MGM-52 Lance
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| MGM-52 Lance | |
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| Type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–1992 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | LTV |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 2,850 lbs |
| Length | 20 ft |
| Diameter | 22 in |
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| Warhead | 1 W-70 nuclear |
| Blast yield | 1-100 kt |
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| Engine | Solid-propellant rocket |
| Speed | >Mach 3 |
The MGM-52 Lance was a mobile field artillery tactical surface-to-surface missile system used to provide both nuclear and conventional fire support to the United States Army.
Contents |
[edit] Deployment
The first Lance missiles were deployed in 1972, replacing the less reliable Sergeant SRBM.
A Lance battery (two fire units) consisted of two M752 launchers (one missile each) and two M688 auxiliary vehicles (two missiles each), for a total 6 missiles. The firing rate per unit was approximately three missiles per hour. This rapidity provided the U.S. Army with a very formidable SRBM force.
[edit] Deactivation
With the signing of the INF Treaty in 1987, the United States Army began withdrawing Lance missiles from Europe. By 1992, all United States Army Lance warheads were in storage awaiting destruction.
[edit] Operators
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In 1973, the Lance replaced the MGR-1 Honest John system and the MGM-29 Sergeant. It was deactivated in 1992. Following its deactivation, surplus rockets were retained to be used as targets for anti-missile systems.
The Lance used the W70 nuclear warhead. The W70-3 version was one of the first warheads to be battlefield-ready with an "enhanced radiation" (neutron bomb) capability.
The original design envisaged a chemical weapon warhead option, but this development was cancelled in 1970.
[edit] See also
- Sea Lance, a similarly named, but unrelated submarine launched missile.
[edit] External links
- Video of Lance missiles being launched by British Army in 1992 - #1
- Video of British Army Lance launches in 1992 - #2
- Video of British Army Lance launches in 1992 - #3
- Redstone Arsenal History - Lance
- Herzobase.org - Lance Missile base in Germany
[edit] Related content
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