The R-13 was a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed by the Soviet Union starting around 1955. The single-stage liquid-fuel rocket entered service in 1961. The NATO reporting name for this type of missile is SS-N-4 or Sark. This missile was somewhat similar in design to the R-11FM missile, which caused some confusion in Western intelligence services during the Cold War. The missiles were phased out from 1965 to 1975.
This missile was the first Soviet design to use a small set of rocket engines to perform course and trajectory alterations instead of aerodynamic control surfaces, although a set of four stabilizers were used to keep the missile on-course during initial flight.
During initial testing before the missiles were deployed, 26 of 32 missiles (81%) were successfully launched. While the systems were deployed from 1961 to 1975, 225 of 311 launches (72%) were successful.
Specifications
- Length: 11.8 m (38 ft 9 in)
- Diameter: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
- Diameter (to stabilizers): 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
- Launch weight: 13.7 t
- Warhead: single nuclear: 1.2 to 2.0 Mt (perhaps as low as 1.0 Mt)
- Propulsion: liquid-fuel rocket, single stage
- Fuel: AK-271
- Oxidizer: TG-02
- Range: about 600 km (370 miles)
- Launching technique: surfaced
- CEP: 1.8 to 4 km (1.1 to 2.5 miles)
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