First Flight Test of the Poseidon Missile U.S. Navy (1968)

Synopsis

This silent U.S. Navy film shows the first launch of the Poseidon ballistic missile. The test firing was conducted on August 16, 1968. This was followed by the first successful at-sea launch from a surface ship, the historic USNS Observation Island (from July 1 to December 16, 1969), earning the ship the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the first test launch from a submarine took place on the USS James Madison on 3 August 1970. The weapon officially entered service on 31 March 1971. It eventually equipped Lafayette-, James Madison-, and Benjamin Franklin-class submarines. The Poseidon missile was the second US Navy ballistic missile system, powered by a two-stage solid fuel rocket. It succeeded the Polaris missile beginning in 1972, bringing major advances in warheads and accuracy. It was followed by Trident I in 1979, and Trident II in 1990. A development study for a longer range version of the Polaris missile achieved by enlarging it to the maximum possible size allowed by existing launch tubes started in 1963. Tests had already shown that Polaris missiles could be operated without problems in launch tubes that had their fiberglass liners and locating rings removed. The project was given the title Polaris B3 in November, but the missile was eventually named Poseidon C3 to emphasize the technical advances over its predecessor. The C3 was the only version of the missile produced, and it was also given the designation UGM-73A. Slightly longer and considerably wider and…

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time

4 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage