Talk:MGM-31 Pershing/Timeline 1956–1991

1956

• Oct 31- The Chief of Research and Development Department of the Army (DA) requested that the Ordnance Corps conduct a feasibility study of a ballistic missile with a required range of 500 nautical miles and a minimum range of 750 nautical miles.
• Nov 14- The Ordnance Corps forwarded the request for a medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) study to the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) thus generating the basic requirement for the system to be known as the Pershing 1 missile.
• Nov 26- Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson issued the 'Wilson Memorandum' that stripped the U.S. Army of all missiles with a range of 200 miles or greater.

1958

• 'Wilson Memorandum' rescinded, allowing ABMA to proceed with the development of a solid-fueled missile with a desired range of up to 800 miles.
• Jan 07- The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended and the Secretary of Defense approved the authorization for the Army to proceed with development of a solid-propellant missile to replace the Redstone. This approved replacement was known at ABMA as the Redstone-S (solid).
• Jan 16- The Department of Defense (DOD) announced that the new solid-propellant missile had been named the Pershing in honor of General of the Armies of the United States John J. (Black Jack) Pershing famed commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
• Feb 19- The Secretary of the Army assigned responsibility for the overall direction of the Pershing 1 missile development program to the Army Ballistic Missiles Committee. At the same time he gave responsibility for systems management and engineering of the Pershing 1 development to ABMA.
• Mar 28- The Martin Company of Orlando, Florida, was awarded a CPFF (cost-plus- fixed-fee) letter contract for research, development, and initial production of the PERSHING system under the technical supervision and concept control of the Government. This was the first time that the development of a U.S. Army missile was handed over to an industrial contractor. Previously, the ABMA did not grant a production contract until a missile had been fabricated and tested in-house.
• Mar 31- Because of the increasing importance of missilery and the pressing need for exploiting resources to their maximum capabilities DA created AOMC.
• May 1- White Sands Proving Ground renamed to White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).
• Apr 10- The Ordnance Technical Committee approved the establishment of the Pershing Project with a IA priority.
• Jun 25- The Martin contract was definitized.
• Oct 09- The Ordnance Technical Committee formally approved military characteristics for the Pershing 1 missile system.

1959

• Apr 18- ABMA accepted the first Pershing 1 missile from the research and development contract definitized with Martin on 25 June 58.
• Jul 01- DA approved the first type classification of limited production for the Pershing 1.
• Nov 02- The massive blockhouse and launch complex from which ABMA would fire the Pershing missile was turned over to the missile development team at Cape Canaveral.
• Nov 30- Pershing Missile 105 the first Pershing flight test missile was delivered on schedule.

1960

• Feb 25- ABMA Missile Firing Laboratory personnel began R&D testing of the system by firing Pershing Missile 105 from AMR at 1301 EST.
• Apr 13- ABMA accepted Pershing Missile 109 thereby completing the acceptance of all Group I missiles.
• Jul 01- Responsibility for directing and controlling the Ordnance Corps mission to train units in the Pershing missile system was assigned to the Ordnance Training Command (OTC).
• Jul 26- Pershing Missile 110 the sixth and last Group I missile in the R&D program was successfully fired from AMR at 1100 EST. This was the first Pershing fired at AMR from a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) mounted on an XM474 tracked vehicle.
• Jul 30- The first model of the Pershing communications pack officially delivered to the Army arrived at the USA Electronic Proving Ground Fort Huachuca Arizona.
• Nov- The U.S. Army Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill Oklahoma was designated as the proponent agency in the preparation of Army training programs for the Pershing 1 system.
• Dec- AOMC and the Major Items Supply Management Agency (MISMA) reached an agreement on the transfer of ground handling equipment for the Redstone and Pershing systems from ABMA to MISMA.

1961

• Nov- The Martin Company merged with the American-Marietta Company forming the Martin Marietta Corporation
• Nov- The Martin Marietta Corporation received the first production contract for Pershing 1 tactical missiles and ground support equipment.
• Jan- Pershing missiles were launched to their full 400 mile range
• Jun- The first battery of the first U.S. Army Pershing 1 tactical missile battalion-the 2d Missile Battalion 44th Artillery-was activated.
• Jun 03- Collins Radio Company shipped the first production radio terminal set for Pershing to Aberdeen Proving Ground. The second production set was shipped on 7 June to Fort Bliss to be used in operator training.
• Aug 01- The Pershing 1 became one of the original items placed under project management by the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC).
• Oct 31- Martin Marietta delivered the first tactical Ordnance and Artillery ground support equipment sets for the Pershing 1.
• Dec- The Pershing 1's readiness date was met when the first tactical missile (Missile 505) was delivered.

1962

• Jan- First launch from tactical launcher.
• Jun- The first battery of 2nd Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery was activated as the first U.S. Army Pershing tactical missile unit.
• Jul- Pershing was declared operational.
• Oct 31- Martin Marietta delivered the first tactical Ordnance and Artillery ground support equipment sets for the Pershing.
• Dec- The Pershing's readiness date was met when the first tactical missile (Missile 505) was delivered.

1963

• Apr- Missile 505 became the first Pershing service test missile fired.
• April 56th FA Grp arrives at Hardt Kaserne, Heilbron, FRG
• Feb- The Pershing 1 modification program began.
• Jun- Pershing redesgnated as MGM-31A.
• Jun 5- President John F Kennedy and other dignataries visited WSMR to observe missile test firings. Pershing was demonstrated, but not fired. Vice President Lyndon B Johnson was presented with a Pershing plaque. Party included Senator Strom Thurmond, future president Gerald Ford, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay.
• Jul 17- The Lacrosse Commodity Office which had operated under the Pershing Project Manager was disbanded.
• Jul 20- The first U.S. Pershing 1 unit to be deployed overseas - the 4th Missile Battalion 41st Artillery - made its official debut in organization day ceremonies at Fort Sill Oklahoma. This unit became operational in June 64
• Aug- First overland flight of Pershing missile, Ft Bliss to WSMR.
• Sep- Germany formally accepted a Military Assistance Program (MAP) offer for a joint maintenance float and support services for the Pershing .

1964

• - 4th Missile Battalion, 41st Field Artillery (Pershing) deploys from the US and makes Hardt its new home station. This unit introduces the Pershing missile to the European theater.
• Jan- The Secretary of Defense assigned the Pershing 1 weapon system to a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) role after a DOD study showed that the Pershing 1 would be superior to tactical aircraft for the QRA mission.
• Feb- The first overseas deployment of the Pershing 1 occurred when the 248th General Support Unit went to Europe during this month. The 4th Missile Battalion of the 41st Artillery arrived in April.
• Mar- The first German Pershing 1 wing began unit training at Fort Sill. This unit completed its training and graduation firings in May 64.
• Jun- The first U.S. Pershing 1 unit to be deployed overseas-the 4th Missile Battalion 41st Artillery-became operational.
• Jun- 25- The Redstone missile which the Pershing 1 replaced was classified obsolete.
• Sep- 2/79th FA formed at Ft Sill. Prepares for deployment to Korea.
• Oct- The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) directed that the Commander in Chief U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) conduct an operational test program including demonstration and shakedown operations; operational tests; and follow-on tests to determine the reliability of the Pershing 1. This was the first Army missile system to undergo such a test program joining the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) TITAN and MINUTEMAN as well as the Navy's POLARIS
• Nov- Pershing launched from Hueco Range, Ft Bliss is lost.
• Dec 4- The Secretary of Defense requested that the Army define the modifications required to make the Pershing 1 suitable for the quick reaction alert (QRA) role. This directive initiated the Pershing 1A program.

1965

• Jan 01- The Pershing deployment schedule was met with one CONUS ARSTRIKE battalion trained and equipped; three additional U.S. battalions deployed; and one battalion and one ground support unit awaiting fielding. Also one Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Air Force Wing after being trained and equipped returned home to West Germany.
• May 24- The Secretary of Defense approved the Pershing 1A development program. Original Pershing now referred to as Pershing 1.
• May 26- Troops of Battery C Bty, 2d Battalion 44th Artillery fired a Pershing missile from the Gilson Launch site near Green River Utah that had been programmed for a range of 410.4 nautical miles. This was the longest Pershing flight to date
• Nov 26- POTU (Pershing Operational Test Program) accepted by APL (Advanced Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins)
• Sep- Some debris from Nov 1964 launch is found 12 miles north of Creede, Co. by Maurice Chaffee.
• Dec- QRA role assigned to 56th FA Grp.

1967

• Mar 28- The Pershing 1 accomplished a significant first when B Battery 3d Battalion 84th Artillery which was deployed to Germany successfully launched two missiles simultaneously and a third missile 30 minutes later from Blanding, Utah into White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).
• Aug- Martin Marietta received the production contract for the Pershing 1A.

1968

• Jul 31- AMC granted authority for limited release of Pershing 1A equipment designated for continental United States (CONUS) deployment.

1969

• Jun- The first Pershing 1A CONUS battalion-the 2d Battalion 44th Artillery-received its equipment. This battalion's main mission was training.
• Jun- The Stovepipe system was extended to support the Pershing in Europe.
• Jul 22- AMC approved the release of Pershing 1A equipment subject to certain conditions involving system safety. Firing Platoons expanded from two Pershing 1 missiles to three Pershing 1A missiles.
• Nov 17- BG Edwin I. Donley assumed command of MICOM. He had previously served as Pershing PM (October 63-January 66) and as DCG Land Combat Systems (until January 67). He was promoted to major general on 1 December 69.

1970

• Jan 22- Germany officially accepted the SWAP program.
• Jan 22- The Pershing Project Office received the Federal Republic of Germany's official acceptance of the SWAP Program.
• Mar 18- Project SWAP covering U.S. Pershing 1A deployments was completed about 15 days ahead of schedule.
• Jun- Deliveries of Pershing 1A equipment for Army requirements were completed.
• Jul- First Pershing 1A QRA status assumed.
• Sep- 56th FA Grp redesignated as 56th FA Bde.

1971

• Jul 26- DA approved Standard A type classification for the Pershing 1A.
• Aug 18- CH47 Chinook crashed near Pegnitz, Germany killing 37 soldiers. See Pegnitz 1971 for more information.
• Sep 1- 4/41st redesignated as the 1st Missile Battalion, 41st Field Artillery and activated in Germany.

1973

• Jan- Task force established to write the development plan for the Pershing 2 missile system.
• Feb 21- First Pershing 1A launch at Cape Canaveral.
• Jun- Pershing 2 development plan completed.

1974

• A repackaging effort of the missile and power station was completed in 1974 to provide easier access to missile components, reduce maintenance, and improve reliabiliw. A new digital guidance and control computer combined the functions of the analog control computer and the analog guidance computer into one package. The mean corrective maintenance time was decreased from 8.7 hours to a requirement of 3.8 hours. The reliability inceased from 32 hours mean time between failures to a requirement of 65 hours.
• Mar 07- The Deputy Secretary of Defense authorized the Army to proceed with the advanced development of the Pershing 2.

1975

• - Production line for Pershing 1A closed.
• Mar- The contract option to begin the Pershing advanced development was exercised.

1976

• - Pershing 1A Block 7 modifications improved QRA by adding the Sequential Launch Adapter (SLA) and the Automatic Reference System (ARS).

1977

• - Pershing 1A production line re-opened to replace missiles expended in training exercises.
• Nov 18- The first Pershing 2 missile advanced development firing took place.

1978

• May- Flight test of Pershing 2 RV (Re-entry Vehicle) on Pershing 1A motors.

1979

• Feb 20- The Pershing 2 system formally entered the engineering development stage.
• Aug 10- The Secretary of the Army nominated the Pershing 2 system for BRICK-BAT (DX) priority rating. If approved by the president the Pershing 2 would become one of only 11 DOD programs with this designation.
• Dec- The NATO Ministers formally approved the basing of Pershing 2 missiles in western Europe.

1980

• Feb 19- President Jimmy Carter awarded the Pershing 2 program the BRICK-BAT (DX) rating on the Master Urgency List the highest national priority granted to a system.

1981

• Dec- The Pershing 2 program entered the production phase.

1982

• 1982- Hunters found the second stage, guidance package and reentry vehicle of the Nov 1964 launch from WSMR.
• Jul 01- DARCOM-Europe was activated at Seckenheim, Germany. Concurrently MICOM maintenance activities in Europe were among the first to come under the new DARCOM-Forward concept. Effective this same date DESCOM?s Mainz Army depot assumed operational control of the Pirmasens Missile Repair Activity, Fischstein, Pershing In-Theater Repair Program and Hawk Field Facility-Europe at Manheim. The formal transfer of command occurred on 1 October 82.
• Jul 22- First Pershing 2 launch at Cape Canaveral (failure).
• Aug- The Pershing Project Office celebrated its 20th anniversary.
• Nov- First sucessful Pershing 2 launch at Cape Canaveral.
• Nov- A truck carrying a Pershing missile in Germany crashed into a car, killing 3 people.
• Nov 19- First successful Pershing 2 launch from McGregor Range to WSMR.

1983

• Apr- The central training facility for transition training from Pershing 1A to Pershing 2 was activated at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Florida.
• Dec 15- The initial operational capability for the Pershing 2 was achieved when the 56th Field Artillery Brigade received its equipment.

1984

• Jun 30- Deployment of the first Pershing 2 battalion was completed in Europe.
• Aug 01- The CONUS deployment of the Pershing 2 began.

1985

• Jan 11- Three soldiers of C Battery 3/84 killed in missile assembly explosion at Camp Redleg, Heilbronn.
• Dec 13- The Pershing 2 weapon system successfully achieved full operational capability in Europe.

1986

• Jan 17- A major reorganization of the Pershing units in Germany:
  • 56th Field Artillery Brigade redesignated as 56th Field Artillery Command.
  • 1/81 FA inactivated and reformed as 1/9 FA Neu-Ulm.
  • 1/41 FA inactivated and reformed as 2/9 FA in Schwäbisch-Gmünd.
  • 3/84 FA inactivated and reformed as 4/9 FA in Heilbronn, Germany.
  • 55th Maintenance Bn redesignated 55th Support Bn.
  • E Co, 55th Maintenance Bn deactivated and reformed as 193rd Aviation Co

1987

• May 20-21- The first Pershing 2 night launches occurred at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Florida. One of the missiles launched during this testing marked the 500th flight of the overall Pershing program which included the Pershing 1, Pershing lA and Pershing 2.
• Dec 07- The United States and the USSR signed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• Dec 08- At the Washington Summit President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signed the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles commonly called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty or INF. The treaty called for the elimination of all United States and Soviet ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5 500 kilometers.

1988

• Mar 21- Last PERSHING launch at Cape Canaveral
• May 27- The U.S. Senate ratified the INF Treaty.
• Jun 01- The Pershing INF Management Control Center became operational on a 24-hour basis at Redstone Arsenal.
• Jun 01- Following treaty ratification by the United States and Soviet legislatures President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev exchanged the articles of ratification in a summit meeting in Moscow. With this the treaty went into effect. The inspections would not begin for another 30 days. Baseline inspections confirmed the inventory of treaty-limited missiles and equipment.
• Jun 01- President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev exchanged the articles of ratification for the INF Treaty which put the treaty into effect and started a 30-day countdown until the first inspection could begin.
• Jun 02- A CPFF contract was awarded to the Thiokol Corporation for the elimination of Pershing rocket motors by static firing to meet the requirements of the INF Treaty. This contract also provided for the crushing and disposal of Pershing 1A motor cases and nozzles.
• Jul 01- The United States and the Soviet Union began continuous portal monitoring under the INF Treaty with U.S. inspectors monitoring a Soviet missile plant at Votkinsk Russia and Soviet inspectors monitoring a missile factory at Magna Utah.
• Sep- The elimination through static burn (firing) of Pershing 1A rocket motors began on a regularly scheduled basis at longhorn Army Ammunition Plant. An average of 48 first and second stage motors were eliminated per month by Morton Thiokol contractor personnel. Representatives from the Soviet Inspection Team and the On-Site Inspection Agency were present to witness the elimination process.
• Sep 01- In accordance with the provisions of the INF Treaty and the approved schedule the stand down of the first Pershing 2 United States Army Europe (USAREUR) battery began.
• Sep 08- The U.S. Army began eliminating Pershing missile rocket motors as prescribed in the INF Treaty when a Pershing 2 and a Pershing 1A first stage motor were static fired at longhorn Army Ammunition Plant. Texas. Following the firings both cases were placed in a hydraulic crusher and flattened
• Oct- The first nine Pershing 2 launchers were eliminated at EMCH (Equipment Maintenance Center-Hausen), Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany.
• Oct- The initial elimination of nine Pershing first and second stage motors, reentry vehicles, warhead and radar section airframes and 18 trainer stages was completed at Pueblo Depot Activity, Colorado

1989

• May 13- After further negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, between the U.S. and Soviet governments the Soviet Inspection Team began accepting incomplete Pershing 1A motors for elimination.
• Jul 06- The last Pershing 1A motor stages were eliminated at Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant five months ahead of schedule. A total of 343 Pershing 1A motor stages were destroyed marking the first time an entire class of nuclear weapons had been eliminated.
• Jul 26- The Soviet Union eliminated its final SS-12 missile one of the shorter- range systems covered by INF.
• Aug 16- The Soviet Union completed elimination of the SS-5 intermediate- range missile banned by the INF Treaty.

1990

• -The German Air Force (GAF) unilaterally agreed to the retrograde of the Pershing 1A system from their inventory. The GAF would keep the system fielded through mid-May 1991 after which time the United States would eliminate the GAF Pershing 1A motors.
• May 17- An Air Force crew from McGuire AFB, N.J., lands a Lockheed C-141B transport at Moscow's Sheremetievo Airport to deliver an inoperative MGM-31 Pershing 2 missile that will go into a museum in Moscow. The crew then picks up an inoperative Soviet SS-20 for display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
• Jun 18- The dedication ceremony for a Pershing 2/SS-20 missile INF Treaty display was held at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Washington DC A similar exhibit is on display at the Soviet Military Museum in Moscow.
• Sep- The last CONUS treaty-related items consisting of Pershing 2 launchers and trainer missile stages were retrograded from Redstone Arsenal and Fort Sill to Pueblo Depot Activity.
• Sep 20- As ordered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff pieces of Pershing 2 missiles were delivered to the United Nations in New York City for use with Soviet SS-20 missile pieces in a permanent art exhibit at the UN being designed by a Soviet artist.
• Oct 01- At 1800 hours Central European time the last tactical Pershing 2 missile stage was put in its container and verified safe to ship.
• Nov 01- The last CONUS Pershing 2 battery stood down at Fort Sill Oklahoma and the battalion- the 3/9th Field Artillery- was deactivated.

1991

• May: The first and second stage rocket motors of the last Pershing 2 missiles were eliminated at Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant. This was in accordance with INF Treaty provisions requiring the elimination of an entire class of nuclear missiles by both the United States and USSR no later than 31 May 91.
• Apr 17: Erector Launcher 2053 was the last EL destroyed at the Frankfurt Mod Shop.
• May 06: The United States conducted its final elimination under the INF Treaty at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant destroying the last Pershing 2 missile in the U.S. inventory and the last of the 846 U.S. missiles banned by the Treaty.
• May 12: Inspectors from OSIA observed the final Soviet elimination with destruction of the final SS-20 missile marking the last of 1 846 Soviet intermediate-range missiles eliminated.
• May 31: The 56th Field Artillery Command (Pershing) and subordinate elements deactivated ending three decades of Pershing service to the nation
• Jun 30: 1/9 FA inactivated in Germany (???)
• Dec 31: German Flugkörpergeschwader 1 in Landsberg, Saarburg Kaserne, was deactivated
• Dec 31: German Flugkörpergeschwader 2 in Geilenkirchen-Niederheid, Selfkant Kaserne, was deactivated