R-13 (missile)
The R-13 (Template:Langx) was a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed by the Soviet Union starting around 1955. It was assigned the NATO reporting name SS-N-4 Sark and carried the GRAU index 4K50.
History
Development of the R-13 was authorised by the Soviet Supreme Council on 25 July 1955 for use on the Project 629 and Project 658 submarines. The design work was started by OKB-1 under Sergei Korolev before being transferred to CB Miasskoe engineering / Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau (chief designer - Viktor Makeyev). Final technical specifications was approved by 11 January 1956. Serial production was undertaken at Zlatoust Machine-Building Plant in 1959. The R-13 was a single-stage liquid-fuel rocket and entered service in 1961. This missile was somewhat similar in design to the R-11FM missile, which caused some confusion in Western intelligence services during the Cold War. The missiles were phased out from 1965 to 1975.
This missile was the firstTemplate:Citation neededR-7? Soviet design to use a small set of rocket engines (vernier thrusters) to perform course and trajectory alterations instead of aerodynamic control surfaces, although a set of four stabilizers were used to keep the missile on-course during initial flight.
During initial testing before the missiles were deployed, 26 of 32 missiles (81%) were successfully launched. While the systems were deployed from 1961 to 1975, 225 of 311 launches (72%) were successful.
Operators
Specifications
- Length: Template:Convert
- Diameter: Template:Convert
- Diameter (to stabilizers): Template:Convert
- Launch weight: 13.7 t
- Warhead: single thermonuclear: 1.2 to 2.0 Mt (perhaps as low as 1.0 Mt)
- Propulsion: liquid-fuel rocket, single stage
- Range: about Template:Convert
- Launching technique: surfaced
- CEP: Template:Convert
See also
References
- FAS.org: R-13 / SS-N-4 Sark
- Ракетный комплекс Д-2 С БРПЛ Р-13(35-М-4) In Russian - inc diagrams