PICTURES
STATUS
The SS-N-6 began deployment on March 13, 1968, and achieved initial operational capability (IOC) in early 1969. The missile was seen by the public for the first time during a parade in Moscow in 1967. The missile and its variants were withdrawn from Soviet/Russian service in 1993 with the deactivation of the last Yankee-class SSBN.
Studies to develop the SS-N-6 missile were based on a 1961 proposal to develop a launch system with a light, single-stage missile for use against strategic land targets. The project was authorized on April 24, 1962. The first phase of testing consisted of 12 pop-up tests prior to 1966. In June 1966, a 10-month series of tests successfully completed 12 launches out of 17 attempts from a ground platform. Finally, six successful live launch tests were conducted from Yankee-class submarines of the Soviet Northern Fleet.
The D-5 launch system, designed for the SS-N-6, was the most successful system for launching SLBMs in the Soviet Union's arsenal. Over a period of 20 years there were 429 successful missile firings in 492 attempts.
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