-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C1x9dmh//mY6vZYJck5ulptI9jDTdJv8vQald/sbbgA0+M/nOdJQ4zoPlfmyAWlO
 cserdujqMql6YeabxZCILA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000040888-08-000013.txt : 20080307
<SEC-HEADER>0000040888-08-000013.hdr.sgml : 20080307
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080307173213
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000040888-08-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080305
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080307
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080307

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUTLER LINDA B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212517

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01520
		FILM NUMBER:		08675288

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9163518515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GENCORP INC.,
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 537012
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95853-7012

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
</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>2008-03-05</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212517</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUTLER LINDA B</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Corporate Communications</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>939</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12052</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1363.225</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held in the GenCorp Retirement Savings Plan Trust (Plan Trust) have been updated with 906.2452 shares as of February 29, 2008 to reflect the value in the participant's account as per the Plan Administrator's records.  The number of shares reported is calculated by dividing the dollar value of the participant's account by the closing market price of the stock on the day reported above.  This calculation yields only the approximate number of shares in the participant's account because the cash component in the Plan Trust (target 2%) is allocated to each participant's account on a pro rata basis, and the cash component varies based on overall activity of all participants in the Plan Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark A. Whitney as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----