LTVMGM-52Lance

TheLance was a short/medium-range tactical surface-to-surface missile, which replaced theMGM-29Sergeant andMGR-1Honest John in U.S. Army service. Itwas also the last nuclear-armed tactical ballistic missile of the U.S. Army.

In the late 1950s, the Army began to formulate requirements for a new series of ballistic missiles, calledMissile "A" through "D". Missile "A" was to become a replacement for theMGR-3Little John,Missile "B" for theMGR-1Honest John, Missile "C" for theMGM-29Sergeant,and Missile "D" (which evolved into theMGM-31Pershing) for thePGM-11Redstone. In 1962, Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) was selectedas prime contractor for Missile "B", which at that time was expected to become a short-range (50 km) missile.In November 1962 the nameLance was assigned, and in June 1963 the designationMGM-52 was allocated.

TheLance used a new variable-thrust boost/sustain liquid-fueled rocket engine, using storable liquid propellants.The engine was built by Rocketdyne, and its development turned out to be rather troublesome, causing many delays.Additionally, theLance used 4 spin motors immediately after launch which produced the charactersitic black smokewhich accompanied everyLance firing.TheLance was guided by a completely self-contained inertial system (AN/DJW-48) using the principle of DCAM (Directional ControlAutomatic Meteorological) Compensation. In this system the missile's accelaration was constantly monitored by an accelerometer,and the variable-thrust sustainer engine provided exactly the amount of thrust to keep the missile on the predeterminedtrajectory, compensating for any atmospheric changes or disturbances. The first test flight of anXMGM-52A missileoccurred in March 1965, and the tests continued through 1965/66, including validation of the DCAM guidance principle.

Photos: U.S. Army
XMGM-52A

In 1965, studies showed that by using a higher performance engine, larger missile fins, and by removing the ballast from thewarhead section, the range of theLance could be significantly increased to about 140 km.The modified missile was called Extended RangeLance (XRL), and effectively combined the requirements for Missiles "B" and "C". The XRL was designatedMGM-52B,and while testing continued with the XMGM-52A, it was decided that only the MGM-52B would be fielded.

The first light of anXMGM-52B XRL missile occurred in May 1969, and in the next year the required range and accuracy ofthe XRL could be demonstrated. However, serious troubles with the rocket engine plagued the flight tests between 1967 and 1971, andtheLance was not declared ready for deployment until May 1972. By this time the planned chemical and conventional warheadshad been cancelled, and the initialLance missiles were all armed with a W-70 thermonuclear variable-yield (1 kT - 100 kT)warhead. The final production configuration of theLance with all the changes made during XMGM-52B testing (including aslightly redesigned fin and tail section) was designatedMGM-52C.

Photos: U.S. Army
XMGM-52B

The first operationalLance battalion was deployed in Europe in September 1973.Compared to theSergeant it replaced,Lance was far easier to operate and maintain.The missile could be fired at short notice (reaction time was less than 15 minutes), and because of its compact size,more missiles could be moved by a single unit.

Photo: U.S. Army

MGM-52C

In 1976 the development of a non-nuclear warhead section for the MGM-52C resumed. This was a cluster warhead designated XM251,which used M40 submunition bomblets. The M251 warhead entered service with the U.S. Army in 1978, and conventially armedLancemissiles (with several warhead types) were used by many NATO countries. In 1977, a derivative of the W-70nuclear warhead, the W-70 Mod 3, was ready for production. This was an ER (Enhanced Radiation, a.k.a. "Neutron Bomb") warhead,designed to produce a much higher neutron radiation level (to kill enemy soldiers at longer range and/or behind better shielding),and significantly smaller blast/heat effects than "usual" thermonuclear warheads (to limit damage to civilian buildings).The ER warhead was originally cancelled for political reasons, but eventually built beginning in 1981. However, the ER warhead wasnever issued to field units.

When the Cold War ended at the beginning of the 1990's, there was no longer a need for nuclear-armed SRBMs. Deactivation ofLancebegan in 1991, and was completed in June 1992. This quick retirement was possible, because in 1991 the newMGM-140ATACMS SRBM (with conventional warheads only) had become operational.The remainingLance missiles are used as targets, but they are not redesignated as MQM-52.In total, about 2100Lance missiles were built.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data forMGM-52C:

Main Sources

[1] James N. Gibson: "Nuclear Weapons of the United States", Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1996
[2] Bill Gunston: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rockets and Missiles", Salamander Books Ltd, 1979
[3]Redstone Arsenal Historical Information Website

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