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EA 1941 EA 1941

Eole rocket


EA 1941
In the years 1930, an Artillery Technical Service team directed by Jean-Jacques Barré had undertaken the study of liquid propellants rocket engines. This work was stopped at the beginning of the war, but, since 1941, Barré resumed it in clandestinity. It then dealt with the EA 1941 rocket (Self-propelled Vehicle 1941) whose static tests were carried out in 1941-42 at the Larzac range. This 100 kg rocket used a liquid oxygen and petrol engine delivering a thrust of approximately 10 kN. It had been designed to carry a 25 kg payload 100 km away. Only after the release of Provence the EA 1941 rocket could be launched for the first time from the La Renardière range, close to Toulon, March 15, 1945. A 60 km range was reached with the 5th launch, July 6, 1945.

Eole Eole

Eole
The LRBA (Laboratoire de Recherches Balistiques et Aeronautiques = Ballistics and Aeronautical Researches Laboratory) was created in Vernon, May 17, 1946, by the DEFA (Direction des Etudes et Fabrications d'Armes = Weapons Studies and Manufactures Directorate). Jean-Jacques Barré there resumed its work on propulsion and designed a rocket called EA 1946, initially devoted to improve the knowledge in this field, but also to finalize a long range ballistic missile. This rocket, also known as Eole, was derived from the EA 1941. It was to weigh 3,4 tons and to send a 275 kg payload 800 km away. Its liquid oxygen and oil ether engine was to develop 100 kN thrust. The static tests began in February 1949 in Vernon and the flight tests, in November 1952 in Hammaguir. Two launches, occurred on November 22 and 24, ended in failures. The Eole project was cancelled, as well as the whole of LRBA work on liquid oxygen with profit of storable propellants, easier to use for missile propulsion.


EA rockets launch log

DateSiteVehicleMissionResults
15 Mar 1945LRNEA1941 #1TechnologyF, in flight
16 Mar 1945LRNEA1941 #2TechnologyF, on pad
06 Jul 1945LRNEA1941 #3Technology 
06 Jul 1945LRNEA1941 #4Technology 
06 Jul 1945LRNEA1941 #5TechnologyS, 60 km range
18 Jul 1945LRNEA1941 #6TechnologyF, on pad
18 Jul 1945LRNEA1941 #7TechnologyF, on pad
22 Nov 1952HMGEA1946 #1TechnologyF, in flight
24 Nov 1952HMGEA1946 #2TechnologyF, in flight
Notes: LRN = La Renardière, Toulon; HMG = Hammaguir


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Please contact Jean-Jacques Serra <JJ.Serra@wanadoo.fr> for comments, corrections or questions