megazone@wpi.WPI.EDU (MEGAZONE 23) (12/17/90)
From: megazone@wpi.WPI.EDU (MEGAZONE 23) [mod.note: This was apparently brought over from alt.desert-shield. - Bill ] In article <1990Dec16.020840.29735@agate.berkeley.edu> psb@fog.berkeley.edu (Partha S. Banerjee) writes: >The Trident II is a sub. What missile configuration are you talking about. >I think you might be getting your C4 and D5 mixed up. No, the Trident II is a missile carried by Ohio class subs. The Trident I was the C-4 and the Trident II is the D-5. >Trident II Mark4 (C4): 24 SLBMs, 12 warheads at 100kT. >Trident II Mark5 (D5): 24 SLBMs, 8 warheads at 475kT. >It is possible my memory is failing me, but these are the numbers I remember >from something that came out of the Congressional Budget publication on >Moderninzing the US Strategic Force in 1987. >From The US War Machine, Edited by Ray Bonds: Crown Publishing 1983 p.252 Trident, UGM-93 Origin: Navy and Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Sunnyvale Type: Advanced SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) Dimensions: Length 34ft 0in (10.36m); body diameter 74in (188cm); (Trident D5 same diameter but longer) Launch weight: 70,000lb (32,000kg); (D5, about 110,000lb, 50,000kg) Propulsion: Three tandem stages of advanced solid motors each developed jointly by Thiokol and Hercules, with thrust vectoring; studies by Thiokol (first stage), Hercules (second) and CSD (third) for alternative propellants and nozzle systems. Guidance: Inertial. Range: (Trident C4) 4,400 miles (7,100km), (D5) 6,800 miles (11,000km). Flight speed: Similar to Minuteman (Which is over 15,000mph (24,000km/h) at burnout, as given in the Minuteman entry) Warhead: Eight MK 4 (100kT each) MIRVs, with possibility of using Mk 500 Evader MARV (manoeuvring RV) later; (D5) not known And from Modern Submarine Warfare by David Miller and John Jordan; Military Press 1987. The Ohio class entry on page 138, under Armament: Armament: The Trident I C-4 missile has a length of 34ft (10.4m) and a diameter of 6ft 2in (1.9m). It comprises a three-stage solid-fuel rocket carrying eight 100kT MIRVed nuclear warheads. Since 1980 some missiles have had an alternative payload comprising eight Mk 500 Evader MaRvs (Manoeuvrable Reentry Vehicles) developed by Lockheed. Towards the end of the decade the Trident I C-4 will be superseded by the Trident II D-5 missile currently under development. The D-5 is a much larger missile than the C-4, with a length of 45ft 6in (13.9m) and a diameter of 6ft 11in (2.1m). Range will be a massive 6,000nm (11,100km) and a CEP of only 400ft (120m) is projected. The D-5 will carry up to 14 MIRVs of 150kT each, with an alternative payload of seven 300kT MaRVs. The four Mk 68 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes, which are located directly beneath ehe diminutive fin, fire the Mk 48 high-performance torpedo. As with the Los Angeles class, the torpedo transfer system is fully automated. Just thought I would include the whole entry. Modern Submarine Combat is part of a series with Naval, Land, Air books. And Modern Fighting Helicopters. Need an more info on the Ohio? ############################################################################### # "Calling Garland operator 7G," EVE Email megazone@wpi.wpi.edu # # MEGAZONE, aka DAYTONA, aka BRIAN BIKOWICZ Bitnet Use a gateway. Sorry. # ###############################################################################
donnelly@cod.nosc.mil (Thomas F. Donnelly) (12/19/90)
From: donnelly@cod.nosc.mil (Thomas F. Donnelly) In regards to the recent comparison of Trident missiles C4 and D5, does anyone have any useful information comparing the relative safety. In particular, what was done in the D5 to protect the warheads from the very close propulsion stage? The C4 separated the warheads by putting them out in front.
deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman) (12/20/90)
From: deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman) >From: donnelly@cod.nosc.mil (Thomas F. Donnelly) > >In regards to the recent comparison of Trident missiles C4 and D5, does >anyone have any useful information comparing the relative safety. In >particular, what was done in the D5 to protect the warheads from the very >close propulsion stage? The C4 separated the warheads by putting them out >in front. I believe Mr. Donnelly is referring to the "donut"-shaped post boost vehicle (PBV) on the D5, which has the final stage protruding through the hole. While most "traditional" PBVs look like: /\ /\ /\ /\ Reentry Vehicles / \ / \ \ ------------- PBV | | | | Final booster stage The D5 is designed like: Final Boost Stage / __ /\ | | /\ / \ | | / \ -----| |----- PBV | | I would suspect that the warheads are protected by the material of the motor casing, which (I assume) would be the same regardless of the position or number of the stage. Since these materials are able to withstand incredible heat and pressure on the inside, the warheads positioned around the outside should be safe from the burning prop- ellant. I think I once read that the casings are made of kevlar bonded in an epoxy matrix -- pretty strong stuff! -shane "the Ayatollah of Rock-and-Rollah"