From 1960 to 1988 there were Pershing missile launches for testing from various sites in the US. The systems included the Pershing 1 Field Artillery Missile System, the Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System and the Pershing II Weapon System. Initial launches were from what is now the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral, Florida using Launch Complex 30A using the dismounted erector launcher. Later launches were from the full transporter erector launcher (TEL). Further launches were conducted at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) using tactical equipment. The Pershing 1 and 1a had a range of 740 kilometres (460 mi), thus launches were from various subinstallations into WSMR. The two-stage Pershing II had a range of 1,770 kilometres (1,100 mi), thus launches at WSMR used a single-stage missile with two-stage launches at Cape Canaveral.
Initial missile launches were for research and development purposes. There were 52 R&D launches in the Pershing 1 development cycle.
In 1965, the Army contracted with the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of Johns Hopkins University to develop and implement a test and evaluation program. [1] APL developed the Pershing Operational Test Program (OTP), provided technical support to the Pershing Operational Test Unit (POTU), identified problem areas and improved the performance and survivability of the Pershing systems.
POTU planned, scheduled, and executed the tests, evaluations, and missile firings to support OTP. [2] POTU would select three firing batteries from the 56th Field Artillery Command in West Germany to participate in Follow-on Operational Tests (FOT) using an unannounced field alert status verifications (FASV) at the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) site. POTU selected missiles, equipment and personnel (colloquially referred to as a tap) for transport to either Cape Canaveral or White Sands Missile Range. After arrival, the missiles and launchers would be equipped with telemetry and the missiles would have range safety equipment installed for in-flight destruction if needed. Shoots were supported by elements of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The missile crews would perform tactical countdowns and launch the missile. Data collectors from APL observed the crews and equipment. After the shoot, data and evaluations were compiled into reports of the performance estimates of the operational capabilities of the Pershing missile system.
Initial test missiles were painted white with black striping in a roll pattern that aided in tracking and observation of roll. Tactical missiles were painted green; first olive drab then later forest green. A very few missiles were painted in woodland camouflage. Pershing 1 and 1a missiles tapped for a shoot would have orange stripes added to the rocket motors and the guidance section and had a dummy warhead with black and white roll pattern. Pershing II missiles had orange and yellow stripes added for tracking. The white tip of the Pershing II was not a marking, it was a radome formed of a radar transparent ablative heat shield with the fuze at the very tip in black.
The missiles had dummy warheads that contained telemetry equipment that monitored missile operation and radioed it back to the ground station. The Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a programmer test station and the erector launcher had a recorder installed to monitor all signals; for Pershing II this was installed on the erector launcher.
The post offices at White Sands Missile Range and Cape Canaveral issued event covers for all launches. Most covers were created using a rubber stamp with the image of a generic missile and a stamped date and time. The first eight launches of the Pershing 1a were recognized with a specially printed cover.
Date | Time GMT | Site | ID | Unit/Test |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 February 1960 | 18:02 | Canaveral LC30A | 105 | P-01 First test launch |
20 April 1960 | 18:30 | Canaveral LC30A | 106 | P-02 test |
10 May 1960 | 16:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 107 | P-03 test |
9 June 1960 | 16:19 | Canaveral LC30A | 108 | P-04 test |
30 June 1960 | 16:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 109 | P-05 test |
26 July 1960 | 16:00 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 110 | P-06 test |
28 September 1960 | 19:38 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 205 | P-07 test |
16 November 1960 | 18:25 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 206 | P-08 test |
12 December 1960 | 18:42 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 207 | P-09 test |
6 January 1961 | 0:10 | Canaveral LC30A | 208 | P-10 test (failure) |
26 January 1961 | 0:30 | Canaveral LC30A | 209 | P-11 test [6] |
16 February 1961 | 1:27 | Canaveral LC30A | 210 | P-12 test |
2 March 1961 | 5:07 | Canaveral LC30A | 211 | P-13 test |
16 March 1961 | 1:19 | Canaveral LC30A | 212 | P-14 test |
21 April 1961 | 15:53 | Canaveral LC30A | 308 | P-15 test |
19 May 1961 | 2:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 310 | P-16 test |
9 June 1961 | 5:11 | Canaveral LC30A | 311 | P-17 test |
1 July 1961 | 2:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 312 | P-18 test |
20 July 1961 | 2:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 313 | P-19 test |
10 August 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 315 | P-20 test (failure) | |
22 August 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 316 | P-21 test | |
13 September 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 318 | P-22 test | |
26 September 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 319 | P-23 test | |
10 October 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 320 | P-24 test | |
2 November 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 322 | P-25 test | |
15 November 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 323 | P-26 test | |
1 December 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 324 | P-27 | |
28 December 1961 | Canaveral LC30A | 327 | P-28 test | |
16 January 1962 | 19:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 334 | P-29 test |
25 January 1962 | 3:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 332 | P-30 test |
19 February 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 335 | P-31 test | |
15 March 1962 | 11:30 | Canaveral LC30A | 328 | P-32 test |
4 April 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 326 | P-33 test | |
24 April 1962 | 17:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 337 | P-34 test (failure) |
27 April 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 329 | P-35 test | |
9 May 1962 | 13:30 | Canaveral LC30A | 330 | P-36 test (failure) |
5 June 1962 | 2:00 | Canaveral LC30A | 339 | P-37 test |
14 June 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 342 | P-38 test (failure) | |
21 August 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 338 | P-39 test | |
26 September 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 347 | P-40 test | |
22 October 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | TEL 351 | P-41 test | |
15 November 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 348 | P-42 test | |
27 November 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 354 | P-43 test | |
10 December 1962 | Canaveral LC30A | 353 | P-44 test | |
17 January 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 358 | P-45 test | |
30 January 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 363 | P-46 test | |
14 February 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 403 | P-47 test | |
26 February 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 406 | P-48 test | |
4 March 1963 | Canaveral LC30D | 405 | P-49 test | |
13 March 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 407 | P-50 test | |
21 March 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 410 | P-51 test | |
3 April 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 408 | P-52 Last R&D test | |
6 April 1963 | 0:45 | Canaveral LC30A | 511 | P-53 IST/Orlando |
12 April 1963 | Canaveral LC30A | 515 | P-54 test | |
17 April 1963 | 16:39 | Canaveral LC30E | 520 | P-55 test |
24 April 1963 | 20:30 | Canaveral LC30A | 521 | P-56 test |
20 August 1963 | Bliss | X-57 2/44 FA operational test | ||
27 August 1963 | Bliss | X-58 operational test | ||
24 September 1963 | 17:06 | Black Mesa | X-59 operational test [7] | |
25 September 1963 | 13:40 | Black Mesa | X-60 operational test | |
25 September 1963 | 21:40 | Black Mesa | X-61 McGregor target operational test | |
27 September 1963 | 13:40 | Black Mesa | X-62 operational test | |
27 September 1963 | 20:40 | Black Mesa | X-63 operational test | |
14 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-64 operational test | ||
16 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-65 operational test | ||
18 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-66 operational test | ||
21 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-67 operational test | ||
23 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-68 FW-5 operational test (failure) | ||
28 October 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-69 operational test | ||
14 November 1963 | 14:30 | Fort Wingate | X-70 4/41st FA operational test | |
20 November 1963 | 17:31 | Fort Wingate | X-71 4/41st FA FW-8 operational test | |
5 December 1963 | Fort Wingate | X-72 4/41st FA operational test | ||
24 February 1964 | 14:57 | Fort Wingate | X-73 Fort Sill operational test | |
25 February 1964 | Fort Wingate | X-75 operational test (failure) | ||
25 February 1964 | 0:17 | Fort Wingate | X-74 Fort Sill operational test | |
28 February 1964 | Fort Wingate | X-76 operational test | ||
21 April 1964 | Bliss | AO-12 | X-77 German operational test; FKGrp 12 GRAD [8] | |
23 April 1964 | Bliss | X-78 German operational test | ||
17 July 1964 | Black Mesa | AO-14 | X-79 German operational test; FKGrp 13 GRAD | |
22 July 1964 | Black Mesa | AO-15 | X-80 German operational test; FKGrp 13 GRAD | |
18 November 1964 | Bliss | X-81 Fort Sill 3/84 FA operational test | ||
18 November 1964 | Bliss | X-82 Fort Sill 3/84 FA operational test | ||
19 November 1964 | Fort Bliss | X-84 3/84 FA operational test (failure: overshoot into Colorado) [9] [10] | ||
19 November 1964 | Bliss | X-83 Fort Sill 3/84 FA operational test | ||
28 January 1965 | Fort Wingate | T1 | X-85 Fort Sill operational test | |
3 February 1965 | Fort Wingate | T2 | X-86 Fort Sill | |
3 February 1965 | Fort Wingate | T3 | X-87 Fort Sill | |
12 February 1965 | Fort Wingate | T4 | X-88 Fort Sill operational test | |
26 May 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-89 Fort Sill operational test | ||
27 May 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-90 7th ArmyB4 | ||
2 June 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-91 Fort Sill (failure: overshoot McGregor) | ||
16 June 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-92 Fort Sill operational test | ||
6 October 1965 | Gilson Butte | AO-28 | X-93 BRD (failure); FKGrp 12 ASP | |
6 October 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-94 BRD | ||
13 October 1965 | Gilson Butte | X-95 operational test (failure) | ||
31 January 1966 | Bliss | AO-30 | X-96 German operational test; FKGrp 13 ASP | |
14 February 1966 | 16:52 | Bliss | X-97 Fort Sill operational test | |
16 February 1966 | Bliss | X-98 Fort Sill | ||
22 June 1966 | Gilson Butte | X-99 Fort Sill operational test | ||
27 June 1966 | Gilson Butte | X-100 7th Army | ||
19 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-101 Fort Sill | ||
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | AO-37 | X-103 operational test; FKGrp 21GRAD | |
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | AO-38 | X-104 operational test; FKGrp 21GRAD | |
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-105 operational test | ||
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-106 operational test | ||
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-107 operational test | ||
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-108 operational test | ||
26 July 1966 | Black Mesa | X-102 operational test | ||
21 October 1966 | Gilson Butte | AO-41 | X-111 operational test; FKGrp 12ASP | |
21 October 1966 | Gilson Butte | X-110 operational test | ||
21 October 1966 | Gilson Butte | X-109 operational test | ||
26 October 1966 | Gilson Butte | AO-43 | X-112 Fort Sill; FKGrp 22 GRAD | |
4 November 1966 | Gilson Butte | AO-44 | X-113 BRD; FKGrp 22 GRAD | |
7 March 1967 | 16:00 | Black Mesa | X-115 | |
7 March 1967 | 16:00 | Black Mesa | X-114 | |
13 March 1967 | Black Mesa | X-116 7th Army operational test | ||
13 March 1967 | Black Mesa | X-117 7th Army operational test | ||
15 March 1967 | Black Mesa | AO-49 | BRD; FKGrp 13 ASP | |
28 March 1967 | Black Mesa | DASO-7 | X-118 7th Army demonstration and shakedown operations launch | |
29 March 1967 | 0:30 | Black Mesa | X-120 7th Army operational test | |
29 March 1967 | 0:30 | Black Mesa | DASO-8 | X-119 7th Army demonstration and shakedown operations launch |
29 March 1967 | 1:00 | Black Mesa | X-121 7th Army operational test | |
2 June 1967 | Black Mesa | T01 | X-122 7th Army operational test | |
2 June 1967 | Black Mesa | T02 | X-123 7th Army operational test | |
9 June 1967 | Black Mesa | T03 | X-124 operational test | |
22 June 1967 | Black Mesa | T04 | X-125 operational test | |
23 June 1967 | Black Mesa | T05 | X-126 7th Army operational test | |
29 August 1967 | 20:10 | Black Mesa | X-127 operational test | |
29 August 1967 | 20:15 | Black Mesa | X-128 operational test | |
29 August 1967 | 20:30 | Black Mesa | X-129 operational test | |
29 August 1967 | 21:00 | Black Mesa | X-130 operational test | |
12 September 1967 | 7:00 | Black Mesa | AO-53 | X-131 BRD; FKGrp 12 ASP |
12 September 1967 | 7:48 | Black Mesa | X-132 operational test The round overshot, impacting near the town of Los Pilares, Chihuahua, Mexico, a distance of 558 miles. [11] [12] | |
15 November 1967 | 15:00 | Black Mesa | X-133 7th Army | |
15 November 1967 | 15:30 | Black Mesa | X-134 7th Army | |
15 November 1967 | 17:45 | Black Mesa | X-135 Fort Sill | |
5 March 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-136 operational test | ||
5 March 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-137 operational test | ||
16 March 1968 | Hueco | AO-60 | BRD; FKGrp 21 ASP | |
16 March 1968 | Hueco | AO-61 | BRD; FKGrp 13 ASP | |
29 April 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-139 operational test | ||
20 June 1968 | Gilson Butte | AO-64 | X-140 BRD F1; 4./FKGrp 12 ASP | |
20 June 1968 | Gilson Butte | AO-65 | X-141 BRD F2/9; FKGrp 22 ASP | |
19 July 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-142 7th Army F3 | ||
19 July 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-143 7th Army F4 | ||
3 August 1968 | Gilson Butte | AO-68 | X-145 BRD F6; FKGrp 12 ASP | |
3 August 1968 | Gilson Butte | AO-69 | X-144 BRD F5; FKGrp 21 ASP | |
5 November 1968 | 16:11 | Gilson Butte | X-149 7th Army | |
5 November 1968 | 18:00 | Gilson Butte | X-150 7th Army | |
13 November 1968 | Gilson Butte | AO-72 | X-151 BRD GILB-19 operational test; FKGrp 12 ASP | |
2 April 1969 | Black Mesa | AO-73 | BRD; FKGrp 21 ASP | |
2 April 1969 | Black Mesa | AO-74 | BRD; FKGrp 22 ASP | |
15 April 1969 | Black Mesa | X-152 7th Army F1 | ||
16 April 1969 | Black Mesa | X-153 7th Army F2 | ||
29 April 1969 | 17:55 | Black Mesa | AO-77 | X-154 German F3; FKGrp 12 ASP |
29 April 1969 | 19:00 | Black Mesa | AO-78 | X-155 German F4 (failure); FKGrp 13 ASP |
1 May 1969 | Black Mesa | X-156 German F5 | ||
1 May 1969 | Black Mesa | X-157 German F6 | ||
14 May 1969 | 15:30 | Black Mesa | X-158 7th Army F7 | |
14 May 1969 | 16:40 | Black Mesa | X-159 7th Army F8 | |
5 September 1969 | 19:55 | Black Mesa | AO-81 | X-160 BRD F1; FKGrp 12 ASP |
5 September 1969 | 20:30 | Black Mesa | AO-82 | X-161 BRD F2; FKGrp 13 ASP |
16 April 1970 | 20:00 | Black Mesa | T01/AO-87 | X-166 BRD; FKGrp 12 ASP |
16 April 1970 | 20:37 | Black Mesa | T02/AO-88 | X-167 BRD; FKGrp 12 ASP |
1 June 1970 | Black Mesa | T08 | X-173 | |
4 June 1970 | 1:10 | Black Mesa | T05 4/AO-90 | X-170 BRD; FKGrp 13 ASP |
4 June 1970 | 20:00 | Black Mesa | T06 5/AO-91 | X-171 BRD; FKGrp 13 ASP |
5 June 1970 | 1:00 | Black Mesa | T07 6 | X-172 7th Army |
15 September 1970 | Black Mesa | T01 | X-178 Fort Sill | |
17 September 1970 | 20:00 | Black Mesa | T02 | X-179 Fort Sill |
29 September 1970 | 19:15 | Black Mesa | T03 | X-180 7th Army operational test |
29 September 1970 | 19:36 | Black Mesa | T04 | X-181 7th Army |
29 September 1970 | 21:10 | Black Mesa | T05 | X-182 7th Army |
29 September 1970 | 21:34 | Black Mesa | OffR 117 T06 | X-183 7th Army |
14 October 1970 | 3:05 | Black Mesa | T07/AO-95 | X-184 BRD; FKGrp 21 ASP |
14 October 1970 | 4:15 | Black Mesa | T08/AO-96 | X-185 BRD (failure); FKGrp 21 ASP |
5 November 1970 | 3:35 | Black Mesa | T09 | X-186 7th Army |
5 November 1970 | 4:05 | Black Mesa | T10 | X-187 7th Army |
5 November 1970 | 5:25 | Black Mesa | T11 | X-188 7th Army (failure) |
5 November 1970 | 7:35 | Black Mesa | T12 | X-189 7th Army |
23 November 1970 | 20:30 | Black Mesa | T13 | X-190 7th Army |
23 November 1970 | 23:10 | Black Mesa | T14 | X-191 7th Army |
23 November 1970 | 23:45 | Black Mesa | T15 | X-192 7th Army |
24 November 1970 | 0:20 | Black Mesa | OffR 127 T16 | X-193 7th Army |
27 April 1971 | 18:30 | Green River | T01 | X-194 7th Army |
27 April 1971 | 19:00 | Green River | T02 | X-195 7th Army |
27 April 1971 | 20:00 | Green River | T03 | X-196 7th Army |
27 April 1971 | 20:30 | Green River | T04 | X-197 7th Army |
12 May 1971 | Green River | T06 | X-199 7th Army | |
12 May 1971 | Green River | T07 | X-200 7th Army | |
12 May 1971 | Green River | T08 | X-201 7th Army | |
12 May 1971 | Green River | T05 | X-198 7th Army | |
28 May 1971 | 4:20 | Green River | T09 | X-202 7th Army |
28 May 1971 | 4:50 | Green River | T10 | X-203 7th Army |
28 May 1971 | 6:55 | Green River | T11 | X-204 7th Army |
8 June 1971 | 20:31 | Green River | T12 | X-205 Fort Sill |
18 April 1972 | 16:00 | Green River | T01 Imp | X-212 Fort Sill/ARMTE |
Date | Time GMT | Site | ID | Unit/Test |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 March 1968 | Fort Bliss | X-138 Martin Marietta | ||
5 August 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-147 Fort Sill F8 | ||
5 August 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-146 Fort Sill F7 | ||
7 August 1968 | Gilson Butte | X-148 Fort Sill F9 | ||
16 September 1969 | Black Mesa | X-162 Fort Sill F3 | ||
16 September 1969 | Black Mesa | X-163 Fort Sill F4 | ||
30 September 1969 | 20:15 | Black Mesa | X-164 Fort Sill F5 | |
30 September 1969 | 23:55 | Black Mesa | X-165 Fort Sill F6 | |
1 April 1970 | Black Mesa | T04 7 | X-169 7th Army | |
28 April 1970 | Black Mesa | T03 | X-168 7th Army (failure) | |
14 July 1970 | 15:35 | Black Mesa | DASO T09 | X-174 7th Army |
14 July 1970 | 16:00 | Black Mesa | DASO T10 | X-175 7th Army |
4 August 1970 | 21:01 | Black Mesa | T11 | X-176 7th Army |
4 August 1970 | 21:25 | Black Mesa | T12 | X-177 7th Army |
23 September 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Imp T01 | X-206 Fort Sill (failure) | |
30 September 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Imp T02 | X-207 Fort Sill (failure) | |
22 October 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | T03 | X-208 7th Army | |
27 October 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-209 7th Army | ||
9 November 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | OffR 150 T06 | X-211 Fort Sill | |
9 November 1971 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | T05 | X-210 7th Army | |
18 April 1972 | 18:40 | Green River | T02 Imp | X-213 7th Army/ARMTE |
17 May 1972 | Green River | T04 Imp | X-215 7th Army/ARMTE | |
17 May 1972 | Green River | T03 Imp | X-214 7th Army/ARMTE | |
17 May 1972 | Green River | T05 | X-216 7th Army | |
17 May 1972 | Green River | T06 | X-217 7th Army | |
1 June 1972 | Green River | T09 | X-220 7th Army | |
1 June 1972 | Green River | T10 | X-221 7th Army | |
2 June 1972 | 6:10 | Green River | T07 | X-218 7th Army |
2 June 1972 | 6:45 | Green River | T08 | X-219 7th Army |
7 June 1972 | Green River | T11 | X-222 7th Army | |
8 June 1972 | Green River | T12 | X-223 7th Army | |
13 June 1972 | Green River | T14 | X-225 BRD | |
13 June 1972 | Green River | T13 | X-224 BRD | |
22 June 1972 | 14:20 | Green River | T15 | X-226 BRD |
22 June 1972 | 15:00 | Green River | T16 | X-227 BRD |
29 June 1972 | Green River | T19 | X-230 7th Army | |
29 June 1972 | Green River | T20 | X-231 7th Army | |
29 June 1972 | Green River | T17 | X-228 7th Army | |
29 June 1972 | Green River | T18 | X-229 7th Army | |
18 September 1972 | Green River | AO | X-233 BRD F2 | |
18 September 1972 | Green River | AO | X-232 BRD F1 | |
25 September 1972 | 14:30 | Green River | AO-114 | X-234 BRD F3 German operational test |
25 September 1972 | 15:30 | Green River | AO-115 | X-235 BRD F4 German operational test |
11 October 1972 | Green River | AO | X-236 7th Army F5 Ar/Ord | |
11 October 1972 | Green River | AO | X-237 7th Army F6 | |
20 October 1972 | Green River | X-238 7th Army F7 | ||
20 October 1972 | Green River | AO | X-239 Fort Sill F8 | |
21 February 1973 | 15:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 101 | X-240 A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
21 February 1973 | 15:37 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 102 | X-241 A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
21 February 1973 | 16:30 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 103 | X-242 A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
21 February 1973 | 17:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 104 | X-243 A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
6 March 1973 | 23:28 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 105 | X-244 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
6 March 1973 | 23:48 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 106 | X-245 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
7 March 1973 | 0:22 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 107 | X-246 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch (failure) |
7 March 1973 | 0:50 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 108 | X-247 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
19 March 1973 | 16:02 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 111 | X-248 C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
19 March 1973 | 16:16 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 112 | X-249 C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
19 March 1973 | 17:20 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 109 | X-250 C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
19 March 1973 | 17:52 | Cape Canaveral: LC31A | 110 | X-251 C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
19 June 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-252 Fort Sill F1 | ||
19 June 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-253 7th Army F2 | ||
27 June 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-254 7th Army F3 operational test | ||
27 June 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-255 7th Army F4 operational test (failure) | ||
17 July 1973 | 14:53 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-256 BRD F5 | |
17 July 1973 | 16:19 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-257 BRD F6 | |
26 July 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-259 BRD F8 | ||
26 July 1973 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | X-258 BRD F7 (failure) | ||
25 September 1973 | 9:30 | Green River | P-268 Fort Sill F1 | |
25 September 1973 | 10:05 | Green River | P-269 Fort Sill F2 | |
10 October 1973 | Green River | P-270 BRD F3 | ||
10 October 1973 | Green River | P-271 BRD F4 | ||
24 October 1973 | 10:15 | Green River | P-272 BRD F5 | |
24 October 1973 | 11:05 | Green River | P-273 BRD F6 | |
1 November 1973 | Green River | P-274 7th Army | ||
1 November 1973 | Green River | P-275 7th Army | ||
27 November 1973 | Green River | P-276 7th Army F9 | ||
27 November 1973 | Green River | P-277 7th Army F10 | ||
6 December 1973 | Green River | P-278 7th Army F11 | ||
6 December 1973 | Green River | 139 | P-279 7th Army F12 test | |
7 May 1974 | 19:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 103 | P-280 C Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
7 May 1974 | 19:15 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 104 | P-281 C/D Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
7 May 1974 | 20:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 102 | P-282 C Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
7 May 1974 | 20:21 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 101 | P-283 C Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
21 May 1974 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 109 | P-284 7th Army operational test (failure) | |
21 May 1974 | 13:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 110 | P-285 7th Army operational test |
21 May 1974 | 13:18 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 111 | P-286 7th Army operational test |
21 May 1974 | 14:28 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 112 | P-287 7th Army operational test |
31 May 1974 | 19:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 105 | P-288 operational test (failure) |
31 May 1974 | 19:15 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 106 | P-289 operational test |
31 May 1974 | 20:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 107 | P-290 operational test |
31 May 1974 | 20:21 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 108 | P-291 operational test |
17 October 1974 | 14:10 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-292 Fort Sill | |
17 October 1974 | 15:08 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-293 Fort Sill | |
31 October 1974 | 15:02 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-294 7th Army | |
31 October 1974 | 16:25 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-295 7th Army | |
25 November 1974 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-297 BRD | ||
25 November 1974 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-296 BRD | ||
6 December 1974 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-298 BRD | ||
6 December 1974 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-299 BRD | ||
13 May 1975 | 9:00 | Green River | P-300 German operational test; 300th Pershing launch; FKW1 [13] | |
13 May 1975 | 10:00 | Green River | P-301 German operational test; FKW1 [13] | |
28 May 1975 | 9:38 | Green River | P-302 German operational test; FKW1 [13] | |
28 May 1975 | 10:04 | Green River | P-303 German operational test; FKW1 [13] | |
11 June 1975 | 9:22 | Green River | P-304 7th Army operational test; Improved Pershing 1a [13] | |
11 June 1975 | 10:00 | Green River | P-305 7th Army operational test; Improved Pershing 1a [13] | |
25 June 1975 | Green River | P-307 7th Army operational test | ||
25 June 1975 | Green River | P-306 7th Army operational test | ||
23 July 1975 | 15:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 37 | P-308 D Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
23 July 1975 | 16:38 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 38 | P-309 D Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
23 July 1975 | 16:53 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 39 | P-310 S D Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
24 July 1975 | 18:49 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 40 | P-311 D Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
5 August 1975 | 16:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 41 | P-312 C Btry 1/81 FA/D operational test launch |
5 August 1975 | 16:20 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 42 | P-313 C Btry 1/81 FA/D operational test launch (failure) |
5 August 1975 | 18:16 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 43 | P-314 C Btry 1/81 FA/D operational test launch |
5 August 1975 | 18:32 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 44 | P-315 C Btry 1/81 FA/D operational test launch |
25 August 1975 | 15:54 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-45 | P-316 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch (failure) |
25 August 1975 | 17:32 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-46 | P-317 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
26 August 1975 | 18:32 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-47 | P-318 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
26 August 1975 | 18:49 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-48 | P-319 C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch (failure) |
7 October 1975 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-321 BRD-2 | ||
7 October 1975 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-320 BRD-1 | ||
21 October 1975 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-323 BRD-4 | ||
21 October 1975 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-322 BRD-3 | ||
15 January 1976 | 10:00 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-324 9FA | |
15 January 1976 | 11:00 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-325 9FA | |
15 January 1976 | 12:00 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-326 7th Army | |
15 January 1976 | 13:55 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-327 7th Army | |
4 May 1976 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-329 BRD | ||
4 May 1976 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-328 BRD | ||
18 May 1976 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-330 BRD | ||
18 May 1976 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-331 BRD | ||
2 June 1976 | 15:19 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-332 7th Army | |
2 June 1976 | 15:45 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-333 7th Army | |
29 June 1976 | 13:03 | Fort Wingate | P-334 7th Army | |
29 June 1976 | 14:58 | Fort Wingate | P-335 7th Army | |
26 October 1976 | 18:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-49 | C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
26 October 1976 | 19:12 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-50 | C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
26 October 1976 | 20:21 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-51 | C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
26 October 1976 | 20:39 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-52 | C Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
17 February 1977 | 18:12 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | D Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch | |
2 March 1977 | 18:28 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | B Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch | |
2 March 1977 | 18:53 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | B Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch (failure) | |
2 March 1977 | 20:31 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | B Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch | |
2 March 1977 | 21:42 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | B Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch (failure) | |
3 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | WS-244/P-336 | ||
3 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | WS-245/P-337 | ||
17 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | WS-246/P-338 | ||
17 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | WS-247/P-339 | ||
31 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-340 | ||
31 May 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-341 | ||
14 June 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | WS-250/P-342 | ||
14 June 1977 | 14:42 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-343 | |
1 November 1977 | White Sands | Pershing II R&D operational test (Pershing 1a motors with Pershing II re-entry vehicle) | ||
18 November 1977 | 15:04 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-344 / WS-252 / P-II R&D operational test / earth penetrator warhead | |
1 December 1977 | White Sands | Pershing II R&D operational test | ||
1 December 1977 | White Sands | Pershing II R&D operational test | ||
9 December 1977 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | P-345 / WS-253 / P-II R&D operational test / earth penetrator warhead | ||
18 May 1978 | White Sands | Operational test | ||
13 July 1978 | 14:37 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-111 | D Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
13 July 1978 | 16:57 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-112 | D Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
13 July 1978 | 18:09 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-113 | D Btry 1/81 FA operational test launch |
25 July 1978 | 14:30 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-115 | A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
25 July 1978 | 14:48 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-114 | A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
25 July 1978 | 15:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-116 | A Btry 3/84 FA operational test launch |
25 August 1978 | 13:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-117 | C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
25 August 1978 | 13:23 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-118 | C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
25 August 1978 | 13:53 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-119 | C Btry 1/41 FA operational test launch |
22 February 1979 | 14:43 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-121 | Follow-on test launch |
22 February 1979 | 15:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-122 | Follow-on test launch |
22 February 1979 | 15:19 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-120 | Follow-on test launch |
25 April 1979 | 15:03 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-125 | Follow-on test launch |
25 April 1979 | 15:17 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-124 | Follow-on test launch |
25 April 1979 | 15:40 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-123 | Follow-on test launch |
9 May 1979 | 17:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-128 | Follow-on test launch |
9 May 1979 | 18:29 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-126 | Follow-on test launch |
9 May 1979 | 18:50 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-127 | Follow-on test launch |
12 February 1980 | 15:51 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-131 | Follow-on test launch |
12 February 1980 | 16:27 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-129 | Follow-on test launch |
23 April 1980 | 15:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-132 | Follow-on test launch |
23 April 1980 | 15:22 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-133 | Follow-on test launch |
23 April 1980 | 15:39 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-134 | Follow-on test launch |
23 April 1980 | 16:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-135 | Follow-on test launch |
7 May 1980 | 14:40 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
7 May 1980 | 14:59 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-136 | Follow-on test launch |
7 May 1980 | 15:58 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-137 | Follow-on test launch |
15 May 1980 | 14:51 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-138 | Follow-on test launch |
15 October 1980 | White Sands | German operational test | ||
15 October 1980 | White Sands | German operational test | ||
15 October 1980 | White Sands | German operational test | ||
15 October 1980 | White Sands | German operational test | ||
4 February 1981 | 15:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-141 | Follow-on test launch |
4 February 1981 | 15:33 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-139 | Follow-on test launch |
4 February 1981 | 15:53 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-140 | Follow-on Test launch |
17 February 1981 | 17:15 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-143 | Follow-on test launch |
17 February 1981 | 17:51 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-142 | Follow-on test launch |
17 February 1981 | 19:17 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-144 | Follow-on test launch |
7 April 1981 | 14:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-146 | Follow-on test launch |
7 April 1981 | 14:19 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-147 | Follow-on test launch |
7 April 1981 | 14:40 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | FOT-148 | Follow-on test launch |
21 October 1981 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | AO-212 test | ||
20 January 1982 | 14:59 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
20 January 1982 | 15:19 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
20 January 1982 | 19:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 February 1982 | 14:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 February 1982 | 14:55 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 February 1982 | 15:14 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
10 March 1982 | 15:01 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
10 March 1982 | 15:17 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
10 March 1982 | 16:26 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
23 September 1983 | 12:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
23 September 1983 | 13:21 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
23 September 1983 | 14:34 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
23 September 1983 | 14:55 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
23 September 1983 | 16:17 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
13 October 1983 | 16:25 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
13 October 1983 | 16:50 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
13 October 1983 | 17:13 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
13 October 1983 | 17:43 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test |
The first Pershing II launches were in 1977 using the original design configuration with the Pershing 1a motors and a new re-entry vehicle. The 1979 decision to increase the Pershing range necessitated the development of new motors.
Date | Time GMT | Site | ID | Unit/Test |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 July 1982 | 14:49 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 1 | Test mission (failure) [14] |
19 November 1982 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | 2 | Test mission [15] | |
21 January 1983 | 14:48 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 3 | Test mission [16] |
1 February 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | 5 | Test mission (single stage) | |
9 February 1983 | 15:06 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 4 | Test mission |
13 March 1983 | 16:29 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | 6 | ED-4 (single stage) |
28 March 1983 | 15:29 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | 7 | Test mission |
10 April 1983 | 19:55 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Test mission | |
24 April 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | 9 | Test mission | |
6 May 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Test mission (single stage) | ||
27 May 1983 | 14:48 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Test mission | |
2 June 1983 | 14:46 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Test mission | |
19 June 1983 | 16:12 | Launch Site: White Sands | Test mission (single stage) | |
24 June 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Test mission (single stage) | ||
16 July 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Test mission (single stage) | ||
27 July 1983 | 14:15 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Test mission (failure) [17] | |
7 September 1983 | 17:04 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Test mission | |
18 September 1983 | Fort Bliss: McGregor Range | Test mission (single stage) | ||
16 May 1984 | 14:31 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
7 August 1984 | 12:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
20 September 1984 | 14:30 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
3 October 1984 | 14:22 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
16 December 1985 | 13:03 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
17 December 1985 | 16:02 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
17 December 1985 | 21:37 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 June 1986 | 13:56 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 June 1986 | 15:23 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 June 1986 | 16:33 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
26 June 1986 | 13:05 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
26 June 1986 | 16:47 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 March 1987 | 13:33 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test [18] | |
24 March 1987 | 13:52 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 March 1987 | 14:13 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 March 1987 | 15:34 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 March 1987 | 15:54 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
24 March 1987 | 16:17 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 2:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 2:19 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 2:40 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 4:00 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 4:33 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 May 1987 | 4:51 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
27 July 1987 | 12:38 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
27 July 1987 | 12:57 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
27 July 1987 | 15:20 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
27 July 1987 | 15:37 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
13 January 1988 | 14:01 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test [19] | |
15 February 1988 | 13:03 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
15 February 1988 | 13:21 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
15 February 1988 | 13:42 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
15 February 1988 | 15:16 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
15 February 1988 | 15:42 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
15 February 1988 | 16:01 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 March 1988 | 13:01 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 March 1988 | 13:19 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 March 1988 | 14:13 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 March 1988 | 15:45 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test | |
21 March 1988 | 16:53 | Cape Canaveral: LC16 | Operational test |
The MGM-31A Pershing was the missile used in the Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a field artillery missile systems. It was a solid-fueled two-stage theater ballistic missile designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the PGM-11 Redstone missile as the primary nuclear-capable theater-level weapon of the United States Army and replaced the MGM-1 Matador cruise missiles operated by the German Air Force. Pershing later replaced the European-based MGM-13 Mace cruise missiles deployed by the United States Air Force and the German Air Force. Development began in 1958, with the first test missile fired in 1960, the Pershing 1 system deployed in 1963 and the improved Pershing 1a deployed in 1969. The U.S. Army replaced the Pershing 1a with the Pershing II Weapon System in 1983 while the German Air Force retained Pershing 1a until all Pershings were eliminated in 1991. The U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) managed the development and improvements while the Field Artillery Branch deployed the systems and developed tactical doctrine.
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Named in honor of LTC William Bliss (1815–1853), a mathematics professor who was the son-in-law of President Zachary Taylor, Ft. Bliss has an area of about 1,700 square miles (4,400 km2); it is the largest installation in FORSCOM and second-largest in the Army overall. The portion of the post located in El Paso County, Texas, is a census-designated place with a population of 8,591 as of the time of the 2010 census. Fort Bliss provides the largest contiguous tract of restricted airspace in the Continental United States, used for missile and artillery training and testing, and at 992,000 acres boasts the largest maneuver area. The garrison's land area is accounted at 1.12 million acres, ranging to the boundaries of the Lincoln National Forest and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Fort Bliss also includes the Castner Range National Monument.
The PGM-11 Redstone was the first large American ballistic missile. A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), it was in active service with the United States Army in West Germany from June 1958 to June 1964 as part of NATO's Cold War defense of Western Europe. It was the first US missile to carry a live nuclear warhead, in the 1958 Pacific Ocean weapons test, Hardtack Teak.
White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) is a United States Army military testing area and firing range located in the US state of New Mexico. The range was originally established as the White Sands Proving Ground on 9 July 1945. White Sands National Park is located within the range.
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
The PGM-19 Jupiter was the first nuclear armed, medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). It was a liquid-propellant rocket using RP-1 fuel and LOX oxidizer, with a single Rocketdyne LR79-NA rocket engine producing 667 kilonewtons (150,000 lbf) of thrust. It was armed with the 1.44 megatons of TNT (6.0 PJ) W49 nuclear warhead. The prime contractor was the Chrysler Corporation.
The MGR-1 Honest John rocket was the first nuclear-capable surface-to-surface rocket in the United States arsenal. Originally designated Artillery Rocket XM31, the first unit was tested on 29 June 1951, with the first production rounds delivered in January 1953. Its designation was changed to M31 in September 1953. The first Army units received their rockets by year's end and Honest John battalions were deployed in Europe in early 1954. Alternatively, the rocket was capable of carrying an ordinary high-explosive warhead weighing 1,500 pounds (680 kg).
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) is a deactivated launch site on the eastern tip of Cape Canaveral, Florida at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was constructed with launch complexes 1, 3, and 4, in the early 1950s, for the Snark missile program.
This Pershing missile bibliography is a list of works related to the Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile Systems and the Pershing II Weapon System.
Kurt Heinrich Debus was a German-American Nazi party member, rocket engineer, and NASA director. Born in Germany, he was a member of the Schutzstaffel (SS) during World War II, where he served as a V-weapons flight test director. Following the war, he was brought to the United States via Operation Paperclip, and directed the design, development, construction and operation of NASA's Saturn launch facilities. He became the first director of NASA's Launch Operations Center, and, under him, NASA conducted 150 launches of military missiles and space vehicles, including 13 launches of the Saturn V rocket as part of the Apollo Moon landing program.
Launch Complex 15 (LC-15) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida is a deactivated launch complex used by LGM-25 Titan missiles between 1959 and 1964. It was originally built for conducting test flights of the Titan I, which made its maiden flight from LC-15 on 6 February 1959. LC-15 is the southernmost of the four original Titan launch complexes on Missile Row.
Launch Complex 16 (LC-16) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida is a launch complex built for use by LGM-25 Titan missiles, and later used for NASA operations before being transferred back to the US military and used for tests of MGM-31 Pershing missiles. Six Titan I missiles were launched from the complex between December 1959 and May 1960. These were followed by seven Titan II missiles, starting with the type's maiden flight on March 16, 1962. The last Titan II launch from LC-16 was conducted on May 29, 1963.
Launch Complex 18 (LC-18) is a launch complex at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida that was active during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was used by Viking, Vanguard, Thor and Scout rockets. The complex consists of two launch pads, LC-18A, which was originally built by the US Navy for the Vanguard rocket, and LC-18B, which was originally by the US Air Force used for tests of the PGM-17 Thor missile.
Launch Complex 21 (LC-21) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida is a launch complex that was used for horizontal launches of cruise missiles between 1958 and 1963. It initially consisted of a single launch rail, from which XSM-73 Bull Goose missiles were tested. Between 1959 and 1960, the complex was rebuilt for the MGM-13 Mace, with a second rail added, and a large concrete structure erected around the launch rails, earning the pad the nickname of "the hardsite".
The 9th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army first formed in 1916. The regiment served in Hawaii during World War I, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th Divisions between the world wars, and with 3rd Infantry Division during World War II and Korea. Since 1957, the regiment has been a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System and the U.S. Army Regimental System, with regimental elements serving with the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 25th, 79th, 83rd, and 96th Infantry Divisions and various field artillery brigades and groups. The regiment's single active component, the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The Utah Launch Complex was a Cold War military subinstallation of White Sands Missile Range for USAF and US Army rocket launches. In addition to firing Pershing missiles, the complex launched Athena RTV missiles with subscale (test) warheads of the Advanced Ballistic Re-entry System to reentry speeds and impact at the New Mexico range. From 1964 to 1975 there were 244 Green River launches, including 141 Athena launches and 60 Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a launches to 281 kilometers altitude. "Utah State Route 19 runs through the Green River Launch Complex, which is south of the town and eponym of Green River."
Launch Complex 38 was the White Sands Missile Range facility for testing the Nike Zeus anti-ballistic missile. The site is located east of the WSMR Post Area.
The Pershing II Weapon System was a solid-fueled two-stage medium-range ballistic missile designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System as the United States Army's primary nuclear-capable theater-level weapon. The U.S. Army replaced the Pershing 1a with the Pershing II Weapon System in 1983, while the German Air Force retained Pershing 1a until all Pershings were eliminated in 1991. The U.S. Army Missile Command (MICOM) managed the development and improvements, while the Field Artillery Branch deployed the systems and developed tactical doctrine.
There are a number of Pershing missile displays of inert missiles in the U.S, Germany and Russia. The Pershing systems were eliminated after the ratification of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on 27 May 1988. The treaty allowed for a total of fifteen Pershing II and GLCM missiles for display and seven Pershing IIs were retained. A number of Pershing 1 and Pershing 1a missiles are also on display.
The Pershing Operational Test Unit (POTU) was the U.S. Army agency responsible for the operational testing of the Pershing 1 Field Artillery Missile System, the Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System and the Pershing II Weapon System. Created in 1965, POTU was assigned to United States Army Europe and located in Heidelberg, Germany. Personnel consisted of one lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, two warrant officers and four non-commissioned officers.
Launches