Snark Marginalia
Between 1955 and 1958 Northrop launched an extensive
campaign to save its beleaguered Snark program. In articles in
the aviation press it defended the missile, pointing out that
unlike bombers, Snark did not need an expensive tanker fleet for
refueling, and neither did it put highly trained air crews at
risk. Furthermore, Northrop argued that Snark was cost
effective. About 1/10 the size of a B-52, the missile cost only
1/20 as much.
In March 1957 SAC's Missile Site Selection Panel
recommended that the command establish its first Snark
operational base at Presque Isle, Maine. Located in the
north-eastern corner of the state, Presque Isle was the site of
an Air Force Air Defense Command (ADC) base slated for closure.
Operating under the Secretary of the Air Force's orders that it
use existing government property wherever possible, SAC agreed
to use the installation as a Snark site, although it noted that
many of the buildings were in poor condition and would require
extensive renovation. The key factor in SAC's decision to base
the Snark at Presque Isle, however, was the base's location.
Positioned at the very northeastern corner of the nation,
Presque Isle brought the Snark within range of its anticipated
targets in the Soviet Union.
“As a result of high level decisions taken late in
1957, the Snark program was limited to 51 production type
missiles of which 30 would be used for operational, purposes.
This provided for a Snark operational force equal to two
squadrons, each equipped with 15 missiles. In order to save
manpower spaces and facilities, however, the two squadrons would
be combined into a single unit and would be designated the 702d
Strategic Missile Squadron upon activation at Presque Isle Air
Force Base on 1 July 1959. The squadron would be placed under
the operational control of Headquarters, Eighth Air Force at
that time.
The foregoing changes, which reduced the size
of the Snark program from eight to two squadrons, required a
complete revision of the Snark Operational Plan. The new plan,
completed in January, contained more details than provided
heretofore on Snark tactical and operational concepts. After
being integrated into the EWP, Snark missiles would be used
initially only against area type air power targets. They would
be programmed to fly the Great Circle route within a 360
nautical mile corridor in order to reach their assigned targets.
To avoid "traffic" congestion with manned bombers,
special departure SOP's and/or specific corridors would be
assigned to Snark missiles. Insofar as practical, missiles would
not overfly friendly populations or heavily defended complexes
en route to their targets.
Although the ultimate
objective for all SAC strategic missiles called for an
instantaneous salvo of all missiles upon the receipt of an
execution order, the design of the Snark weapon system, as it
existed in January, would preclude attainment of this goal. For
planning purposes, however, three launching rates of
in-commission missiles were possible, depending upon the makeup
of the preflight console and an assured 24-hour per day manning
of the Snark squadron.
The rates were as
follows:
Category 1. Twenty percent of the missile
inventory within three hours and the total inventory within 10
hours.
Category 2. Twenty percent of the missile inventory
within one hour and the total inventory within four
hours.
Category 3. Twenty percent of the missile inventory
within 15 minutes and the total inventory within two hours and
fifteen minutes.
It was deemed possible to obtain the
launching rates of categories one and two on a continuing basis
but not category three because of excessive manpower and spare
parts costs. It could be maintained for short periods of
tension, however, thereby providing a temporary strategic
advantage.” – SAC Hist. Study #72: STRATEGIC
AIR COMMAND PARTICIPATION THE MISSILE PROGRAM 1 January 1958 -
30 June 1958
SAC built the sprawling Snark launch facility at the
northeast corner of the base. Mounted on their mobile launch
trailers, the missiles were stored in six large, single- story
assembly and checkout buildings. The buildings, which looked
much like aircraft hangars, measured 420 feet long by 80 feet
wide. They were built alongside each other, each separated by a
distance of approximately 450 feet. In front of each building
were two circular launch pads, each 160 feet in diameter, made
of reinforced concrete between 10 and 12 inches thick. Upon
receiving a launch order, the crews drove the launchers onto the
launch pads, fired their missiles, and then cleared the pad for
the next launch. Other facilities built to support the Snark
launch site included a power and water pumping plant measuring
160 by 102 feet; an engine run-up facility that was 99 by 61
feet; a two-story launch and surveillance building measuring 44
by 39 feet, and a 15,000-gallon fuel tank farm with a pump house
and truck filling stand.
SAC put its first Snark on alert in March 1960, but the
702nd SMW did not become fully operational until February 1961;
with Kennedy ordering Snark withdrawn in March 1961, and the Air
Force deactivated the 702nd SMW on 25 June 1961.
Upon approach to its target, a warhead was ejected from
the main body. Once the warhead was ejected, the main body of
the Snark pitched upward violently and broke up.
The Snark could fly 11-hour missions and then return for
a landing, as the Snark was only destroyed if its warhead needed
to impact a target. The missile itself could be flown again and
again as conditions warranted. Although it did not employ
landing gear, the Snark was able to safely skid to a landing on
any flat, level surface and this was demonstrated at Cape
Canaveral.
SAC wanted 20% of its Snarks to be launched within 15
minutes, 40% within 75 minutes, and the entire force launched
within four hours of notification. The missiles would accompany
SAC's bomber force to complicate the problems of Soviet air
defense systems.
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