Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

General Dynamics (Convair) SAM-N-7/RIM-2 Terrier

The Terrier was the U.S. Navy's first operational shipborne medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was one result of the Bumblebee program, whose ultimate goal was the development of the SAM-N-6 Talos long-range surface-to-air missile. During devolpment of Talos, a Supersonic Test Vehicle (STV, CTV-N-8) was built to evaluate the guidance system at supersonic speeds. Because the results were promising, and the development of the complicated Talos would take many more years, it was decided to develop the STV into a tactical missile, the Terrier. The flight tests of the Terrier began in 1951, when the designation SAM-N-7 was also assigned. It took a few years to get the bugs out of the system, and the Terrier was not operational until 1956.

Production started with the SAM-N-7, but after a few rounds switched to the slightly reengineered SAM-N-7a Terrier 1a, soon to be known as Terrier BW-0 (Beam-riding, Wing-controlled, series 0). It employed a beam-riding guidance system, and used wings for flight control. It was powered by an Allegany Ballistics solid-fuel booster and an MW Kellogg solid-fuel sustainer motor. Terrier 1b was to be a version with repackaged electronics (designed by APL/Philco), but this was not produced. Another electronics redesign effort (initiated by BuOrd, designed by Motorola) resulted in the SAM-N-7c Terrier 1c version. This variant, later known as Terrier BW-1, had essentially the same characteristics as the BW-0, but was easier to produce and had higher reliability. The BW-0/1 versions were effective only against subsonic targets at altitudes up to 12 km (40000 ft).

The usage of suffix letters for the basic SAM-N-7 designation to distinguish between Terrier variants was short-lived, and was discontinued during the production of the BW-1. The Terrier was henceforth simply known as SAM-N-7 (and even that was rarely used), and the variants were designated by the suffixes BW-0, BW-1 (and others, which see below).

The next version of the Terrier was the BT-3 (Beam-riding, Tail-controlled, series 3; series 2 was reserved for a motor improvement, which was not built). This missile had a new airframe, where the wings were replaced by fixed strakes, and the control surfaces were moved to the tail. The tail-control significantly enhanced the missile's agility. The BT-3 also had an improved autopilot and a new propulsion system (with a new sustainer, and an additional auxiliary solid-fuel power system) for higher speed and range. The first successful test was accomplished in 1954, and the BT-3 was operational in 1956. The improvements made the BT-3 effective against supersonic targets.

An improved version, called Terrier BT-3A, had a longer-burning charge for the auxiliary power system, and an end-burning sustainer, which doubled the missile range to about 37 km (20 nm). The BT-3A was also the first Terrier which could be used effectively in a surface-to-surface (anti-ship) mode. The BT-3A(N) was a nuclear armed BT-3A (the only nuclear Terrier version), which had a 1 kT W-45-0 warhead.

The next development step was to change the beam-riding guidance to semi-active radar homing. The Terrier HT-3 used many components of the RIM-24 Tartar missile, which was itself essentially a short-range Terrier without booster. In 1957, the radar homing system for Terrier was tested with a converted wing-controlled missile, designated XHW-1. The production HT-3 used a C-band radar seeker. The SARH guidance greatly increased the effectiveness of the missile against low-flying targets.

In 1963, all variants of Terrier were redesignated in the RIM-2 series, as follows:

As can be seen from this table, the old SAM-N-7 series designations did not use any suffix letters to designate variants.

The last Terrier variant was the RIM-2F, an improved RIM-2E. It had a new sustainer motor and power supply, which again doubled the missile's range, to about 75 km (40 nm). The RIM-2F was also known as HTR-3 (Homing Terrier, Retrofit). Additional improvements included solid-state electronics, improved ECCM, multiple-target ability, and improved anti-ship capability. Many RIM-2E missiles were brought up to RIM-2F standard.

Prodcution of the RIM-2 Terrier ended in 1966, after approximately 8000 missiles had been built. The RIM-2F was gradually replaced by the RIM-67 Standard ER missile, and the last Terriers were retired at the end of the 1980's. Currently Raytheon is converting old Terrier rounds to TMT (Terrier Missile Target) configuration, which can be used as sea-skimming or ballistic targets. The targets are upgraded with Standard missile components, and are possibly designated RQM-67A.

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for RIM-2B/D/F:

[1] Norman Friedman: "US Naval Weapons", Conway Maritime Press, 1983
[2] Bill Gunston: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rockets and Missiles", Salamander Books Ltd, 1979
[3] James N. Gibson: "Nuclear Weapons of the United States", Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1996

Manufacturer: Convair. Launches: 3. First Launch Date: 1991-03-05. Last Launch Date: 2000-06-08. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 22.500 kN (5,058 lbf). Total Mass: 1,392 kg (3,068 lb). Core Diameter: 0.34 m (1.11 ft). Total Length: 8.08 m (26.50 ft). Span: 1.59 m (5.21 ft). Standard warhead mass: 110 kg (240 lb). Maximum range: 37 km (22 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W45. Standard warhead yield: 1.00 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Guidance: Beam rider + Command Link. Maximum speed: 3,270 kph (2,030 mph). Ceiling: 15,200 m (49,800 ft). Floor: 15 m (49 ft). Surveillance Radar: SPQ-5/C. Tracking Radar: SPG-49. Total Number Built: 3000. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 0.062 million. in: 1959 unit dollars.

Land based-version of Terrier surface-to-air missile. Development begun in 1951. Project cancelled in 1956.

Development Cost $: 18.600 million. in: 1954 average dollars.

Manufacturer: Convair (GD).

Manufacturer: Convair (GD).

Manufacturer: Convair (GD).

Nuclear warhead.

Manufacturer: Convair (GD). Standard warhead mass: 166 kg (365 lb). Standard warhead: W45 Mod 1. Standard warhead yield: 1.00 KT.

Manufacturer: Convair (GD).

Modified single stage Navy Terrier missiles with cameras were used as sounding rockets. They were launched to an altitude of 140 km from Wallops Island, providing a 1,600 km composite photograph of a frontal cloud formation.

Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 258.000 kN (58,000 lbf). Total Mass: 1,300 kg (2,800 lb). Total Length: 6.00 m (19.60 ft). Total Production Built: 3000. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 0.062 million. in: 1959 unit dollars.

1958 December 5 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Terrier.

• First Terrier sounding flight. Nation: USA. Modified Navy Terrier rocket with camera launched to an altitude of 86 miles from Wallops Island, providing a 1,000-mile composite photograph of a frontal cloud formation. References: 17.

• Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). References: 931.

• PACBLITZ 00 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1823.

• PACBLITZ 00 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 1823.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Emme, Eugene M, Aeronautics and Astronautics: An American Chronology of Science and Technology in the Exploration of Space 1915-1960, NASA, 1961. Accessed at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/timeline.html.