Fort Sill in Comanche County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

1. U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I Marker

Inscription. The Pershing I was the first of a family of powerful long-range nuclear missiles in service during the Cold War. The MGM-31A Pershing I Battlefield Support Missile entered service with the United States Army in 1964, replacing the aging Redstone Missile System. The Pershing I missile was a solid-propellant, two-stage, surface-to-surface ballistic missile. The Pershing I Missile platoon consisted of four M474 tracked vehicles. By comparsion the Redstone Missile required twenty vehicles. The first vehicle carried the missile and erector-launcher and a second vehicle carried the warhead. The third vehicle carried the Programmer Test Station and Power Station. The fourth vehicle carried the Radio Terminal Set, which included a large inflatable dish antenna. Guidance was by on-board radar, which steered the missile by maneuvering the steering vanes. The missile was steered until the received radar image matched with the internally stored map. The warhead was nuclear with a circular probability error of 1200 ft. The W50 nuclear warhead had three yield options: 60, 200 or 400 kiloton. The Pershing I served until it was replaced

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by the Pershing IA Missile System in 1969-70.

Length - 34 ft. - 10.5 m
Weight - 10,000 lbs. - 4,464 kg
Range - 100 to 400 miles - 162 to 650 km
Warhead - Conventional High Explosive or 400 kT Nuclear
CCN# 107999, 108000, 657964

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 560.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 34° 39.942′ N, 98° 23.061′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. It is at the intersection of Corral Road and Randolph Road, on the left when traveling east on Corral Road. The marker is located in the northeast section of Missile Park at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Sill OK 73503, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Kiowa Tribe,

in the Comanche Nation,

and in Southwest Oklahoma.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and

The front of the U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The front of the U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I and Marker

the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: German K-18 15cm Cannon (a few steps from this marker); U.S. PGM-11 Redstone Missile (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M65 280mm Gun, "Atomic Annie" (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M249 & M250 4x4 Heavy Gun-Lifting Trucks (within shouting distance of this marker); 280mm Heavy Motorized Gun M65 (within shouting distance of this marker); German 105mm Field Howitzer, M1898/1909 (within shouting distance of this marker); German 77mm Field Gun, M1896 (new pattern) (within shouting distance of this marker); German 100mm Field Gun, Model 1904 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sill.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Proud American (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on Fort Sill, an active military installation.

The view of the U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

3. The view of the U.S. MGM-31A Pershing I and Marker

The museum is open to the public, but appropriate photo identification is required for access to the post.

Also see . . . U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Submitted on September 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 572 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 24, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.