MGM-52 Lance

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MGM-52 Lance
Een FMC M752 lanceervoertuig voor de Lance raket van 129 Afdeling veldartillerie (2001 516-79-I11).jpg
MGM-52C Lance missile erected for launch from the tracked M752 self-propelled launcher.
Type Tactical ballistic missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1972–1992
Used byU.S. Army, Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, and West Germany
Production history
Manufacturer LTV
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Unit cost~US$800K (1996 dollars) [1]
~US$1.4 million (2023) [2]
No. built2,133 [3]
Specifications
Mass2,850–3,367 lb (1,293–1,527 kg) depending on warhead [3]
Length21 ft (6.4 m)
Diameter22 in (560 mm)
Warhead1 W70 nuclear or M251 high explosive submunitions [3]
Blast yield1–100 kilotons of TNT (4.2–418.4 TJ)
EngineLiquid-propellant rocket
Operational
range
45–80 mi (72–129 km), depending on warhead [3]
Maximum speed >Mach 3
Guidance
system
 inertial guidance
Accuracy150 m CEP

The MGM-52 Lance was a mobile field artillery tactical surface-to-surface missile (tactical ballistic missile) system used to provide both nuclear and conventional fire support to the United States Army. The missile's warhead was developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It was replaced by MGM-140 ATACMS, which was initially intended to likewise have a nuclear capability during the Cold War. [4]

Contents

History

The first Lance missiles were deployed in 1972, replacing (together with the US-Navy's nuclear-tipped RIM-2D and RIM-8E/B/D) the earlier Honest John rocket and Sergeant SRBM ballistic missile, greatly reducing the weight and bulk of the system, while improving both accuracy and mobility. [3] They were deployed extensively in Europe after 1972. In 1990, it was reported that 90 launchers were deployed in western Europe, with 300 conventional high explosive warheads and 700 nuclear warheads available. 150 nuclear warheads were reportedly in the United States, bringing the total available nuclear warheads to at least 850, which are all now believed to have been destroyed by the US. [5]

The Lance missile was progressively removed from service from 1991 to 1994 and was partially replaced in the conventional role by the MGM-140 ATACMS. Some surplus missiles were used as intercept targets by MIM-23 Hawk and MIM-104 Patriot systems. [5] An upgrade for the Lance was planned and named Follow-on-to-Lance (FOTL). Army planners envisioned a new missile with a range of 250 to 270 miles, considerably longer than the range of the Lance missile, but within the limits for short-range missiles allowed under the INF Treaty. However, in the context of nuclear disarmament the NATO summit in May 1990 decided not to go forward with modernization to the FOTL standard. [6]

The Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology in Koblenz has one of these rockets in its collection.

Design

M688 tracked transporter/loader vehicle (shares the same chassis as the M752) transferring missiles from a utility truck. Een FMC M668 transportvoertuig voor de Lance-raket van 129 Afdeling Veldartillerie (2001 516-79-B-1).jpg
M688 tracked transporter/loader vehicle (shares the same chassis as the M752) transferring missiles from a utility truck.

Payload

The payload consisted either of a W70 nuclear warhead with a yield of 1–100 kt (4.2–418.4 TJ) or a variety of conventional munitions. The W70-3 nuclear warhead version was one of the first warheads to be battlefield-ready with an "enhanced radiation" (neutron bomb) capability. [7] The W70-3 warhead became available after 1982, and only to US forces. [5] Conventional munitions included single conventional shaped-charge warhead for penetrating hard targets and for bunker busting or a cluster configuration containing 836 M74 bomblets for anti-personnel and anti-materiel uses. The original design considered a chemical weapon warhead option, but this development was cancelled in 1970.[ citation needed ]

Guidance, navigation, and control

Lance missiles were equipped with simple inertial navigation systems, which use sensors to track the movement of the missile and compare it to a known starting point to guide the missile to the target. The missile is spin stabilized in flight to improve accuracy, achieving a circular error probable of 492 ft (150 m). [5]

Propulsion

The Lance used stable liquid propellants. [5] The missile's engine had an unusual arrangement, with a small sustainer engine mounted within a toroidal boost engine. [8] They were capable of speed greater than Mach 3 and had a range of up to 80 mi (129 km).

Launch platform and support equipment

A Lance battery (two fire units) consisted of two M752 launchers (one missile each) and two M688 auxiliary vehicles (two missiles each), for a total six missiles; the firing rate per unit was approximately three missiles per hour. [5] The launch vehicles were also able to carry and launch the MGR-1 Honest John with a special kit for operational war-zone mission-dependent flexibility (proposed additional kit). [3]

Operators

Map with former MGM-52 operators in red MGM-52 operators.png
Map with former MGM-52 operators in red

Former operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States United States Army

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom British Army

Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Israeli Defence Forces

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Royal Netherlands Army

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Belgian Land Component

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Italian Army

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany German Army

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lance Missile (MGM-52C)". U.S. Nuclear Weapons Cost Study Project. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution. August 1998. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth . Retrieved 30 November 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ripley, Tim (1992). The new illustrated guide to the modern US Army. Salamander Books Ltd. pp. 92–93. ISBN   0-86101-671-8.
  4. ↑ Healy, Melissa (3 October 1987). "Senate Permits Study for New Tactical Nuclear Missile". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lennox, Duncan (1989). Jane's strategic weapons systems. Coulsdon, Surry, Eng. ; Alexandria, VA : Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0-7106-0880-2.
  6. ↑ "LTV MGM-52 Lance". www.designation-systems.net. 17 October 2001.
  7. ↑ Rybak, E.F.; Gruszczyński, J. (1998). Amerykańskie rakiety operacyjno-taktyczne i taktyczne. Cz. IV. Ku nowym wojnom. „Nowa Technika Wojskowa” Nr 7/1998, ISSN 1230-1655, p.32 (in Polish)
  8. ↑ A Rocket Engine Inside Another Rocket Engine - The Lance Missile - Scott Manley
  9. ↑ "6th Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment".
  10. ↑ "2/5FA". Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
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