed of at least 200 mph was necessary, so its low wings would not stall; a 1000 lbf static thrust 8AS1000 jet-assisted takeoff (JATO) bottle in the tail boosted it to a maximum speed of 600 mph.

Operated by radio command guidance, Gargoyle was tracked visually by means of flares in the tail, much as Fritz-X was; this limited its maximum range to how far the flares could be seen. Gargoyle was capable of sustaining a 4 g0 turn, for a turning circle of 2550 ft.

Production by McDonnell Aircraft began in 1944 and the missile was tested from March to July 1945, but the war ended before it entered operational service. Testing continued, however, until it was cancelled in 1947.