 Late in World War II, the U.S. Navy began development of a pulsejet-powered bombardment missile, intended to be launched from ships for use against targets ashore; in April 1945, plans for the invasion of Japan called for the production of "several hundred" missiles, named Gorgon IIC; initially, 20 prototype missiles were to be produced by the Naval Aircraft Modification Unit in Pennsylvania, while an order for 100 was placed with the Singer Manufacturing Company, a sewing machine manufacturer, in August 1945.The end of the war saw the cancellation of the production plans, however development continued, and in October 1945 the Gorgon IIC received the designation KGN-1.The Gorgon IIC was very similar in design to the Gorgon IIA air-to-air missile, being of canard configuration with a high-mounted monoplane wing and vertical and ventral stabilizing fins.