SSM-N-8 Regulus

The SSM -N -8A Regulus was a nuclear-armed cruise missiles of the U.S. manufacturer Vought, which was used from 1955 to 1964 by the United States Navy.

Development

The stationed in the late 1950s and early 1960s was the first missile entered service in sea-launched cruise missiles and based on the designs of the German V1. The Regulus project began in 1943, but without significant progress. By 1947 the plans only led to an accurate specification of the performance. In parallel, the project of a cruise missile SSM -N -6 Rigel, which began in 1943 and was discontinued in 1953. During this period the projects of the United States Navy were competing with the cruise missile Matador in the U.S. Army. Finally it came in 1951 to the first flight of a Regulus cruise missile and 1953 for the first launch of a U- boat, from the deck of USS Tunny surfaced. A missile launch under water was not possible at that time.

Use

Two submarines of the Grayback class went from 1958 with Regulus on patrol, from 1960, the nuclear submarine USS Halibut ( SSGN -587 ). From 1964, submarine -based Polaris missiles went into service, setting off from the Regulus. In addition to the deployment on submarines and the deployment on surface vessels has been studied and implemented on a small scale. So went from 1955/56, four cruisers of the Baltimore class with Regulus missiles.

In a putative Missile Mail launch on June 8, 1959 Postal containers were transported by letters by a Regulus missile.

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