R-1 / SS-1 SCUNNER - Western Views
A National Security Agency history, "The Soviet Land-based Ballistic Missile Program, 1945-1972" An Historical Overview" [TOP SECRET UMBRA] noted that the SS-1a short-range ballistic missile was, essentially, an elongated version of the German V-2. Early US intelligence reports, for example, referred to it as "the Soviet V-2" and, because of its extended length, the Germans called it the "flying chimney." The missile was considered to be obsolete, and was soon deleted fran the Soviet Missile inventory.
Korolev, while in Germany in 1946, directed a project that produced several of these elongated V-2s. They were later sent to NII 88, and were reportedly first tested at Kapustin Yar in 1949. The extended length of the Soviet version was apparently mainly for the purpose of increasing the range of the Gennan V-2, and during the tests in 1949 the Germans estimated that a range of "about 350 nautical miles" had been attained.
By the end of the initial Soviet tests of the Gennan V-2 in 1947, the few Gennans at Kapustin Yar were assigned elsewhere. Consequently, their estimates of the acccmplishments of these early tests of the SS-1a (and of other early Soviet missiles tested at Kapustin Yar) did not result from personal observation or involvement. As a result, ranges attrib.lted by the Gennans to these early tests of the SS-1a are not considered to be overly reliable, and a maximum range of about 170 nautical miles was believed to be the true capability of the missile.
Paralleling Soviet work on the SS-1a was the German R-10 project, which also had as its rrain purpose the refinement of the V-2, anong other things extending its range to 500 nautical miles. But the R-10 project did not itself prcxiuce an operational missile. Modifications to the German V-2 that were incorporated into the SS-1a yielded an increase in fuel capacity (from 8,400 to 8,820 pounds), in oxidizer capacity (fran 10,800 to 11,025 pounds), and in thrust (from 55,300 to 57,600 pounds).
Like the V-2 the SS-1a was a single-stage missile with a non-separating nosecone, the nosecone weighing about 2,200 pounds. It used a cryogenic oxidizer and storable fuel. Missile control was maintainai by jet vanes and movable aerodynamically configured control surfaces on the fins. carrying a 1,720 pound high-explosive warhead with a circular error probability (CEP) of about 1.5 nautical miles, the SS-1a was road transportable and designed for tactical applications.
The single liquid bipropellant main engine of the SS-1a developed about 57,600 pounds of thrust. Gross weight of the missile was about 30,000 pounds with an over-all length estinated at 48.8 feet (compared to the 46-foot length of the V-2). Maximum diameter was assesserl at 5.4 feet (excluding the fins).
The transportable launch facility of the SS-1a was similar to that used for the German V-2. The launch platfonn consisted of a ring-type frame to support the missile and a flarre deflector below the ring. The launch platfonn was probably placed on a concrete pad at the launch site.
The SS-1a was assessed as probably not operationally deployed in significant numbers.
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