- Covering the Past, Present and Future of
II Fact Sheet
Written and Edited by Cliff Lethbridge
Classification: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile
Length: 59 feet, 9 inches
Diameter: 6 feet, 4 inches
Range: 6,990 miles
Designated LGM-30F Mk II, the Minuteman II represented the second generation of the Minuteman ICBM.
Longer and heavier than the Minuteman I, the Minuteman II could carry 34 percent more propellant, resulting in increased range.
In addition, the Minuteman II carried an improved Aerojet second stage engine. This engine had an increased diameter and submerged exhaust nozzles.
The Minuteman II introduced an Autonetics microelectronic inertial guidance system which could store data on multiple targets. The missile could carry either of two improved versions of Avco re-entry vehicles, each of which could deliver a two-megaton warhead.
In addition, two types of Tracor penaids could be incorporated in the Minuteman II. This was
the first time penaids were flown on a
The first Minuteman II test launch occurred at
The Minuteman II became operational at Grand Forks Air Force Base,
Wing VI was structured in an identical fashion to Wings I through IV, with a
total of 150 missiles deployed. Eventually, Wing I at Malstrom
Air Force Base,
This created a maximum deployment capability of 1,000 missiles. With a force made up of a combined Minuteman I and Minuteman II fleet, the full 1,000-missile deployment was achieved by April, 1967.
Following this full deployment, aging Minuteman I missiles were eventually phased out and fully replaced by the Minuteman II and Minuteman III.
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