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Snark
Snark
Snark
Credit: © Mark Wade
American intercontinental subsonic cruise missile. Developed 1946-1959; deployed only briefly in 1961 before being made obsolete by ICBM's. The control and navigation technology developed for it during the 1950's provided the basis for later Northrop navigation systems used in strategic ballistic missiles.

AKA: B-62;SM-62;SSM-A-3;W39. Status: Retired 1960. First Launch: 1953-08-06. Last Launch: 1960-12-05. Number: 90 . Payload: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Thrust: 1,156.20 kN (259,924 lbf). Gross mass: 27,177 kg (59,915 lb). Height: 20.70 m (67.90 ft). Diameter: 1.37 m (4.49 ft). Span: 12.90 m (42.30 ft). Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

In March 1946 the USAAF awarded Northrop development contracts for project MX-775, covering the subsonic Snark and supersonic Boojum long-range cruise missiles (the names derived from Lewis Carroll – back then everyone had a better sense of humor). Tests of the tail-less aerodynamic design began in April 1951. In the meantime the USAF had decided it wanted the Snark to be an intercontinental range cruise missile, and a much larger version of the missile began test in August 1953. The program was dogged with problems in getting the launch right, with the engines, the guidance, with everything – leading Cape Canaveral wags to refer to the ‘Snark infested waters' off the test center. Replacing the planned J71 engine with the J57 solved some of the problems. Flight tests with the stellar-inertial navigation system began in November 1955. However the ‘precision' system could not be made to work properly, with the CEP of test missiles being 20 miles (one errant Snark was only found in the Brazilian rain forest 30 years later). Small consolation was found on one mission when the missile was declared to have the missed the target (off Ascension Island) by 4.7 miles. But it turned out the inertial system was accurate – the island was mislocated on British naval charts. By the time missile had reached an acceptable reliability and performance in December 1959, the USAF was gearing up for deployment of the first Atlas ICBM's, which rendered Snark completely obsolete. Nevertheless one Snark wing went into operational service at Presque Isle, Maine with 30 missiles, serving as a tiny portion of the US subsonic deterrent from February to June 1961.

As was the case of the much more ambitious Navaho, development of missiles in the 1950's was mainly paced by navigation technology. By the time the inertial systems were ready for subsonic missiles, they were also ready for ballistic missiles which made the cruise missiles obsolete. Northrop's main heritage from the program was its electronics division, which produced inertial navigation systems for USAF programs for decades to come.

Development Cost $: 400.000 million. Recurring Price $: 9.233 million in 1961 dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost$: 1.468 million in 1955 dollars. Maximum range: 10,200 km (6,300 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W39. Warhead yield: 3,750 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Thrust: 66.600 kN (14,972 lbf). Cruise Thrust: 6,800 kgf. Maximum speed: 990 kph (610 mph). Initial Operational Capability: 1960. Total Number Built: 30. Total Production Built: 30.

More at: Snark.
Subtopics
MX-775 American intercontinental cruise missile.
Boojum Intercontinental supersonic cruise missile. A follow-on to the Snark that was Northrop's competitor with the North American Navaho. Never reached development stage and no details available. Name obviously derived from the punch line of Lewis Carroll's poem: "...for the Snark was a Boojum, you see..."
Family: ICCM, US Cruise Missiles. Country: USA. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LA, Cape Canaveral LC2, Cape Canaveral LC1. Stages: ABL Snark JATO. Agency: Northrop. Bibliography: 17, 2, 281, 39, 563.
Photo Gallery
SnarkSnark
Credit: © Mark Wade
1950 December 21 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775. FAILURE: Failure.
1951 March 8 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 April 16 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 May 8 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 May 24 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 June 26 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 July 17 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 August 8 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 August 21 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 August 30 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 September 25 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 October 2 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 October 16 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 October 24 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 November 15 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 November 29 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1951 December 14 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 January 25 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 February 1 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 February 20 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 March 28 - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman SLED. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 August 29 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 October 1 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 October 30 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 November 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1952 December 19 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1953 February 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1953 March 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
1953 August 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1953 October 15 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 February 2 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 February 18 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 April 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 June 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 July 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 September 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 October 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 November 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1954 December 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 January 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 February 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 April 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 April 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 May 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 July 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 August 9 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 October 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 November 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 December 9 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1955 December 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 January 27 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 February 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 February 17 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 July 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 July 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 August 31 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 September 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 September 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 October 2 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 October 31 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 November 14 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Pad: LC2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1956 December 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark. FAILURE: Failure.
1956 December 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Pad: LC2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 January 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 January 23 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 February 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 February 18 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 March 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 March 13 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 April 15 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 April 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 May 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark. FAILURE: Failure.
1957 May 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 June 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Vehicle: Snark. FAILURE: Failure.
1957 July 17 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 August 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 August 27 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 September 19 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 October 1 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 October 31 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 November 20 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1957 December 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 January 25 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 February 14 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 March 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 April 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 May 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 May 28 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 June 27 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 August 25 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 August 30 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 September 19 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 October 23 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 November 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 December 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1958 December 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 February 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 March 10 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 April 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 April 21 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 May 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 May 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 July 2 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 September 25 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 November 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 December 11 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1959 December 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 February 12 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 March 3 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 April 6 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC2. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 May 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 June 16 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 July 8 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 August 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 September 26 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 October 14 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 November 14 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
1960 December 5 - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC1. Launch Pad: LC1/2?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
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