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The R-5 was the first Soviet missile to be armed with a nuclear warhead, the first for which the new southern facility at Dnepropetrovsk took over full design and production responsibility. The R-5 could deliver a 1425 kg warhead over a range of 1200 km, doubling the performance of the R-2. It was also the end of the road in being the ultimate extrapolation of German V-2 technology. Later missiles of both Yangel and Korolev would use other propellants and engine designs. After reaching a velocity of 3044 m/s at burnout, the missile arced up to a maximum altitude 300 km during a 10.5 minute before impacting in the target area with an accuracy of 6 km in range, 5 km laterally. CEP was 1.4 km.
The R-5 was designed primarily for delivery of a radiological weapon. It seems not to have been deployed, in preference to the nuclear-tipped R-5M.
The R-5 originated as Theme N-1 of the R-3 3000 kg / 3000 km range IRBM project. This proved too big a leap, but the R-3A subscale technology demonstrator was authorised in 1949, before being cancelled in turn in October 1951. As a replacement, an 20 October 1951 MOP decree authorised work to start on the R-5 and R-11. Due to the extensive work already done under Theme N-1, the 6 volume R-5 draft project was completed by Yangel and delivered on 30 November 1951. An official decree was issued in 1952 formally authorising development of the rocket with a 1000 km range specified. The original missile was planned to be equipped with a Pilyugin gyroscopic guidance system and to be built in several versions:
These lateral warheads were evidently deigned for dispersal of radiological liquids over a wide area in the impact zone. Such radiological warheads were used on the R-2 and R-5 prior to the availability of nuclear warheads. Similar weapons were discussed at Los Alamos during World War II when it seemed that the atomic bomb would not be ready in time or not work. In this case radioactive waste could be dispersed over a wide area, effectively providing the fallout effects of a nuclear bomb without the blast and fire effects.
The Generator-S radiological warhead for the R-5 was developed in the early 1950's. In order to handle the warhead OKBT Kirov Factory built the shielded manipulator vehicle Objekt 805, which had a total mass of 72 tonnes. Following a demonstration of 20 May 1954 the system was accepted by the military in 1955.
In parallel with warhead development qualification and stand test of the missiles systems were conducted from December 1951 through February 1952. Ten rockets were built in the initial lot, of which two were used for stand tests. Trials of the two test rockets began in 1953 at Filial NII-2 at Zagorsk. A state decree of 13 February 1953 set forth three phases of state trials tests for the missile itself:
Following completion of the trials the missile was accepted for military service. It seems very limited numbers or no R-5's at all actually entered service. The R-5M version with nuclear warhead was deployed instead. Special variants of the R-5 were used until well into the 1970's for test of equipment, scientific research. These included the R-5A, R-5B, R-5V, and Vertikal.
The R-5 was generally built of Amr3 aluminium-magnesium alloy. The tail section was initially built of steel, later being changed to D16T aluminium alloy. Spetsmash built the mobile launch system, similar to that for the V-2. It took two hours to prepare an R-5 for launch.
Payload: 1,425 kg. to a: 1200 km range trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 43,860 kgf. Total Mass: 27,250 kg. Core Diameter: 1.7 m. Total Length: 21.3 m.
In overnight roundup, 20,000 Germans transported to USSR to transfer technology on aerospace and other technical fields.
The NTS (Scientific-Technical Soviet) of NII-88 met in plenary session and subjected Korolev's proposal to withering criticism. The G-4 was found to be superior. After heated discussion, the Soviet approved further development of technology for the R-3, but not the missile itself. The decisions were: an R-3A technology demonstrator would be built and flown under Project N-1 (probably to prove G-4 concepts). Under Project N-2 both the RD-110 and D-2 engines would proceed into development test in order to prove Lox/Kerosene propellant technology. Packet rocket and lightweight structure research for use in an ICBM would continue under project N-3 / T-1. Winged intercontinental cruise missile studies would continue under project N-3 / T-2. Neither the G-4 or R-3 ended up in production, but the design concepts of the G-4 led directly to Korolev's R-7 ICBM (essentially a cluster of G-4's or R-3A's) and the N1 superbooster. Work on the G-4 continued through 1952.
The R-3 3000 km range missile and R-3A subscale technology demonstrator were cancelled. As a replacement work was to start on the R-5 and R-11. The missiles originated as Theme N-2 of the R-3 project. This was an alternate approach to delivering nuclear warheads on West European targets - road-mobile or sub-launched missiles of shorter range with lighter warheads that could be launched from forward areas and reach enemy targets.
Due to the extensive work already done under the Theme N-2, the 6 volume R-5 and 8 volume R-11 draft projects were delivered in record time.
Stand test of the missiles systems were conducted through February 1952. Ten rockets were built in the initial lot, of which two were used for stand tests. Trials of the two test rockets began in 1953 at Filial NII-2 at Zagorsk.
Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on themes T1 and T2, on approval of work on the R-5, R-11, and EKR missiles, and on transferring draft project work for the R-12 from NII-88 to SKB-586' was issued. The decree set forth three phases of state trials tests for the R-5 missile.
Unsuccessful. First Phase I trials launch of the 8 remaining rockets of the first production lot were fired, of which 6 reached the target area. The first launch was on 15 March 1953. The first successful flight was on 2 April 1953. The first full range flight came on 19 April 1953.
Following completion of the trials the missile was accepted for military service. It seems very limited numbers or no R-5's at all actually entered service. The R-5M version with nuclear warhead was deployed instead. Special variants of the R-5 were used until well into the 1970's for test of equipment, scientific research. These included the R-5A, R-5B, R-5V, and Vertikal.
The R-5 was generally built of Amr3 aluminium-magnesium alloy. The tail section was initially built of steel, later being changed to D16T aluminium alloy. Spetsmash built the mobile launch system, similar to that for the V-2. It took two hours to prepare an R-5 for launch.
Of the 8 rockets of the first production lot fired, 6 reached the target area.
Completion of first series of 8 R-5 flight tests. 2 achieved 270 km range, 5, 1200 km range, and one, 550 km range.
Through December 1953 there were 7 Phase II launches, one of which was unsuccessful. A maximum range of 1185 km was reached.
Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 956-4088s 'On approval of work on the R-7 ICBM, R-5R, and M5RD missiles' was issued.
The Generator-S radiological warhead for the R-5 was developed in the early 1950's. In order to handle the warhead OKBT Kirov Factory built the shielded manipulator vehicle Objekt 805, which had a total mass of 72 tonnes. Following the demonstration the system was accepted by the military in 1955.
Through February 1955 the state acceptance trials for the production missile were conducted. 19 launches were made, 10 of which passed the acceptance criteria, 5 did not, and 4 were used for test of the new radio-correction guidance system. This used the R-5R variant of the missile; one of those four tests was unsuccessful.
Decree 'MOP On production of the R-5A and R-2A scientific missiles at Plant No. 586' was issued.