RT-2

The RT-2 was an intercontinental ballistic missile deployed by the Soviet Union, which was in service from December 1968 until 1976. It was assigned the NATO reporting name SS-13 Savage and carried the GRAU index 8K98. It was designed by OKB-1 and about 60 were built by 1972.

History
The RT-2 was the first solid-propellant ICBM in Soviet service, and was a development of the earlier RT-1 series. It was a three-stage inertially-guided missile that is comparable to the American Minuteman III. It was armed with a single 600 kiloton warhead and was silo-launched, although a rail-based version was contemplated by Soviet planners. It was deployed in the Yoshkar-Ola missile field.

The two upper stages of the RT-2 were used to develop the RT-15 mobile IRBM system. The RT-2PM Topol is supposedly a modernized version of the RT-2

Operations
The RT-2 was capable of delivering a 1200 lb class payload to a maximum operational range of approximately 5,500 nautical miles

Command and Control
Numbers of launchers were monitored by a single launch control center (LCC). The hardened and dispersed silo concept increased system survivability and provided steady environmental controls from the solid-propellant motors. Normal control of the RT-2 missile force was exercised by Headquarters RVSN, through an intermediate RVSN Army and launch complex headquarters (HCC). A launch complex consisted of an HCC and several LCCs, monitoring numerous underground launchers.

General Characteristics



 * Length: 20 m (65.6 ft)
 * Diameter: 1.7 m (5.57 ft)
 * Launch Weight: 34,000 kg (33.46 tons)
 * Guidance: inertial
 * Propulsion: solid, three-stage
 * Warhead: 600kt nuclear
 * Range: 8000 km

Operators

 * : The Strategic Rocket Forces were the only operator of the RT-2.

Photo gallery
 File:RT-2 maximum range coverage of United States.PNG|RT-2 coverage of United States File:RT-2 possible launch facility configuration.PNG|RT-2 launch facility configuration File:RT-2 typical deployment complex.PNG|RT-2 missile complex configuration 