W2HYN Page 11a (original) (raw)

US Army Nike AA Missile Base
Bristol, Rhode Island

Some of the differences between the
Ajax and Hercules missiles are as follows:
************************************
Ajax range - about 25 miles
Hercules range - well over 75 miles

Ajax length - 21 feet
Hercules length - 27 feet

Ajax body diameter - 15 inches
Hercules body diameter - 32 inches

Ajax propellant - Red fuming nitric acid and JP-4 jet fuel
Hercules propellant - solid

Ajax thrust - 2600 lbs
Hercules thrust - 10,000 lbs

Ajax speed - Mach 2.3
Hercules speed - Mach 3.5

Ajax booster length - 13 ft
Hercules booster length - 14 ft

Ajax booster thrust - 44,000 lbs
Hercules booster thrust - 173,600 lbs

Ajax total length - 33 feet
Hercules total length - 40 feet

Ajax total weight - 2260 lbs
Hercules total weight - 10,550 lbs

Ajax 1958 cost per unit - $20,000
Hercules 1958 cost per unit - $55,000

Surface to Surface optional capability
Ajax - no
Hercules - yes

Ajax warhead - 3 warheads , front, midsection and rear. Total weight 313 lbs
Hercules warhead - option of 1 conventional explosive warhead weighing 1106 lbs
OR
A nuclear warhead with a yield that could be varied from 2 to 40 KT for formations of enemy aircraft.