Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005

Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Pub Co, 2006. New book, 48 pages, NVG120. The Scud missile was developed as the centerpiece of Soviet plans to fight nuclear war in the heart of Europe. However, it was never used in its intended role and has instead become a symbol of the changing nature of warfare in the aftermath of the Cold War. Saddam Hussein's Iraqi armed forces were almost helpless in the face of the Coalition forces in the 1991 Gulf War; the only weapon that Iraq could use to injure the Coalition forces was its arsenal of Scud missiles. This book explores the development and variants of the missile and its launch systems, its proliferation outside of the West, and its role in conflicts around the world. Contents: Introduction; R-11: The Scud A; The Scud Name; The Scud at Sea; R-17: The Scud B; Scud Improvements; Scud Warheads; Scud B: The Secret Variants; Scud Organization; Launching the Scud; Warsaw Pact Scuds; Scud Proliferation; The Scud at War: Egypt; The Scud at War: Iraq; The Scud at War: Other Conflicts; The Scud at War: Afghanistan; Scud Proliferation: North Korea; Scud Replacements; Futher Reading; Color Plate Commentary; Index.. Soft Cover. As New. Illus. by Laurier, Jim; Ray, Lee. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.