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Missile Stuff

Missile Cameras

Cameras played a major role in documenting the experiments and testing carried out the early days of guided weapons development. A suite of specialised cameras were developed in the mid- to late 1950s by various U.S. manufacturers, by Soviet camera makers and by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in the UK.

In Australia, the Weapons Research Establishment (South Australia) designed such cameras as part of the Anglo-Australian Joint Project (1946 to 1980) which focussed on guided weapons and missile development. The research focussed on a missile's behaviour in flight relying on observation and general telemetry data. While the latter would be displayed on an cathode-ray oscilloscope in real time, they needed recording to allow for detailed analysis. Film was a suitable medium to record such transitory analog data. To this end, high-speed cine cameras were developed which capable of 100 frames/second and more. While recorded data would be viewed as segments of motion film many were analysed on a frame-by-frame basis.

In principle, cameras were developed for four different applications: ground-based cameras for observation and the recording of the telemetry, and airborne cameras, either borne by the missile or carried by the target.

Ground based cameras

Missile behaviour

• • Telemetry recording

Recording of moving Oscillograph data occurred principally with the GW 3 camera. Such cameras also existed in the civilian arena (such as the Cossor 1428).

Notes

This is a work in progress.

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GW cameras

Dekko GW 1 Mk 1A image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

During the early period of the Cold War the United Kingdom carried out wide-ranging missile research, partly in collaboration with Australia (under the umbrella of the Anglo-Australian Joint Project, which ran from 1946 to 1980). The testing of the missiles required a range of sophisticated devices to record and document missile behaviour in flight, approaches to targets and also to record telemetry data that were obtained on the ground. In the days prior to digital data collection this occurred analog, with film being the preferred option. All cameras carry the type specification GW for Guided Weapons. While technically most of the cameras where high speed cine cameras (100 frames/second), many of them were used for frame-by-frame analysis:

• GW 1 Target Aircraft Camera (Dekko Ltd, 1954)-- a high-speed 35mm cine camera mounted in the target aircraft to record the missile approach angles (and miss distances).
• GW 2 Target Aircraft Camera (Beck, 1955)-- a high-speed 35mm cine camera mounted in the target aircraft to record the missile approach angles (and miss distances).
• GW 3 Continuous Record Camera (Cinetra Ltd, 1958). The GW3 was a high-speed 35mm cine camera developed to record cathode ray oscillograph images at various speeds.
• GW 9 Missile Camera (Specto Ltd, 1960)—A 16mm high-speed cine camera with interchangeable lenses, carried by missiles in flight.

In Australia a number of similar cameras were built which carried different designations: WRECISS, WREROC and WRETAR.

Beck

• Asymmetrical Lens clean mine!

Beck Sky Camera

British pat n°225 398/1923

Focal length near 1 inch (2.5cm) and image circle is approximately 3 inch (7.5cm)
For circular images 2½ in. dia. on 3¼ x 4¼ in.plates, English, c. 1924, the mahogany box-form body with fixed focus brassbound R&J Beck 180 'fish-eye' ƒ8 lens with three built-in filters, and one block-form double plate holder.
Designed and patented by Robin Hill of the Biochemical Laboratory, Cambridge in 1923, British Pat. No.31931/23, for photographing cloud formations. The distortion produced by the lens was corrected by using the same lens again for projection of the image. It was used by the Meteorological Office for many years. Original price £18/18/0.
Literature: R. Hill, Quarterly  Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. Vol.50 (1924) p.227-23;  Dr.H.v. Socher, Optik Mit 180 Gesichtsfeld, Das Deutsche Lichtbild, 1931.

Camera has built-in shutter. Speeds are: 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1sec, B and T.  Lens has built-in yellow filter. Apertures are 8, 11, 16, 22 and 32

• 1920´s Hill´s Cloud Camera with Hill Sky lens made by Beck London (Novacon site)
• Spira Collection

Beck Guided Weapons Lenses

R&J Beck designed G.W. Type 2 Mk.3 lens image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

The folowing lenses have been documented

• GW Type 2 Mk 2 (on a Dekko GW 1 Mk1A)

The lens is

• GW Type 2 Mk 3 (on a Dekko GW 1 Mk1A and a Beck GW 2)

The lens is similar to the Type 2 M2, but is surrounded by four diodes for @@@

• GW Type 3 Mk 2 (on a Dekko GW 1 Mk1C)

This is a work in progress.

FEEL FREE TO LOOK, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH...

This is a work in progress.

FEEL FREE TO LOOK, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH...

This is a work in progress.

FEEL FREE TO LOOK, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH...

Dekko

Between the 1930s and 1950s Dekko Cameras Ltd produced a range of cine cameras for civilian application In addition, Dekko produced a range of projectors for 8mm, 9.5mm and 16mm format.

Dekko 128 image by John Burke (Image rights)

Civilian Cameras

• Dekko Standard (1934)—a Bakelite 9.5mm camera (1.2kg, 59x125x133 mm) on record with:

• • Dallmeyer Triple Anastigmat f/2.9 25mm
  • Dekko Anastigmat-National Opt. Co. Leicester; f/2.8 25mm
  • Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/3.5 20mm
  • Dallmeyer Popular Telephoto f/4 75mm
  • Ross Cine Lens f/1.9 25mm
  • Taylor-Hobson f/2.5 23mm
  • Wray London Dekko Anastigmat f/3.5 20 mm
• Dekko 104 DeLuxe (1935)—a bakelite 9.5mm camera, 8-64 fps, could shoot stills (1.45 kg, 59x125x150 mm) on record with:
  • Dallmeyer Speed Anastigmat f/1.5 25mm
  • SOM Berthiot Paris Cinor B f/1.9 25mm
  • Taylor-Hobson Anastigmat f/2.5 23mm
• Dekko 110 (1947)—a metal 8mm camera fitted with National Optic Anastigmat f/2.5 12.5mm
• Dekko 128 (1950)—a 8mm camera (0.9 kg, 63x127x127 mm) with National Optic Anastigmat f/2.5 12.5mm

????

• Wray Dekko 20mm Anastigmat F/3.5

Dekko GW 1 Mk1C Aircraft Target Camera fitted with R & J Beck GW Type 3 Mk2 lens image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

Military Cameras

During World War II the company had also designed the Dekko type N model 136 (1940) aircraft magazine camera. After World War II it was approached by the Royal Air Force to develop a high speed camera to record missile strikes on target aircraft (the Dekko GW 1). Even though the latter was technically a high speed cine camera, shooting at 100 frames/second, the resulting negatives were not projected as a film but examined individually in order to assess the miss distance of the missile in relation to its target.

It seems that Dekko withdrew from the civilian movie camera market in the late 1950s and expanded into the business of electronics instrumentation. High speed cameras for research and instrumentation purposes continued to be produced, as were adaptations of movie cameras to single shot devices for data recording of experiments.

Links

• ¶¶ Spennemann, Dirk HR (2012) History, Description and Technical Details of the GW Target Aircraft Cameras. vers. 1.0 {: CAMERA | TOPIA :}
• 9.5 mm equipment catalogue
• 9.5mm cameras (Anna & Terry Vacini Binocular and Cine Collection

Notes

This is a work in progress.

FEEL FREE TO LOOK, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH...

Dekko GW 1

Heritagefutures/WorkSpace3

Dekko GW 1 Mk1C Aircraft Target Camera fitted with R & J Beck GW Type 3 Mk2 lens Manufacturer: Dekko Cameras Ltd Date of Production: 1955- ~1957 Variants: Mk Ia, Ic & Ic Type of Camera: high speed cine Film type: 35mm Lens: R & J Beck G.W. Type 2 Mk. 2             R & J Beck G.W. Type 3 Mk. 2 Shutter: rotary Shutter speed range: fixed Viewfinder: none Flash: none Exposure Metering: manual Focusing: fixed Film advance: electric motor, 100 frames/sec Frame size: 5p (22.4mm L x 24mm H) Weight: XXX Dimensions: XXXX (W x H x D)

Background

While technically a high speed cine camera, shooting at 100 frames/second, the resulting negatives were not projected as a film but examined individually in order to assess the miss distance of the missile in relation to its target. The film magazine took a standard 50ft roll of 35mm cine film, which gave the camera a run time of 12 seconds.

Dekko GW 1 Mk 1A image by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)

Technical designs

Mk 1B

The existence of a Mark 1B camera can be inferred but units of this type have not been available for examination at the time of writing.

Mk 1D

The identification data engraved on the cover for the film magazine-loading bay read the same as those documented for the Mark 1C, with the exception that the text Mk 1C’ has been replaced by ‘Mk 1D.’ The sole Mk 1D unit examined carried a R&J Beck GW Type 3 lens. There is no readily visible difference between the Mk1C and Mk1D models, either in overall appearance, lenses or mechanics.

Links

• ¶¶ Spennemann, Dirk HR (2012) History, Description and Technical Details of the GW Target Aircraft Cameras. vers. 1.0 {: CAMERA | TOPIA :}

Notes

This is a work in progress.

FEEL FREE TO LOOK, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH...

Beck GW 2

Heritagefutures/WorkSpace3

Beck GW 2 Mk1C Aircraft Target Camera fitted with R & J Beck G.W. Type 3 Mk.3 lens Manufacturer: Dekko Cameras Ltd Date of Production: 1955- ~1957 Variants: Mk Ia, Ic & Ic Type of Camera: high speed cine Film type: 35mm Lens: R & J Beck G.W. Type 3 Mk. 3 Shutter: rotary Shutter speed range: fixed Viewfinder: none Flash: none Exposure Metering: manual Focusing: fixed Film advance: electric motor, 100 frames/sec Frame size: 5p (22.4mm L x 24mm H) Weight: XXX Dimensions: XXXX (W x H x D)

Background

While technically a high speed cine camera, shooting at 100 frames/second, the resulting negatives were not projected as a film but examined individually in order to assess the miss distance of the missile in relation to its target. The film magazine took a 100 foot roll, which gave the camera a run time of 12 seconds.

Links

• ¶¶ Spennemann, Dirk HR (2012) History, Description and Technical Details of the GW Target Aircraft Cameras. vers. 1.0 {: CAMERA | TOPIA :}