US RIM-24 ''Tartar'' Missile

By Crusader1307

The RIM-24 ''Tartar'' was one of The US Navy's earliest deployed ''true'' Surface to Air Missile, developed in 1962. Designed by General Dynamics, The RIM-24 was a close launched weapons system. Many of The US Navy's early ''Cold War'' Era Surface Warships were deployed with The ''Tartar''. Weighing 1,300-pounds, The RIM-24 was 180-inches long with a diameter of 13-inches. The 130-pound Warhead was a ''Continuous Rod'' expanding weapon, which insured it's ability to destroy it's intended target (both Enemy Aircraft or Surface Vessels). A Nuclear Warhead was also available in the 5-Kiloton range. Propulsion was provided by a Dual Thrust, solid fueled Engine Systems. Capable of achieving Mach 1, original versions could engage targets 50,000-feet in the air. Some of the last deployed and retrofitted RIM-24s could achieve an operational ceiling of 65,000-feet. It used a passive Radar emission for Guidance. Mounted on single traversing Launch Platforms, The ''Tartar'' was replaced in 1967 by The RIM-66 or ''Standard'' Missile.