How accurate were rocket attacks from aircraft?

Question

When an aircraft rolled in and used rockets to attack a target were those rockets accurate once the pilot fired them? If they are unguided its makes me think they could go in any direction. Thats what comes to mind when I think of rockets and unguided.

Answer 1

I have used rockets many times in attacking ground targets. One was particularly memorable for me and the target. He was stupid enough to pull into a spot on the road that formed the center of a bulls-eye. I shot the truck with a Zuni rocket (the equivalent of a 500lb bomb) and my wingman reported that it hit the front bumper. Good-bye one slope! The rockets have wings and go pretty much where they are pointed. Some rockets can be guided post launch, but they tended to be more unpredictable because the pilot would have to stick around and guide it. Now, there are self-guiding rockets that can guide themselves through a front door.

Answer 2

Unguided does not mean un-aimed! Machine guns and cannons are also unguided, but I bet you are not surprised that gunfire can hit a target, The rockets flew on predictable trajectory so is simply a matter of setting up the targeting system to tell you where they would hit.



There were also attempts to use unguided rockets against bomber formations by the Germans during WWII, and in the 50 's the F-89 Scorpion had 2 large wingtip pods that carried more than 100 "Mighty Mouse" air to air rockets to use against Soviet bombers.

Answer 3

They were unguided, they weren't too accurate, usually released during a dive in order to minimize the spread. They would hit within several meters from the target, and since there were enough of them, they'd cover the area pretty well.

In one instance, an Israeli pilot on an A-4 shot down Mig 21 plane with those air-to-ground rockets (pilot - Ezra Dotan).