Trumpeter 01019 Soviet (9P117M1) Launcher with R17 Rocket of 9K72 Missile Complex "Elbrus"(Scud B)

Scud (the name used in the Soviet army: R-11 and R-17) is the designation used by NATO for the Soviet short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), the first copies of which entered the service of the Soviet Army in 1956. The missile - in the Scud-A version - has a range of up to 170 kilometers, a length of 10.6 meters and a diameter of 880 millimeters. Its take-off weight is approximately 5.4 tons. The Scud-A missile (Soviet designation: R-11) was developed using the experience gained by the USSR after taking over the German V-2 missiles at the end of World War II. The outstanding Soviet rocket designer Sergei Korolev was responsible for its development, and work on the new missile began at the turn of 1950 and 1951. The new missile was designed to destroy targets of operational and tactical importance, such as large groups of enemy troops or its permanent command points. The missile could carry both a conventional warhead and a nuclear warhead. The missile was transported on a chassis constructed on the basis of the ISU-152 self-propelled gun (launcher designation: 2P19). In 1962, however, a greatly modernized version of the missile (designations: Scud-B or R-17) was introduced. Which was larger, heavier and had a definitely improved range and accuracy compared to its predecessor. The drive system has also been significantly improved. Initially, the missile also used 2P19 launchers, but over time it was replaced by a circular 9P117 launcher based on the MAZ-543 vehicle. It is worth adding that both Scud-A and Scud-B were widely exported. They also entered the armament of the Warsaw Pact countries, including Poland.