Talk:R-36

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Contents 1 Info Box 2 Renaming 3 Moved for disambiguation? 4 Development

[edit] Info Box

I cant seem to fix the info box someone with a little more familiarity give me a hand? -LouieS

[edit] Renaming

I just came across this link [[1]]. I googled and sure enough his comment is true. I think in my humble opinion this article should be renamed RS-20V or Voyevoda. The reason i am arguing this, is this was a Russian technology, and naming it using western names is a little bit to arrogant. For example, how would you feel if someone keep calling you John, while you insist your name is William? Do we name the western technology with Russian names? To emphasis what i am saying, wikipedia call Burma Myanmar, something i only grudgingly accepted because i don't have any business in saying how people name their country. I also once came across a runt of a guy complaining of west calling Deutschland Germany once, but i have to admit i can't help doing it myself. For this reasons, i sincerely feel the above article should be renamed using the Russian name and NATO names should be redirected to the Russia name.

Other really nice name to change are:- Specific types of Soviet/Russian ICBMs include:

• SS-6 SAPWOOD / R-7 / 8K71
• SS-7 SADDLER / R-16
• SS-8 SASIN
• SS-9 SCARP
• SS-11 SEGO
• SS-17 SPANKER
• SS-19 STILLETO
• SS-20 SABER
• SS-24 SCALPEL
• SS-25 SICKLE

This one probabily was handled with the native name, not sure though

• Topol-M (SS-27)

Shouldn't that be "Stiletto"? —Michael Z. 2005-03-2 17:44 Z

[edit] Moved for disambiguation?

Why was this article moved from SS-18? Are there articles about other things called SS-18 about to be added? The designation of the missile is SS-18, and not SS-18 Missile, so this seems unnecessary. —Michael Z. 2005-03-2 17:51 Z

Since there was no objection, I moved it back. —Michael Z. 2005-03-12 14:53 Z

[edit] Development

This is a most interesting statement in the article:

Further improvement of the R-36 led to the beginning of the design of the R-36M in 1969 with the mission of providing a first-strike capability to allow the destruction of United States LGM-30 Minuteman silos and launch controls before they could retaliate.

So this is saying the R-36M was developed as a first strike weapon, to initiate an attack, and not to be launched as a retaliatory weapon. Do we have a source for this information? --Commking 02:39, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

Thats not speaking to the political intent of the weapon, the weapon could care less if its shot first, second, or not at all; based upon the capabilities of this weapon it would be a very effective first strike weapon and thus one could assume that it would be used as one should the political circumsances warrent that. That isn't meant to be a political statement and shouldn't be taken as such. -LouieS

We should change it then. This statement ..led to the beginning of the design of the R-36M in 1969 with the mission of providing a first-strike capability.. says otherwise. If no objections appear here after a reasonable period, I will then do so. --Commking 02:51, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

"The Reagan and Bush administrations respected the SS-18 to such a degree that they made it the main focus of their arms control initiatives. The START II Treaty specifically banned land-based MIRV systems, in part, because of the threat the SS-18 posed to the balance of power. It was seen as a first-strike weapon and a very destabilizing presence in the bilateral relationship." from http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/icbm/r-36m.htm -LouieS

It was seen as a first-strike weapon - this is also a very different statement to that which is in the article, which implies that it was developed as a first strike weapon. Again if there is nothing to support the statement, it should be changed. --Commking 19:17, 1 April 2006 (UTC)

"The SS-18 Variant 4 carries at least 10 MIRVs and was likely designed to attack and destroy ICBMs and other hardened US targets." "The SS-18 variant 4 force was believed to possess the potential capability to destroy 65 to 80 percent of US ICBM silos by placing two nuclear warheads against each of its US targets." - http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/r-36m.htm "The Reagan and Bush administrations respected the SS-18 to such a degree that they made it the main focus of their arms control initiatives. The START II Treaty specifically banned land-based MIRV systems, in part, because of the threat the SS-18 posed to the balance of power. It was seen as a first-strike weapon and a very destabilizing presence in the bilateral relationship." - http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/r-36m.htm "Because it was so highly accurate, it was believed by military analysts at the time to have opened a window of opportunity for the Soviets to make a disarming first strike... it was accurate and powerful enough to destroy all of the Minuteman III missiles that existed then in their hardened silos easily." - http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1354143 "Its [the SS-18} ability to drop each of its megaton-rated warheads within 600 feet of their intended targets gives the SS-18 a true first-strike capability." - http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/1994/boldrick.htm --LouieS 02:23, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

This still doesn't prove what the article says, that the missile was developed as a first strike weapon, that this was the intention. The above references say only that the US side saw it as such, and that it's accuracy is pretty good. I ask again: Is there anything to support the statement in the article, that is that the design specification actually called for a first strike weapon? --Commking 01:04, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

I have a feeling that either the exact design specifications are in Russian or are still classified as the missile is still in service, in either case they are not acessable to me or the vast majority of Wikipedians. That beign the case I have found six sources, many of them like the Federation of American Scienctists are highly reputable having nobel prize laurates on their staff, to support what I had positied in the article that the weapon is clearly designed as a first strike weapon, regardless of if the former Soviet Union, or the present Russian Federation admits this publicly. Furthermore, I think I can safely say that all coutries possesing nuclear arms during the cold war had working plans to conduct a first strike upon an opposing nation should the situation dictate that course of action, it then logically follows that weapons would be designed with this contingency in mind. Given this logical deduction, and the six sources I have cited above I believe that the burden of proof in the argument is upon you. -LouieS 02:56, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

That's not how it works here at Wikipedia - you add the content and make the statement, then you gotta provide the references. Based upon what you have provided, the best you can say is that is is only believed that the R-36M was designed as a first strike weapon, and then cite the references you've come up with. Will you do it or shall I? --Commking 13:20, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

I can appreceate where you are coming from, I have made changes that I believe represent a good compermise between our two positions. Please review them and give me your thoughts. -LouieS 20:14, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I think it`s just a big mistake - early SS-18 mods were counter strike weapon (in very hardened silo, capable of survivng in near nuclear explosion) not preventive. Rather than its counterpart - UR-100 (SS-11) with lightly fortified silos. So we can say that SS-11 was preventive strike weapon, not SS-18.