The Navy Bumblebee program was created at the end of WW-II to develop a
defense against the Japanese kamikaze threat. The program was to develop a jet propelled, guided
anti-aircraft missile. The result was the Navy’s 3-T Missiles – Talos, Terrier and Tartar.
While initial efforts were concentrated on developing the Talos ram-jet engine, a solid rocket propelled
test vehicle to develop missile steering designs was recognized as capable of providing a simpler
interim weapon for smaller ships, resulting in the Terrier two stage missile and the later single
stage Tartar with solid fuel dual thrust rocket motor.
The Talos was first tested at White Sands in 1951 while Terrier and Tartar testing was relocated
from China Lake CA in the early 1960s.
