The RT-2 was an intercontinental ballistic missile deployed by the Soviet Union, which was in service from December 1968 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)

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

{| border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"

|- style="background:#ccc;"

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| RT-2 Test Launches

|-

!Date!!System!!Location!!Range (NM)!!Note

|-

| 26 Feb 1966 || RT-2 Mod || Kapustin Yar ||

|}

General Characteristics

right|thumb|350px|An RT-2

  • 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.

<Gallery class="center">

File:RT-2 maximum range coverage of United States.PNG|RT-2 coverage of United States

File:RT-2 possible launch facility configuration.PNG|RT-2 launch facility configuration

File:RT-2 typical deployment complex.PNG|RT-2 missile complex configuration

</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