SSM-N-8 Regulus

SSM-N-8 Regulus
Country	USA
Role	Cruise missile
In service	1955-64
Manufacturer	Chance Vought

The SSM-N-8A Regulus or the Regulus I was a United States Navy-developed ship-and-submarine-launched, nuclear-capable turbojet-powered second generation cruise missile, deployed from 1955 to 1964. Its development was an outgrowth of U.S. Navy tests conducted with the German V-1 missile at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. Its barrel-shaped fuselage resembled that of numerous fighter aircraft designs of the era, but without a cockpit. Test articles of the Regulus were equipped with landing gear and could take off and land like an airplane. When the missiles were deployed they were launched from a rail launcher, and equipped with a pair of Aerojet JATO bottles on the aft end of the fuselage.

Source: SSM-N-8 Regulus on Wikipedia

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I Cruise Missile Walk Around
Photographers	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	36

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 01

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 02

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 03

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 04

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 05

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 06

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 07

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 08

Vought RGM-6 Regulus I 09

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The Guided Missile Pioneer

The 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)
Role	Surface-to-Surface Cruise Missile
First Flight	May 1950
Powerplant	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 Intrepid in New York and the USS Growler (the only intact Regulus submarine open to the public).