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RT-15 / RT-2P
SS-14 SCAMP / SCAPEGOAT

The RT-15 / SS-14 medium-range ballistic missile was a two-stage, tandem, solid-propellant missile capable of delivering a nominal reentry vehicle of the 1,200-lb class to a range of about 1,600 nm. Missile gross weight was about 35,800 lb. that was derived from the two upper stages of the SS-13 ICBM. It had an inertial guidance system that was estimated by Western intelligence to have a CEP (at 1500 nm) of about 0.5 nm.

The RT-15 [designated the RT-2P according to some sources] was the first Soviet attempt to develop a mobile intermediate range missile. The development of the RT-15 missile was approved on 04 April 1961 and was included in the program of developing the RT-2 / SS-13 missile on whose second and third stages it was based. The missile was intended to be sea and ground launched and had a maximum range of 2000-2500 kms. The designer of the ground-launched RT-15 (8K96) was P.A. Tyurin from KB Arsenal.

Two-stage solid fuel missile was deployed on a transport-launching rack, which was placed on the mobile launcher. The launcher was built on the basis of a heavy tank. The SS-14 transporter-erector-launcher was first observed in May 1965, and designated SCAMP by NATO. The SS-14 system was first observed in a Moscow parade in November 1967. the missile inside the container was later seen separately and code named SCAPEGOAT in 1968. Subsequent analysis demonstated that the SCAPEGOAT missile was carried by the SCAMP launcher.

In 1968 it was recommended for series production and experimental operation after passing successful tests. Nevertheless the Ministry of Defense refused to accept the deployment of this missile and the program was completely stopped in 1970 after 10 experimental launches were conducted in the years 1969 and 1970. The last flight test observed by Western intelligence was in March 1970, and the program was assumed by Western intelligence to have been cancelled. Less than 30 SS-14s were deployed, all in former Soviet Asia.

No permanent facilities other than a benchmark would be necessary at an SS-14 launch site. Preparation of such a site would therefore be minimal. Access to launch sites would be by means of semi-improved or unimproved roads in extremely rough terrain or possibly no roads at all in fairly smooth terrain. Reaction time in the normal readiness condition (condition after arrival at site) would be 20 to 30 minutes. Hold time at peak readiness (reaction time of two to ten minutes) would be about a day.

Sources and Resources

• Russian Strategic Nuclear Weapons, Pavel Podvig, ed., IzdAT, Moscow, 1998, 492 pp. (in Russian). Authors: Oleg Bukharin, Timur Kadyshev, Eugene Miasnikov, Pavel Podvig, Igor Sutiagin, Maxim Tarasenko, Boris Zhelesov
• "A History of Strategic Arms Competition 1945-1972" (U), Volume 3, A Handbook Of Selected Soviet Weapon and Space Systems, United States Air Force, June 1976. pgs 204, 205, and 209

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