RIM-8 Talos

RIM-8 Talos
RIM-8G Talos missile.
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	Withdrawn from service 1980
Used by	United States Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Bendix
Produced	1958
Specifications
Weight	7,800 lb (3,538 kg) (missile: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg), booster: 4,400 lb (1,996 kg)
Length	38ft (11.6 metres)
Diameter	28 in (0.7 metres)
Warhead	136 kg (300 lb) continuous-rod HE warhead or W30 nuclear warhead (2–5 kt)

Engine	Bendix ramjet sustainer, Stage1: MK 11 solid-fueled rocket booster, Stage2: Bendix ramjet sustainer 20,053lbf, 89.20kN
Wingspan	2.80 m (110 in)
Operational range	185 km (100 nm); RIM-8A: 92 km (50 nm)
Flight ceiling	24,400 m (80,000 ft)
Speed	Mach 2.5
Guidance system	Radar beam riding and (non-nuclear variants) semi-active radar homing
Launch platform	Surface Ship

The Bendix RIM-8 Talos was a long-range naval surface-to-air missile, and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. The Talos used radar beam riding for guidance to the vicinity of its target, and semiactive radar homing (SARH) for terminal guidance. The array of four antenna which surround the nose are SARH receivers which functioned as a continuous wave interferometer. Initial thrust was provided by a solid rocket booster for launch and a Bendix ramjet for flight to the target with the warhead serving as the ramjet's compressor.

Last Talos missile launched by USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) in 1979.

History

Talos was the end product of Operation Bumblebee, the Navy's 16-year surface-to-air missile development program for protection against guided anti-ship missiles like Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs, Fritz X, and kamikaze aircraft.^[1] The Talos was the primary effort behind the Bumblebee project, but was not the first missile the program developed; the RIM-2 Terrier was the first to enter service. The Talos was originally designated SAM-N-6, and was redesignated RIM-8 in 1963. The airframe structure was manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis; final assembly was by Bendix Missile Systems in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The Talos saw relatively limited use due to its large size and dual radar antenna system; there were few ships that could accommodate the large missiles with the AN/SPW-2 missile guidance radar and the AN/SPG-49 target illumination and tracking radar.^[2] The 11.6-meter-long, 3½-tonne missile was similar in size to a fighter aircraft.^[3] The Talos Mark 7 launcher system was installed in three Galveston-class cruisers (converted Cleveland class light cruisers) with 14 missiles in a ready-service magazine and up to 30 unmated missiles and boosters in a storage area above the main deck. Nuclear-powered USS Long Beach and three Albany-class cruisers (converted Baltimore class heavy cruisers) carried Mark 12 launchers fed from behind by a 46-round magazine below the main deck.

The initial SAM-N-6b/RIM-8A had an effective range of about 50 nm, and a conventional warhead. The SAM-N-6bW/RIM-8B was a RIM-8A with a nuclear warhead; terminal guidance was judged unnecessary for a nuclear warhead, so the SARH antenna were omitted. The SAM-N-6b1/RIM-8C was introduced in 1960 and had nearly double the range, and a more effective conventional continuous-rod warhead. The RIM-8D was the nuclear-warhead version of the -8C. The SAM-N-6c/RIM-8E "Unified Talos" had a warhead that could be swapped while embarked, eliminating the need to waste magazine capacity carrying dedicated nuclear warhead variants. The RIM-8E also carried an improved continuous-wave terminal homing seeker, and had a higher ceiling. Some RIM-8Cs were retrofitted with the new seeker, and designated RIM-8F. The RIM-8G and RIM-8J had further radar homing improvements. The RIM-8H Talos-ARM was a dedicated anti-radar homing missile for use against shore-based radar stations. Initial testing of the RIM-8H was performed in 1965, and soon after it was deployed in Vietnam on Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Long Beach, attacking North Vietnamese SAM radars. The surface-to-air versions also saw action in Vietnam, a total of three MiGs being shot down by Chicago and Long Beach. The Talos missile also had surface-to-surface capabilities.^[4]

Variants

SAM-N-6: Development and prototype missiles; pre-1962 US Navy designation of the Talos missile.
SAM-N-6a: Development and prototype missiles; pre-1962 US Navy designation of the Talos missile.
SAM-N-6b: Production missiles deployed with conventional explosive warheads; re-designated RIM-8A.
SAM-N-6bw: The -6b missile with nuclear warhead, omitting terminal guidance and SARH antennae; re-designated RIM-8B.
SAM-N-6b1: An improved -6b with much greater range and continuous rod conventional warhead; re-designated RIM-8C.
SAM-N-6c: "Unified Talos" with interchangeable nuclear / conventional warheads eliminating the need for storage of both missile types, also fitted with improved terminal homing and higher operating ceiling; re-designated RIM-8E.
RIM-8F Talos: Some RIM-8C missiles retro-fitted with the new seeker from the RIM-8E (post 1962 only).
RIM-8G Talos: Variant with further homing improvements.
RIM-8H Talos-ARM: A dedicated surface-to-surface anti-radar homing version for deployment on ships already fitted out for the Talos SAM.
RIM-8J Talos: Variant with further homing improvements.
MQM-8G Vandal: Talos missiles remaining after removal from active service were converted to super-sonic drone targets, with the inventory being exhausted circa 2008.

Chronology

Date	Fleet inventory	Ship	Event
28 May 1958	1×Mk 7 launcher with 2×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Galveston	commissioned as CLG-3
3 June 1960	2×Mk 7 launchers with 4×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Little Rock	commissioned as CLG-4
7 September 1960	3×Mk 7 launchers with 6×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Oklahoma City	commissioned as CLG-5
9 September 1961	3×Mk 7 & 1×Mk 12 launchers with 8×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Long Beach	commissioned as CGN-9
3 November 1962	3×Mk 7 & 3×Mk 12 launchers with 12×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Albany	commissioned as CG-10
1 December 1962^[5]	3×Mk 7 & 5×Mk 12 launchers with 16×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Columbus	commissioned as CG-12
2 May 1964	3×Mk 7 & 7×Mk 12 launchers with 20×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Chicago	commissioned as CG-11
25 May 1970^[6]	2×Mk 7 & 7×Mk 12 launchers with 18×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Galveston	decommissioned
31 January 1975^[5]	2×Mk 7 & 5×Mk 12 launchers with 14×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Columbus	decommissioned
22 November 1976^[7]	1×Mk 7 & 5×Mk 12 launchers with 12×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Little Rock	decommissioned
1978	1×Mk 7 & 4×Mk 12 launchers with 10×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Long Beach	Talos system removed
1 November 1979	4×Mk 12 launchers with 8×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Oklahoma City	Last Talos fired
15 December 1979	4×Mk 12 launchers with 8×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Oklahoma City	decommissioned
1 March 1980	2×Mk 12 launchers with 4×AN/SPG-49 RADAR	Chicago	decommissioned
29 August 1980		Albany	decommissioned

Fate

Talos was phased out of fleet service in 1976, though the ships carrying the system soldiered on a few more years with the launchers left in place until they (Albany-class, and Oklahoma City) were retired in 1980, after Long Beach had her Talos launcher removed in 1978. After 22 years of fleet service, the missile was replaced by the RIM-67 Standard missile, which was fired from the smaller Mk10 launcher.

A Talos missile is displayed in the atrium of the South Bend Regional Airport (historically known as Bendix Field).

Another example can be seen at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, located at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

A Talos Missile can also be seen on display at the Muskogee War Memorial Park located in Muskogee, OK.

Gallery

Talos missile guidance radars, AN/SPG-49.
RIM-8A and -8B missile launch.
A Talos shortly before hitting a B-17 target drone in 1957.
USS Little Rock (CLG-4) fires a Talos, 4 May 1961.
Talos missiles on USS Little Rock (CLG-4), November 1960.
MQM-8G Vandal launch from San Nicolas Island, in 1999.
RIM-8 Talos missile loading conveyor aboard USS Little Rock (CLG-4).
RIM-8 Talos magazine racks in USS Little Rock (CLG-4).

Notes

↑ "A Brief History of White Sands Proving Ground 1941-1965" (PDF). New Mexico State University. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
↑ Polmar, Norman (December 1978). "The U.S.Navy: Shipboard Radars". United States Naval Institute Proceedings.
↑ The contemporary Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter was 10.1 meters long and weighted 5 tonnes.
↑ "USS Oklahoma City - Talos Missile Firing Operations". Retrieved 2014-05-23.
1 2 "Welcome Aboard". USS Columbus Veterans Association. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
↑ "Chronology - U.S.S. Galveston CL-93 / CLG-3". USS Galveston Shipmates Association. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
↑ "A Brief History of the USS Little Rock". USS Little Rock Association. Retrieved 2010-08-27.

References

Friedman, Norman (1982). "The "3 T" Programme". Warship (London: Conway Maritime Press) VI (22–3): 158–166, 181–185. ISBN 0-87021-981-2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RIM-8 Talos.

USN missile designations 1947–1962

Air-launched missiles

Air-to-air missiles	AAM-N-2 AAM-N-3 AAM-N-4 AAM-N-5 AAM-N-6 AAM-N-7 AAM-N-9 AAM-N-10 AAM-N-11

Air-to-surface missiles	ASM-N-2 ASM-N-4 ASM-N-5 ASM-N-6 ASM-N-7 ASM-N-8 ASM-N-10 ASM-N-11

Air-to-underwater missiles	AUM-N-2 AUM-N-4 AUM-N-6

Surface-launched missiles

Surface-to-air missiles	SAM-N-2 SAM-N-4 SAM-N-6 SAM-N-7 SAM-N-8 SAM-N-8 SAM-N-9

Surface-to-surface missiles	SSM-N-2 SSM-N-4 SSM-N-6 SSM-N-8 SSM-N-9 (I) SSM-N-9 (II)

Surface-to-underwater missiles	SUM-N-2

Test vehicles

Control	CTV-N-2 CTV-N-4 CTV-N-6 CTV-N-8 CTV-N-9 CTV-N-10

Launching	LTV-N-2 LTV-N-4

Propulsion	PTV-N-2 PTV-N-4

Research and general testing	RTV-N-2 RTV-N-4 RTV-N-6 RTV-N-8 RTV-N-10 RTV-N-12 RTV-N-13 RTV-N-15 RTV-N-16

1955–1962 United States Air Force rocket and missile designations

Air-to-air missiles

1955–1961 sequence	MB-1 GAR-1 GAR-2 GAR-3 GAR-4 GAR-5 GAR-6 GAR-8 GAR-9 GAR-11

1961–1962 sequence	AIM-101

Other types

Undesignated types

See also: USAF missile designations 1947–51
United States tri-service missile and drone designations post-1962

1962 United States Tri-Service missile and drone designation system

1–50	MGM-1 RIM-2 MIM-3 AIM-4 MGM-5 RGM-6 AIM-7/RIM-7 RIM-8 AIM-9 CIM-10 PGM-11 AGM-12 CGM-13/MGM-13 MIM-14 RGM-15 CGM-16 PGM-17 MGM-18 PGM-19 ADM-20 MGM-21 AGM-22 MIM-23 RIM-24 HGM-25A/LGM-25C AIM-26 UGM-27 AGM-28 MGM-29 LGM-30 MGM-31 MGM-32 MQM-33 AQM-34 AQM-35 MQM-36 AQM-37 AQM-38 MQM-39 MQM-40 AQM-41 MQM-42 FIM-43 UUM-44 AGM-45 MIM-46 AIM-47 AGM-48 LIM-49 RIM-50

51–100	MGM-51 MGM-52 AGM-53 AIM-54 RIM-55 PQM-56 MQM-57 MQM-58 RGM-59 AQM-60 MQM-61 AGM-62 AGM-63 AGM-64 AGM-65 RIM-66 RIM-67 AIM-68 AGM-69 LEM-70 BGM-71 MIM-72 UGM-73 BQM-74 BGM-75 AGM-76 FGM-77 AGM-78 AGM-79 AGM-80 AQM-81 AIM-82 AGM-83 AGM-84/RGM-84/UGM-84 AGM-84E AGM-84E/H/K RIM-85 AGM-86 AGM-87 AGM-88 UGM-89 BQM-90 AQM-91 FIM-92/AIM-92 XQM-93 YQM-94 AIM-95 UGM-96 AIM-97 YQM-98 LIM-99 LIM-100

101–150	RIM-101 PQM-102 AQM-103 MIM-104 MQM-105 BQM-106 MQM-107 BQM-108 BGM-109/AGM-109/RGM-109/UGM-109 BGM-110 BQM-111 AGM-112 RIM-113 AGM-114 MIM-115 RIM-116 FQM-117 LGM-118 AGM-119 AIM-120 CQM-121/CGM-121 AGM-122 AGM-123 AGM-124 RUM-125/UUM-125 BQM-126 AQM-127 AQM-128 AGM-129 AGM-130 AGM-131 AIM-132 UGM-133 MGM-134 ASM-135 AGM-136 AGM-137 CEM-138 RUM-139 MGM-140 ADM-141 AGM-142 MQM-143 ADM-144 BQM-145 MIM-146 BQM-147 FGM-148 PQM-149 PQM-150

151–	FQM-151 AIM-152 AGM-153 AGM-154 BQM-155 RIM-156 MGM-157 AGM-158A/B/AGM-158C AGM-159 ADM-160 RIM-161 RIM-162 GQM-163 MGM-164 RGM-165 MGM-166 BQM-167 MGM-168 AGM-169 MQM-170 MQM-171 FGM-172 GQM-173 RIM-174 MQM-175 AGM-176 BQM-177 MQM-178

Undesignated	ASALM Brazo Have Dash MA-31 NLOS Pershing II Senior Prom Sprint Wagtail

See also: United States tri-service rocket designations post-1962

Types of missile

By platform	Air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) Air-to-air missile (AAM) Air-to-surface missile (ASM) Ballistic missile Cruise missile Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Shoulder-fired missile Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) Surface-to-air missile (SAM) Surface-to-surface missile (SSM)

By target type	Anti-ballistic missile (ABM) Anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) Anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) Anti-ship missile (AShM) Anti-submarine missile Anti-tank missile (ATGM) Land-attack missile (LACM)

By guidance	Active radar guidance Semi-active radar guidance Passive homing Track-via-missile Anti-radiation Command to line-of-sight guidance Command off line-of-sight guidance Pursuit guidance Beam riding Infrared guidance Laser guidance Unguided rockets Wire guidance TERCOM DSMAC Inertial guidance Astro-inertial guidance Satellite guidance Compass

Lists	List of military rockets List of missiles List of missiles by country List of anti-ship missiles List of anti-tank missiles List of ICBMs List of surface-to-air missiles

See also: Sounding rocket

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