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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000040888-06-000046.txt : 20060718
<SEC-HEADER>0000040888-06-000046.hdr.sgml : 20060718
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060718183536
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000040888-06-000046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060718
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060718

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000040888
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FABRICATED RUBBER PRODUCTS, NEC [3060]
		IRS NUMBER:				340244000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGHWAY 50 & AEROJET ROAD
		CITY:			RANCHO CORDOVA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95670
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9163554000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGHWAY 50 & AEROJET ROAD
		CITY:			RANCHO CORDOVA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95670

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19840330

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DIDION JAMES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022081

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01520
		FILM NUMBER:		06968011

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136133123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		533 S FREMONT AVE
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071-1798
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000040888</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001022081</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DIDION JAMES J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HIGHWAY 50 &amp; AEROJET ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO CORDOVA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock   Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2244.12</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2244.12</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13663.069</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock   Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>729.44</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>729.44</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14392.509</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F4">These Derivative Securities are Phantom Stock Units in the GenCorp Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.  The Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash upon a future date elected by the Director at the time of deferral, based upon the market value of GenCorp common shares at the time of payment.  Therefore there is no Expiration Date for these Derivative Securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Phantom Stock Units acquired under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1; one phantom share equals one share of GenCorp common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These Derivative Securities are Phantom Stock Units in the GenCorp Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors.  The Phantom Stock Units are payable in cash upon a future date elected by the Director at the time of deferral, based upon the market value of GenCorp common shares at the time of payment.  Therefore there is no Date Exercisable for these Derivative Securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark A. Whitney as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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