Seaslug (missile)

Seaslug
Seaslug
	Seaslug Mk. II missile
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	UK
Service history
In service	1961–1991
Used by	UK (Royal Navy), Chile
Wars	Falklands War, Cold War
Production history
Designed	Mark 1: 1961 ; Mark 2: 1965
Manufacturer	Armstrong Whitworth
Variants	Mark 1, Mark 2
Specifications
Mass	Mk.1: 2,080 kg ; Mk.2: 2,384 kg
Length	Mk.1: 6.0 m ; Mk.2: 6.1 m
Diameter	Mk.1: 0.42 m ; Mk.2: 0.41 m
Wingspan	1.44 m
Warhead	Mk.1: 200 lb (91 kg) blast ; Mk.2: continuous-rod warhead
Detonation; mechanism	Mk.1: radio proximity & impact; Mk.2: infrared proximity
Engine	4 solid-fuel jettisoned boosters; Solid-fuel sustainer;
Operational; range	Mk.1: 30,000 yards (27,000 m) ; Mk.2: 35,000 yards (32,000 m)
Flight ceiling	Mk.1: 55,000 feet (17,000 m) ; Mk.2: 65,000 feet (20,000 m)
Maximum speed	Mk.1: 685 mph (1,102 km/h) ; Mk.2: 1,370 mph (2,200 km/h)
Guidance; system	Beam riding
Steering; system	Control surface
Launch; platform	Ship

Seaslug was a first-generation surface-to-air missile designed by Armstrong Whitworth (later part of the Hawker Siddeley group) for use by the Royal Navy. Tracing its history as far back as 1943's LOPGAP design, it came into operational service in 1961 and was still in use at the time of the Falklands War in 1982.

Seaslug was intended to engage high-flying targets such as reconnaissance aircraft or bombers before they could launch stand-off weapons. It was only fitted to the Royal Navy's eight County-class destroyers which were designed around the missile system. Seaslug was only fired in anger once as an anti-aircraft missile, from HMS Antrim during the Falklands War, but missed its target. Later improvements meant that it could also be used against ships and ground targets.

It was planned that Seaslug's medium-range role was to be supplanted by a very long-range missile known as Blue Envoy, but this was passed over in favour of a new medium-range system, Sea Dart. Sea Dart entered service in 1973 on the Type 82 destroyers and replaced Seaslug during the 1980s as the County-class destroyers were removed from service.