R-29

The preliminary design of the R-29 rocket of the D-9 complex began in SKB-385 in July 1963 . The work was carried out as part of a competitive program by decision of the Commission on Military-Industrial Issues ^[3] . Two proposals were considered at the competition. As part of the development of the D-8 OKB-52 complex (general designer V.N. Chelomei ), it was proposed to deploy universal UR-100 missiles on sea carriers. Both submarines and special submersible launching platforms of the Skat project were considered as carriers for the complex ^[4] . SKB-385 (chief designer V.P. Makeev ) proposed the development of a specialized small-sized two-stage marine ballistic missile of the D-9 complex for arming submarines. The R-29 missile was developed with a three-fold increase in range and a one-and-a-half increase in casting weight compared to the R-27 missile ^[3] . The marine version of the UR-100 - UR-100MR missile due to the rearrangement of the steps was supposed to have smaller dimensions compared to the base missile. In terms of accuracy, throwing mass and firing range, competing missiles were approximately equal. The missile complex D-8 had a lower cost due to greater mass production. The missile of the D-9 complex had somewhat smaller dimensions ^[4] .

In 1964, a meeting of the Defense Council was held under the chairmanship of the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, N. S. Khrushchev . Despite an interesting proposal and a vivid report by Chelomey, preference was given to the development of Makeev’s design bureau ^[5] . After this contest, OKB-52 no longer made proposals for sea-based ballistic missiles ^[6] . Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 808-33 on the commencement of work on the R-29 intercontinental boat rocket of the D-9 complex was issued on September 22, 1964 ^[7] .

SKB-385 was appointed the head developer of the rocket and the complex; VP P. Makeev, chief designer; OKB-2 was the developer of the first and second stage rocket engines ; A. Isaev , chief designer . The developer of the complex of onboard and ship systems for firing and missile flight control was NII-592 , chief designer N. Semikhatov , was appointed; NII- 885, chief designer N. A. Pilyugin , worked on the development of the on-board astrocorrection system; Project 701 works on the conversion of Project 658 submarine into the R-29 missile carrier - CPB "Wave" , chief designer Shulzhenko N. F. ^[7]

The R-29 missile is made in a two-stage scheme with a detachable monoblock warhead. In the design of the rocket, solutions for the R-27 rocket found further application - an all-welded body of wafer shells from AMg-6, the absence of inter-tank and transition compartments, the location of the first and second stage propulsion systems inside the fuel tanks (“recessed scheme”), the amplification of fuel components , the use of a "dynamic" gas bell at startup.

The monoblock warhead with a nuclear charge of 1Mt had the shape of a cone with a spherical blunting in front. It was located in the fuel tank of the second stage and was installed in an “inverted” position relative to the direction of flight. The spherical conical instrument compartment with control equipment was located in the volume formed by the head fairing and the back of the warhead ^[8] . Separation of the stages was carried out using detonating elongated charges (DLES) and the energy of the gases of boosting tanks. The separation of the front compartment (combat and instrument) was carried out by means of remote sensing and air from the instrument compartment ^[3] . The 4D75 LRE of the first stage and 4D76 ^{[9] [10] of the} second stage of development of Isaev Design Bureau ^[7] consisted of a single-chamber marching engine and two single-chamber steering engines ^[8] . Liquid engines operated on self-igniting components - nitrogen tetraxide (AT) and asymmetric dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), with factory amplification.

To obtain the required firing accuracy, for the first time for a ballistic missile in the USSR, an azimuthal astrocorrection system (correction of the flight plane according to stellar landmarks) was used. Also, the on-board digital computer was first used ^[11] . As an alternative, the option of radio correction from the ground when shooting near its coasts was also considered ^[12] . For the first time, missile defense systems were also used. Light false targets with an effective scattering surface (EPR) corresponding to the EPR of the head were developed. When folded, they were placed in the fuel tank of the second stage in special cylindrical containers. The ejection of false targets was carried out during the separation of the warhead ^[7] .

Unlike the R-27, the rubber-shock absorber belts were transferred from the rocket to the walls of the rocket shaft and were used for several launches. Belts in the stowed position rested on a rocket in the area of ​​the bottoms. But during loading / unloading, they acted on the shell shells, so I had to increase the relative height of the fins of the “waffle” shells. To ensure unstressed rocket exit from the mine, the annular gap was increased to 150 millimeters ^[12] . The launch of the rocket could be carried out both in underwater and above water position. The intercontinental range of the new complex made it possible to transfer the areas of combat patrol of missile carriers to the seas adjacent to the territory of the USSR and located in the control zone of the Soviet Navy. If necessary, the launch of missiles could be carried out from the pier from the surface of the boat, located at the base ^[8] .

Project D67B submarine missile launchers received the D-9 complex. There were 12 missile silos on the boat. All missiles could be fired in one salvo at a submarine speed of up to 5 knots, from a depth of 50 meters and sea waves up to 6 points . Submarine retention at a given depth during salvo firing was carried out using annular clearance tanks and a special retention system. Despite the decrease in the number of missiles located on the submarine to 12 (compared with 16 missiles on the Project 667A boat) according to the calculations of the designers , by increasing the range, charge power and firing accuracy, the efficiency of the D-9 complex increased 2.5 times compared to complex D-5 ^[13] .

The first stage of testing the elements of the D-9 complex began on the Black Sea by launching full-scale mock-ups of rockets with the first stage rocket engine from the submerged PSD-9 floating bench. Starts were carried out from the surface of the stand and in the submerged state from a depth of 40-50 meters. 6 launches from underwater position and one of the surface ^[7] . September 23 ^{[14] the} first launch was carried out - from the underwater position of the stand. The start was unsuccessful. Due to premature engine shutdown, the model did not reach the calculated height and fell into the water. When you hit the water, the layout exploded. The toxic cloud was blown away by the wind towards the command post of the test, because of which the staff, wearing gas masks, was forced to leave the test area. The remaining 6 launches from the stand were considered successful. The second launch was made from the above-water position of the stand and confirmed the possibility of launching the R-29 missile from the above-water position ^[7] .

The second stage - flight tests from a ground bench - was carried out at the State Central Marine Landfill on the White Sea near the village of Nenoksa from March 1969 to November 1971 ^{[7] [8]} . In total, 20 missile launches were made. At one of the launches, the main engine, when it entered the mode, exploded in the mine. As a result of the fire, the launcher was destroyed and the tests had to be interrupted for many weeks.

The third stage of the tests was carried out on board the submarine. According to the decree of the Council of Ministers of December 22, 1964, TsKB-16 (now “Malachite”) was engaged in the development of project 701 - the conversion of a project 658 boat to the D-9 missile system. At the end of 1964, the Navy allocated a submarine K-145 . It was converted according to project 701 with the installation of six mines with launchers 4C-75-1. Mooring trials of the boat ended March 25, 1971 in the Northern Fleet. Tests from the side of the boat began on December 25, 1971. The launch was carried out from the White Sea from an overwater position, since an underwater launch was not possible due to ice conditions. The first launch and the next three were successful. With a preliminary boost of tanks during the fifth launch in March 1972, the destruction of the rocket and the mixing of fuel components began. The commander of K-145, captain of the 2nd rank, Y. Illarionov, ordered the immediate ascent and opening of the cover of the emergency mine. A rocket explosion occurred ^[7] . Repair was carried out until August 3, 1972 at the Northern Machine-Building Plant in Severodvinsk. The tests resumed launching on August 21, 1972 . There were no more accidents. The last launch was carried out on November 28, 1972 ^[15] . A total of 13 launches were made, of which two launches to the intercontinental range — along the Pacific Ocean ^[7] .

According to the same decree of September 22, 1964, the Malakhit Design Bureau was engaged in project 601 — the conversion of Project 629 diesel-electric submarine into a carrier for R-29 missiles (also with six missiles). Re-equipment of the K-118 boat of Project 629 was started at Zvyozdochka in 1968 ^[16] (due to a number of delays, the boat was only handed over to the Navy on December 28, 1976 ^[7] ). December 27, 1972 went into operation K-279 - the lead boat of project 667B ^[15] . In continuation of flight tests of the R-29 rocket, six launches were carried out from the K-279 and 13 with K-118. 13 single launches and two volleys were carried out - two and four-rocket (volley fire was carried out from the K-279 ^[15] ). Three missiles were launched at full range - from a boat located in the White Sea on a training ground in the Pacific Ocean. Of the 19 launches, one ended in an accident. The tank of the first stage collapsed, an explosion occurred and the rocket was thrown out of the mine. The boat was repaired for three months ^[7] .

The D-9 complex with the R-29 missile was put into service on March 12, 1974 in accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 177-67 ^[7] .

The D-9 missile system was commissioned by Project 667B submarines. In total, 18 submarines of this type were built. For projects 601 and 701, only one boat was converted. Modernization of other submarines of projects 629 and 658 was not carried out.

R-29D missile of the D-9D complex

In 1972 and 1974, international treaties were signed to limit the deployment of missile defense systems . In this regard, in August 1976, a government decree on the modernization of the R-29 rocket was issued. The firing range was increased by 1200 km (15%) as a result of the withdrawal of anti-ballistic missile defense means. Also simplified rocket production technology. Four launches in the framework of joint flight tests were carried out from the end of 1976 to the beginning of 1977. The D-9D complex was put into service in March 1978 ^[17] .

The complex received part of the submarines of project 667B and four submarines of project 667BD "Murena-M" . On project 667BD submarine missile carriers, the number of mines was increased from 12 to 16. Since the upgrade did not affect the launch system, missiles could only be launched in two salvos - 12 missile and an additional 4 missile ^[13] .

R-29DU missile of the D-9DU complex

In June 1983, a government decree was issued on the development of a modernized version with a combat unit of increased mass and power. During flight tests, 12 launches were carried out. Additionally, improvements were made to the mathematical support of the complex for new rocket parameters. In June 1986, by a government decree, the D-9DU complex was adopted ^[18] .

The deployment of ballistic missile launchers R-29 and R-29D ^[19] . Data shown at year end.

Under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Project 667B and 667BD boats were withdrawn from the fleet without cutting out the missile compartment. Phased decommissioning of Project 667B boats began in 1994 ^[1] . By the end of 1997, only 4 missile carriers remained in service - K-447 and K-457 at the SF, K-500 and K-530 at the Pacific Fleet. K-457 and K-530 were withdrawn from the fleet in 1999. The last of March 5, 2004 was decommissioned K-447 "Kislovodsk" ^[21] . The first boat of project 667BD was withdrawn from the fleet in 1996. In 1999, the last ship of this type left the system ^[2] .

In connection with the cancellation of all carriers, the R-29 rocket was also withdrawn from service. In total, during the operation of the D-9 complex of all modifications, 368 launches were made of which 322 were considered successful ^[22] .

The adoption of the R-29 missiles in 1974 made it possible to sharply increase the combat stability of Soviet missile carriers. The intercontinental range of the new missiles eliminated the need to overcome the anti-submarine borders of the NATO and US fleets. Project 667B submarines could carry out combat patrols in the marginal seas of the USSR - the Barents, White, Kara, Norwegian, Okhotsk, Japanese and in the ice-covered areas of the Arctic. This allowed the creation of the so-called "protected combat areas." These areas were defended by minefields ^[23] , in which multipurpose nuclear submarines, surface ships and aircraft carried military service. Повысилась надёжность связи с стратегическими подводными лодками.

Возможность надводного старта ракет Р-29 позволила отработать новые тактические приёмы — стрельбу от пирса, всплытие лодки с продавливанием льда и последующим пуском ракет ^[24] . Вместе с мерами по уменьшению заметности подводных ракетоносцев это сделало морские ядерные силы наименее уязвимой компонентой ядерной триады ^[23] .

However, even before the adoption of the R-29, in 1970 the United States adopted the Poseidon S-3 missile with a multiple warhead with individual guidance units . Equipping US missiles with multiple warheads dramatically increased the effectiveness of US strategic nuclear forces by increasing the number of warheads ^[24] .

At the same time, the American missile did not have an intercontinental range. Therefore, despite the difference in approaches, the goal of further development of marine ballistic missiles in the USSR and the USA has become the same - the creation of missiles with separated warheads and intercontinental firing range.

• Submarine Ballistic Missiles
• R-27 - predecessor of the R-29 rocket
• R-29R - successor to the R-29 rocket

• Korshunov Yu. L., Kutovoy E. M. Ballistic missiles of the Russian fleet. - St. Petersburg: Gangut, 2002 .-- 41 p. - (The Gangut Library). - 1200 copies. - ISBN 5-85875-043-5 .
• Shirokorad A. B. Encyclopedia of Domestic Missile Weapons / Ed. ed. A.E. Taras . - M .: AST , 2003 .-- 515 p. - ISBN 5-170-11177-0 .
• SKB-385, Design Bureau of Engineering, GRTS "Design Bureau named after Academician V. P. Makeev "/ Compiled by Kanin R. N., Tikhonov N. N .; under the general. ed. V. G. Degtyar. - M .: State Rocket Center "Design Bureau named. Academician V.P. Makeev "; LLC Military Parade, 2007. - 408 p. - ISBN 5-902975-10-7 .

• "The main stages of the development of marine strategic systems" (neopr.) (Inaccessible link - history ) . Date of treatment January 17, 2010.
• Ballistic missile of submarines R-29 (RSM-40) (neopr.) . www.new-factoria.ru. Date of treatment January 17, 2010. Archived January 28, 2012.