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.
