
SSM-N-8 Regulus | |
|---|---|
| Χώρα | Ηπα |
| Ρόλο | Πύραυλος Κρουζ |
| Σε λειτουργία | 1955-64 |
| Κατασκευαστής | Ευκαιρία Vought |
Teh SSM-N-8A Regulus ή το Regulus Ι ήταν ένας πύραυλος κρουζ δεύτερης γενιάς που αναπτύχθηκε από το Πολεμικό Ναυτικό των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών και εκτοξεύτηκε από υποβρύχιο, με πυρηνική ικανότητα turbojet, που αναπτύχθηκε από το 1955 έως το 1964. Η ανάπτυξή του ήταν αποτέλεσμα των δοκιμών του Πολεμικού Ναυτικού των ΗΠΑ που διεξήχθησαν με τον γερμανικό πύραυλο V-1 στον Ναυτικό Αεροπορικό Σταθμό Point Mugu στην Καλιφόρνια. Η άτρακτός του σε σχήμα βαρελιού έμοιαζε με εκείνη πολλών σχεδίων μαχητικών αεροσκαφών της εποχής, αλλά χωρίς πιλοτήριο. Τα δοκιμαστικά αντικείμενα του Regulus ήταν εξοπλισμένα με σύστημα προσγείωσης και μπορούσαν να απογειωθούν και να προσγειωθούν σαν αεροπλάνο. Όταν αναπτύχθηκαν οι πύραυλοι, εκτοξεύτηκαν από έναν εκτοξευτή σιδηροτροχιών και ήταν εξοπλισμένοι με ένα ζευγάρι φιάλες Aerojet JATO στο πίσω άκρο της ατράκτου.
| Vought RGM-6 Regulus I Cruise Missile Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Φωτογράφους | Βλαντιμίρ Γιακούμποφ |
| Εντοπισμού | Αγνοώ |
| Φωτογραφίες | 36 |
Δείτε επίσης:
The Guided Missile Pioneer
Teh Vought RGM-6 Regulus was the United States Navy’s first operational surface-to-surface nuclear missile. Looking remarkably like a cockpit-less F-84 fighter jet, the Regulus was essentially a pilotless aircraft powered by a turbojet engine. It provided the Navy with its first credible strategic nuclear deterrent before the arrival of the Polaris ballistic missile. It was launched from the decks of aircraft carriers, cruisers, and most notably, the decks of surfaced submarines.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Regulus I) |
|---|---|
| Ρόλο | Surface-to-Surface Cruise Missile |
| First Flight | May 1950 |
| Πλάστης ισχύος | 1 × Allison J33-A-14 turbojet |
| Launch Assist | 2 × Aerojet General solid-fuel rocket boosters |
| Maximum Speed | Mach 0.91 (approx. 600 mph) |
| Maximum Range | 500 miles (800 km) |
| Warhead | W5 or W27 Nuclear Warhead (up to 2 Megatons) |
| Guidance | Radio Command (Trounce) / Inertial |
Aerospace Engineering as a Missile
- The “Recoverable” Missile: During testing, the Regulus was equipped with landing gear and a remote-control system, allowing it to be flown and landed like a drone for reuse. This saved millions of dollars in the development phase.
- Folding Wings for Stowage: To fit inside the cramped hangars of submarines like the USS Grayback or the deck canisters of cruisers, the wings folded upward, a design inherited from Vought’s experience with carrier-based fighters.
- JATO Launch System: Since the Allison turbojet didn’t provide enough thrust to take off from a short rail, two massive solid-rocket boosters (JATO) kicked the missile to flight speed in seconds before dropping away.
- Nose-Intake Design: The Regulus used a classic “pitot” intake at the very front of the missile, similar to the F-86 Sabre, to feed air to the jet engine located in the rear.
Operational History & Legacy
- Submarine Deterrent: Regulus was the primary weapon of the Navy’s first “deterrent patrols.” Submarines had to surface and remain exposed for several minutes to launch the missile, a dangerous requirement that led to the development of the underwater-launched Polaris.
- “Mail Delivery” Mission: In 1959, in a famous publicity stunt, a Regulus missile launched from the USS Barbero delivered 3,000 letters to the naval air station at Mayport, Florida. The Postmaster General declared it “Guided Missile Mail.”
- The Regulus II: A supersonic successor, the Regulus II (Mach 2+), was developed but canceled just as it entered production because the Polaris ballistic missile program was deemed superior.
- Survivors: Several Regulus missiles are on display today, including a notable example on the deck of the USS Ατρόμητος in New York and the USS Growler (the only intact Regulus submarine open to the public).
Views : 1485


















