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

U.S. MGM-31A Pershing II

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

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

Inscription. The Pershing II was a powerful long-range strategic nuclear missile of the last decade of the Cold War. With a range of 1,100 miles, it was the longest range weapon in U.S. Army Field Artillery history. In 1983, the new Pershing II Missile System was introduced to replace the Pershing IA Missile System. The Pershing II continued to utilize the existing missile, but introduced a new terminally guided re-entry vehicle that could be guided to the target replacing the older ballistic warhead. The margin of error was reduced from 1,200 feet to a 120 foot radius. Consequently, a smaller warhead was fitted to reduce intentional damage to areas surrounding the target. The two-stage, solid propellant missile could be maneuvered to overfly the target, then return to attack it. It could also perform evasive maneuvers to protect itself from enemy counter-measures. The Pershing II Missile System was a decisive factor in the adoption of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty between the Soviet Union and the United States in 1991 banning long range missile systems. Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev credited the deployment of

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the Pershing II Missile by President Ronald Reagan with bringing the Cold War to an end.

Length - 34.8 ft.- 10.5 m
Weight - 16,451 lbs. - 7,462 kg
Range - 1,118 miles - 1,816 km
Warhead - 5-80 kT Nuclear
CCN# 127075, 127076

Erected by U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. (Marker Number 600.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1983.

Location. 34° 40.023′ N, 98° 23.219′ W. Marker is in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Comanche County. It is at the intersection of Carol Road and Randolph Road, on the right when traveling west on Carol Road. Marker and Museum are located on Fort Sill, an a mctive U.S. military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access for Fort Sill. 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 the Kiowa Tribe,

in the Comanche Nation,

and in Southwest Oklahoma—Great Plains Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

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

Photographed by James Hulse, September 9, 2021

2. The side view of the U.S. MGM-31A Pershing II and Marker

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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: U.S. M109A3 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M110A2 8-inch Self-Propelled Howitzer (a few steps from this marker); U.S. MGM-52C Lance Missile on Zero-Length Launcher (a few steps from this marker); U.S. M2A1/M101A1 105mm Towed Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); Soviet M1974 (2S1) 122mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); Soviet D-20 152mm Field Howitzer (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. MGM-31A Pershing IA Missile (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. M981 Fire Support Team Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Sill.

Also see . . . U.S. Army Artillery Museum. (Submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 431 times since then and 125 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 23, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.