It was primarily intended for use in airborne assault operations and to complement the heavier, self-propelled MGR-1 Honest John rocket.
The XM51 Little John was delivered to the field in November 1961 and remained in the regular Army's weapons inventory until August 1969.
The components were shipped in separate containers, with the warhead and motor assembled before issue and the igniter inserted immediately before use.
[1] A hand-wound mechanical clock spring on the launcher rotates the rocket through gears, when the firing lanyard is pulled.
The Phase II Little John weapon system was initially deployed with the 1st Missile Battalion, 57th Field Artillery in Okinawa, Japan.