NIKE B - HERCULES 1953 - Start of studies for Surface-to-Air defense against high performance targets. JAN 1955 - First firing - missile configuration included liquid fuel sustainer motor used in initial 58 missiles. 1955 - Series of firings for aerodynamic control data and 1956 shakedown of first model of ground guidance system. OCT 1956 - First system test against drone target. MAR 1957 - First firing with solid propellant motor (Round #57). APR 1957 - First intercept of drone target with R&D HERCULES system (Round #62). JUN 1957 - First delivery of production ground guidance system. AUG 1957 - First demonstration of surface-to-surface capability. APR 1958 - First delivery of production missiles. Start of full scale training program at McGregor Range. JUL 1958 - System demonstrations of weapon capabilities in Florida (Operation Snodgrass) and WSMR (Project AMMO). - First deployment at defense site. NOV 1958 - First warhead kill of high performance target (Q5 at MACH 3). - First warhead kill of high altitude target (POGO HI at 100,000 ft.). JUN 1959 - First firing from underground cell. SEP 1959 - First warhead kill of low altitude target (QF 80 at 1000 ft.) FEB 1960 - First demonstration of extreme range (200,000 yds.) surface- to-air role. MAR 1960 - First demonstration of extreme range (200,000 yds.) surface- to-surface role.