- P-70 Ametist
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P-70 Ametist
(NATO reporting name: SS-N-7 'Starbright')
Type Anti-shipping missile Place of origin Soviet Union Service history In service 1968-1995 Used by Russia, India Production history Manufacturer NPO Mashinostroyeniye (Chelomei) Specifications Weight 7,700 lb (3,500 kg) Length 23.0 ft (7.0 m) Warhead HE or 200kt nuclear Warhead weight 1,170 lb (530 kg) Propellant Solid fuel Operational
range65 km (35 nmi) Speed Mach 0.9 Launch
platformCharlie-I class SSGNs, Papa class submarine class SSGNs The P-70 Ametist (NATO reporting name SS-N-7 Starbright, GRAU designation 4K66; Russian: П-70 «Аметист» 'Amethyst') was an anti-shipping missile carried by Soviet Charlie-I submarines and Papa class submarine. A sub-launched version of the SS-N-2 'Styx', it was soon succeeded by the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 'Siren').
Contents
Development
The P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3A 'Shaddock') missile required the Echo class submarines carrying them to spend 30 minutes or more on the surface when firing. This made submarines very vulnerable to enemy attack, so in the 1960s the Soviets started work on a new missile that could be fired whilst submerged, and a submarine to carry it. These became the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 'Siren') and Charlie class submarine.
However, problems with the engines of the supersonic P-120 Malakhit forced the Soviets to design a sub-launched missile based on the P-15M Termit (SS-N-2C 'Styx') as a stopgap measure for the first batch of Charlie submarines. This became the P-20L, later renamed the P-70 Ametist.
Design
The P-15M was fitted with an L band sensor and a new altimeter radar both developed for the 'Siren', but there was no room for a datalink in the smaller 'Styx'. Folding wings were added to reduce the size of the missile, and the missile can be launched at a maximum depth of 30 meter.
The short range of the P-70 meant that it did not need mid-course updates from a radar on the submarine, so it could be fired whilst submerged. This more than made up for its lack of range compared to the 'Shaddock'.
Operational history
The P-70 went into service with the Soviet Navy on the first Charlie I, on June 3, 1968.[1] About 200 were produced.
India leased the Chakra, a Soviet Charlie I submarine from January 1988 to 1992, to gain experience of operating a nuclear submarine.
Operators
References
External links
- MARITIME STRIKE The Soviet Perspective
- www.dtig.org Russian/Sovjet Sea-based Anti-Ship Missiles (pdf)
Categories:- Anti-ship cruise missiles of the Soviet Union
- Cold War anti-ship cruise missiles of the Soviet Union
- Nuclear cruise missiles of the Soviet Union
- Cold War cruise missiles
- Cold War nuclear missiles
- Russian Navy guided missiles
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