Pershing 1a Missile (1977)

** THIS FILM WAS MADE MY THE US GOVERNMENT AND IS PUBLIC DOMAIN **
Pershing was a family of solid-fueled two-stage medium-range ballistic missiles designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the Redstone missile as the United States Army's primary theater-level weapon. It was named for General John J. Pershing. The systems were managed by the US Army Missile Command (MICOM) and deployed by the United States Army Field Artillery Corps.
Pershing Ia
In 1964, a series of operational tests and follow-on tests were performed to determine the reliability of the Pershing 1. The Secretary of Defense then requested that the Army define the modifications required to make Pershing suitable for the quick reaction alert (QRA) role. The Pershing 1A development program was approved in 1965, and the original Pershing was renamed to Pershing I. Martin Marietta received the Pershing 1A production contract in mid-1967. The 2nd Battalion, 44th Field Artillery received equipment at Fort Sill in 1969. Project SWAP replaced all of the Pershing equipment in Germany by mid-1970 and the first units quickly achieved QRA status.
Pershing 1A was a 'quick reaction alert' system and so had faster vehicles, launch times and newer electronics. The total number of launchers was increased from eight to 36 per battalion. It was deployed from May 1969 and by 1970 almost all the Pershing I systems had been upgraded to Pershing Ia under Project SWAP. Production of the Pershing Ia ended in 1975 and reopened in 1977 to replace missiles expended in training. In the mid-1970s the Pershing 1A system was further improved to allow the firing of a platoon's three missiles in quick succession and from any site without the need for surveying. 754 Pershing I/Ia missiles were built with 180 deployed in Europe.[8]
The battalions in Europe were reorganized under new tables of organization and equipment (TOE); an infantry battalion was authorized and formed to provide additional security for the system; and, the 56th Artillery Group was reorganized and redesignated the 56th Field Artillery Brigade. Due to the nature of the weapon system, officer positions were increased by one grade: batteries were commanded by a major instead of a captain; battalions were commanded by a colonel and the brigade was commanded by a brigadier general.
The erector launcher (EL) was a modified low-boy flat-bed trailer towed by a Ford M757 5-ton tractor. The erection booms used a 3,000 psi pneumatic over hydraulic system that could erect the 5 ton missile from horizontal to vertical in nine seconds. The PTS and PS were mounted on a Ford M656 tractor. Launch activation was performed from a remote fire box that could be deployed locally or mounted in the battery control central (BCC). One PTS controlled three launchers-- when one launch count was complete, ten large cables were moved to the next launcher.
A repackaging effort of the missile and power station was completed in 1974 to provide easier access to missile components, reduce maintenance, and improve reliability. A new digital guidance and control computer combined the functions of the analog control computer and the analog guidance computer into one package. The mean corrective maintenance time was decreased from 8.7 hours to a requirement of 3.8 hours. The reliability inceased from 32 hours mean time between failures to a requirement of 65 hours. In 1976, the sequential launch adapter (SLA) and the automatic reference system (ARS) were introduced. The SLA was an automatic switching device mounted in a 10 trailer that allowed the PTS to remain connected to all three launchers. This allowed all three launchers to remain "hot" and greatly decreasing the time between launches. The ARS eliminated the theodolites previously used to lay and orient the missile. It included a north seeking gyro and a laser link to the ST-120 in the missile. Once the ARS was set up, a cold missile could be oriented in a much shorter time.

[@richardhildreth4471]

I served from June 22 1972 (when I left for basic. One of those things you don't forget.) After Basic and AIT I left for Germany in January '73. I was stationed in B Btry 3/84 FA Btn, 56 FA Bde in Heilbronn, Germany (Badenerhoff Kaserne). Initially I was a crewman and then performed missile maintenance tasks and operated the Programmer Test Station. I spent my last few months at my duty station as a parts clerk dealing with Pershing peculiar parts such as the control vanes or fins, computer cards, ball lock pins, cables, etc. I am proud of the service I performed during the Cold War.

[@50buttfish]

I arrived in Apr 73 at 56 FA Bgde Bismarck & Hardt Kasernes; part of STARPAC, Schwabisch Gmund, til Sep 75. Not a missile guy, but worked with you guys.

[@neckarsulme]

lol, I was D Battery 3/84th at Artillerie Kaserne in Neckarsulm...But I was a little later from 82-84...Thank you for your Cold War service! I was in Operation Able Archer!

[@Paul-kx2nb]

My dad was stationed in bon Germany with the Persian missle Corp

[@richardhildreth4471]

@neckarsulme spent some time st Artillery Kaserne while our barracks was being remodeled.

[@datawind3296]

1972-1974 1/81 FA, B Btry, Missile Maintenance, Neu Ulm, Germany. The PTS station caught my interest and when I returned, I finished school and became a programmer/ IT manager and worked for 30 years in Silicon Valley.

[@robertlee9069]

I was assigned to A Batt 1/81st FA Neu Ulm 56th FA Brigade1983-1985 and was there for the transition from Pershing 1A to Pershing 2. The 1A was a demanding (often would not count down correctly) piece of equipment besides being worn out from being in service 10 Plus years of constant fielding. The tripod with the laser had to be just right and if the tripod sank in the German Mud even the slightest bit it would throw the countdown off....and who can go without mentioning the outrageously heavy umbilical cable bundle...... Jesus H Christ it used to take 10 guys all in military shape just to deal with the damm thing.... also we used to have to cut down trees so we could put the EL (erector launcher) in the proper azimuth towards our intended target. The Pershing 2 was a fantastic upgrade, we could just pull over on the side of the road and count it down right there. I got to go to Cape Canaveral and Fire One in 1984...I still have the pulled safety pin. I received the coveted"Pershing Pickle" there. I was 18 to 20 years old........you had to be that young to survive the non-stop field maneuvers in the Bavarian Winter and CAS site duty, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. "We Gave Peace A Chance"

[@savagecub]

Where’s the part about being wet,cold and miserable in Germany ?

[@roberttripp2544]

Was a warhead guard in Boetingen, nearly froze to death. '71 to '74

[@Aberdumbie]

Not long ago I visited Fort Sill to rekindle memories. They had one P1A out near the museum. The old missile and launcher were in bad need of paint and rust removal. No zero counts for that old soldier!

[@TxKimberly]

Many moons ago this was my career. If you think watching the thing load it's paper tape in memory was painfull, you should try troubleshooting and repairing the damn thing.

[@bigx9963]

Agree, I was at 579th Ord Co P1a General maintenance Co in Neu-ULM, Germany in the 80's. Fixing it was super painful, as you stated. We used to go out and get the parts (i.e. capacitors) from the local electronics store, since the mil spec capacitors (where the US army paid dearly for it) always came in faulty. But we got written up for not using the mil spec craps. I used to go to Cape Canaveral for test fire the missiles, most of them went malfunctioned, loopity loop in the air and fell to the ground and snaked around, where everyone ducked for cover, it was fun to watch.

[@bigx9963]

BTW, it was not a paper tape, it was made of mylar film with bunch of holes for 1 and 0. It was a wooping 1K magnetic core memory that was the size of a small suit case, and weight a ton.

[@azpete6436]

you should try trouble shooting the PTS with three WO's elbowing you out of the box.....ha ha.

[@NoTorr2000]

Programming, repairing, and maintaining this monster was my first career. (MOS 21G) I just returned from Ft Sill where I saw one of the few Pershing 1A and Pershing 2's left in the world. :-)

[@JasonGunn418]

I was there for the last class in 1989. I went to Germany, served in the 59th...

[@glennsims66]

I worked with them for a while, but my main mos was Lance. This vid is the older system. MLRS is still in use. Oh the 80s☺️

[@OpusBuddly]

During a night launch from Green River in '75 I swear I saw the shape charges on the 2nd stage explode. I was 18 and had outstanding vision.

[@neckarsulme]

NIce! I was stationed with P1a in Artillerie Kaserne in Neckarsulm Germany 82-84....got Pershing Pickle to prove it!

[@taun856]

EC section, Service Battery, 1/41 FA (21L) 77-78, then on to White Sands for Test and Development of P2... Spent so much time in the field that I felt I knew every tree by it's first name :)

[@JasonGunn418]

I was a Pershing 2 Missile Crew member. Last class was at the end of 1989. I served in Germany after the graduation. We held the warhead for the German Military for the Pershing 1A. This was also the first time I ever met a 3 star Russian General, at Ft. Sill OK.

[@louferrao2044]

Brings back many memories of working with this missile. Thank goodness we never fired it in anger.

[@bigcomcast]

I was in the 1/81 field artillery delta battery in 1981 to 1983 as an infantry guard. I remember being on the CAS site guarding the missiles with our magazines duck taped shut and our magazine pouches wired shut because some kid shot up a missile on the missile site a year before I got there! Remember those giegermiesters?

[@dwrightdowns2248]

There was a German kid who was mentally challenged who liked to climb the fence at Innerengen and there were photos of him everywhere so he wouldn't get shot. Really, really tried to protect the local nationals more than their families were trying to protect them I often thought.. I wouldn't let my kid run around a place like that.

[@SC-lt1ju]

Yeah my dad was stationed there in the early to mid-80s. I remember going to CAS site visiting him and driving them big ass trucks around get free hot chocolate. He was with the 3/84. Ronald E Harper. Could you refresh my memory was the town below that schwabisch gmund or was it heilbronn. It was so long ago and I was under the age of eight.

[@alvinfederico3152]

A Battery 3/84, Heilbronn, 1976-1978. 2nd platoon ARU operator.

[@PFW23]

At Wiley Barracks, Ulm, Germany 1971-72 ....Man, THIS brought back memories. EXCELLENT !!! FTA and the Herbies too ...yeah, man !!

[@bones24inf]

"an infantry battalion was authorized and formed to provide additional security for the system; and, the 56th Artillery Group was reorganized and redesignated the 56th Field Artillery Brigade." I served in A CO 2nd battalion 4th infantry attached to the 56 FA from 82-83.

[@50buttfish]

I was attached to the Brigade, Personnel. Those thing sat outside my bedroom window. One morning got a surprise wakeup, with the horn and erector setting the missile up straight.

[@jkevinmccon]

I noticed this is Pershing 1a with the block 7 modifications from 1975/76. The Sequential Launch Adapter (SLA) was part of that upgrade, along with the ARU (Automatic Reference Unit). It had some fascinating technology like a "north seeking gyro" that would automatically find grid north with incredible accuracy, by sensing the actual rotation of the earth on its axis. The SLA was insanely complicated. It had to physically switch about a thousand electrical connections from launcher to launcher in one single operation. And do it in the snow, ice, rain and mud. The idea was to speed up the firing of all three missiles before the artillery position was destroyed by a retaliatory strike. It was really something!

[@fritzhaber3994]

+jkevinmccon And that sweet old style W50 with some ridiculous yield on top of it.

[@robertoaseremo2816]

Fritz Haber These US Pershing missile is a short range ballistic missile ( SRBM ) while Russia stole and copy these missile they called it Scud missile they have similar between two missile the Pershing is towing before launch while the Russian Scud missile mobile launch system

[@bigx9963]

Freaking thing is wired-wrap (except the circuit boards), so when you drive the PTS out in the field the whole thing is mal-functioned.

[@50buttfish]

@@robertoaseremo2816 NOT Ballastic, MORE Tactical.

[@tiefmesser]

Pershing Ia had three warhead yields (that we had to physically change out using the H4211B and crane): Y1 = 60kt, Y2= 220kt, and Y3= 400kt. At PII training at Canaveral they told us about the select yield warhead. As I recall there were four settings of 1.5kt, 15kt, 30kt and 60kt. This gave the capability of taking out anything from a shopping mall to a large city. I also liked the simplicity of E.D. in that its nuclear capability was rendered useless by bashing the side of the warhead!

[@14Dubblock]

My dad guarded those missiles.. 56th field artillery veteran

[@OpusBuddly]

I knew they weren't going to launch those missiles in the woods. No sandbags on the cables.

[@infantryshooter]

Cool video, just a bit before my time at Wiley. I was in Ammo Platoon, HHB, 1/81FA, as an 11B, 1984 - 1985. Great duty station, good times, lots of field work. Worked with Krause, Norman, Woodman, Tompkins, Montgomery, Nieves, Wendell, Carter. Neu Ulm was a wonderful little city; I do miss it sometimes. Ammo went to PCT at Bad Tolz in January 1985, super cold at -30f at night for nearly the entire two weeks we spent there. Great duty!

[@Aberdumbie]

Holy cow.... I used this video to train new Pershing crewmen in the late 70's at the Army's field artillery school. This video certainly makes it look glamorous. NOT!

[@azpete6436]

ha ha I was an instructor for PIa crewmen 1971-3, C-5, ATC. I was later assigned to 1/81 as a 21G.

[@butchsee]

I liked the video it brought back lots of memories!

[@azpete6436]

Hey Butch!

[@PershingPictures]

Awesome Video! Whoever found this and uploaded it nice find. Blackjack would have loved this missile system.

[@Legend813a]

The first models had a 300 kiloton warhead. Later models had a dial-a-yield anywhere between 8 kt and 80 kt

[@50buttfish]

They wanted and created a way to localize the blast. Nice toys.

[@robertcrawford2809]

I enjoyed my 6 years working in pershing..

[@ssgrock3]

the wheeled truck/trailer increased deployment time and capability. Tracks are slow. Wheeled vehicles can hit the autobahns and be across the country in hours. Other specifics you will have to ask a Missile tech. I was infantry support. I can tell you they can move these things pretty darn fast. A lot of times, they wouldn' t be too far behind us when we were clearing the next emplacement in the field.

[@jerrycoob4750]

"The onboard computer constantly collects in-flight data, compares it with the desired flight path, and then maneuvers the jet vanes and air fins to keep the missile on-course." _The missile knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference, or deviation. The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands to drive the missile from a position where it is to a position where it isn't, and arriving at a position where it wasn't, it now is. Consequently, the position where it is, is now the position that it wasn't, and it follows that the position that it was, is now the position that it isn't. In the event that the position that it is in is not the position that it wasn't, the system has acquired a variation, the variation being the difference between where the missile is, and where it wasn't. If variation is considered to be a significant factor, it too may be corrected by the GEA. However, the missile must also know where it was. The missile guidance computer scenario works as follows. Because a variation has modified some of the information the missile has obtained, it is not sure just where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't, within reason, and it knows where it was. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't, or vice-versa, and by differentiating this from the algebraic sum of where it shouldn't be, and where it was, it is able to obtain the deviation and its variation, which is called error._

[@mudylafeet]

very nice video,thanks for uploading

[@HAZE553]

Once upon a time in my life-1/81st Bat. Neu-Ulm Germany, the cold war...today the movie Oppenheimer, A- bomb to the real H-bomb( The incredible Pershing A1M) Wow 😯!

[@ezeekeel2]

Pershing Missile Alumni group on Facebook, representing from early 60's to early 90's...look us up. Sp4 21g10 D Co. 55th Sup Bn. ORF Neu-Ulm Nelson Kaserne 1984-1986

[@Troy_Tempest]

Thanks for the video.

[@Birk734]

ha one of the oldest videos on youtube if you posted 16 years ago

[@shazackski]

I was in Alpha 1/81 in 82-83, as an ARU operator. Damn near broke my back humpin cables. The cold war treated me pretty good though. Made a lot of trips to Munich to score. Smoked a lot of hash and drank a lot of beer. Anyone remember Gunzburger Double Bock? People try and pretend it wasnt happening, but it was. I practically lived on extra duty. Became an expert at waxing floors with melted turtle wax. I thought I was gonna get a medal, but DoD gave me a chapter 9 instead? LMFAO..Private Guyton

[@wesleyartrip6765]

Charlie co 1/81 82-84..lotta trips to frankfurt too lol

[@bigx9963]

Yelp, remember the good old days, where I had to escort Ssgt that busted down to a private to Mannheim for smoking hashes/deal drugs.

[@karlpresler3688]

I was station with the 85th USFAD in West Germany 1977 to 1981 I went to AIT at Fort Sill and trained in this system.

[@mikealexander5830]

Stationed with C Team of the 85th in 73-74. Exercise Black Jack and tours on QRA with the Zweite Flugzeugkoerper Geschwader. Many good memories. Later found out my Dad's WW2 division fought through there in Oct 44 while helping to isolate Aachen.

[@hoted46]

I was at the 74th USAFAD, 78-80. We went and took over your CSS, when your whole unit went to the field, had to be in 80. You guys had a nice CGH.

[@robertbarrios7088]

@@mikealexander5830 Stationed with 85th 73 - 74. Delta Team.

[@pinay56]

Now with modern 2019th Technology we can make it so that its easy to stuff inside a 40-foot long metal Connex; and give it a nuclear warhead that has twice the power as the most powerful Warhead of the 1980's. Oh me...A Bty 4/41st FA (69-71)

[@FredGarvin-gr3vx]

Declassified :) 1/41st FA, S3 BN Ops, Schwaebisch Gmuend 1980-82. Sp4 E.Thompson

[@SC-lt1ju]

My dad was stationed there between 81 and 87 and also during that time heilbronn. 3/84th. Oh the memories I have of growing up in them towns. Ronald E Harper.

[@50buttfish]

I was stationed there too. Assigned to STARPAC, but had those parked in front of Brigade bldg.

[@perrya100]

77-79

[@gus23a]

i´ve seen one of these at the lufwaffenmuseum in berlin gatow.

[@mikefoxhollow745]

I was also A Btry 3/84 FA NECKARSUM ... and wondering if the adjustments for the 1A moved out of the old Kasern. I was an Erector Launcher Operator the Pershing I in 1967-68 The IA sure erected quickly, but loss of the tracked M474's sure took a lot of fun out of it!

[@neckarsulme]

Dang that's crazy...I was in D Battery at Neckarsulm 82-82...those barracks were built crazy strong! I gues they were old German Wehrmacht barracks?...I really loves the architecture and grooved granite floors!

[@juancarlosjones8953]

74th USAFAD @ Lagerlechfeld. '76-'78

[@dragonjoe1942]

Whiley Concern Ulm,Germany

[@wesleyartrip6765]

Loved the cathedral there

[@delcreason9137]

56th 1/41 C Btry. 74-75 Power station operator Q.R.A.

[@tramvaj12]

So this is the famous missile S-300 V build up to fight against it. Cool

[@rodimus48prime]

Crap!!! It was suppose to be " 1st Battalion / 41st FA " Pershing I was in Alpha Battery 3rd Platoon...There was Pouncey -Road Dog-Sgt Mannigault-Foster-Kelly-Tin Man- Shakey Jake..Spent many a Cold Days out there with that Missile!!! Oh yeah!! Can't forget about B-More

[@50buttfish]

I was assigned to Bismarck Kaserne, and dealt with the entire Brigade. STARPAC was my section. 73-75, loved the village atmosphere, just hated those practice drills and those thing JUMPING UP for launch. Scared me right back down to a local Gast Haus, to drink that away!

[@perrya100]

I was there in 77,78 and 79. Worked in S-1 and S-3.

[@perrya100]

Innerringen..!

[@andrewgordon235]

When they end the ban on these missiles will they restart production or start over with a clean sheet design?

[@evanmcdonald5075]

I need one in my front yard for self - defense.

[@user-se7vt5ow4e]

Az-lay 15E30 in Neckarsulm 1974 to 1976.

[@chackencomp]

as long communications are in order the old transformers type music is groovy enough.

[@jeanpierre3930]

Hi,KZbin! Is there any movie concerned about "Pershing 2 Missile"? I'd like to see the movie concerned about "Pershing 2 Missile". Please do me a favor(Pershing 2 Missile). (not Pershing missile)

[@pdb6654]

HHB 1/41 Hardt 76-79 :)

[@perrya100]

HQ,. 1/41Hardt Kaserne. 77-79

[@MrGonzo4000]

I was 15 echo Been there done that D-btry 3/84th Necasulm

[@chrisduhaime5689]

C Battery 1/81 New Ulm ?

[@MrGonzo4000]

Chris Duhaim D- Btry 3/84 th Necasulm

[@K0thill]

A Btry 3/84th FA, Heilbron. Company Clerk, 1971

[@PzGreni362]

Die Pershing2 warn bei uns in der Nähe stationiert. Heilbronn Waldheide

[@bigx9963]

Ich liebe deutsche Biere und Frauen

[@ChelasBeau]

the warheads were varied with P1a - 1300lb warheads that could fire conventional or nuke ordinance that ranged from roughly 8-480 kt ..by 1982, there was a 750kt warhead reportedly in the inventory .. P2 and it's subsequent Pegasus project were in development, the Russians were screaming for peace, not long after P2 became operational .. Pegasus would've 'parked' a warhead over a potential target in space

[@mikealexander5830]

No conventional warheads issued for P1a in the early-mid 70s. We were told they didn't exist, only various yield nukes and dummy warheads for training on mating/demating operations

[@goobectomy]

Sam Bell 1st, 81st 1985 where are you?

[@rodimus48prime]

A-Btry 1st Bn / *1st FA (PERSHING ) ( 3rd Herd One More Time ) We say " Nuke em' til' they Glow then shoot em' in the DarK " I was there from 11/77 - 12/79

[@Aberdumbie]

Almost exactly when I was in A Battery

[@ssgrock3]

with Cco 2/4inf in Heilbronn from 87' to 90' any tower rats here?

[@Kkahnefan5]

B Btry 3/84th FA, Heilbronn

[@winkerdude]

Durr Gruver Me too. 71-74.

[@SC-lt1ju]

Also was my father from 81 to 87 Ronald E Harper 3/84th

[@richardhildreth4471]

I was in B Btry Jan 73 to mid 75.

[@billwynne6147]

21KILO GUIDANCE AND CONTROL REPAIRMAN, "BLACK JACK"

[@ShitFromTransASS]

@bestamerica Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

[@ShitFromTransASS]

@ShitFromTransASS no, they can't. It would violate Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

[@Aberdumbie]

LOL..... Capable of fording many inland waterways...... I wouldn't drive my 757 thru anything my pick up couldn't handle....

[@dwrightdowns2248]

I remember crossing the Rhine on Pontoon bridges...the whole kit and kaboodle. I took pictures of it. Wish I still had them. I didn't think it would fit but it did. They were heavy. Dented my Stanley thermos that it sunk unto the gravel roadway in the woods lol. Oh how i loved my assignment

[@ShitFromTransASS]

@bestamerica no they can't. It would violate treaties.

[@willardtrafton2804]

1/41st Hardt , 77-79

[@dwrightdowns2248]

HHB 56 BD & HHB 1/41 77-81

[@tobybaker4226]

C 1/41st, Hardt, 79-81

[@wayneowens7059]

579th Order. Co NeuUlm 1980 - 1982 21 Lima 20

[@wesleyartrip6765]

1/56 FA neu ulm 82-84 :)

[@bigx9963]

Wayne Owens, I know you and still have your picture taken in my room/barrack, and our ski trip, while we were at the Nelson barrack. I'm SP5-Maneechot, probably the only asian guy in the outfit. I hope everything is well for you.

[@bigx9963]

BTW, if you would like to have your photos during the 80's, let me know (sorry, it is public, can't find your private massage inbox

[@chackencomp]

go to 7: 45 in the time

[@billburfield4056]

75 76 neckerslum Germany. 1st and 68 a d a c 62 20

[@frederickparrington7293]

YEA, been there, done that. What a waste.

[@epd609]

did do well with the german girls they loved us GI's

[@dirtyharry1844]

This missile basically started the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[@mikealexander5830]

Wasn't operational in 62. It was the Jupiter missiles in Turkey that Ivan feared in those days. After the Russians pulled out of Cuba, Kennedy had the Jupiter missiles in Turkey pulled out after a reasonable interval.

[@bestamerica]

' come on american,,, american can make many pershing missiles and can hit destroy all iran missiles, china missiles, north korea missiles, ussr russia missiles

[@chackencomp]

810 me srry

[@joseotero8742]

I was a 21 G20. Artillery kaserne Neckarsulm Feb 1979 to June 1980. I was first assigned to Pershing School Fort Sill after AIT, and basic. I got to fire a P1A in the fall of 1979 from white sands.

[@epd609]

did do well with the german girls they loved us GI's