Nord SS.12/AS.12

The SS.12/AS.12 was basically a scaled-up version of the SS.11/AS.11, with a massive increase in range and warhead weight. The SS.12/AS.12 original mission was primarily to be anti-shipping from naval helicopters and combat aircraft or ground launchers, and secondarily for use against heavy field fortifications. The range and the destructive power of its warhead are roughly equivalent to a 127 mm (5-inch) artillery shell.

• Is Missile — yes • Name — NORD SS.12/AS.12 • Type — Surface-to-surface or air-to-surface missile • Origin — France • Launch Platform — Helicopter, aircraft, ground unit • Manufacturer — Aerospatiale • Production Date — 1957–1982 • Service — 1960–present • Diameter — 180 mm (body) 210 mm (warhead) • Wingspan — 650 mm • Length — 1.87 m • Weight — 76 kg • Speed — 370 km/h • Vehicle Range — 7000/8000 m • Filling Weight — 28 kg • Engine — solid fuel rocket • Steering — thrust deflection • Guidance — wire MCLOS • Number — 10000+

The SS.12 was originally intended to be a surface-to-surface weapon. A naval surface-to-surface version, the SS.12M was developed at the same time. Trials of the weapon began in 1956. An air-launched version, the AS.12, was trialed in 1957.

The AS.12 originally entered service with the French Navy in 1960 in the air-to-surface role against ships and submarines on the surface. In 1966 the French Navy made an evaluation of the SS.11(M) and SS.12(M) from the fast patrol boat La Combattante. In 1966, the Libyan Navy ordered three fast patrol boats from Vosper (Sebha, Sirte and Susa). Delivered in 1968, these were the first operational naval vessels to be armed with AS.12(M), with four launch rails on each side of the vessel's bridge. The Libyan fast patrol boats proved to be a very low cost way to give long-range heavy firepower to small naval vessels. Other navies soon followed Libya and bought the SS.12(M) and SS.11(M) for their light naval vessels; among them Brunei, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia. Sweden bought the SS.12(M) (designated the Robot 54) as a heavier support for the SS.11(M) (designated Robot 52). NORD also developed a ten-missile trainable launcher for either the AS.11(M) or AS.12(M) which was sold in numbers due to its cost-effective firepower. The AS.12 saw action on both sides of the 1982 Falklands War. It was fired from Westland Wasp helicopters against the Argentine submarine Santa Fe. A total of nine missiles were fired at the submarine which was trapped on the surface and unable to dive after its dive tanks suffered damage from a depth charge attack by a British Royal Navy Wessex HAS.3 antisubmarine helicopter. Of the missiles fired four hit, four missed and one failed to launch. Two of the missiles that hit the target failed to detonate on impact, instead punching a hole through the slender conning tower and exploding on the far side. In an unusual mission, it was fired from a British Royal Navy Wessex Hu.5 commando helicopter at Port Stanley town hall on 11 June 1982 in an attempt to disrupt a meeting of senior Argentine personnel that took place there every morning. Both missiles that were fired missed, one striking the roof of a police station and the other hitting some telegraph poles. Production of the SS.11/SS.12 series ceased some time in the 1980s; but in 1978 168,450 missiles had been produced. The AS.12 has been operational from the following aircraft: • Breguet Alizé • Lockheed P-2 Neptune • Breguet Atlantique • Westland Wasp • Aérospatiale Alouette III • Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod • Westland Wessex

* * * * * * * • - aboard Navy helicopters. * * * * * • - aboard Navy SH-3/AB-212ASW helicopters. Retired 1987. • operates alongside SS.11 in anti-invasion against landing craft (Robot 54) * * * * • - aboard Lockheed P-2H / P2V-7 Neptune and Brequet Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft *