Pershing MGM-31

See also: Pershing

The Pershing MGM-31 was a Ballistic missile with solid fuel used by the American Armée. It was conceived by Martin Marietta to replace the missile PGM-11 Redstone as a weapon of short range during the Cold war. Its name is in the honor of the American general John Pershing.

Its design goes back to 1956. The first tests of shooting were carried out in 1960. It was distributed to the American armies in 1962 for the drive, before being deployed in West Germany of June 1964 on 4 vehicles platform of launching. Pershing I was high of 10,5 meters and 1,02 meter diameter and weighed 4 655 kg. The total time of flight was to the 77 seconds the maximum with a maximum range of 740 km. The head could be of type conventional or nuclear.

In 1966, the Pershing Ia as a fast missile of reaction was developed, while profiting from a vehicle faster platform of launching and from a time of better deployment, as well as improved electronics. These versions were deployed in 1969. In 1970, all Pershing I were transformed into Pershing 1a. Nearly 700 missiles Pershing I were built, of which 108 were deployed in Europe.

In the years 1970, it was necessary to improve Pershing I for tactical considerations. The Pershing II appears then with a head different and a vehicle platform with a Radar from guidance. The objectives were to approach the performances of the missile Soviet SS-20 , which had a range of 1600 km. That required the installation of new rockets, as well as a lighter reinforcement in Kevlar. Although dimensions remained identical to the Ia models to remain compatible with the existing terrestrial equipment, its weight passed to 7 490 kg and its range with 1 770 km. Nearly 380 Pershing II were manufactured. They were initially deployed in FRG in January 1984, then on the continent of Europe until the end 1985 in spite of the opposition many Pacifiste S.

Pershing were dismantled following the American-Soviet agreement of May 27th, 1988 on the intermediate nuclear missiles.

External bonds

History of the missiles Pershing

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