ALERT (original) (raw)

For an official description, here are nine pages of Tactical Control in .html format, 30K bytes, or
Tactical Control in .pdf format, 822K bytes, from TM 9-1400-250-102

  1. The battery commander requests status of all sections, reports "READY" to Area Control.
    - - - The Captain inserts the FIRE key into the safety lock, permitting a missile launch command
    - - - The Captain sets the site status to "RED" alert

  2. There are reports of fighter plane actions out of range of the radars.

  3. The acquisition radar operators see planes with "friendly" IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) flying toward battle

  4. Area Control starts warning of approaching enemy aircraft.

  5. Two aircraft with out "friendly" IFF are seen at the most distant range of site acquisition radars
    - - - These are assigned names "Track #2" and "Track #3" by Area Control.

  6. Area Control assigns "Track #2" to this battery. ("Track #3 is assigned to another battery)

  7. The Launch Control Officer selects a missile for launching, the Missile Tracking Radar locks onto it.
    (Usually the Launch Control Officer selects the missile on the elevator if it is ready. When fired, this launcher can be quickly reloaded by lowering, re-loading, and raising the elevator. This permits a high rate of fire for all of the missiles.)

  8. Suddenly the PPI radar scope bursts with bright streaks, the "Track #2" is hidden in one of them

  9. A hurried toggling of anti-jamming switches shows hints of the "Track #2" in the now dimmer streaks.

  10. The battery commander assigns "Track #2" to the target tracking radar.
    Return to beginning of ALERT

  11. The Target Tracking Radar is LOCKED on to "Track #2", the proper light lights.

  12. TTR operators report using AIDED MANUAL because of some jamming in their radar scopes.

  13. The computer operator reports computer settled, and the plotting boards and meters show:
    - - Target position , altitude and ground speed.
    - - Where the missile would intercept the target if launched now, and the target continues this speed and direction
    - - The time necessary for the missile to fly to this Predicted Point of Intercept.

  14. (At present, the Predicted Point of Intercept is just out of effective missile range)
    - - - As the target is going fast (mach 1.7) the predicted intercept point is far ahead of the target

  15. The Battery Commander waits until Predicted Point of Intercept is with in range,
    - - - feels sure that the lack of IFF means the plane is really the enemy, not a friendly with an equipment fault
    - - - verifies that the target is not in any Strategic Air Command SAC-EWO safe corridor and not at the safe altitude
    - - - and feels reasonable confident the plane will not turn around, wasting a Nike shot.

Jim Carlile who worked at SAGE at Truax AFB, near Madison, Wis reports:

"The rules of engagement for Nike Missiles were simple and clear. The targets would be engaged at the maximum range of the missile, regardless of who or what was in the target area. This would include Air Force interceptors and hence, the need for a safe exit method."

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  1. FIRE - the Captain has lifted the RED switch cover and operated the FIRE switch!
    - - - the missile is launched, no extra sound heard in the Battery Control van.
    - - - the missile will be "boosted" straight up for 3.4 seconds, gaining speed rapidly.
    - - - the target is currently 61 miles away & 6.2 miles high, the Predicted Point of Intercept is 41 miles away
    - - - the predicted Time to Intercept is 65 seconds

  2. The plotting pen that had been tracking the Predicted Point of Intercept now tracks the flying missile.

  3. 5 seconds
    - - - the missile is 2 miles high, going about strait up, flying at Mach 2.6 (2,000 miles per hour)
    - - - the booster has dropped off, (the sustainer rocket motor will start in a few seconds
    - - - and has turned its bottom toward the Predicted Intercept Point
    - - - the computer commands the missile to started diving toward the Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - (In the launcher area, the missile elevator is being lowered for re-loading.)

  4. As the target gets closer, we see it better as our radars "burn through" the jamming

  5. 10 seconds
    - - - the missile is 4.4 miles high, 1.3 miles down range, flying at Mach 2.5 (1,875 miles per hour)
    - - - the computer (using missile tracking information) sends steering commands to missile
    - - - the sustainer rocket motor starts up, will burn for about 30 seconds

  6. 20 seconds
    - - - the missile is flying at Mach 3.5 (2,625 miles per hour), toward Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - about 7.3 miles high and 6.3 miles down range from the launcher

  7. 30 seconds
    - - - the missile is flying at Mach 3.75 (2,815 miles per hour), toward Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - about 8.5 miles high and 12 miles down range from the launcher
    - - - missile sustainer rocket motor has run out of fuel, missile coasting

  8. 40 seconds
    - - - the missile is flying at Mach 3.5 (2,625 miles per hour), toward Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - about 8.5 miles high and 20.2 miles down range from the launcher, missile coasting
    - - - "Track #5" (without IFF)) appears on the radar, and is assigned to this battery as next target

  9. 50 seconds
    - - - the missile is flying at Mach 3.25 (2,435 miles per hour), toward Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - about 7.75 miles high and 28.5 miles from the launcher, about 16 miles from "Track #2"
    - - - the target and missile are approaching head on, missile coasting

  10. 60 seconds
    - - - the missile is flying at Mach 3.25 (2,435 miles per hour), toward Predicted Point of Intercept
    - - - about 6.7 miles high and 36.6 miles from the launcher, about 4.9 miles from "Track #2"
    - - - the target and missile are approaching head on, missile coasting

  11. 64.6 seconds
    - - - the missile and target are both 40.15 miles from the launcher, 6.2 miles high
    - - - the missile explodes slightly above and 30 feet in front of target
    - - - explosion and metal fragments turn "Track #2" into unflyable wreck, a wing comes off.

  12. 70 seconds
    - - - Missile tracking radar locked on next missile
    - - - (The elevator missile launcher is not yet reloaded, so a side launcher has been selected.)
    - - - The ground speed of "Track #2" drops to almost zero
    - - - Battery commander assigns "Track #5" to Target Tracking Radar
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