RIM-2 Terrier

RIM-2 Terrier
RIM-2 Terrier onboard USS Boston
TypeMedium range surface-to-air missile
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byUnited States Navy, and others
Production history
ManufacturerConvair - Pomona, California Division
Specifications
Mass3,000 lb (1,400 kg)
missile: 1,180 lb (540 kg),
booster: 1,820 lb (830 kg)
Length27 ft (8.2 m)
Diameter13.5 in (34 cm)
Warhead218 lb (99 kg) controlled-fragmentation or 1kT W45 nuclear warhead

Enginesolid fuel rocket
Propellantsolid rocket fuel
Operational
range
17.3 nmi (32.0 km)
Flight ceiling80,000 ft (24,000 m)
Maximum speed Mach 3.0
Guidance
system
Semi-active radar homing
Launch
platform
Surface ship

The Convair RIM-2 Terrier was a two-stage medium-range naval surface-to-air missile (SAM), among the earliest SAMs to equip United States Navy ships. It underwent significant upgrades while in service, starting with beam-riding guidance with a 10-nautical-mile (19 km) range at a speed of Mach 1.8 and ending as a semi-active radar homing (SARH) system with a range of 40 nmi (74 km) at speeds as high as Mach 3. It was replaced in service by the RIM-67 Standard ER (SM-1ER).

Terrier has also been used as the base stage for a family of sounding rockets, beginning with the Terrier Malemute.