Davy Crockett Weapons System, Fort Benning, Georgia

Description

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF NEWS SERVICES NUARY 1, 1961 THE PENTAGON, WASHINGTON 25, D.C. - LIBERTY 5-6700 AUDIO-VISUAL DIVISION RADI0-TV-NEWSFILM BRANCH ROOM 2E791 EXTENSION 75111 Release No. 1-61 Footage: 300 DUPE NEGATIVE TO: 1 January 1961 - 6:30 PM EST FINE GRAIN TO; DAVY CROCKETT WEAPONS SYSTEM (Official Army footage released by Department of Defense) The Davy Crockett system, a nuclear weapon so small it can be carried by one man, will give Armos and Infantry troops a low yield nuclear capability at close range. The warhead packs tremendous force yet has a. small enough effective radius that using troops, nearby troops, and civilian populations are not endangered by blast. Radioactive fallout danger is minimized. The weapon system is also capable of firing conventional warheads. Last May 3g during the Army's Project MAN (Modern Army Needs) display at Fort Benning. Georgia, the man and jeep portable Davy Crockett launching system was shown. At that time, Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker hailed the Davy Crockett as a development which "dwarfs in firepower anything we have ever known in the immediate area of the battle line. The weapon gives small units a volume of firepower heretofore obtained only from massed heavy artillery. The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps developed two Davy Crockett launcher systems, a heavy version and a light version. Both have been tested with conventional high explosive warheads. Either version can be mounted OD a jeep, mechanical mule, or armored personnel carrier and be operated by a.e few as two men. Sequences show: Davy Crockett mounted on jeep. Soldiers mounting warhead. Various shots of soldiers and weapons. prefed 5/17/61 both Typed 5-fall ES/JP NOTE TO EDITORS: Handed out to Telenews, Washington, to service television and theatrical pool members. Footage to be returned to Army NOTE TO EDITORS: PLEASE CREDIT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN TITLE OR COMMENTARY The fine grain master positive, released to the company designated above, is for duplication and distribution to interested TV and Newsreel pool members. It is then to be returned within 72 hours to the Film Library, Army Pictorial Center, 35-11 35th Avenue, Long Island City 1, New York. The master positive must not be cut in any manner. A dupe negative is also for release to the company designated above for distribution to pool members so desiring for duplication purposes. within 24 hours it will be delivered to DeLuxe Laboratories, 850 Tenth Avenue, New York, N. Y., telephone Circle 7-3220 where it will be avail- able to non-pool members and other authorized organizations which make satisfactory financial arrangements with DeLuxe Laboratories. The dupe negative must not be cut in any manner. E10575

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases