R-12 (SS-4) Nuclear Missile on Launch Table (Kaluga) | monument, missile on display

 monument, missile on display

The R-12 was a theatre ballistic missile developed and deployed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Its GRAU designation was 8K63, and it’s NATO designation was SS-4 Sandal. The R-12 rocket provided the capability to attack targets at medium ranges (2.000 Km) with a megaton-class nuclear warhead and constituted the bulk of the Soviet offensive missile threat to Western Europe. Deployments of the R-12 missile in Cuba caused the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

The R-12 was deployed both in 4-silo complexes (called “Dvina”) and in surface launch pads. Photos of deployments complexes at:

www.flickr.com/photos/martintrolle/sets/
The wires, which connect the missile to the launch table, were necessary before fuelling, because the empty missile was relatively light and thus susceptible to the wind (like a full and an empty beer can on your terrace table …).