Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
U.S. M2 Corporal Missile
Photographed By James Hulse, September 9, 2021
1. U.S. M2 Corporal Missile Marker
Inscription.
U.S. M2 Corporal Missile. . Introduced in July 1954, the Corporal was the first U.S. guided nuclear missile. The surface to surface, 46 foot long Corporal Missile was one of the a first liquid-fueled, rocket powered, ballistic weapon. The first Corporal was tested in 1947, but development was slow and the first missile was issued in 1954. The Corporal was deployed by the U.S. and British army in the mid-1950's to engage the enemy's rear areas in any weather. Targets as far as 75 miles from the launching site could be destroyed. A missile battalion was comprised of 250 troops and technicians, a lightweight launch pedestal, a hydraulic erector, ground-based guidance equipment and support vehicles. Two batteries, each with five launchers, were assigned to a field artillery battalion. The missile and all of its launching equipment were highly mobile. Launch preparations took six to seven hours and no more than two missiles could be fired in one day, limiting the choice of targets. The first Corporal battalion arrived in West Germany in 1955. A total of eight battalions served in Europe until 1963 to counter any Soviet invasion. The Corporal Missile System was replaced by the Sergeant Missile System beginning in March 1963. , Length - 46 ft. - 14 m , Weight - 12,000 lbs. - 5,443 kg , Range - 85 miles - 120 km , Warhead - 20 kT Nuclear/Conventional , CCN# 127074
Introduced in July 1954, the Corporal was the first U.S. guided nuclear missile. The surface to surface, 46 foot long Corporal Missile was one of the a first liquid-fueled, rocket powered, ballistic weapon. The first Corporal was tested in 1947, but development was slow and the first missile was issued in 1954. The Corporal was deployed by the U.S. and British army in the mid-1950's to engage the enemy's rear areas in any weather. Targets as far as 75 miles from the launching site could be destroyed. A missile battalion was comprised of 250 troops and technicians, a lightweight launch pedestal, a hydraulic erector, ground-based guidance equipment and support vehicles. Two batteries, each with five launchers, were assigned to a field artillery battalion. The missile and all of its launching equipment were highly mobile. Launch preparations took six to seven hours and no more than two missiles could be fired in one day, limiting the choice of targets. The first Corporal battalion arrived in West Germany in 1955. A total of eight battalions served in Europe until 1963 to counter any Soviet invasion. The Corporal Missile System was replaced by the Sergeant Missile System beginning in March 1963.
Length - 46 ft. - 14 m
Weight - 12,000 lbs. - 5,443 kg
Range - 85 miles - 120 km
Warhead - 20 kT Nuclear/Conventional
CCN#
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127074
Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 055.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1954.
Location. 34° 39.912′ N, 98° 23.041′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. Marker is at the intersection of Corral Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling east on Corral Road. The marker is located east of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum in Missile Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Sill OK 73503, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
