The Wargamer

The opening line of Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 says it all: “Over the past decade the Scud has become the world’s most infamous missile.” Readers interested in the historical development of the missile, technical aspects such as reliability and accuracy, and the Orders of Battle for Soviet Scud Brigades will find Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 an invaluable resource.

The Scud originated as a central weapon for waging nuclear war in Europe. Directly descended from the German V-2, more Scud missiles have been fired than all the German V rockets of World War II, thankfully none with nuclear warheads. As Soviet missile technology evolved and then eclipsed the Scud, a secondary market for the weapons appeared in the arms bazaar: Third World nations. Beginning in the early 1970’s the Soviet Union began exporting Scuds. Exact numbers are unknown, but by the author’s account, one report estimates that over 2,300 missiles were sold to at least 11 countries. With that kind of proliferation and the capability to launch a nuclear weapon, it is little wonder that the Scud has become “infamous”.

Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 takes the reader step-by-step through the evolution of the earliest models. The feel of the book in these earlier years is similar to the highest quality Cold War fodder. Snapshots of the Scud’s reliability are fully cataloged, such as, “Production of the 2P19 TEL [Transporter Erector Launcher – the truck that carries the missile] was short-lived…this was not entirely unwelcomed by the army as the tracked chassis was far from ideal for a missile launcher. The vibration induced by steel tracks on steel road-wheels was transmitted to the delicate launch electronics in the vehicle and the missile as well, leading to premature technical failures.” I could easily imagine Cold War spies risking their lives to deliver bits of information such as this back to their handlers.

Such remarkable levels of detail speak to the care the authors have taken in writing Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005. Most of the book’s 48 pages are devoted to a discussion of the evolution of the missile and its TEL, the Scud’s deployment on land and sea, and Soviet doctrine of its use. A number of fine illustrations and photographs are included which detail the Scud’s various versions and will be of use to anyone interested in visual identification of the missile and its TEL, as well as modelers interested in painting them.

The latter third of the book discusses proliferation of the Scud in the Third World, including its employment in a number of wars. The Scud was used in both the Iran-Iraq War and the First Gulf War, where the Scud gained its notoriety. I personally found this last part the most fascinating as it brought the threat of the Scud to life, moving it from Cold War historical relic into the very real danger it posses to anyone within its launch radius. There is even a brief discussion of Russian replacements to the Scud as well as North Korea’s efforts to evolve from its technology. The final section of Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 lists a bibliography for further suggested reading, though many of the sources will require fluency in Russian to be of benefit.

Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 is short and sweet. Readers interested in the evolution and deployment of the Scud missile system will find this title indispensable. The only area in which I wanted more information was in the modern section, although I am sure those details are beyond the scope of this book. They are probably also known and held tightly by western intelligence agencies, unlikely to be revealed anytime soon. Readers wishing to come up to speed on the details of the Scud’s capabilities and evolution in the modern era need a copy of Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005 on their shelves. It is a fast, clear, and concise summary of the Scud and its use in warfare, both historically and in contemporary military affairs.

About the Author

Jim Zabek is the Executive Editor for The Wargamer where he manages the content flow and publication dates for reviews and articles on the site. He has been a dedicated gamer since he was 10 years old. Beginning with Avalon Hill's Panzer Blitz and Starship Troopers, he quickly expanded his gaming scope to more complex games such as Dungeons & Dragons. He played early computer games on both Mac and PC platforms, though these days it's basically XP with the occasional boardgame thrown in to shake the cobwebs loose. Jim reads eclectically and occasionally even writes about some of the things he's reading or playing for The Wargamer.