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39-744: The limitations of the Regulus I were well known by the time it entered service in 1955, so the Navy issued a specification for a surface-launched supersonic shipborne cruise missile, equipped to carry a nuclear warhead, that had greater range, accuracy and resistance to countermeasures. Development of the Regulus II was well under way when the program was canceled in favor of the UGM-27 Polaris SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) system, which gave unprecedented accuracy as well as allowing

78-604: A 4,000-pound (1,800 kg) warhead. The project stalled for four years, however, until May 1947, when the United States Army Air Forces awarded Martin Aircraft Company a contract for a turbojet powered subsonic missile, the Matador . The Navy saw Matador as a threat to its role in guided missiles and, within days, started a Navy development program for a missile that could be launched from

117-561: A Regulus in flight, thus extending its range in a tactical situation. Regulus was also deployed by the U.S. Navy in 1955 in the Pacific on board the cruiser USS  Los Angeles . In 1956, three more followed: USS  Macon , USS  Toledo , and USS  Helena . These four Baltimore -class cruisers each carried three Regulus missiles on operational patrols in the Western Pacific. Macon 's last Regulus patrol

156-415: A large swept fin attached to the top of the fuselage at the rear which was sometimes augmented by a large ventral fin at the extreme rear of the fuselage. Primary control of the Regulus II was through the use of elevons fitted to the outer half of the wing trailing-edges, as the missile was not fitted with a tailplane, and a rudder fitted to the trailing edge of the fin. Flaps were fitted to the inner half of

195-503: A recoverable version of the missile, designated KDU-1 and also used as a target drone, so that even though a Regulus test vehicle was more expensive to build, Regulus was cheaper to use over a series of tests. The Navy program continued, and the first Regulus flew in March 1951. Due to its size and regulations concerning oversize loads on highways, Chance Vought collaborated with a firm that specialized in trucking oversize loads to develop

234-590: A special tractor trailer combination which could move a Regulus I missile. The first launch from a submarine occurred in July 1953 from the deck of USS  Tunny , a World War II fleet boat modified to carry Regulus. Tunny and her sister boat USS  Barbero were the United States's first nuclear deterrent patrol submarines. They were joined in 1958 by two purpose-built Regulus submarines, USS  Grayback and USS  Growler , and, later, by

273-471: A submarine and use the same J33 engine as the Matador. In August 1947, the specifications for the project, now named "Regulus," were issued: Carry a 3,000-pound (1,400 kg) warhead, to a range of 500 nautical miles (930 km), at Mach 0.85, with a circular error probable (CEP) of 0.5% of the range. At its extreme range the missile had to hit within 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) of its target 50% of

312-576: The Regulus I was a United States Navy -developed ship-and-submarine-launched, nuclear-capable turbojet -powered second generation cruise missile , deployed from 1955 to 1964. Its development was an outgrowth of U.S. Navy tests conducted with the German V-1 missile at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. Its barrel-shaped fuselage resembled that of numerous fighter aircraft designs of

351-471: The USS ; King County  (LST-857) , which had been modified with the replica of a submarine missile hangar and launching system. The SSM-N-9 Regulus II missile was intended to be launched from the deck of an SSG (guided missile submarine) , and the missile most likely would have been deployed on the two Grayback-class submarines and the USS  Halibut  (SSGN-587) , which were designed for

390-550: The "Trounce" system (Tactical Radar Omnidirectional Underwater Navigational Control Equipment), one submarine could guide it). Army-Navy competition complicated both the Matador's and the Regulus' developments. The missiles looked alike and used the same engine. They had nearly identical performances, schedules, and costs. Under pressure to reduce defense spending, the United States Department of Defense ordered

429-554: The BOMARC tests the remaining missiles were moved to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads , Puerto Rico by 30 September 1961, where flights were begun to test Tartar, Terrier, and Talos surface-to-air missiles . Upon completion of the testing in Puerto Rico in 1963, the Regulus II drones were moved to NAS Point Mugu , California , where they remained in use until December 1965. SSM-N-8 Regulus The SSM-N-8A Regulus or

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468-747: The KD2U-1, later redesignated as the MQM-15A and GQM-15A. These targets were used for training of BOMARC surface-to-air missile crews firing from Santa Rosa Island, Florida , and controlled by the Montgomery Air Defense Sector , Gunter Air Force Base , Montgomery, Alabama . The KD2U-1 targets were launched from the Eglin Gulf Test Range base near Ft. Walton Beach, Florida . Drone flights at Eglin commenced on 3 September 1959, making 46 flights with 13 missiles. After

507-694: The Mediterranean carrying three Regulus missiles. USS  Hancock deployed once to the Western Pacific with four missiles in 1955. Lexington , Hancock , USS  Shangri-La , and USS  Ticonderoga were involved in the development of the Regulus Assault Mission (RAM) concept. RAM converted the Regulus cruise missiles into an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): Regulus missiles would be launched from cruisers or submarines, and once in flight, guided to their targets by carrier-based pilots with remote control equipment. Despite being

546-455: The Navy to determine if Matador could be adapted for their use. The Navy concluded that the Navy's Regulus could perform the Navy mission better. Regulus had some advantages over Matador. It required only two guidance stations while Matador required three. It could also be launched quicker, as Matador's boosters had to be fitted while the missile was on the launcher while Regulus was stowed with its boosters attached. Finally, Chance Vought built

585-402: The U.S. Navy's first underwater nuclear capability, the Regulus missile system had significant operational drawbacks. In order to launch, the submarine had to surface and assemble the missile in whatever sea conditions it was in. Because it required active radar guidance, which only had a range of 225 nmi (259 mi; 417 km), the ship had to stay stationary on the surface to guide it to

624-774: The XRSSM-N-9 took place in May 1956. Beginning in 1958, testing was carried out with the XRSSM-N-9a , equipped with the General Electric J79 -GE-3 turbojet and a Rocketdyne solid-fueled rocket booster to allow the entire flight envelope to be explored. Evaluation and training missiles with retractable undercarriage were produced as the YTSSM-N-9a and TSSM-N-9a respectively. After land-based testing, trials including test missile firings were carried out on board

663-536: The emergence of the SLBM, the Regulus missile program was terminated on 19 November 1958. Support for the program was finally withdrawn on 18 December 1958, when Secretary of the Navy Thomas S. Gates cancelled the project. At the time of the cancelation, Vought had completed 20 missiles with 27 more on the production line. The airframe followed contemporary aircraft construction techniques, with weight savings from

702-425: The era, but without a cockpit. Test articles of the Regulus were equipped with landing gear and could take off and land like an airplane. When the missiles were deployed they were launched from a rail launcher, and equipped with a pair of Aerojet JATO bottles on the aft end of the fuselage. In October 1943, Chance Vought Aircraft Company signed a study contract for a 300-mile (480 km) range missile to carry

741-597: The first ever in the history of the submarine Navy and preceded those made by the Polaris missile firing submarines. The Regulus firing submarines were relieved by the George Washington -class submarines carrying the Polaris missile system. Barbero also earned the distinction of launching the only delivery of missile mail . Additional submarines including USS Cusk and USS Carbonero were equipped with control systems that allowed them to take control of

780-641: The five Regulus submarines made 40 nuclear deterrent patrols in the Northern Pacific Ocean between October 1959 and July 1964, including during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. According to the documentary "Regulus: The First Nuclear Missile Submarines" by Nick T. Spark , their primary task in the event of a nuclear exchange would be to eliminate the Soviet naval base at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky . These deterrent patrols represented

819-463: The inertial navigation system and input target co-ordinates. With the navigation system ready and launch authorization given, the missile engine would be run-up to full power with afterburner and the large solid-fueled rocket booster ignited, immediately the missile would leave the zero length launcher and continue to the target autonomously. Suitable missiles from the development program and production line were converted to supersonic target drones as

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858-666: The launch ship to launch the missile close to the target and remain exposed until the missile hit the target. To alleviate these drawbacks, the Regulus II was designed with an inertial navigation system , which required no further input from the launch ship / boat after launch, and a greater range through improved aerodynamics, larger fuel capacity, and a lower specific fuel consumption from its jet engine . Prototype missiles were built, designated XRSSM-N-9 Regulus II , with retractable landing gear, to allow multiple launches, and Wright J65 -W-6 engines and Aerojet General booster, which restricted them to subsonic flight. The first flight of

897-684: The launch submarine to remain submerged and covert. Prototype and initial production missiles were later converted to KD2U-1 supersonic target drones for the US Navy and the U.S. Air Force , which used the KD2U-1 during tests of the Boeing IM-99/ CIM-10 Bomarc SAM (Surface to Air Missile). The SSM-N-9a Regulus II was redesignated as the RGM-15A in June 1963, nearly five years after the missile program had been terminated. At

936-688: The missile unprotected, thus unable to submerge until after launch. Regulus was designed to be 30 feet (9.1 m) long, 10 feet (3.0 m) in wingspan, 4 feet (1.2 m) in diameter, and would weigh between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds (4,500 and 5,400 kg). The missile somewhat resembled the contemporary F-84 Thunderjet fighter aircraft, but without a cockpit, and test versions were equipped with landing gear so that they could be recovered and re-used. After launch, Regulus would be guided toward its target by control stations, typically by submarines or surface ships equipped with guidance equipment. It could also be flown remotely by chase aircraft. (Later, with

975-522: The missile, and possibly eventually on four heavy cruisers that had deployed with Regulus I and 23 other submarines potentially available for conversion. Carrying two Regulus II missiles in a hangar integral with the hull (more on surface ships), submarines and ships equipped with the Regulus II would have been equipped with the SINS (Ship's Inertial Navigation System ), allowing the control systems of

1014-546: The missiles to be aligned accurately before launching. Forty-eight test-flights of Regulus II prototypes were carried out, 30 of which were successful, 14 partially successful and only four failures. A production contract was signed in January 1958 and the only submarine launch was carried out from USS Grayback in September 1958. Due to the high cost of the missiles (approx one million dollars each), budgetary pressure, and

1053-541: The nuclear-powered USS  Halibut . Halibut , with its extremely large internal hangar could carry five missiles and was intended to be the prototype of a whole new class of cruise missile firing SSG-N submarines. The Navy strategy called for four Regulus missiles to be at sea at any given time. Thus, Barbero and Tunny , each of which carried two Regulus missiles, patrolled simultaneously. Growler and Grayback , with four missiles each, or Halibut , with five, could patrol alone. Operating from Pearl Harbor , Hawaii,

1092-522: The production line. Production of Regulus I missiles continued until January 1959 with delivery of the 514th missile, and it was withdrawn from service in August 1964. Both Regulus I and Regulus II were used as target drones after 1964. The following museums in the United States have Regulus missiles on display as part of their collections: Target drone A target drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle , generally remote controlled , usually used in

1131-728: The program was canceled in favor of the UGM-27 Polaris nuclear ballistic missile. The Regulus II missile was a completely new design with improved guidance and double the range, and was intended to replace the Regulus I missile. Regulus II-equipped submarines and ships would have been fitted with the Ships Inertial Navigation System (SINS), allowing the missiles to be aligned accurately before take-off. Forty-eight test flights of Regulus II prototypes were carried out, 30 of which were successful, 14 partially successful and four failures. A production contract

1170-468: The same time the KD2U-1 target drone was redesignated as the MQM-15A . Some targets equipped with landing gear were redesignated as GQM-15A s. The major drawback of the original Regulus was the use of radio-command guidance, which required a constant radio link with the launch ship / submarine that was relatively easy to interfere with. The earlier missile also suffered from restricted range which required

1209-403: The target while effectively broadcasting its location. This guidance method was susceptible to jamming and since the missile was subsonic, the launch platform remained exposed and vulnerable to attack during its flight duration; destroying the ship would effectively disable the missile in flight. Production of Regulus was phased out in January 1959 with delivery of the 514th missile; in 1962, it

SSM-N-9 Regulus II - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-514: The time. Regulus development was preceded by Navy experiments with the JB-2 Loon missile , a close derivative of the German V-1 flying bomb , beginning in the last year of World War II . Submarine testing was performed from 1947 to 1953 at the Navy's facility at Naval Air Station Point Mugu , with USS  Cusk and USS  Carbonero converted as test platforms, initially carrying

1287-411: The trailing edge for use during takeoff. Additional stability and control in pitch was provided by small trapezoidal canard foreplanes near the nose of the fuselage. To launch the missile, the carrier vessel had to surface and deploy the missile and launch apparatus, which consisted of a zero length launcher. Once deployed, the missile had to be linked to the submarine or ship's navigation system to align

1326-626: The training of anti-aircraft crews. One of the earliest drones was the British DH.82 Queen Bee , a variant of the Tiger Moth trainer aircraft operational from 1935. Its name led to the present term "drone". In their simplest form, target drones often resemble radio-controlled model aircraft. More modern drones may use countermeasures , radar , and similar systems to mimic manned aircraft. More advanced drones are made from large, older missiles which have had their warheads removed. In

1365-407: The use of advanced materials and the short airborne life of the missile. The fuselage was essentially tubular, tapering to a point at the nose, housing the guidance equipment, warhead and systems equipment. The engine was fed with air through a distinctive wedge shaped intake under the center fuselage. Its swept wings attached to its fuselage at the middle position, roughly halfway along its length, and

1404-475: Was also the forerunner of the Tomahawk cruise missile . Following retirement, a number of Regulas I missiles were converted for target drone usage under the designation BQM-6C. A second generation supersonic Vought SSM-N-9 Regulus II cruise missile with a range of 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km) and a speed of Mach 2 was developed and successfully tested, including a test launch from Grayback , but

1443-537: Was in 1958, Toledo 's in 1959, Helena 's in 1960, and Los Angeles 's in 1961. Ten aircraft carriers were configured to operate Regulus missiles (though only six ever launched one). USS  Princeton did not deploy with the missile but conducted the first launch of a Regulus from a warship. USS  Saratoga also did not deploy but was involved in two demonstration launches. USS  Franklin D. Roosevelt and USS  Lexington each conducted one test launch. USS  Randolph deployed to

1482-637: Was redesignated RGM-6. It was removed from service in August 1964. Some of the obsolete missiles were expended as targets at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida. Regulus not only provided the first nuclear strategic deterrence force for the United States Navy during the first years of the Cold War and especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis , preceding the Polaris missiles , Poseidon missiles , and Trident missiles that followed, but it

1521-442: Was signed in January 1958 and the only submarine launch was carried out from Grayback in September 1958. Due to the high cost of the Regulus II (approximately one million dollars each), budgetary pressure, and the emergence of the UGM-27 Polaris SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile), the Regulus II program was canceled on 18 December 1958. At the time of cancellation Vought had completed 20 Regulus II missiles with 27 more on

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