History, Development, and Use of the SS-4 'Sandal' IRBM |
This section will cover the history, development, and use of the SS-4 'Sandal' IRBM. In this section you will find where and how the missile has been used, when it was designed, its limitations and abilities, and how the weapon functions. | |
In the mid- to late 1950's the Soviet Union embarked on a rapid missile development program. This was largely a result of policy changes made by Nikita Khrushev, who believed that conventional wars would be a thing of the past in the face of nuclear weapons. His view led the Soviets away from the massed formations of tanks and men that they had used in the Great Patriotic War. The new weapons of choice would be missiles, bombers, and missile armed submarines - all with nuclear weapons.
The decree that led to the creation of the R-12 missile (the Soviet designation for the SS-4) was issued in 13 August 1953. It was the first Soviet strategic missile that used storable propellants. The design process was difficult, but by 12 July 1957 the first R-12 missile was launched from the Kaputsin Yar research center. Two of the missiles were sold to China in August of that year. Silo based launches with the missile were undertaken for the first time in September from the same test center.
These tests were deemed to be successful and on 4 March 1959 the R-12 was adopted as the new medium range ballistic missile. All of these missiles were surface launched. In May 1960 many of the missiles began to be based in hardened silos. These silo launched missile complexes were composed of four launchers. These early missiles used radio command guidance to reach their target. Later versions used an inertial guidance system. There were plans for a railroad based version of the missile, but these plans were suspended.
The first five regiments of surface based missiles were put on alert in mid-May 1960 shortly after an American U-2 pilot was shot down on a spy mission over the Soviet Union. Western observers first saw the R-12 in November of 1960 it was designated the SS-4 'Sandal'.
In 1961 a modified SS-4 was introduced called the SS-5 'Skean'. It had a longer range, but was not judged to be a significant improvement and production was limited. On 1 November of the following year an SS-4 was launched with a live nuclear warhead from the Baikonur test center. Its one megaton warhead detonated successfully in the Semipalatinsk region.
The SS-4 'Sandal' was first deployed to Cuba in the Fall of 1962. This led to the international dispute known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. The missiles were later removed from Cuba in exchange for the United States removing its Jupiter II missiles from its bases in Turkey. It is also interesting to note that one regiment of silo based missiles went on alert in early January of 1963.
The SS-4 was also used in more peaceful pursuits such as space exploration. In 1963 they were used in an experiment by the Chelomei design team. Still, the primary use of the SS-4 was as a weapon and in 1964 the missile was modified and designated the R-12U. The new version was immediately accepted for military service.
The highest number of SS-4 'Sandal' missiles in service was 608 in 1964. By 1968 the Soviet military began to phase out some of the missiles based in 'soft sites' with some 'hard sites' being phased out in 1972. The beginning of the end of the SS-4 'Sandal' was in 1978 when they began to be phased out in favor of mobile SS-20 IRBM systems. By 1980 there were approximately 500 of the missiles in service.
The signing of the INF (Intermediate and Short Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty in 1987 called for the destruction of all SS-4 missiles (along with SS-20, SS-5, and cruise missile systems). At the time the treaty went into effect there were only 149 of the missiles remaining. These weapons and their components were to be destroyed at the Lesnaya Missile Elimination Facility. The last SS-4 'Sandal' was destroyed in accordance with the INF treaty on 22 May 1990 marking the end of an era.
The SS-4 'Sandal' was the first Soviet strategic missile that used storable propellants and a completely autonomous inertial guidance system. It was designed to target cities and other strategic targets in China and Europe with its single megaton range warhead. It formed the largest part of the Soviet threat to Western Europe during the Cold War.
The missile could be deployed in either 'soft' above ground launchers or hardened launch silos. The primary disadvantage of the soft sites was the fact that they could be easily destroyed by a preemptive attack. The reaction time of missiles in soft sites was also much longer (one to three hours compared to the 3-5 minutes of the hardened sites).
On the positive side the weapon could be held in a high alert status for a long time. This could be several hours for the soft sites to several days for the hardened silos. In this alert status the missiles could be launched within 3-5 minutes.
Here you can find out more about the missiles that the SS-4 'Sandal' replaced and what missile systems were designed to replace them in front line service. You can find out more about each weapon if we have them on our site by clicking on the links below.
The SS-4 'Sandal' replaced... | SS-4 'Sandal' | The SS-4 'Sandal' was replaced by... |
SS-3 'Shyster' MRBM | SS-20 Mobile IRBM System |
Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you. We hope you can find them as useful as we have.
Russian Military Power 1982 Edition, edited by Ray Bonds, Copyright 1980 Salamander Books, London, England