R16 on launch pad - Credit: © Mark Wade. 9,592 bytes. 153 x 362 pixels.

Range 12,000 km. Tsniimash has 1:10 structural simulation model. Two stage ICBM with nitric acid oxidizer. Developed 1956-1961. Entered service 1961. Chief designer Yangel. Source: Placard, TsNIIMASH.

Liftoff Thrust: 226,510 kgf. Total Mass: 137,000 kg. Core Diameter: 3.0 m. Total Length: 35.0 m.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x R-16 Stage 1 Gross Mass: 110,000 kg. Empty Mass: 10,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 266,100 kgf. Isp: 289 sec. Burn time: 106 sec. Isp(sl): 246 sec. Diameter: 3.0 m. Span: 3.0 m. Length: 16.0 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-218

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x R-16 Stage 2 Gross Mass: 27,000 kg. Empty Mass: 3,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 89,950 kgf. Isp: 293 sec. Burn time: 80 sec. Diameter: 2.4 m. Span: 2.4 m. Length: 13.0 m. Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH No Engines: 1. RD-219

• Development of the R-16 ICBM is authorised.

  Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On the Creation of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile R-16(8k64) with Start of LKI in June 1961--start of work on the R-16 ICBM' was issued.

• R-16 development accelerated.

  Decree 'On expansion of work on the R- 16 ICBM' was issued.

• R-9 and R-16 development measures approved.

  Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On start of dedicated work on the R-9 and R-16 ICBMs' was issued.

• Twelfth General Directorate of the Ministry of Defence charged only with ballistic missile warhead safekeeping

  This directorate's activities were limited specifically to safekeeping of the warheads of the RSVN rocket forces.

• State Commission to oversee R-16 tests established.

  Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 236-89 'On creation of the State Commission for the R-16 ICBM' was issued.

• Development of Silo-Launched IRBM's and ICBM's approved.

  State Committee for Defence Technology (GKOT) Decree 'On creation of shaft units (silos) for the R-12, R-14, R-16, and R-9 missiles' was issued.

• Nedelin disaster.

  First attempted launch of R-16 ICBM results in explosion on pad, killing nearly 100 military, engineers, and technicians, including Strategic Rocket Forces Marshal Nedelin.

• R-16 test flight.

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  R-16 - R-16 ICBM Credit: © Mark Wade. 4,000 bytes. 44 x 400 pixels.

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• First successful R-16 launch.

• R-16 test flight.

• R-16U silo-based ICBM operational plan issued.

  State Committee for Defence Technology (GKOT) Decree 'On the Organisation of Military Duty of the R-16U (Unified Variant)--putting the R-16U missile into operation' was issued.

• New ICBM tests announced.

  U.S.S.R. announced that it would launch a series of "more powerful and improved rockets. (Article in Red Star timed to coincide with first firing of new rocket series in the Pacific.)

• R-16 accepted into military service.

  Decree 'On adoption of the R-16 into armaments' was issued.

• Subdirectorate for Nuclear Operations was formed within the Twelfth Directorate

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  R-16 Missile Credit: © Mark Wade. 822 bytes. 32 x 308 pixels.

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  As the number of ballistic missiles deployed increased, a specialised Subdirectorate for Nuclear Operations was formed within the Twelfth Directorate.

• R-16 accepted into service.

  Decree 'On adoption into armaments of the R-16 surface variant' was issued.

• R-12U, R-14U, and R-16U silo-based missiles accepted into service.

  Decree 'On adoption into armaments of the R-12U, R-14U, and R-16U shaft versions' was issued.

• Twelfth Directorate nuclear weapons units an integrated part operational rocket field units

  Up to 1965 the warheads were still stored separately form Soviet ballistic missiles. This was changed so that the individual nuclear weapons units were made an integrated part of the operational rocket field units.

• 89 - Semenov, Yu. P., S P Korolev Space Corporation Energia, RKK Energia, 1994.
• 153 - Siddiqi, Asif, Quest, "Mourning Star", 1994, Volume 3, Issue 4, page 39.
• 193 - Placard, TsNIIMASH Museum, .