Little John
A smaller Honest John
Weapon Specifications
Note that the relationship between explosive power and destruction is not linear—a weapon’s destructive effects grow far more slowly than its explosive power.
Explosive Power
1 to 10 kt.
Hiroshima Equivalent Factor
Up to 0.65x
Dimensions
14.5 ft. x 12.5 inches
Weight
780 lbs.
Range
10 miles
Year(s)
1961–1970
Purpose
A smaller, better nuclear artillery rocket
NukeMap
Simulated destruction of a Little John rocket at Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. Click on the map to change parameters.
Videos
These curated videos provide additional context for this weapon — showing test footage, deployment scenes, technical explanations, interviews, or other historical material, allowing viewers to go deeper into the weapon’s design, use, and place in nuclear history.
Further Reading
- Wikipedia, Designation Systems
- “Picture for a moment—two helicopters skimming the tree tops in a contour flight with what appears to be a tiny rocket and launcher carried in a sling under one of the giant birds.” That tiny rocket is the Little John in this energetically written chapter.
- Here is the development timeline at AMCOM.
- Read the Army’s Field Manual for the Little John.
- Build a Little John kit to launch from your backyard.
- The Little John is essentially a smaller Honest John.