R-11

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Submarine-launched ballistic missile. IOC: 1958. Family: V-2. Country: Russia. Status: Retired 1965. Department of Defence Designation: SS-1B. ASCC Reporting Name: Scud A. Article Number: 8A61. Manufacturer's Designation: R-11. Complex: 8K14. Missile: 8A61.

First Russian ballistic missile using storable propellants, developed from the German Wasserfall SAM by Korolev's OKB. The design was then spun off to the Makeyev OKB for development of Army (R-17 Scud) and SLBM (R-11FMA) derivatives.

The R-11 originated as Theme N-2 of the R-3 IRBM project. This was an alternate approach to delivering nuclear warheads on West European targets - a road-mobile missile of shorter range that could be set up at the forward area of the battlefield and reach enemy targets. A submarine-launched version would allow all of the major cities of Western Europe to be reached. The specification was for a missile of the range and payload of the German V-2, but of less than half the size, using non-cryogenic propellants.

The R-11 design adapted the Isayev rocket engine used in the V-300 / R-101 antiaircraft missile (itself a Russian-built version of the German Wasserfall). Following the decision to drop the R-3A, a 20 October 1951 MOP decree authorised work to start on the R-5 and R-11. Due to the extensive work already done under the Theme N-2, the 8 volume R-11 draft project was delivered on 30 November 1951. Korolev did not agree with the production of rockets using the R-11's toxic storable propellants, and project leader Viktor Petrovich Makeyev had to persevere in developing the rocket without his boss' support.

The first test flight was made on 18 April 1953. Massive problems were encountered in the difficult test series - with poor-quality kerosene fuel, handling and leakage of the propellants, and reliable start of the engine. But the Red Army saw much more promise in the design than in Korolev's cumbersome liquid oxygen rockets. A government decree was issued on 13 December 1953 for SKB-385 in the Urals to be responsible for series production of the R-11 and its S2.253 engine. SKB-385 had not distinguished itself in 1949-1951 when it was responsible for the first abortive attempt to put the R-1 rocket into production.

Following a protracted two-year test series, the design was finally accepted for military service on 13 July 1955. In anticipation of this formal decree, in June of 1955 Makeyev was made Chief Designer at SKB-385, responsible for engineering of the R-11 and future small land and sea based ballistic missiles. SKB-385 was given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM in August 1955.

Tests of the R-11FM had begun in February 1955 at Kapustin Yar with three experimental launches of the missile from a standard R-11 launch stand. This was followed by launches from a special stand simulating a ship's motion, developed by A P Abramov. Finally a third test series was conducted from the Project 611 submarine B-57 from 16 September to 13 October 1955 in the White Sea. This demonstrated launches from a pitching surfaced vessel and a total range of 150 km. Following further trials the system was accepted for military surface in 1959, but never deployed on an operational vessel. However the project had cemented Makeyev's relationship with the Soviet Navy, which decided to make him their sole source for all future naval ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile Makeyev had moved quickly to redesign the R-11 to remedy all of the basic defects identified in the trials. This included a new, less troublesome, higher performance propellant combination. The state authorised work to begin on the R-11M missile on 26 August 1954. This was followed by the first launch on 30 December 1955 and acceptance of the design for service on 1 April 1958.

The final refinement of the R-11 design was the R-17, to be exported and infamous around the world as the Scud-B. In 1958-1959 Makeyev designed and built the first mock-up of the new missile. But by then the decision was made to devote the bureau to sea-launched missiles, and in 1959 the program was transferred to Votkinsk Machine Building Plant. There design work continued with first launch in 1961 and acceptance into military service in 1964.

Range 270 km with 690 kg, accuracy 1.5 km/0.75 km. Maximum altitude 78 km. Time of flight 5.4 minutes. Max velocity at burnout 1430 m/s. Data is accurate. Source: placards at Orevo and TsNIIMASH.

Manufacturer: Makeyev. Launches: 78. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 98.72%. First Launch Date: 1953-04-18. Last Launch Date: 1965-05-18. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 101.000 kN (22,705 lbf). Total Mass: 5,337 kg (11,766 lb). Core Diameter: 0.85 m (2.78 ft). Total Length: 10.67 m (35.00 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 699 kg (1,541 lb). Maximum range: 260 km (160 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead CEP: 5.16 km (3.20 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, AK-20I/T-1. Guidance: Command Link + Unguided. Maximum speed: 5,160 kph (3,200 mph). Ceiling: 77,100 m (252,900 ft).

Stage1: 1 x .

Version:

R-11FM. Article Number: 8K61. Manufacturer's Designation: R-11FM. Launch System: D-1.

First Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile. Following protracted testing the design was accepted by the military in 1959 but never put into operational service.

SKB-385 was given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM in August 1955.

Range 150 km with 967 kg warhead. Accuracy 1.5 km in range, 0.75 km lateral.

Launches: 24. Failures: 1. First Launch Date: 1954-09-26. Last Launch Date: 1960-09-10. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 80.900 kN (18,187 lbf). Total Mass: 4,473 kg (9,861 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Maximum range: 150 km (90 mi).

Stage1: 1 x .

Version:

R-11M. IOC: 1965. Department of Defence Designation: SS-1C. ASCC Reporting Name: Scud B. Article Number: 8K14. Manufacturer's Designation: R-11M. Alternate Designation: T-7B. Complex: 8K14.

Improved production version of R-11, not retired until 1977.

Data is accurate. Source: placards at Orevo and TsNIIMASH.

Launches: 9. First Launch Date: 1955-12-30. Last Launch Date: 1957-09-02. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 130.400 kN (29,315 lbf). Total Mass: 5,846 kg (12,888 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 11.25 m (36.90 ft). Span: 1.80 m (5.90 ft). Standard warhead mass: 984 kg (2,169 lb). Maximum range: 320 km (190 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead yield: 10 KT. Standard warhead CEP: 0.45 km (0.27 mi). Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, AK-29I/TM-182. Cruise Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket. Guidance: Inertial. Ceiling: 322,000 m (1,056,000 ft). Total Number Built: 2500.

Stage1: 1 x .

Version:

R-11A. Suborbital launch vehicle. Article Number: 8K14. Manufacturer's Designation: V-11A.

Version of the R-11 'Scud' missile used as a sounding rocket. First launched in 1957, and capable of taking 250 to 400 kg of payload to 100 to 160 km altitude. The payloads were enclosed in a spherical re-entry capsule, which was gyro-stabilised to ensure instruments could be pointed precisely at the sun or other astronomical target.

Manufacturer: Energia. Launches: 26. First Launch Date: 1958-10-04. Last Launch Date: 1963-01-27. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 80.000 kN (17,984 lbf). Total Mass: 4,600 kg (10,100 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 10.20 m (33.40 ft).

Stage1: 1 x .

Version:

R-11A-MV. Suborbital launch vehicle.

Sounding rocket version of R-11 with increased payload.

Manufacturer: Energia. Launches: 5. First Launch Date: 1962-01-01. Last Launch Date: 1962-01-01. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 80.000 kN (17,984 lbf). Total Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Core Diameter: 0.88 m (2.88 ft). Total Length: 10.00 m (32.00 ft).

Stage1: 1 x .

R-11 Chronology

1949 June - Groettrup team designs R-13. Groettrup group consulted on 'R-13' (code name for R-11?). Specifications include 1000 kg warhead, 120 km range.

1949 December 7 - Groettrup G-4 IRBM evaluated against Korolev's R-3. R-3 project reformulated The NTS (Scientific-Technical Soviet) of NII-88 met in plenary session and subjected Korolev's proposal to withering criticism. The G-4 was found to be superior. After heated discussion, the Soviet approved further development of technology for the R-3, but not the missile itself. The decisions were: an R-3A technology demonstrator would be built and flown under Project N-1 (probably to prove G-4 concepts). Under Project N-2 both the RD-110 and D-2 engines would proceed into development test in order to prove Lox/Kerosene propellant technology. Packet rocket and lightweight structure research for use in an ICBM would continue under project N-3 / T-1. Winged intercontinental cruise missile studies would continue under project N-3 / T-2. Neither the G-4 or R-3 ended up in production, but the design concepts of the G-4 led directly to Korolev's R-7 ICBM (essentially a cluster of G-4's or R-3A's) and the N1 superbooster. Work on the G-4 continued through 1952.

1951 October 20 - MOP decree authorised work to start on the R-5 and R-11. The R-3 3000 km range missile and R-3A subscale technology demonstrator were cancelled. As a replacement work was to start on the R-5 and R-11. The missiles originated as Theme N-2 of the R-3 project. This was an alternate approach to delivering nuclear warheads on West European targets - road-mobile or sub-launched missiles of shorter range with lighter warheads that could be launched from forward areas and reach enemy targets.

1951 November 30 - R-5, R-11 draft projects completed. Due to the extensive work already done under the Theme N-2, the 6 volume R-5 and 8 volume R-11 draft projects were delivered in record time.

1953 February 13 - Authorisation for development of Soviet intermediate and intercontinental range missiles. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on themes T1 and T2, on approval of work on the R-5, R-11, and EKR missiles, and on transferring draft project work for the R-12 from NII-88 to SKB-586' was issued. The decree set forth three phases of state trials tests for the R-5 missile.

1953 April 18 - Kapustin Yar -. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Massive problems were encountered in the difficult test series - with poor-quality kerosene fuel, handling and leakage of the propellants, and reliable start of the engine. But the Red Army saw much more promise in the design than in Korolev's cumbersome liquid oxygen rockets.

1953 May 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1953 June 3 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

End of 1953 - Khrushchev and Ustinov decide to create additional independent missile design bureaux Khrushchev desired to decentralise the missile industry, since a single nuclear bomb on Moscow would wipe out Korolev’s factories. Ustinov was requested to draw up a plan for two additional completely independent missile design bureaux, one in the south of the Soviet Union, the other in the Urals. It was also envisioned a third bureau would be built in the east, in Siberia, but this was never done. This effort cost tens of billions of roubles. While the managers and lead technical staff would be taken from Korolev’s bureau, the working engineers, technicians, and workers for the bureau and associated factories would be recruited locally at each site. This would avoid the additional expense of building extra housing. Korolev fought to keep control, wanting to make the new bureaux just branches of his own, but Khrushchev was adamant that only completely autonomous organisations would be acceptable. Yangel was easily selected for the southern bureau, and the young Makeyev was a more contentious selection for the Ural bureau.

1953 December 13 - R-11 production decree A government decree was issued for SKB-385 in the Urals to be responsible for series production of the R-11 and its S2.253 engine. SKB-385 had not distinguished itself in 1949-1951 when it was responsible for the first abortive attempt to put the R-1 rocket into production.

1954 January 26 - R-11FM authorised. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11FM' was issued.

1954 February 3 - R-11FM platform development authorised Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On creation of the submerged submarine-launched ballistic missile' was issued.

1954 April 20 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 May 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 May 13 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 July 13 - R-11 accepted into military service. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On adoption of the R-11 into armaments' was issued.

1954 August 26 - R-11M development authorised. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11M missile' was issued.

1954 September 26 - Kapustin Yar SM-49. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 October 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 October 20 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1954 December 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 January 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 February - Tests of the R-11FM SLBM begun at Kapustin Yar Tests began with three experimental launches of the missile from a standard R-11 launch stand. This was followed by launches from a special stand simulating a ship's motion, developed by A P Abramov.

1955 February 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 May 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 May 21 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 June 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 July 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 July 13 - R-11 accepted for military service Following a protracted two-year test series, the design was finally accepted for military service on 13 July 1955. In anticipation of this formal decree, in June of 1955 Makeyev was made Chief Designer at SKB-385, responsible for engineering of the R-11 and future small land and sea based ballistic missiles. SKB-385 was given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM in August 1955.

1955 July 30 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1955 August - SKB-385 given complete responsibility for development of the sub-launched R-11FM This derivative of the land-based R-11 ('Scud') was the first Soviet SLBM.

1955 September 12 - 14:32 GMT - White Sea Launch Area -. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). The third test series was conducted from the Project 611 submarine B-67 through 13 October 1955 in the White Sea. This demonstrated launches from a pitching surfaced vessel and a total range of 150 km.

1955 December 30 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1956 January 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1956 January 19 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1956 July 11 - Sounding rocket variant of the R-11 authorised. Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11A missile for the IGY' was issued.

1956 October 31 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1956 December 26 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1957 March 25 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1957 April 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1957 April 11 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1957 August 1 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1957 August 8 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1957 September 2 - Kapustin Yar -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 March 31 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 April 1 - R-11M accepted into military service. Decree 'On adoption of the R-11M into armaments' was issued.

1958 May 25 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 May 26 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 September 6 - Pacific Ocean -. Test mission Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1958 October 4 - 15:08 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1958 October 10 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1958 October 31 - Kheysa -. First R-11A? Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1958 November 6 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1958 November 19 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1958 December 23 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 December 25 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 102 km (63 mi).

1959 - Sea-launched -. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: VMF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1959 February 20 - R-11FM accepted into military service. Decree 'On adoption of the R-11FM into armaments' was issued. The first Soviet SLBM system was accepted, but never deployed on an operational vessel. However the project had cemented Makeyev's relationship with the Soviet Navy, which decided to make him their sole source for all future naval ballistic missiles.

1959 July 20 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 July 21 - 02:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy / solar x-ray mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi).

1959 July 21 - 14:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy / solar x-ray mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi).

1959 July 22 - 01:14 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: MVS. Apogee: 211 km (131 mi).

1959 October 15 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1959 December 3 - Kheysa -. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1960 June 23 - 05:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy / ionosphere mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1960 July 15 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi).

1960 September 10 - Sea-launched -. Test mission Agency: VMF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1960 September 21 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1960 September 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 February 2 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 February 15 - 08:20 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ultraviolet ozone spectra Aeronomy / Solar Eclipse mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 96 km (59 mi).

1961 September 23 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1961 October 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Aeronomy mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1962 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Test mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1963 January 27 - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere mission Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 May 7 - 07:28 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 May 8 - 10:47 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 May 14 - 19:12 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Ionosphere mission? Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 May 15 - 08:00 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1965 May 18 - 09:07 GMT - Kapustin Yar V-2. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

Bibliography:

McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
Ordway, Frank, and Sharpe, Mitchell, The Rocket Team, Collector's Guide Publishing, Ontario, Canada, 2000.
Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994.
Vetrov, G S, S. P. Korolev i evo delo, Nauka, Moscow, 1998.
Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003.
Makeyev Viktor Petrovich, Istoriya Rossiskoi Sovietskoi kosmonavtiki, Web site, 2000.. Web Address when accessed: http://www.space.hobby.ru/.

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