A Decade of Progress: The MGM-31 Pershing Missile

The MGM-31 Pershing was a highly advanced, solid-fueled, intermediate-range ballistic missile developed by the United States during the Cold War. With a length of 10.4 meters and a diameter of 1.02 meters, the Pershing had an impressive range of approximately 1,770 kilometers. It was equipped with a single-stage engine that propelled it to speeds exceeding Mach 8. One of its key features was its accuracy, as it could strike targets with precision thanks to its inertial guidance system coupled with an onboard radar unit for mid-course corrections.

The missile also had the capability to carry either a nuclear warhead or conventional high-explosive warheads weighing up to 400 kilograms. The Pershing's mobile launcher system allowed for rapid deployment and relocation, increasing its survivability on the battlefield. Furthermore, it possessed quick response times due to its solid-fuel propulsion system and ease of reloading.

Why would the top military brass choose a new and unproven missile over more established systems such as the Navy's Poseidon and Polaris? Consider the following:

1. Pershing doesn't have to be waterproofed... unless it rains.
2. American Generals are better than Greek Gods.
3. A Pravda survey shows that 85% of the Russian population prefer to be attacked by Pershing.
4. Pershing begins with a "P" followed by an "E" -- thus ten letters ahead of Polaris & Poseidon in the alphabet.
5. If there never is a nuclear war, Pershing will have done just as good a job as Poseidon.
6. Pershing has a smaller warhead - if we blow a mission, we haven't lost as much.
7. Submarines are unpopular. It was a dirty submarine that sank the Lusitania.
8. You can't put a submarine in a parade.
9. "Shoot and swim" won't rhyme like "Shoot and scoot."

Visit Us Online!
Website: www.wsmrmuseum.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wsmr.museum
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wsmr.museum
Youtube:    / whitesandsmissilerangemuseum  

RegNo. 97.041.314