How does S-75 SAM's SNR-75/Fan Song radar works?

[Dilandu]

With the Soviets using almost all short-term conscript manpower and often iffy supply availability they would still have one or two missiles that worked in a battery and the fire controls likely would work. Their problem would be compounded by poor levels of training and a general lack of live fire practice.

Considering that during Vietnam war those field crews managed to restore about half of all damaged (mainly by fragments) missiles into working conditions, I think you seriously underestimate both them and quality of components, honestly.

In terms of reliability, that really depends on the crew and parts availability.

The S-75 missiles were from the beginning designed to accomodate a mobile system, working in field conditions. They were not intended to be stored in bunkers till ordered to launcher. So it's more likely reliability was traded for required ruggedness - the missile must work in far suboptimal conditions, even not as reliable as in perfect ones.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Yep. That's why most SAM system designers assumed that more than one missile should be launched against each target to ensure acceptable chance of hitting it.

The US, instead, made concerted and continuous efforts to improve the reliability of the system. For the Soviets, who relied almost entirely on 2-year conscripts with professional officers with little technical training, redundancy was used to make up for poor reliability.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Mostly because they viewed it as nuclear SAM first and foremost - and nuclear SAM did not require homing to be efficient. Also, because command-guided missiles were significantly cheaper than homing ones.

The US nuclear SAMs did use guidance. They were fired in a beam riding mode with command detonation. This was required by law and the military complied to that.

Everybody back in the 50's and 60's saw command-guided missiles as the way to go because they were significantly cheaper. There's really nothing wrong with that idea in terms of outcomes either.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

Considering that during Vietnam war those field crews managed to restore about half of all damaged (mainly by fragments) missiles into working conditions, I think you seriously underestimate both them and quality of components, honestly.


The S-75 missiles were from the beginning designed to accomodate a mobile system, working in field conditions. They were not intended to be stored in bunkers till ordered to launcher. So it's more likely reliability was traded for required ruggedness - the missile must work in far suboptimal conditions, even not as reliable as in perfect ones.

The S-75 proved a viable system. In the face of heavy jamming its accuracy really fell off, but I'd say that could be expected too.

The only reason the Nike Ajax sites used an underground storage facility was a matter of MONEY. The original sites were to be entirely above ground using portable buildings that were intended to be temporary. This was found to be too expensive in terms of buying land, particularly in urban areas where sites had to be set up. It was cheaper to buy a much smaller site and then build the underground storage facility so that's what the Army did.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Considering that during Vietnam war those field crews managed to restore about half of all damaged (mainly by fragments) missiles into working conditions, I think you seriously underestimate both them and quality of components, honestly.

But how much of that work was done by ... I forget the Russian term, it usually gets translated to "warrant officers" in English, and how much was done by the conscripts?

 

[T. A. Gardner]

But how much of that work was done by ... I forget the Russian term, it usually gets translated to "warrant officers" in English, and how much was done by the conscripts?

Well, the Russians could also train the NVA to do the work and they weren't generally short-term conscripts.