Gabriel
Hsiung Feng I
Overview
Gabriel Mk 2
Side view of a Gabriel Mk 2 anti-ship missile during launch.
Source: www.defence.az -
© copyright lies with original owner
1978 for Hsiung Feng I
1972 - 1976 (Gabriel Mk 2)
1975 - 1978 (Hsiung Feng I)
1978 - 1990's (Taiwan)
South Africa
Taiwan
Chinese for "brave wind 1"
雄風一型 (HF-1)
Skerpioen (South African service)
Afrikaans for "scorpion"
Description
Introduction
The Gabriel is a late Cold War era subsonic anti-ship missile of Israeli origin. It was developed to counter ships equipped with the Soviet P-15 Termit (NATO: SS-N-2 Styx) anti-ship missile. The Gabriel was the world's first operational sea skimming missile. It was used successfully during the 1973 Yom Kippur war.
Design
The Gabriel missile uses a conventional layout with the guidance section and warhead in the nose and the solid fuel rocket engine at the rear. The Gabriel has four cruciform wings in the middle and four smaller wings near the nozzle. The missile is launched from large containers since the wings do not fold. Three containers are mounted on a turntable launcher.
Guidance
The original Gabriel Mk 1 and Mk 2 use semi-active radar homing in the terminal phase, requiring the target vessel to be lit by the ship's fire control radar. In the initial stage where the radar cannot detect the target yet the missile is controlled using radar beam guidance. Later Gabriel models that are described separately used active radar homing.
Firepower
The Gabriel is fitted with a high explosive warhead that is able to sink small and medium size vessels. The Mk 1 has a maximum range of 20 to 22 km, while the Mk 2 has an improved maximum range of 36 to 38 km. In flight these missiles are rather slow at Mach 0.6.
Platforms
The Gabriel missile has been fitted to a wide variety of combat ships, mostly smaller ships such as missile boats and corvettes. Reportedly a coastal defense system called Hilton armed with Gabriel Mk 2 missiles was employed in the 1982 Lebanon war.
Users
All models of the Gabriel were adopted by the Israeli navy. Gabriel Mk 2 has also been exported to nations in South America, Africa and Asia. Taiwan made extensive use of the Hsiung Feng I missile, with the last being phased out in 2012.
Variants
Hsiung Feng I
Taiwanese Hsiung Feng I missile on display.
Source: www.rocketryforum.com -
© copyright lies with original owner
List of Gabriel Mk 1 & Mk 2 variants
Details
Media
Gabriel Mk 2
Gabriel Mk 2 being launched from a tripple launcher during trails.
Source: Clandestine Immigration and Navy Museum
Copyright: public domain
Gabriel Mk 2
Tripple launcher for Gabriel Mk 2 in a museum.
Source: Bukvoed
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
Gabriel Mk 2
Forward view of Gabriel Mk 2 in a museum.
Source: Bukvoed
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
Gabriel Mk 2
Rear view of Gabriel Mk 2 showing the rocket engine nozzles.
Source: Bukvoed
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
Gabriel Mk 2
Gabriel Mk 2 during production.
Source: www.israeli-weapons.org
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Gabriel Mk 2
Rear deck of a corvette fitted with single and twin round launchers for Gabriel missiles.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Skerpioen
Damage done to target ship by South African Skerpioen anti-ship missile.
Source: www.southerncape.co.za
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Hai Ou
Rear view of two Taiwanese Hai Ou. Note the two Hsiung Feng I missile containers.
Source: Changlc
Copyright: public domain
Platforms
Dvora class
The Taiwanese Hai Ou missile boat is a derivative of the Israeli Dvora class patrol boat. It is armed with two Hsiung Feng I missiles.
Related articles
P-15 Termit
The Gabriel is of the same generation as the Soviet P-15 Termit (NATO: SS-N-2 Styx) anti-ship missile.
Hsiung Feng II
The Hsiung Feng II is the successor of the Hsiung Feng I. This missile has a very different design and is more akin to the American Harpoon.