RGM-59 Taurus
Encyclopedia
The RGM-59 Taurus was an American
project, conducted by the United States Navy
, that was intended to develop a surface-to-surface missile
for use as a fire support
weapon during amphibious landings, replacing heavy-caliber naval guns. Developed during the early 1960s, the project was cancelled before any hardware development was undertaken.
issued a requirement for a new type of surface-to-surface missile, called the Landing Force Support Weapon (LFSW), that was intended to replace the battleship
and heavy cruiser
force - then being retired - in the role of providing fire support of troops conducting amphibious landings.
The LFSW requirement specified a rocket-powered missile, armed with a conventional warhead, that would have an effective range of at least 55 kilometres (34.2 mi). The LSFW missile was required to be equally as effective against soft target
s as the naval guns and the unguided rockets that it was intended to replace. Studies regarding the guidance system of the LFSW were conducted by the Applied Physics Laboratory
, which determined that the ideal solution for the new missile was for it to utilise inertial guidance during the midcourse phase of its flight. Terminal guidance would be provided by a tracking beacon, operated by the troops in the battle area. The missile, having locked onto the beacon, would offset
from the beacon's position by an amount specified in the beacon signal, thereby striking the target with a high degree of accuracy.
surface-to-air missile
; the missile's accuracy
was projected to be within a range of 30 to 210 yd (27.4 to 192 ), depending on whether or not the target beacon was operational.
The Taurus' guidance system was intended to begin testing, using modified MGM-29 Sergeant
missiles, in 1965; one source states that Lockheed had been selected to develop the missile's airframe. Before any hardware for the project had been constructed, however, the project was cancelled during 1965. With the cancellation of the RGM-59 project, studies turned to a navalised variant of the MGM-52 Lance missile to provide shore landing fire support; in addition, an armed version of the Ryan Firebee
drone was proposed to meet the LSFW requirement. Due to funding restrictions, however, nothing would come of these projects as well.
In March 1967, the Naval Weapons Center proposed another LFSW missile system, that was intended to have a secondary role of the destruction of enemy air defenses. Intended for launch from existing guided missile cruisers and destroyer
s, as well as being carried by ballistic missile submarine
s, the new missile was intended to use terrain reference guidance, and was expected to have accuracy of 200 yards (182.9 m). However, this project also came to naught, leaving the role of a U.S. Navy ship-to-shore missile unfilled until the arrival of the BGM-109 Tomahawk
during the 1980s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
project, conducted by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, that was intended to develop a surface-to-surface missile
Surface-to-surface missile
A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
for use as a fire support
Fire support
Fire support is long-range firepower provided to a front-line military unit. Typically, fire support is provided by artillery or close air support , and is used to shape the battlefield or, more optimistically, define the battle...
weapon during amphibious landings, replacing heavy-caliber naval guns. Developed during the early 1960s, the project was cancelled before any hardware development was undertaken.
Design and development
In August 1961, the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
issued a requirement for a new type of surface-to-surface missile, called the Landing Force Support Weapon (LFSW), that was intended to replace the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
and heavy cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
force - then being retired - in the role of providing fire support of troops conducting amphibious landings.
The LFSW requirement specified a rocket-powered missile, armed with a conventional warhead, that would have an effective range of at least 55 kilometres (34.2 mi). The LSFW missile was required to be equally as effective against soft target
Soft target
Soft target is a military term referring to unarmored/undefended targets needing to be destroyed. For example, a soft target would be an automobile, a house, or assembly of people while a hard target could be a main battle tank or a well defended installation...
s as the naval guns and the unguided rockets that it was intended to replace. Studies regarding the guidance system of the LFSW were conducted by the Applied Physics Laboratory
Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory , located in Howard County, Maryland near Laurel and Columbia, is a not-for-profit, university-affiliated research center employing 4,500 people. APL is primarily a defense contractor. It serves as a technical resource for the Department of...
, which determined that the ideal solution for the new missile was for it to utilise inertial guidance during the midcourse phase of its flight. Terminal guidance would be provided by a tracking beacon, operated by the troops in the battle area. The missile, having locked onto the beacon, would offset
Offset
The term offset may refer to:* Carbon offset, a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions* Offset agreement, trade practice in Aerospace and Defense Industry...
from the beacon's position by an amount specified in the beacon signal, thereby striking the target with a high degree of accuracy.
Cancellation and follow-ups
Designated ZRGM-59A Taurus in June 1963, the refined design for the LFSW missile specified that it should be capable of utilising the same launchers as the TerrierRIM-2 Terrier
The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile , and was among the earliest surface-to-air missiles to equip United States Navy ships. Originally, the Terrier had a launch thrust of 23 kN , and weight of 1392 kg...
surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
; the missile's accuracy
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
was projected to be within a range of 30 to 210 yd (27.4 to 192 ), depending on whether or not the target beacon was operational.
The Taurus' guidance system was intended to begin testing, using modified MGM-29 Sergeant
MGM-29 Sergeant
The MGM-29 Sergeant was an American short-range, solid fuel, surface-to-surface missile developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Activated by the US Army in 1962 to replace the MGM-5 Corporal it was deployed overseas by 1963, carrying the W52 nuclear warhead or alternatively one of high explosives...
missiles, in 1965; one source states that Lockheed had been selected to develop the missile's airframe. Before any hardware for the project had been constructed, however, the project was cancelled during 1965. With the cancellation of the RGM-59 project, studies turned to a navalised variant of the MGM-52 Lance missile to provide shore landing fire support; in addition, an armed version of the Ryan Firebee
Ryan Firebee
The Ryan Firebee was a series of target drones or unmanned aerial vehicles developed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company beginning in 1951. It was one of the first jet-propelled drones, and one of the most widely-used target drones ever built....
drone was proposed to meet the LSFW requirement. Due to funding restrictions, however, nothing would come of these projects as well.
In March 1967, the Naval Weapons Center proposed another LFSW missile system, that was intended to have a secondary role of the destruction of enemy air defenses. Intended for launch from existing guided missile cruisers and destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s, as well as being carried by ballistic missile submarine
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
s, the new missile was intended to use terrain reference guidance, and was expected to have accuracy of 200 yards (182.9 m). However, this project also came to naught, leaving the role of a U.S. Navy ship-to-shore missile unfilled until the arrival of the BGM-109 Tomahawk
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
during the 1980s.
External links
- RGM-59 Taurus, Harpoon HeadQuarters