RT-23 Molodets : Trains of Mass Destruction
Military
Two Chief engineers and brothers, Vladimir and Alexei Utkin at Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Ukraine as part of the former Soviet Union started developing solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missiles in the form of the silo (underground missile launching facility) and ghost train in 1969. Another form of road-mobile was approved but later abandoned.
The former Soviet Union was the first to invent a cold launched system and the same was used in RT-23 Molodets. This system allowed the replacement of older liquid propellant rockets, which only could launch from the silo and led to portability due to a three-stage launch. The first includes launching rockets with compressed gases from a train container. Then, activation of course correction boosters for the desired direction and lastly, ignition of the main engine.
During the 1980’s USSR tested these missiles, deployed them in 1987, and evaluated them in 1991.
SS-24
The experiments resulted in tolerable damage to these ghost trains after initial launches while still having the ability to conduct more missile launches. This ability was developed by a particular coupling system between the launcher and neighboring rail cars leading to even weighting distribution.
The ghost train looked and traveled 1000 miles as any other passenger train in the Soviet Union.
It was composed of three diesel-electric engine carts followed by seventeen railcars – a camouflaged tank with diesel fuel and lubricants reserve, three 3-car autonomous launching modules that included a launch support systems car with the addition of a car with an erectable launcher, and a launcher command post car, a regiment command post car, a communications systems car, a main diesel generator car, a provision storage car with refrigerators and water tanks, a dining car and two separate living compartment cars for officers and enlisted personnel.
Moreover, the train could cruise at a speed of 50-75 mph and had the feature to short-circuit the grid and divert just for its use. The storage of resources on the train gave it the ability to run autonomously for 28 days.
SS-24
These nuclear arms race also led the United States to develop a counterpart known as Peacekeeper Rail Garrison, but it was never deployed. Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, 92 missiles were operational. The 46 silo-based missiles in Ukraine were deactivated, out of which 45 silos were destroyed, and one was kept intact for exhibition purposes.
SS-24
Another 46 were part of the Strategic Missile Forces in Russia, out of which 10 were silos-based, and 36 were rail-based.
SS-24 Removal of SS-24 ICBM from Rail-mobil Launcher at Bershet
The rail-based missiles were gradually withdrawn and eliminated from services, but silos were modified further for Topol – M missiles in response to the Strategic Defense Initiative under Ronald Rogan. This initiative was also known as the Star Wars Program, and it aimed to obsolete the Soviet Union’s nuclear projects. The Topol -M missile is also in the form of a road-mobile currently. It has less than half as much mass as RT-23 and higher accuracy. It is said to have had the ability to kill interceptors with decoys that it contains along with 4-6 warheads in the missiles.
RT-23 Molodets : Trains of Mass Destruction Written by Achal Shah
RT-23 Molodets : Trains of Mass Destruction
