Aerospatiale SS.12/AS.12
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| Type | ground to ground or air-to-ground missile |
| Nationality | France |
| Era | cold war |
| Launch platform | Helicopter, aircraft |
| Target | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Builder | Aerospatiale |
| Date of design | |
| Production period | 1957-1982 |
| Service duration | 1960- |
| Operators | |
| Variants | |
| Number built | 10000+ |
| Specifications | |
| Type | |
| Diameter | 180 mm (body) 210 mm (warhead) |
| Wing span | 650 mm |
| Length | 1.87 m |
| Weight | 76 kg |
| Propulsion | solid fuel rocket |
| Steering | deflection |
| Guidance | wire MCLOS |
| Speed | 370 km/h |
| Range | 5000 m |
| Ceiling | |
| Payload | |
| Warhead | 28 kg |
| Trigger | |
The SS.12 and AS.12 are two variants of the same missile: SS for surface-to-surface, AS for air-to-surface. It was designed in the 1950s by Nord Aviation, later Aérospatiale. It was a derivative of the NORD SS-10 and SS-11 missiles which were air-to-ground wire-guided missiles for use by infantry or a helicopter against armoured vehicles. The SS.12 is used for anti-armour work from helicopters and the AS.12 is commonly used as an anti-shipping missile.
Contents |
[edit] Development
The SS.12 was originally intended to be a surface to surface weapon. A naval surface to surface version, the SS.12M was developed at the same time. Trails of the weapon began in 1956. An air launched version, the AS.12, was trialed in 1957.
[edit] Description
The missile has a distinctive bulging nose and four clipped triangular wings. The missile is propelled by a solid rocket motor that burns for 18 seconds and exhausts through two nozzles behind the trailing edge of the wings. The wings are positioned at a slight angle so that the missile spins in flight. An internal steering mechanism vectors the thrust to the two nozels in order to steer the missile.
The missile can be fitted with a three different warheads; OP3C - a semi-armour piercing warhead, a shaped charge warhead, and a fragmentation warhead for anti-personnel. The semi-armour piercing warhead has a delayed action allowing it to penetrate 20 mm of armour then travel 2 meters beyond before exploding.
[edit] Service
The AS.12 saw action on both sides of the 1982 Falklands War. It was fired from Westland Wasp helicopters against Argentine submarine the ARA Santa Fe. A total of nine missiles were fired at the submarine trapped on the surface by a Mk 46 anti-submarine torpedo circling just under the hull [1]. Of the missiles fired four hit, four missed and one failed to launch. Two of the missiles that hit the target failed to detonate on impact, instead punching a hole through the slender conning tower and exploding on the far side.
In an unusual mission it was fired from a British Westland Wasp helicopter at Port Stanley town hall on 11 June 1982 in an attempt to disrupt a meeting of senior Argentine personnel that took place there every morning. Both missiles that were fired missed.
The AS.12 has been operated from the following aircraft
- Breguet Alizé,
- Lockheed P-2 Neptune
- Breguet Atlantique
- Westland Wasp
- Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Falklands Air War, Chris Hobson, ISBN 1-85780-126-1, p.37
[edit] References
- Falklands Air War, Chris Hobson, ISBN 1-85780-126-1
- Janes Air Launched Weapons Issue Thirty Six.
- The Naval Institute Guide To World Naval Weapons Systems
