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    Pershing Rockets For Europe

    Uploaded by

    Ed Palmer
    The document provides details on the Pershing missile system being deployed in Europe by the US and West Germany. Key points: - The Pershing is a medium-range tactical missile with a range of over 300 miles that provides the ability to quickly respond to situations behind enemy lines. - It uses a mobile transporter-erector-launcher vehicle that allows rapid deployment and launching of the missile from any terrain within minutes. - Development began in 1956 and the system achieved initial operational capability in 1960. It features robust design, mobility, and air transportability.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Pershing Rockets For Europe

    Uploaded by

    Ed Palmer
    298 views3 pages
    The document provides details on the Pershing missile system being deployed in Europe by the US and West Germany. Key points: - The Pershing is a medium-range tactical missile with a range of over 300 miles that provides the ability to quickly respond to situations behind enemy lines. - It uses a mobile transporter-erector-launcher vehicle that allows rapid deployment and launching of the missile from any terrain within minutes. - Development began in 1956 and the system achieved initial operational capability in 1960. It features robust design, mobility, and air transportability.

    Original Description:

    "Pershing Rockets for Europe" (PDF). Interavia. July 1961.

    Original Title

    Pershing Rockets for Europe

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    The document provides details on the Pershing missile system being deployed in Europe by the US and West Germany. Key points: - The Pershing is a medium-range tactical missile with a range of over 300 miles that provides the ability to quickly respond to situations behind enemy lines. - It uses a mobile transporter-erector-launcher vehicle that allows rapid deployment and launching of the missile from any terrain within minutes. - Development began in 1956 and the system achieved initial operational capability in 1960. It features robust design, mobility, and air transportability.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    298 views3 pages

    Pershing Rockets For Europe

    Uploaded by

    Ed Palmer
    The document provides details on the Pershing missile system being deployed in Europe by the US and West Germany. Key points: - The Pershing is a medium-range tactical missile with a range of over 300 miles that provides the ability to quickly respond to situations behind enemy lines. - It uses a mobile transporter-erector-launcher vehicle that allows rapid deployment and launching of the missile from any terrain within minutes. - Development began in 1956 and the system achieved initial operational capability in 1960. It features robust design, mobility, and air transportability.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3
    At a glance
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    The key takeaways are that the Pershing rocket is a tactical medium-range missile used by the US and Germany to attack enemy weapons and concentrations from over 300 miles away. It has a high degree of mobility and can be quickly prepared and launched.

    The Pershing rocket is used by the US Army in Germany and the West German Land Forces as a tactical medium-range missile to attack enemy long-range weapons and concentrations behind the battle area from over 300 miles away.

    The Pershing rocket is transported on a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle which allows the rocket to be quickly erected, aligned with the target, and fired at a desired position within minutes. The TEL and support equipment are highly mobile.

    Pershing Rockets for Europe

    " T h e ina ail Deterrent" was the title r c gave to


    an article in 1NTERAVIA 3j1961 dealing with
    the trend in Ainerican strategy towards creating
    a complete arsenal of guided nuclear missiles.
    i'rom the two-stage Persllit~grockets, with a rangs
    of a few hurldred miles, to the smallest one-m:iii
    iiifantry weapons equipped with atomic \\asheads. Now that developnlent of the Persllii~:~i h
    i~carly corr~pleted, and units of both the U.S.
    Arnly in Gerniany and the West German Land
    Forces are to be arnlcd with this missile. n.c
    should like to give our readers a more esact
    picture of the most modern tactical medium-range
    rocket at present available to the West.
    Among the most inlportant tasks of the
    Pershing is to attack enemy long-range weapons
    and concentrations behind the battle area and.
    nit11 a range of over 300 miles, the Pei~s/7iirCq
    in
    F,ict comma~ldsan area of nearly 300,000 sq.ni.
    Since th.e rocket can be put into action in ally
    desired position within a nlatter of minutes, a few
    Pt,i.sl~ingunits can deal quickly, effectively, and
    decisively with critical battle situations. In its
    ii~::in features ---robust construction, a high
    degree of ~ilobility, and co~nplete air-transi~i7rtability-the Perslliizg compares very favour~:.ly with its predecessor, the Reu'slorze. The cornipiete weapon system, including all ground
    support equipment, can operate on any terrain
    n::d. to a large extent, avoid detection by the
    c-emy.
    When. in 1956, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
    ~!e:ided that a new, mobile arniy rocket in the

    300-inile c l a ~ sn ~ ~ i he
    j t dc\ eloped. their speciticariori cailcii Ear a surface-to-surface tactical
    n~issilc\\it11 c!~ar.:;ctci.istic.s hitherto unknown in
    a11 :lr~?i:~
    rocket. , ~ i c ! ~ c\tei~si\e !iiii~i:tt~~rizatio~~
    oi' the g!!id;~iic< >!. -T>::;I. ssii~iztiorlro a fs\v minutes
    of the tiii:e i-c.y!!i:-eii to pi.cpure the I-ocltet for
    I I ~ i ! 1 1 i t 1 in pre-flight checkout, and
    so oil. I r i 1'15a. tlit iSrlando Division of the Martin Corn;?'~n>i i i Florida was given the developinsilt ccntrnct and. b> February 1960, barely two
    years later. the first Pei,.rhitlg trial projectile was
    fired at Cape Canaveral. As early as Septeniber,
    1960. the Ordnance Guided Missile School, at
    Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville (Alabama), inaugui.nted a course in operating the Pershirrg.
    p

    As stressed at the outset, the main objects in


    the creation of the Pershirzg were a complete
    weapon systelll with a high degree of mobility
    and very brief total reaction time. The Perslzii~g'.~
    great mobility is achieved by use of a new specially developed wheeled vehicle, known as a
    transporter-erector-launcher (TEL). This is so
    dcsigned that the rocket can be quickly erected,
    aligned with the target, and fired. This mobile
    TEL, and all the rest of the ground support
    equipment, can be nioullted on tracked vehicles
    suitable for cross-country operation. The Pei.shitlg
    convoy can travel about anywhere in the battle
    area, making it very difficult for the enemy to
    detect the launch position; on the other hand, it
    call go into firing position within a few rninut
    and send the rocket on its way, before enen

    The P e r s l ~ i ~ i~.ocket,w~th
    g
    cable
    mast ~3luggeiiin. stailcis j~oised
    on i t s la~ulchinp riiig, 4 detailed descripiioii of' the crection and la~mchinp procedure
    \\ill be fouiid 011 t h e ibilo\\.ii~g
    page.

    supported on the transporter chassis. The launching platform is mounted at the rear of the transporter and is pivoted so that it can be rotated t o
    the ground, where it is supported by levelliilg
    jacks. During transport, the missile is carried in
    a horizontal position on the erector, which is also
    pivoted at the rear of the transporter. At the
    firing site, after the launch pad is rotated to the
    ground and levelled, the erector rises to the
    vertical position, placing the missile on the
    launcher. The erector then returns to the horizontal position, leaving the nlissile resting in a
    vertical position on the azimuth ring of the
    launcher. Under command of the fire control
    ~lnit, the azimuth position of the missile is
    accurately adjusted before firing.
    Co~itrolcables, air ducts, and high pressure
    air lines necessary to precondition, checkout, and
    fire the missile are mounted in a cable mast. The
    lower end of the cable mast is mounted in a

    i ,.

    .. .

    . . -. '.

    .!,,).-\ ..I

    .,&

    C - L . : v C ' L ~ i i ; ~ \ enr~~i~i l~ i range.


    le

    I
    - i
    t I
    1 .e 1
    a
    I
    chance to csi,i5iibi~jrs ~ L ~ ~ L : I,.J I I ..
    Tliai~ks ti. ~.-.l:iti\<l! ii!?.;!!, ~:~.ni.iisions(the
    3-I-ft long P L ~ r , ? i i i i . ~isr soi11i. 11,iif I:!? 1ic.ngrh of the
    Retl.sro~cc).heiL! haniili11g of I!:< ~rcchsrhas been
    considerp,hl>-sir:ii?lifii.d, Duril;g I:-.. \.\l~ol:operative r2hase. the rocker seiii:ii~~~
    L..ti:? I-nlieei

    The rocket ready for the road o n the XM-474 transporter.

    TEL vehicle. The same vehicle can be used to


    transport it by helicopter, air freighter, or seagoing vessel.
    The transporter-erector-lau~iclier. built by the
    Thonipson Aircraft Products Corporation. a
    Dix ision of Thonipson Rarn~-\~~.ooldridgc
    Inc. of
    CI-\cl:ili;i. Ohio. includes a dunl-track erector

    Normally, the P r r s h i ~ i g is n o t
    transported with its warhead
    attached. T h e warhead itself is in
    the container in the left foreground, and \\ill be transported
    o n a separate tracked vehicle, together with its associated test
    equipment.

    rn t r a n s ~ t ,the ~iiflatablep a r a b o l ~ c
    antennd a n d the f o l d ~ n gtelescop~c
    dntenila supports are sto\ved In
    the top of the radio unlt.

    bracket attached to the launcher aziniuth ring,


    and the upper end is engaged with electrical and
    air connections in the missile. During the firing
    procedure: just prior to ignition, the upper end
    of the cable mast is autotnatically ejected from
    cngagement with the missile. While the upper end
    of the niast is ejected from the missile sufficiently
    far to provide clearance for firing, a brake in the
    bracket at the lower. end quickly stops movement
    of the mast and holds it in a near vertical position.
    Since the mast is prevented from falling to the
    ground. it is not damaged and may be used
    repeatedly as a permanent part of the TEL. The
    cable mast is so constructed that the exhaust
    gases do not destroy either the cable o r the mast.
    For movement both across country and o n
    noruiial roads the Pershing rocket, resting on its
    TEL, is carried o n a tracked vehicle, designated
    XM-474, built by the Food Machinery and
    Chemical Corp. This vehicle is a developn~entof
    the MI 13 arnloured personnel carrier, undertaken on behalf of the U.S. Army Ordnance Tank
    Autoniotive Command. It features a low silhouette and, with a gross weight cf about 5 toris,
    has a speed of u p to 40 n1.p.h. on flat roads.
    The rocket is provided with a n inertial guidance
    system, comprising a gyro-stabilized platform
    and integrating accelerometers. The main contractor for this guidance system is the EclipsePioneer Division of the Bendix Corporation at
    Teterboro, N.J., which also furnishes certain
    field checkout and production test equipment.
    With a view to illaximuin precision, the gyros of
    the stabilization platfor111 are sealed in miniature metal cylinders, friction being reduced to
    almost zero. These cylinders in their turn "float"
    inside an outer cylinder. Microscopic air jets in
    the outer cylinder "float" the gyros on a n aircushion, in order to eliminate all direct contact
    between gyro and container.

    The Pe~,shitlghas been developed almost entirely by American industry, that is without direct
    assistance from the Army Ballistic Missile Agency,
    which did no more than retain certain rights of
    supervision and advisory functions. This conception is new, but the successful launchings of complete rockets with ignition of both stages (one
    trial launch from Cape Canaveral on April 21st,
    1961, travelled over 250 miles) leave no doubt
    that this approach to the problem is the right
    one.

    It is not yet certain when the Per.siiit~~r


    i r I! - operational in Europe. Tn any event, the Feiicr,.
    German Government has ordered a large nurnbi.:
    of these rockets in place of the original Martin
    Mncrs, and Germany will shortly make avaiiahlr
    DM 480 million for Pershing.~,about the sanir
    amount as was originally appropriated for the
    purchase of iMnce rockets. Martin has nileanwhile
    gone ahead with the development of Pe~.shit~x
    and, early this year, received an additional S76
    inillio~lorder from the U.S. Ar~ny.

    T h e Pershing as a Satellite Booster

    !:I< left: Sectio~laldrawing of the military P~rshirig


    ~ - , x h ? i :1 - Nuclear warhead; 2 - Colltrol and guidance
    , ~ ? r n :3 - Sccond-stage rocket engine: 4 -Aerodynamic
    L;i,,iri,l iurfaces: - Separation elemetlt between first and
    ,:co.-J stages: 6 - Jet controls: 7 rocket
    .,.<,!,
    ,.,s:
    8 - Aerodynamic control surfaces: 9 - Jet con-, ,.., 3 ! \ .

    io
    .5

    L .

    rile right: Sectional drawing of the PE/'.~/li,lg


    ~ n i . ~ > ~ t Ic r-: Third-stage rocket engine; 2 - Payload:
    C'onlrol and guidallcc system;
    - Sccolld-stage
    ~ - i i i h s rcnyine; 5 - Instrumentation; 6 - Liquid nitrogen
    ;,ill;, tank: 8 - control jets: - First-stagc
    rncA,: s i i ~ i n e .

    TO

    The whole fire colitrol and test checkout equip,1:ei?t for use in the field is mounted on a separate
    Y'\.I-174 chassis. This equipment includes the
    portable remote fire control box, by illeans of
    \\!~ichthe officer comlnanding the Per.sking cono> can release the rocket fro111 a position of
    .;{kt.
    The same chassis carries a small power
    >i!pj\l!. unit, which feeds the various electrical
    -,i\tii~g
    ,
    systelns and provides test compressed air.
    Tlir power supply unit also feeds the lnobile
    !rLiiiiaequipment, which is used for communi~ : i t i i . ! l with surrounding co~nmandcentres. The
    I2iii-shaped antenna is inflatable and, when
    ::i!l~itsd,has a diameter of about 8 ft. The radio
    ~i;~iii\rnent
    is also installed on an XM-474. The
    .-~i~l:arwarhead of the Peushing, together with its
    ,. ,,;out
    test installations, is mounted on a
    -.;3,:r.nre tracked vehicle of the same type, so that
    :'I? P,,r.shikg convoy is made up of four vehicles
    Irac:ther.
    Ti:?nose cone of the Pershing rocket has an
    ...-:n:,lble heat-dissipating protective layer, which
    hi:
    and cheaply applied and which
    ,;.\;<
    to protect the nuclear warhead against
    .-,2c..i~e heat effects during re-entry into the
    ..ti
    i: '1 atmosphere.
    \

    .> >

    - 3 -

    Economy. reliability, and immediate availathus also saving weight. The nose casings surbility are undoubtedly qualities which could make
    rounding the third-stage engine and the payload
    a satellite carrier rocket look attractive for
    could also be jettisoned after leaving the atruoEuropean countries, too. If, moreover, the carrier
    sphere. The entire third stage rests on a turntable
    rocket could be launched from practically any
    for torque stabilization. The guidance and control
    desired meadow, this would take care of another
    systems could also be accommodated in the third
    problern, which has played a major part in disstage (see diagram). F o r launching. the TELs
    cussions concerning the basis of a European
    already developed for the military Pershing would
    space programme.
    be made use of, and these could also be mounted
    Martin is now offering a carrier vehicle, dein seagoing vessels.
    veloped from the first and second stages of the
    According to information furnished by Martin,
    military Pershing rocket, which fillfils the aboveten men are enough to bring the carrier rocket to
    mentioned conditions, and could be available in
    the launch point, set it up, and prepare it for
    the space of about a year. According to calfiring. This carrier rocket could also be used for
    culations made by Martin's engineers, a threevertical climbs as a space probe, in which case
    stage satellite carrier rocket. bascd oil the
    it would be possible to add a fourth solid-proPerskitrg, would be able to put a payload of 60 lb
    pellant rocket stage. In this way, a payload of
    into circular orbit at a n altitude of 210 ~niles.or
    60 lb could be carried to an orbital height of over
    into elliptical orbit with an apogee of about 700
    875 miles, or a payload of 120 lb to about 300
    miles. F o r the guidance and radio-tracking of the
    miles. As Martin points out, the third and foul.th
    carrier rocket during climb, as \\-ell as for orbital
    stage engine could be developed from solidtracking, methods similar to those ~~cioyrred
    in the
    propellant engines which are already available.
    case of the American T.iiir~rr~ii.t/and Scolit
    boosters could be used. Lf:hen thc first stage
    vertical climb has been coillpletc~l u i ~ d the
    remainder of the vehicle directed into 1' suitable
    orbital path, the second stag,: ~ ~ o i i i chei ignited.
    After second-stage burnout. the;.? is ail ui1powered phase of over four iiiiii~itzs. ;i:!~i then
    the third stage ignites. Durinp tl~es?i o ~ i rin~inutes.
    the remaining sections would h:~\-eto be ilrought
    into an exactly horizotltal position. in o:.drr i!~eil
    to be accelerated by the third st,ipe ii110 tlic
    required trajectory spced.
    The first two stages of the illiiitnr) P,~,~.~/~iti.y
    would require o~llyinsipnificaiit ~1tc'r:itioils. and
    moreover a simple and. therefoi.~.1ighrc.rgi~idancc
    system would be sufficient to achiclr the desired
    result, thus bringing about a iii:irkeii rcdiiction in
    the total weight of the rocket. Thc firsr-stage
    rocket engine could he til~adesubstniltially lighter
    by the elimination ofcertain longitudinal stiffeners
    and by reconstriictinp the casing round the enginc
    jets. The bay on the sccond stage. ~ h i c hhouses
    the inertial guidance system, and the special thrust
    reversal device (an ejector port at the front of the
    second-stage engine) would be eliminated in the
    satellite carrier rocket. Moreover, the aerodynamic control surfaces of the first stage and the jet
    control s u r f ~ c e sof the military second-stage engine could be replaced by peroxide jet nozzles,

    In its satellite-carrying \esaion, the PersJzillg rocket


    would be transported and
    prepared for flight o n the
    Fame TEL vehicle as the
    military rocket.

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