R-5

The leading designers of this rocket were D.I. Kozlov and I.P. Rumyantsev. The development of the R-5 rocket began after the refusal to complete the development of the R-3 rocket with a design range of 3,000 km, which was recognized as unrealizable at that stage in the development of rocket technology. Instead, it was decided to develop a missile with a range of about 1,200 km on the basis of technical solutions already tested on previous missiles and to implement part of what was intended for the R-3 missile. It was the first Soviet rocket with a carrier tank of liquid oxygen, devoid of thermal insulation (which was offset by recharge before launch). In addition, the designers abandoned the stabilizers, making the rocket aerodynamically unstable, although the air rudders remained.

Initially, the missile was equipped with a high-explosive warhead (warhead) weighing 1 ton. In addition to the main version with one warhead, she had options with three and five high-explosive warheads, with a correspondingly reduced range. These additional warheads were suspended from the side. In 1955, work was also started under the code “Generator-5” to develop a special warhead with military radioactive substances (“ dirty bomb ”), which ended with three test launches in 1957. To equip warheads with nuclear materials, a specially developed self-propelled manipulator “Object 805” weighing 22 tons was used.

The RD-103 engine for the R-5 was an even more forceful version of the R-1 rocket engine, surpassing the original thrust by 1.7 times. In particular, the combustion chamber was converted from pear-shaped to spherical.

Tests

Nuclear R-5M

On June 21, 1956 , the R-5M missile (index 8K51 , originally 8A62M ) was adopted — the world's first missile with a nuclear warhead ^[4] . A new control system was developed for this missile, important automation components were duplicated (and some were even tripled), which was supposed to provide greater reliability compared to the initial missile. The area of ​​pylons of air rudders was increased, to facilitate the operation of the stabilization machine, the shape of the head was changed.

The full-scale test of the R-5M with a nuclear charge took place on February 2, 1956. The test launch was carried out at the Kapustin Yar training ground (Chairman of the State Commission - Colonel N. S. Vasendin ), the site of the explosion, with a capacity of 80 kt, was located on the border of the Aral Karakum and salt marshes Chelkar - Tengiz , about 200 km north of the city of Aralsk .

The R-5M rocket was proposed as the first step in a non-embodied project of a light class launch vehicle for launching a satellite within the framework of the International Geophysical Year , for safety in the event of a delay with R-7 refinement

In 1957-1958, practically all the divisions of the RVGK engineering brigades were re-equipped with the R-5M missile; 15 regiments mastered this missile in the Air Force. According to the plan for the use of missile units in the event of hostilities, approved in November 1957, they began relocation to the border areas.

Two missile divisions of the 72nd Engineering Brigade of the RVGK were secretly deployed in December 1958 on the territory of the German Democratic Republic near Fürstenberg , 80 kilometers from Berlin , in a wooded area, hidden from prying eyes, but with fairly convenient railway access. In May 1959, work was completed on the construction of a bunker 150 meters long and 25 meters wide. Four missiles were aimed at England , eight - at Paris , Brussels , Bonn and the Ruhr industrial region of Germany . The whole operation was carried out so secretly that even the top leadership of the GDR did not know about it. Already in August 1959, Soviet atomic weapons, which first appeared on foreign territory, unexpectedly relocated to Kaliningrad . ^{[5] [6]}

The combat use of units with R-5M missiles in those years was planned by analogy with the non-nuclear complexes R-1 and R-2 and was intended to support the actions of ground forces in front-line offensive and defensive operations.

Pilot

M5RD

The M5RD experimental rocket was developed on the basis of the R-5 design for testing in flight conditions a number of new systems and principles developed for the R-7 intercontinental missile and mainly related to the control system. Flight tests were carried out in two stages, five missiles at each stage. All 10 launches carried out in July-September 1955 with the equipment of the R-7 control system were successful, while during the flight of experimental missiles the apparent speed control (SCS) and simultaneous emptying of tanks (SOB), a new telemetry system were tested ^{[ 7]} , the system of normal and lateral stabilization of the center of mass relative to a given trajectory and flow controllers. During three of the 10 M5RD launches carried out, the head parts were tested: one with a silicon carbide coating and two with asbestolite thermal protection ^[8] .

P-5P

The experimental R-5R rocket was developed in accordance with the Decree of May 20, 1954 on the basis of the R-5 rocket (8A62 3rd stage) to verify in flight conditions the principle of radio-measurement of the speeds of long-range missiles with pulsed operation of the centimeter wavelength radio system (for confirming the capabilities of landfill radar facilities for monitoring the R-7 during test launches ^[8] ). Also, during the P-5P tests, work was carried out to determine the effect of the gas jet of the engine on the operation of the interrogation and response radio lines and the effectiveness of the anti-ionization elements introduced into the jet of the engine to reduce the attenuation of radio waves, the operation of the direction finder created for the R-7 ICBM was checked. Four missiles were made for testing, three of which were launched ^[7] in May – June 1956.

Geophysical

Based on the R-5M, a number of geophysical rockets were developed:

• R-5A is a single-stage missile with a salvaged warhead (MS) developed by OKB-1 for scientific research of the upper atmosphere at altitudes of up to 500 km, as well as experiments in the interests of promising KB design. In the period 1958-1961, ten launches of R-5A were made from the Kapustin Yar firing range, including with dogs on board .
• R-5B (R-5BA, V-5B) - a geophysical rocket with an inseparable warhead, the research facilities of which had individual rescue systems. The decision to make five copies of the rocket in two versions of the assembly of warhead equipment (two R-5B rockets and three R-5BA rockets) was made in 1960. R-5B was intended to continue scientific research and study of the upper atmosphere associated with flights at high speeds and altitudes of about 500 km, but the composition of the experiments was significantly different from R-5A. In the period 1962-1963, five launches of R-5A were made from the Kapustin Yar training ground.
• R-5V (R-5VAO, V-5V) - was mainly intended for conducting scientific research under the high-altitude astrophysical observatory (VAO) program, its design began in 1963, and the first launch took place on September 21, 1964. During the R-5V launches, in addition to solving the main problems, in the interests of OKB-1, aerodynamics and heat transfer were studied for the descent module model of the new 7K manned spacecraft , which was to replace the Vostok and Voskhod ships. In the period 1964-1971, from the Kapustin Yar training ground, twelve R-5V rocket launches were made, including two launches under the International Vertical program (two launches were emergency).

Reactive Unit Headquarters (before 1960)

• 72nd engineering brigade RVGK (st. Medved, Novgorod region), since 195? 1960 - R-5M, from February to September 1959, 72 Iber was secretly located on the territory of the German Democratic Republic , the maximum armament - 8 launchers R-5M
  • The 25th Missile Regiment (military unit 43190), from 1955, as the 635th separate engineering division consisting of 72 RBIs , from May to August 1959 on the database in the German Democratic Republic with 4 R-5M, in September it was withdrawn to Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Region and missiles transferred to the 97th missile regiment, since May 1960, 25 rp on the database with R-12, with which in July it became part of 24 rd ^[10] .
  • The 638th Guards Missile Regiment (military unit 25585), from 1955, as the 638th separate engineering division consisting of 72 RBIs , from May to August 1959 on the database in the German Democratic Republic with 4 R-5M, in September it was withdrawn to Volkovysk of the Grodno region, and missiles were transferred to the 97th missile regiment , since May 1960, 638 Guards.Rp on the database with R-12, with which since July it became part of 31 rd . Since 1961 he was transferred to the city of Slonim, Grodno region ^[11] .

43rd Missile Red Banner Army

In service with the 43rd RA ( Vinnitsa ), from 1959 to 1965, there were a maximum of 16 P-5M launchers:

• 44th Kamyshin missile division (military unit 43291, until 1960 - 73rd engineering brigade , Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk region), from 1960 to 1965 - 8 PU R-5M
  • 101st Missile Regiment (military unit 86343), from 1955 to 1959, as part of the 73rd Engineering Brigade ( Kamyshin , Stalingrad Region), from 1960 as part of 44 rd , from 195? to 1965 - 8 PU R-5 ( Svalyava , Transcarpathian region, from 1965 - Mukachevo )
    • 1st taxiway with 4 ground starting positions R-5M ( ), on a database with R-5M from August 1, 1959 by 1965 ^[12]
    • 2nd taxiway with 4 ground starting positions R-5M ( ), on a database with R-5M from August 1, 1959 by 1965 ^[12]
• 46th Missile Nizhnedneprovskaya Order of the October Revolution Red Banner Division (military unit 33883, Pervomaisk (Nikolaev region), from 1961 to 1965 - 8 PU R-5M
  • 84th Missile Regiment (military unit 82717), during the period from 1955 to 1958, as the 640th separate engineering division as part of the 85th Engineering Brigade (Kapustin Yar), from 1958 to 1959, subordinated to the Headquarters of the reactive units with . Pass in the Crimea. In 1960, as 84 rp as part of the 29th missile brigade , and from 1961 to 46 rd , from 195? 1965 - 8 launchers R-5
    • 1st taxiway with 4 ground starting positions R-5M ( , Mazanka), on a database with R-5M from 10 May 1959 to 1965 ^[13]
    • 2nd taxiway with 4 ground starting positions R-5M ( , Beams), on a database with R-5M from 10 May 1959 to 1965 ^[13]

50th Missile Army

In service with the 50th RA ( Smolensk ), from 1959 to 1966, there were a maximum of 16 P-5M launchers:

• The 24th Guards Rocket Gomel Order of Lenin, the Red Banner Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov and Bogdan Khmelnytsky Division (military unit 14237, the city of Guards , Kaliningrad Region), until 1960 - the 72nd Engineering Brigade (station Medved, Novgorod Region), since 195? to 1966 - R-5M, maximum in service - 8 PU R-5M
  • 97-й ракетный полк им. 60-летия ВЛКСМ (в/ч 41203) — 8 ПУ Р-5М
    • 1-й рдн с 4 наземными стартовыми позициями Р-5М ( ), на БД с Р-5М с 1 октября 1959 по 5 ноября 1966 ^[14]
    • 2-й рдн с 4 наземными стартовыми позициями Р-5М ( ), на БД с Р-5М с 1 октября 1959 по 5 ноября 1966 ^[14]
    • Запасные полевые позиции были расположены в районе пос. Геройское ( ) и Высокое ( ).
• 29-я гвардейская ракетная Витебская ордена Ленина Краснознаменная дивизия (в/ч 42341, г. Таураге Литовской ССР, с 1961 — г. Шяуляй ) — 8 ПУ Р-5М
  • 115-й ракетный полк (в/ч 18282), в 1958—1959, как 253-й авиационный полк в составе 50-й воздушной армии ( Выползово , Калининской области), в 1960 вошёл в состав 29 рд (с сентября 1959 — Паплака, Латвийская ССР), с 1958(59) по 1966 — 8 ПУ Р-5М
    • 1-й рдн с 4 наземными стартовыми позициями Р-5М ( ), на БД с Р-5М с конца 1959 по 1 мая 1966 ^[15]
    • 2-й рдн с 4 наземными стартовыми позициями Р-5М ( ), на БД с Р-5М с 1 октября 1960 по 1 мая 1966 (ГЧ поступили в апреле 1961 года) ^[15]

9-й отдельный ракетный корпус

На вооружении 9 орк (г. Хабаровск ), с 1961 по 1967 годы, максимально имелось 4 ПУ Р-5М:

• 45-я ракетная Краснознаменная дивизия (в/ч 18289, с 1960 — г. Уссурийск , с 1965 — пос. Манзовка ), с 1961 по 1967 год — 4 ПУ Р-5М
  • 652-й гвардейский ракетный Брянско-Берлинский Краснознаменный полк (в/ч 82735), в период с 1953 по 1959 годы в составе 85-й инженерной бригады (Капустин Яр), с 1960 в составе 45 рд , с 1956 по 1967 — 4 ПУ Р-5М ( Ляличи , Приморский край )
    • 1-й рдн с 4 наземными стартовыми позициями Р-5М ( ), на БД с Р-5М с 1 августа 1959 по 1967 ^[16]

Ракета 8К51 представлена:

• В филиале Центрального музея РВСН в Учебном центре Военной академии РВСН им. Петра Великого в Балабанове Калужской области ^[17] ;
• В парке имени Героя Советского Союза генерал-лейтенанта Алпаидзе Г. Е. в г. Мирный .

• Операция «Гром»

• Белоус М. Н. и др. Оружие ракетно-ядерного удара. — М. : МГТУ имени Н. Э. Баумана , 2009. — 492 с. — 1000 экз. — ISBN 978-5-7038-3250-9 .
• Воскресенский С. Первый ракетно-ядерный меч (рус.) // Техника и вооружение. — 2010. — № 06 . — С. 18-23 . — ISSN 1682-7597 .
• Воскресенский С. Первый ракетно-ядерный меч (рус.) // Техника и вооружение. — 2010. — № 07 . — С. 31-34 . — ISSN 1682-7597 .
• Задача особой государственной важности. Из истории создания ракетно-ядерного оружия и Ракетных войск стратегического назначения (1945-1959 гг.) / Сост. В. И. Ивкин, Г. А. Сухина. — М. : Российская политическая энциклопедия (РОССПЭН), 2010. — 1205 с. - 800 copies. — ISBN 978-5-8243-1430-4 .
• Первый пилотируемый полёт. Российская космонавтика в архивных документах. В 2-х книгах / Под ред. В. А. Давыдова. — Книга 1. — М. : «Родина МЕДИА», 2011. — 560 с. - 2000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-905350-01-6 .
• Сухина Г. А., Ивкин В. И., Дюрягин М. Г. Ракетный щит Отечества / Под общ. ed. В. Н. Яковлева . — М. : ЦИПК РВСН, 1999. — 254 с.
• Широкорад А. Б. Энциклопедия отечественного ракетного оружия 1918-2002 / Под общей ред. А. Е. Тараса . - Mn. : Харвест , 2003. — 544 с. — (Библиотека военной истории). — 5100 экз. — ISBN 985-13-0949-4 .

• Как ракету оснастили ядерной боеголовкой
• Первая ракета с ядерным боевым зарядом
• Gudilin V.E., Weak L.I. R-7 missile system // Space-rocket systems (History. Development. Prospects) . - M. , 1996 .-- 326 p.