Malkara Mark 1 and Malkara Mark 1A

Introduction

The Malkara anti-tank cruise missile was developed in Australia with financial and technical support from the British government. It was envisaged that it would be used on modified vehicles, vessels and land defence (as well as coastal defence) assets.

Development

Development began around 1951 and lasted until 1954. Production of prototypes was contracted to the Australian Government Aircraft Factories. This was followed by flight and weapons trials of several hundred missiles at the Woomera polygon in South Australia and at Victoria's Puckapunyal Camp area. In 1958, Britain took delivery of about 30 missiles for testing at the range of the training centre at Kirkcudbright. At that time about £320,000 was spent on the development and testing of the missiles, some sources speak of £400,000, yet on 23 August 1959 it was decided that the British Military Administration would take over the Malkara for weaponry. The production cost of the missile was estimated at £2,000 to £3,000 apiece. The British Army placed an order for 260 Malkara Mk. 1 missiles and later the order was extended to include the more advanced Mk. 1A version. This was regardless of the Australian Army's decision not to introduce the weapon into service.

Operational Characteristics

The shape of the fuselage was characteristic of the missile, which was cylindrical at the front and rear and square in the centre. The nose surfaces were attached to the central square section, and at the end of the fuselage the missile was fitted with stabilisers that were rotated 45° relative to the wings.

The warhead was developed in Britain, was neither cumulative nor penetrating, but squash-type with a bursting effect (HESH: High Explosive - Squash Head) and contained about 17 kg of plastic explosive. The warhead was designed to splatter across the armor upon impact with the target, and the subsequent explosion achieved its destruction or damage.

The development of the Hornet self-propelled launcher is described elsewhere. The Malkara missile armed 24 FV1620 Hornet vehicles. Due to the high purchase price of the Malkara, it was decided that any fire would only be conducted against particularly important targets, and targets of lesser importance tended to be destroyed by cheaper anti-tank weapons.

Due to the large size of the missile, the FV1620 Hornet was equipped with only four Malkaras (2 were in firing position on the launch pad and 2 were in reserve, being carried disassembled in protective boxes at the rear of the vehicle).

In 1976, as part of the British Army's reduction in armament, the Humber Hornet vehicles and Malkara missiles were taken out of service and the unit that used them disbanded.

Basic tactical and technical data of the Malkara Mk. 1
weight with transport box:	about 140 kg
weight at launch:	96.2 kg (212 lb av)
warhead, type:	HESH
warhead weight:	~27 kg (~60 lb av)
weight of explosive in warhead:	15.9 kg (35 lb av)
Dimensions
length:	1968.5 mm (6 ft 5.5 in)
hull diameter:	203.2 mm (8 in, part of the fuselage was square)
wingspan:	793.5 mm (2 ft 7.24 in)
Powerplant
description:	solid propellant rocket motor (TPH)
TPH weight:	26.8 kg (57.5 lb av)
System
description:	command guidance system - over wires
command device, type:	?
weight of command device:	about 10 kg
Performance
effective range:	~2200 m (2400 yd)
minimum range:	360 m (some sources say 580 m)
flight speed:	146.2 m/s (327 mph)
armor penetration:	up to 500 mm (some sources speak of 800 mm)
probability of hitting target:	90%

Basic tactical and technical data of the Malkara Mk. 1A
weight with transport box:	about 140 kg
weight at launch:	100.7 kg (222 lb av)
head, type:	HESH
weight of warhead:	~27 kg (~60 lb av)
weight of explosive in warhead:	15.9 kg (35 lb av)
Dimensions
length:	1968.5 mm (6 ft 5.5 in)
fuselage diameter:	203.2 mm (8 in, part of the fuselage was square section)
wingspan:	793.5 mm (2 ft 7.24 in)
Powerplant
description:	solid propellant rocket motor (TPH)
weight of TPH:	?
System
description:	command guidance system - over wires
command device, type:	?
weight of command device:	about 10 kg
Performance
effective range:	~4,000 m (4,400 yd)
minimum range:	300 m (some sources say 470 m)
flight speed:	146.2 m/s (327 mph)
armor penetration:	up to 500 mm (some sources speak of 800 mm)
probability of hitting target:	90%

Note

The word Malkara (read Melkere), means in one dialect of Australian bushcraft: a wooden defensive shield.
The abbreviation ATGM stands for: anti-tank guided missile.
The English system of measurements has been converted from Svatopluk Černoch's Mechanical Technical Manual, SNTL, Prague 1959, ISBN dumb.
Technical data have been processed according to: ČSN 011300, SI Tables, Prague 1977.

Machinery
Unknown author: Missiles 1959, Flight Magazine, 6 November 1959, p. 520, 521, ISSN not available
Unknown author: The Anti-Tank Missile, Flight Magazine, 17 June 1960, p. 821-824, ISSN does not have
Unknown author: Round the Stands ..., Flight International, 13 September 1962, p. 453, 454, ISSN does not have


Internet
http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0t%C3%ADt
http://i17.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/c3/30/b2ea_1.JPG
kr.blog.yahoo.com
http://middle-watch.com/seacat.htm
www.defence.gov.au
www.defence.gov.au
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html
www.grandpapencil.net
www.militaryfactory.com
www.specialistauctions.com
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