The RT-2 was an intercontinental ballistic missile deployed by the Soviet Union, which was in service from December 1968 until 1976. It was assigned the NATO reporting name SS-13 Savage and carried the GRAU index 8K98. Designed by OKB-1, about 60 were built by 1972.
History The RT-2 was the first solid-propellant ICBM in Soviet service, and was a development of the earlier RT-1 series. It was a three-stage inertially-guided missile comparable to the American Minuteman missile. It was armed with a single 600 kiloton warhead and was silo-launched, although a rail-based version was contemplated by Soviet planners. It was deployed in the Yoshkar-Ola missile field.
The Soviets used the two upper stages of the RT-2 to develop the RT-15 mobile IRBM system. The RT-2PM Topol is supposedly a modernized version of the RT-2
Operations The RT-2 was capable of delivering a class payload to a maximum operational range of approximately 10,000 km (5,500 nautical miles)Defense Intelligence Agency: "SS-13 Ballistic Missile System", 8 November 1973, DIA Task No. T74-10-03
Command and Control A single launch control center (LCC) monitored numbers of launchers. The hardened and dispersed silo concept increased system survivability and provided steady environmental controls from the solid-propellant motors. Headquarters RVSN exercised normal control of the RT-2 missile force, through an intermediate RVSN Army and launch complex headquarters (HCC). A launch complex consisted of an HCC and several LCCs, monitoring numerous underground launchers.
Flight test history Test Launches RT-2 Test LaunchesDateSystemLocationRange (NM)Note 26 Feb 1966 RT-2 Mod Kapustin Yar
General Characteristics
Length: 20,000 mm (65.6 ft) Diameter: 1,700 mm (5.57 ft) Launch Weight: 34,000 kg (33.46 tons) Guidance: inertial guidance Propulsion: solid, three-stage Warhead: 600kt nuclear Range:
Operators The Strategic Rocket Forces were the only operator of the RT-2.
Photo gallery
See also RT-2PM Topol List of missiles List of rockets
References
Hogg, Ian (2000). Twentieth-Century Artillery. Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. S.P.Korolev RSC Energia Rocket RT-2P
External links