Various weapons can be used to combat enemy ships, but anti-ship cruise missiles currently play the leading role. In the past, however, other options for anti-ship weapons have been considered. In particular, the issue of creating a ballistic anti-ship missile system was studied. In our country, several similar projects were developed, none of which, however, reached practical application.
The idea of a ballistic missile, designed to destroy large surface ships, was formed by the end of the fifties. By that time, the probable opponents of our country had managed to build numerous and powerful fleets, with which they had to fight on distant approaches. There were already cruise missiles for long-range bombers and submarines, but their range did not meet current requirements. Both the carrier aircraft and the submarine would be forced to enter the defense zone of the enemy ship group.
The obvious way out of this situation was seen by submarine ballistic missiles. Having small dimensions and weight, a product of this class could fly at a distance of up to several thousand kilometers. Thanks to this, it became possible to attack the ship's connection from a safe area. By the beginning of the sixties, the formation of a new concept was completed, which made it possible to move from research to development work.
Projects D-5T and D-5Zh
The first participant in the new program for the development of ballistic anti-ship missiles for submarines was the Leningrad Central Design Bureau-7 (now KB "Arsenal" named after MV Frunze), headed by P. A. Tyurin. Since 1958, this organization has been developing the D-6 complex with a fundamentally new solid-propellant rocket. The study of the issue has shown that such a missile can be taken as a basis for a promising anti-ship missile system with sufficiently high characteristics. As a result, the project started with the working designation D-5T.
Model of the D-6 missile complex at the parade. Photo Militaryrussia.ru
The base rocket of the D-6 complex was a two-stage product with solid-propellant engines. At each stage, it was proposed to use four independent engines in separate housings. In addition, starting engines were provided on the head fairing, designed to exit the launcher. The study of the new project showed that the D-5T missile complex could fly at a range of up to 1500-2000 km. The increase in the range in comparison with the base model was achieved by reducing the mass of the warhead.
At the beginning of 1961, the Miass SKB-385 (now the V. P. Makeev SRC) joined the work on a new topic. His project, which received the working designation D-5Zh, provided for the creation of a completely new rocket with a liquid propulsion system. Such a missile could send a special warhead at a range of up to 1800 km.
The carriers of the D-6 complex were supposed to be diesel-electric and nuclear submarines of several projects. As a carrier of the D-5T system, only a specialized modification of the 661 project was considered. The issue of creating such a submarine was worked out at TsKB-16 (now SPMBM "Malakhit"). Later, after the appearance of the D-5Zh project, there was a proposal to adapt the two complexes for use on modified project 667 submarines. However, the development of such a project took time, which led to the emergence of an unusual proposal. SKB-385 was instructed to work out a version of a ballistic anti-ship missile system for basing on special surface ships.
Further development of the two projects led to the abandonment of a solid-propellant rocket. It was found that the D-5Zh complex will be more convenient in operation, and therefore this particular project should be developed. Further development of the new project was carried out under the designation D-5. Finally, another important decision was made. A promising weapon for submarines was supposed to be a rocket of a new modification, which was originally developed as part of the ship's armament project.
D-5 complex with R-27K missile
In April 1962, the USSR Council of Ministers decided to start developing a new anti-ship missile system for submarines. The complex as a whole was designated as D-5, the missile for it was R-27K or 4K18. As follows from the designation, the new anti-ship missile was to become a special modification of the existing medium-range missile of the R-27 type.
For several months, SKB-385 shaped the appearance of the new complex and determined the range of necessary modifications to the existing rocket. It was proposed to use a two-stage rocket, in which the first stage was responsible for bringing the second to a given trajectory. The second stage, respectively, was supposed to carry homing means and a warhead. Since it was a question of hitting moving targets, the rocket had to carry the means of detection and homing.
Rocket R-27K (left) and base R-27 during tests. Photo Rbase.new-factoria.ru
At the same time, it was found that the development of anti-ship missiles is facing a number of difficulties. So, the guidance and control means with the required characteristics turned out to be too large. Because of this, the second stage could take up to 40% of the permissible dimensions of the product. In addition, the homing head had to be closed with a radio-transparent heat-resistant fairing. There were no suitable materials in our country at that time.
The existing difficulties led to the emergence of two preliminary projects at once. They used a common first stage based on the R-27 rocket units, and the second stages were developed from scratch. The first stage differed from the basic design by a shortened body with reduced-capacity tanks. 4D10 engine, controls, etc. remained the same. Two versions of the second stage, differing in equipment and operating principles, were designated "A" and "B".
Both projects proposed the use of a passive radar homing head with a side-looking antenna. Until a given moment, the folded antenna had to be inside the case, and then go out and unfold. At the same time, a search was provided for signals from the electronic systems of the enemy ship, by which it was possible to determine its location and correct the missile's course.
Project "A" offered a relatively complex management system. On the ascending section of the trajectory, the rocket had to correct the trajectory using special second-stage engines. When moving down to the target, it was necessary to use aerodynamic rudders and correct the course according to the head antenna, which receives signals from the front hemisphere. In project "B" it was proposed to use the course correction only before entering the descending part of the trajectory. The first version of the guidance means was much more complicated, and also increased the dimensions of the second stage, but at the same time it could give a higher accuracy of hitting the target.
The version of the second stage with the letter "B" was adopted for further development. Thus, the 4K18 / R-27K rocket had to search for a target using a passive seeker with a side-looking antenna. The head antenna is no longer required. For further development of electronics, NII-592 (now NPO Avtomatiki) was involved in the project. With its help, an improved seeker with a more efficient antenna was created.
The R-27K product, according to the project, had a length of 9 m with a diameter of 1.5 m. The launch weight was 13.25 tons. Outwardly, it differed from the base R-27 in an elongated head fairing of a more complex shape. The second stage carried a special warhead with a capacity of 650 kt, capable of compensating for a slight decrease in accuracy. The abandonment of a full-fledged power plant in the second stage and a decrease in the fuel supply in the first led to a reduction in the flight range. So, the basic R-27 rocket flew 2500 km, while the new 4K18 - only 900 km.
It should be noted that work on projects R-27 and R-27K was associated with certain difficulties. As a result, the basic ballistic missile entered service only in 1968, and it was possible to start testing the anti-ship missile only two years later. The first test launch of 4K18 / R-27K was performed at the Kapustin Yar range in December 1970.
Scheme of the second stage of the 4K18 type "B" rocket. Figure Otvaga2004.ru
Using a ground launcher, 20 test launches were performed, of which only 4 were emergency. Then several throw launches from the submersible stand took place. After that, work began on preparing the missile system for testing on a carrier submarine.
It should be noted that since the mid-sixties, the D-5 project has encountered certain difficulties in terms of finding a carrier. Some submarines did not meet technical requirements, while others could not be used with anti-ship missiles, since they had to carry strategic missiles. As a result, it was decided to make the project 629 diesel-electric boat K-102 as an experienced carrier of the complex. In accordance with the new project "605", it was to receive four launch silos and a set of various equipment for working with missiles.
On December 9, 1972, the K-102 submarine launched the R-27K missile for the first time. The tests lasted for about a year, and during this time 11 experimental missiles were used. On November 3, 1973, a twin missile launch on a target barge took place. At the same time, one 4K18 product hit right on target, and the second made a slight miss. It is important that at the time the missiles were launched, the target position uncertainty reached 75 km. Despite this, the missiles independently found the target and aimed at it.
Despite the successful completion of the tests, in early September 1975, the D-5 / R-27K project was closed. Passive radar seeker could not give the required reliability of solving problems, and counteraction to it was not difficult. The nuclear warhead, in turn, made it difficult to deploy submarines with new anti-ship missiles due to the presence of new international agreements. Finally, there has already been serious progress in the area of cruise missiles. In such a situation, the existing D-5 complex was not of interest to the fleet.
D-13 complex with R-33 missile
Soon after the start of tests of the R-27K rocket, in the middle of 1971, SKB-385 received a new assignment. Now he was required to create the D-13 complex with the R-33 anti-ship ballistic missile. The latter was supposed to be based on the design of the P-29 product and hit targets at ranges up to 2000 km using a monoblock or multiple warhead.
The development of the R-33 rocket was carried out using the basic ideas and concepts of the previous R-27K project. So, the basic R-29 was planned to be "shortened" to two stages, but at the same time assembled from ready-made components. The first stage, as before, was supposed to be responsible for the acceleration of the rocket, and on the second it was proposed to mount the warhead and guidance equipment. Due to the availability of special equipment, the second stage was quite large and heavy. Despite this, the rocket as a whole had to comply with the limitations of existing launchers.
Comparison of R-27 and R-27K missiles (left). Drawing "Weapons of the Russian Navy. 1945-2000"
To increase the firing range, coupled with an increase in the target detection distance, an improved seeker was required. It was distinguished by its large size, and this led to a reduction in the dimensions of the first stage in favor of the second. A decrease in the first stage tanks could lead to a reduction in the flight range to 1200 km. There were also serious problems with the operating conditions of the systems. The new type of homing head needed a radio-transparent fairing capable of withstanding high temperatures during descent. In this case, a plasma cloud could have formed, at least making it difficult for the operation of electronic systems.
And yet, in 1974, SKB-385 managed to solve some of the problems and present a preliminary design of the D-13 missile system. The first stage of the rocket, unified with the R-29 product, was equipped with tanks for heptyl and nitrogen tetroxide, and also carried a 4D75 engine. The second stage did not have a full-fledged power plant and was equipped only with engines for maneuvering. It also housed a passive radar homing head with a pair of antennas, controls and a special warhead. By improving the systems, accompanied by a decrease in their dimensions, it was possible to increase the fuel supply and bring the firing range to 1800 km.
According to the preliminary design, the R-33 rocket had a length of 13 m with a diameter of 1, 8 m. The launch mass during the design process repeatedly changed in the range from 26 to 35 tons. Project 667B boats were considered as a carrier of such missiles throughout the development. To use anti-ship missiles of a new type, they had to receive equipment for receiving target designation and missile control during prelaunch preparation.
According to the plans of the seventies, soon the project was to be considered by the specialists of the military department. The start of tests was planned for the end of the seventies, and by the middle of the next decade, the D-13 complex could enter service.
However, this did not happen. The customer analyzed the existing project and decided to abandon it. In early September 1975, by one order, two projects were stopped at once - D-5 / R-27K and D-13 / R-33. The reasons for abandoning the two complexes were the same. They did not show the desired technical characteristics, real combat effectiveness was limited by the characteristic problems of guidance systems, and the presence of a nuclear warhead imposed restrictions on deployment.
Anti-ship missiles based on ground-based ICBMs
As you know, the UR-100 intercontinental ballistic missile was originally considered as a means for solving various combat missions in different conditions. Among other things, a modification of such a missile for placement on submarines was being worked out. According to some reports, the possibility of using the modified UR-100 as an anti-ship weapon was also considered.
Rocket R-29, on the basis of which the product R-33 was created. Photo Otvaga2004.ru
According to reports, from a certain time in OKB-52 under the leadership of V. N. Chelomey, the issue of the existing ICBM for special tasks was being worked out. By significantly reworking the design, the UR-100 product could become an anti-ship missile, featuring the highest firing range and special warhead power. However, as far as we know, this project, along with a number of others, remained at the preliminary study stage. A full-fledged project was not developed, and experimental anti-ship missiles based on the UR-100 were not tested.
However, it is known that in the middle of 1970 there were two launches of experimental UR-100 missiles equipped with radar homing heads. Perhaps these tests were directly related to the development of a promising medium intercontinental-range anti-ship missile.
Some sources mention the idea of creating an anti-ship missile based on the "land" ICBM of the Topol complex. However, even in this case, the ideas were not realized. Moreover, there is every reason to believe that such a project or proposal never existed and in fact it is only about rumors.
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As of the end of the fifties, the Soviet Union was faced with certain problems in the fight against the ship groupings of a potential enemy. Existing weapons capable of sinking large ships had limited characteristics and forced submariners or sailors to take risks. In such conditions, promising ballistic anti-ship missiles could become a promising means of fighting the enemy.
For several years, Soviet industry has developed a number of projects of this kind. Two projects of anti-ship anti-ship missiles reached the stage of full-fledged design work, and one of them was even brought to testing. During the D-5 and D-13 projects, interesting results were obtained, but their practical prospects turned out to be ambiguous. The presence of a number of technical difficulties and limited combat capabilities did not allow the full potential of the new weapon to be fully realized.
In addition, progress in other areas was negatively impacted. By the time the design of the R-27K rocket was completed, new models of aviation technology appeared, as well as cruise missiles for aviation, ships and submarines. Modern weapons of this kind were superior to ballistic anti-ship missiles in a number of parameters and made them unnecessary. As a result, such weapons were abandoned in our country. After 1975, when the military decided to close the D-5 and D-13 projects, we did not develop new systems of this kind.
