White Sands in Doña Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Hawk

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

1. Hawk Marker

Inscription. Designed to supplement the Nike missile system, this air defense missile was capable of knocking out aircraft flying anywhere between 100 and 38,000 feet. Highly mobile, this system could be transported by helicopter and was also used by the U.S. Marine Corps and a host of foreign countries. The system consisted of radars and control vans with each launcher carrying three missiles.

Length: 16 feet
Diameter: 14 inches
Weight: 1,275 pounds
Propellant: Solid
Range: 6 miles
First Firing: 1955

Erected by White Sands Missile Range Museum. (Marker Number 94.071.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 32° 23.158′ N, 106° 28.733′ W. Marker is in White Sands, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County. It is on Wsmr P Rt 1 (New Mexico Route 213) 4 miles south of U.S. 70. The marker and various missiles are located on the grounds of the White Sands Missile Range Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in

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the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

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 Gadsden Purchase,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Crossbow (here, next to this marker); XM-21 (here, next to this marker); Little John (a few steps from this marker); QH-50 DASH (a few steps from this marker); Nike Hercules (a few steps from this marker); Sidewinder (a few steps from this marker); Improved Hawk Rocket Test Sled (a few steps from this marker); MQM-42 Redhead/Roadrunner Target Drone (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in White Sands.

More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on the White Sands Missile Range, an active U.S. military installation. The museum is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.

Also see . . .
1. Welcome to the White Sands Missile Range Museum. White Sands Missile Range Museum (Submitted on July 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. MIM-23 Hawk.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

2. Hawk Marker

The Hawk missiles are missing from the marker display area.

Wikipedia

The Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK ("Homing All the Way Killer") is an American medium-range surface-to-air missile. It was designed to be a much more mobile counterpart to the MIM-14 Nike Hercules, trading off range and altitude capability for a much smaller size and weight. Its low-level performance was greatly improved over Nike through the adoption of new radars and a continuous wave semi-active radar homing guidance system. It entered service with the US Army in 1959.

(Submitted on August 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2. submitted on August 2, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.