Encyclopedia entry

Terrier

Stage · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Standard US Navy solid propellant two-stage extended-range surface-to-air missile. Developed in the 1950's, in service until replaced by the Standard ER in the 1980's. Modified Terrier missiles were used as sounding rockets, sometimes supplemented with upper stages.

The US Navy began the Bumblebee program in 1946 to develop the Talos ramjet-powered surface-to-air missile with deployment in 1949. Mastering ramjet technology turned out to be more difficult than anticipated. On the other hand, a two-stage solid propellant rocket used to test the guidance system performed very well in tests in 1948. So the decision was taken to develop the test vehicle into the Terrier, a shorter range surface-to-air missile that could be deployed in the short term while Talos matured. First flight of the Terrier was in 1951, and the missile was deployed on Navy surface ships in 1956. Terrier remained deployed with the fleet as part of the Terrier-Tartar-Talos SAM triad until replaced by Standard ER missiles in the 1980's. Versions of the Terrier were:

RIM-2A Terrier BW-0 (Beam-riding, Wing-controlled, series 0)
RIM-2B Terrier BW-1 a simplified BW-0 with higher reliability
RIM-2C Terrier BT-3 (Beam-riding, Tail-controlled, series 3), with wings replaced by fixed strakes, and control surfaces on the tail, which improved agility. The missile also had an improved autopilot and a improved rocket motors providing higher speed and range. First tested in 1954, the BT-3 was operational in 1956.
RIM-2D Terrier BT-3A, with further propulsion improvements which doubled the range to about 37 km (20 nm). An anti-ship mode was added.
RIM-2D Terrier BT-3A(N), a BT-3A with a 1 kT W-45 nuclear warhead.
RIM-2E Terrier HT-3 (Homing Terrier), with C-band semi-active radar homing replacing the beam-riding guidance. This gave the missile capability against low-altitude targets. The Tartar short-range SAM missile was a essentially a Terrier without a booster stage, deployed in 1962.
RIM-2F Terrier HTR-3 (Homing Terrier, Retrofit), with a new sustainer motor, power supply, and solid state electronics. This gave the system a range of 75 km (40 nm) with improved ECCM, multiple-target capability, and improved anti-ship performance. RIM-2E missiles were brought up to RIM-2F standard
TMT (Terrier Missile Target) configuration, surplus Terrier missiles converted to sea-skimming or ballistic targets.

Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 0.062 million. Maximum range: 37 km (22 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W45. Warhead yield: 1.00 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Maximum speed: 3,270 kph (2,030 mph). Initial Operational Capability: 1956. Total Number Built: 3000. Floor: 15 m (49 ft). Surveillance Radar: SPQ-5/C.

More at: Terrier.

Subtopics

Coyote American single stage sounding rocket using the Terrier Mk 70 motor.
Land-Based Version American surface-to-air missile. Land based-version of Terrier surface-to-air missile. Development begun in 1951. Project cancelled in 1956.
RIM-2A American surface-to-air missile.
RIM-2B American surface-to-air missile.
RIM-2C American surface-to-air missile.
RIM-2D American surface-to-air missile. Nuclear warhead.
RIM-2F American surface-to-air missile.
Terrier ASAS American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Terrier ASAS-2.
Terrier Nike American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Nike.
Terrier Recruit American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x Recruit.
Terrier Sounding Rocket American surface-to-air missile. Modified single stage Navy Terrier missiles with cameras were used as sounding rockets. They were launched to an altitude of 140 km from Wallops Island, providing a 1,600 km composite photograph of a frontal cloud formation.
Terrier/551 American sounding rocket. Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Terrier + 1 x NOTS 551

Family: ship-launched, surface-to-air
Country: USA
Launch Sites: Wallops Island, Barking Sands, Wallops Island LA2
Stages: X-256
Agency: Convair
Bibliography: 17, 2

Chronology

34 events

1952 November 7

17:34 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Terrier.

Booster Test 5 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi).

1958 December 5

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Terrier.

First Terrier sounding flight. - . Nation: USA. Modified Navy Terrier rocket with camera launched to an altitude of 86 miles from Wallops Island, providing a 1,000-mile composite photograph of a frontal cloud formation..

1965 October 20

Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier/551. FAILURE: Failure.

Flight test 1 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NMC. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1965 December 1

01:28 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. Launch Platform: SHIP-US. Launch Vehicle: Terrier.

DAT-371 Intercept - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Type: ABM. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi).

1966 August 2

Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier/551.

Flight test 2 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NMC. Apogee: 443 km (275 mi).

1970 May

Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

Flight test 1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1970 Q3?

Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

Flight test 2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi).

1970 Oct

Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 0 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1971 March 15

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1971 March 26

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 February 3

20:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0A. Launch Pad: LA0 ARC. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 3 Nose rain erosion - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 February 17

14:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0A. Launch Pad: LA0 ARC. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 6 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 February 17

15:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0 HAD. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 4 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 March 17

21:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0A. Launch Pad: LA0 ARC. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 7 Nose rain erosion - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 March 22

15:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0 HAD. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS Vehicle 5 - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1972 August 16

15:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

Nose rain erosion - . Nation: USA. Agency: SAND. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1973 February 2

14:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487101 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1973 February 2

14:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487102 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1973 February 27

10:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487103 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1973 February 27

10:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487104 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1973 June 28

19:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1973 Nov

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487401 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1974

Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Nike.

Parachute test - . Nation: USA. Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi).

1974 January 26

18:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1974 April 8

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487411 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).

1974 April 8

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.

SAMS R487406 - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi).