R-11 Zemlya
Soviet tactical ballistic missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The R-11 Zemlya (Russian: Р-11 Земля, lit. 'Earth'),[1] GRAU index 8A61[2] was a Soviet tactical ballistic missile. It is also known by its NATO reporting name SS-1b Scud-A. It was the first of several similar Soviet missiles to be given the reporting name Scud. Variant R-11M was accepted into service, with GRAU index 9K51 (9К51).
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| R-11 Zemlya | |
|---|---|
R-11M missile on an 8U218 Transport-Erector-Launcher | |
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1956–1978 |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1956–1962 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5.4 tonnes |
| Length | 10.604 m |
| Diameter | 880 mm |
| Warhead | High explosive, nuclear |
Origin
The R-11 originated from a 1951 requirement for a ballistic missile with similar performance to the German V-2 rocket, but half its size. With the Wasserfall, an anti-aircraft version of the V-2, as a model, the R-11 was developed by engineer Victor Makeev, who was then working in OKB-1, headed by Sergey Korolyov. The two men agreed on the use of RG-1 as the fuel, but disagreed over which oxidizer to use, with Korolev favouring liquid oxygen, and Makeev advocating the use of a storable but toxic oxidizer. Makeev's version, that first flew on 18 April 1953, was fitted with an Isayev engine using RG-1 and nitric acid. On 13 December 1953, a production order was passed with SKB-385 in Zlatoust, a factory dedicated to producing long-range rockets. In June 1955, Makeev was appointed chief designer of the SKB-385 to oversee the programme and, in July, the R-11 was formally accepted into military service.[2] The definitive R-11M, designed to carry a nuclear warhead, was accepted officially into service on 1 April 1958. The launch system received the GRAU index 9K51, the rocket itself 8K11, and the launcher was initially designated 2U218 but later changed to 8U218.[3][4]
Systems specification
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Like the V-2, the R-11 relied on inertial guidance, and its flight was controlled by four graphite vanes in the engine exhaust, that were active only while the motor was burning. The R-11M had a maximum range of 270 km (170 mi), but when carrying a nuclear warhead, this was reduced to 170 km (110 mi), hence an alternative designation R-170.[3] At maximum range, it was found to have an average range error of 1.19 km (0.74 mi) and an azimuth error of 660 m (0.41 mi).[4] It was used as a mobile nuclear strike vector[clarification needed], giving the Soviet Army the ability to hit European targets from forward areas. To give the system sufficient mobility on the battlefield, the R-11 was mounted on a transporter erector launcher with a chassis derived from the ISU-152K, which was designated 8U218.[4] The main payload was a nuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 10, 20 or 40 kilotons.[3] There was also HE-Frag warhead 9N33 with 535 kg (1,179 lb) of explosive.[3]
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Naval variant
A naval variant, the R-11FM was first tested at Kapustin Yar in February 1955, and was first launched from a converted Project 611 (Zulu class) submarine in September of the same year.[5] While the initial design was done by Korolev's OKB-1, the programme was transferred to Makeyev's SKB-385 in August 1955.[2] It became operational in 1959 as the D-1 launch system, the world's first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM),[4] and was deployed onboard Project 611 and Project 629 (Golf Class) submarines, until its replacement by the R-13 in 1961 (SS-N-4) and the R-21 (SS-N-5) in 1963.[6] During its service, 77 launches were conducted, of which 59 were successful.[7] The success of the R-11FM established Makeev as the main designer of submarine-launched weapons for the Soviet Armed Forces, and the R-11FM served with the first generation SLBM submarine units of the Soviet Navy.
