Rockets and missiles represent an important strand of artillery development that was first used effectively by Indian forces during the late 1700s. This technology was further developed in Britain during the early 1800s, in particular by the younger Sir William Congreve (who was also responsible for our museum collection from 1814 until his death in 1828). Congreve Rockets were used during the Napoleonic wars and also the War of 1812 against the United States of America (inspiring the line about the “rockets’ red glare” in the American national anthem).
Following limited experiments during WW2, modern rocket artillery came into its own during the Cold War, meeting two requirements in particular: air defence and tactical nuclear weapons. Our collection includes most of the key pieces used by the Royal Artillery, such as the Thunderbird and Rapier air defence systems and the Honest John and Lance nuclear-capable missile systems.
