• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

R-15 SLBM

The R-15 missile, which was supposed to have a range of about 1,000 km, was developed by OKB-586 at Dnepropetrovsk. Unlike the D-1 and D-2 launch systems, with the D-3 launch system the R-15 missile would be fired directly out of the missile tube without previous elevation of the missile.

The creation of the D-3 missile system for the destruction of stationary coastal targets was set by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of August 25, 1956. It was now intended to equip the missile complex with an experimental diesel-electric submarine, V-629 (TsKB "Volna", one RPL-15) , the state carrier remained the SSBP pr.639 (SKB-143, now the Malakhit SPMBM, three R-15 SLBMs). Another Decree of the USSR Council of Ministers on the creation of the D-3 missile complex was adopted on March 20, 1958.

In 1955 chief designer V.P. Funikov of SKB-143 [now MBM Malakite] undertook the design of a nuclear powered submarine [designated Project 639] with a displacement of 6000 tons that was intended to carry three R-15 missiles. The development of the D-3 launch system was officially authorized on 20 March 1958. During 1958 OKB-16 developed a design for a diesel-engine electric submarine able to carry one R-15 missile. Because of the large overall dimensions and weight of the missile, these systems had poor technical and tactical characteristics. Consequently, the development of the R-15 missile, the D-3 launch system and the submarines was cancelled in December 1958 while they were still on the drawing board.

The launch of the R-15 missile was to be carried out from the above-water position of the boat, but unlike the R-11FM and R-13 - directly from the silo (without lifting to the upper section). To ensure start-up, solid-fuel starting engines were located in the head part of the rocket. Marching engines were launched only when the rocket bottom end was over the upper section of the silo ["mine"]. Such a method of launch made it possible to exclude from the silo design special devices that diverted the gases from the propulsion engines. Highly toxic fuels and oxidizers should be stored in special storage tanks on a boat. The missile was fueled by them just before the launch (the estimated time of refueling ranged from 2 to 3 hours). The launch time of one missile was 1.5 minutes.

In accordance with the TTZ the R-15 was to be loaded ["fed"] on the carrier boat in fully loaded condition. During the development process, the designer (OKB-586) stated that it is impossible to create a missile with the required range of flight with a hull capable of withstanding the impact of explosive loads on it. This statement led to the need to fill the P-15 with fuel components just before the launch.