SSM-N-8A Regulus

SSM-N-8A Regulus
General Information
Type	Cruise missiles
Manufacturer	Vought
Commissioning	1955
Technical specifications
length	9.80 m
diameter	1,435 mm
Combat weight	4,670 kg + 790 kg launcher
First stage drive	Jet engine Allison J33-A-18A (20 kN) 2 solid fuel rockets Aerojet General (146 kN each)
speed	960 km / h
Range	925 km
Furnishing
Warhead	W5 nuclear warhead with 40 kt or W27 nuclear warhead with 2.0 Mt
Weapon platforms	Warship
Lists on the subject

The SSM-N-8A Regulus was a nuclear-armed cruise missile made by the US manufacturer Vought , which was used by the United States Navy from 1955 to 1964 .

development

The missile, stationed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, was the first sea-based cruise missile to go into service and was based on the drafts of the German V1 . The Regulus project began in 1943, but without any significant progress. Until 1947, the planning only led to an exact specification of the performance data. In parallel, there was the SSM-N-6 Rigel cruise missile project , which began in 1943 and was discontinued in 1953. During this time the projects of the United States Navy were in competition with the cruise missile Matador of the US Army. Finally there was the first flight of a Regulus cruise missile in 1951 and the first launch from a submarine in 1953 from the deck of the surfaced USS Tunny . A missile launch under water was not possible at that time.

Launch of a Regulus I from the USS Tunny

commitment

Submarines

The two Grayback-class submarines went on patrol with Regulus from 1958 , and the nuclear submarine USS Halibut (SSGN-587) from 1960 . From 1964, submarine-supported Polaris missiles went into service, replacing the Regulus .

cruiser

In addition to the stationing on submarines, the stationing on surface ships was examined and carried out on a small scale. From 1955/56 four cruisers of the Baltimore class , the USS Helena (CA-75) , the USS Macon (CA-132) , the USS Toledo (CA-133) and the USS Los Angeles (CA-135) sailed , each with three Regulus missiles that were carried in the original seaplane hangar.

Aircraft carrier

A total of ten aircraft carriers were equipped for the use of Regulus missiles, with only six ever taking off. The USS Princeton (CV-37) made the first launch of a Regulus from a warship, but made no mission. Also only test starts were made by the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) , the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and the USS Lexington (CV-16) . In 1955, the USS Randolph (CV-15) and the USS Hancock (CV-19) each carried out an actual mission trip with three missiles on board .

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  Launch of a Regulus from the USS Halibut (SSGN-587)

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  Launch of a Regulus from the heavy cruiser USS Toledo (CA-133)

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  Launch of a Regulus from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19)

During a launch known as Missile Mail on June 8, 1959, mail containers with letters were transported by a Regulus missile.

Web links

Commons : SSM-N-8A Regulus  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• Guided Missile. Navy Tests Newest Atomic War Weapon - Universal Newsreel from February 9, 1956, weekly report at archive.org
• Vought SSM-N-8 / RGM-6 Regulus at designation-systems.net (in English)