HISTORY - Page 2
1. Tech Rpt, Ord GM and Rkt Pros, REDSTONE, Vol IV, pp. 2-3; Ltr, OCO to RSA, 10 Jul 50, subj: Study Towards a
500-mile Wpn, cited in abv Tech Rpt; Memo, Org & Tng Div to AC/S G-3, 16 Feb 54, subj: Army GM Pro, cited in DA Pam
70-10, p. 35.
2. Memo, OCAFF to AC/S G-3, 25 May 54, subj: Surface-to-Surface GM Rqmts for Spt of Corps & Larger Units, cited in DA
Pam 70-10, pp. 35-36.
3. DA Pam 70-10, p. 36.
was brought forth by the Department of Army Chief of
the Organization and Training Division that the
warhead weight be reduced, with a resulting range
Increase to 240 miles. But in May of that year, the
Department of Army (DA) decided to continue the
REDSTONE as a weapons project to gain the early
thermo¬nuclear capability. To some extent, this
shifted attention momentarily away from the
REDSTONE as a possible long-range warhead carrier
1
After the DA decision, AFF embarked on a
comprehensive study project that covered an optimum
family of guided missiles. One of these was a short-
range missile—75 miles—to support corps or army
operations, and the CORPORAL, an on-the-shelf item,
could partially meet this requirement during the
interim before replacement by the solid-propellant
SERGEANT. For medium-range operations, a new
missile having a 150-mile capability was proposed for
support of Army and Navy group operations. What was
then considered as long-range would be achieved
through development of a new 500-mile missile to
replace the REDSTONE
2
.
The 1,000-Mile Missile
DA did not concur with AFF's 150 and 500 mile range
proposals. Instead, they felt that efforts should be
concentrated on developing one missile capable of a
1,000-mile powered flight and of being accurately
guided the last 200 miles at a speed of Mach 3.
Indications were that development of the 1,000-mile
missile would start immediately, but, on 2 August 1954
the Army Chief of Staff directed further study covering
surface-to-surface missile requirements
3
.
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