View source for SS.11

{{Short description|French anti-tank missile}}
{{About||the ICBM|SS-11 Sego|other uses|SS-11 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox weapon
|name=SS.11
|image= Ss11 01.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption=SS.11 at the U.S. Army Redstone testing ground
|origin=France
|type=[[MCLOS]] [[Wire-guided missile|wire-guided]] [[Anti-tank guided missile|anti-tank missile]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=yes
|is_missile=yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=[[Nord Aviation]]
|design_date=1953
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|production_date=1956 – mid 1980s
|number=180,000
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight={{convert|30| kg|abbr=on}}
|length={{convert|1190| mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|diameter={{Convert|165| mm|in|abbr=on}}
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber=
|barrels=
|action=
|rate=
|velocity=
|range={{convert|500|–|3,000| m|abbr=on}}
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|filling=Type 140AC anti-armour
|filling_weight={{convert|6.8| kg|abbr=on}}
|detonation=
|yield=
<!-- Vehicle/missile specifications -->
|engine=
|engine_power=
|pw_ratio=
|transmission=
|payload_capacity=
|suspension=
|clearance=
|wingspan={{convert|500| mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|propellant=
|fuel_capacity=
|vehicle_range=
|ceiling=
|altitude=
|boost=
|speed={{convert|190| m/s|abbr=on}}
|guidance=[[Manual command to line of sight]]
|steering=
|accuracy=
|launch_platform=
|transport=
}}

The '''SS.11''' is a French [[manual command to line of sight]] [[Wire-guided missile|wire-guided]] [[Anti-tank guided missile|anti-tank missile]] manufactured by [[Nord Aviation]]. It is also available in the air-to-ground version, '''AS.11''', which featured a stabilized sighting system. The AS.11 was also known as the '''AGM-22''' in American service. It is among the earliest guided anti-tank missiles, entering service with the French Army in 1956 and remaining in service into the 1980s. It also formed the basis for the larger and longer-ranged [[SS.12/AS.12]] series.

The missile was guided manually by comparing the location of the target to [[flare]]s on the back of the missile and using a small joystick to adjust its flight. The original manual guidance system was replaced in 1967 to produce the '''Harpon''' version, which used [[SACLOS]] guidance using an [[infrared homing]] sensor tracking the original flares. This greatly eased the operation of the system, the operator simply had to keep the sights pointed at the target and the missile would automatically fly along the line of sight.

Production of the SS.11 and later [[SS.12/AS.12]] series missiles ceased some time in the 1980s, by which time over 170,000 had been sold<!-- ',but in 1978 168,450 missiles had been produced' - The referenced article,  which is dated 1980, doesn't mention how many missiles had been produced, doesn't mention 168,450 nor refers to 1978!-->.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Missiles |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%203475.html |magazine=Flight International |date=15 November 1980 |page=1888 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018133644/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%203475.html |archive-date=2017-10-18}}</ref> The price of the SS.11 in the late 1960s was stated at approximately $1,900 U.S. dollars.<ref name=R&M>{{cite book |first=Bill |last=Gunston |title=Rockets & Missiles |pages= 239–240 |publisher=Salamander Books Ltd |date=1978}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Amx13 ss11 010.jpg|thumb|left|SS.11 anti-tank missile-launcher version of the French tank [[AMX-13]]]]

The first combat use of the SS.11 was in 1956 by the [[French Air Force]], fired from a [[Dassault MD 315 Flamant|Dassault MD 311]] light twin-engine transport, as a method of attacking fortified caves located in steep mountain gorges during the [[Algerian war]]. The combat experiment proved extremely successful and became standard on other French Air Force MD 311s stationed in the Algerian war theater.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v3/v3n1/frcoin.html|title=COIN: French Counter-Insurgency Aircraft, 1946-1965|website=worldatwar.net}}</ref> From this early combat experience in Algeria with fixed wing aircraft firing the SS.11, the French Army took note and introduced the world's first specialized combat helicopter firing antitank missiles, based on the [[Aérospatiale Alouette II]]  and later the [[Aérospatiale Alouette III]] that fired both the earlier surface-to-surface SS.11 and the AS.11 developed for air-to-surface firing from aircraft, both of which saw extensive combat in that conflict from 1958 to 1962.<ref>{{cite book |first=Al J |last=Venter |title=The Chopper Boys - Helicopter Warfare in Africa |page= 42 |date= 1977 |publisher= Greenhill Books}}</ref>

[[File:Een Bell UH-1 Iroquois met SS-1 draadgeleide anti-tank missiles (2157 033002).jpg|thumb|right|The SS.11 was integrated with the UH-1B Huey with the US Army and even saw limited combat use in Vietnam.]]
After the cancellation of the [[SSM-A-23 Dart]] in 1958, the United States began evaluating the SS.11, and accepted it into service in 1961 as the '''AGM-22A'''. The missile was deployed from [[UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1B Huey]] helicopters using either the [[U.S. helicopter armament subsystems#UH-1 Iroquois|XM11]] or [[U.S. helicopter armament subsystems#UH-1 Iroquois|M22]] armament subsystems. In U.S. Army service, the SS.11 was used mainly to develop tactics employing antitank helicopters and to train future helicopter crews. In September 1966, 12 U.S. Army UH-1B helicopters belonging to a special unit, fitted with the XM-58 stabilized sight arrived in [[South Vietnam]]. One month later, they fired AGM-22s in combat.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aviationhumor.net/bell-uh-1-with-agm-22-m22-armament-subsystem/ | title=Bell UH-1 with AGM-22/M22 Armament Subsystem - Aviation Humor | date=16 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=International Defense Review |date=1983 |number=3 |title=The Development of Helicopter Air to Ground Weapons | page= 323 |first=Col. E. J. |last=Everett-Heath}}</ref> In May 1972 in response to the [[North Vietnam]]ese armor used in the [[Easter Offensive]] six UH-1s equipped with AGM-22s were deployed in [[Quang Tri Province]]. The system was rated moderately effective against tanks, but was extensively used against bunkers and fortified structures. All units were withdrawn to the U.S. by 31 October 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/reports/images.php?img=/images/1683/168300010832.pdf|title=United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 1972-1973 Command History Annex B|publisher=United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam|date=15 July 1973|access-date=10 September 2020|page=B-48}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>

During the Arab-Israeli [[Six-Day War]] in 1967, the Israeli Army was equipped with a large number of SS.11s supplied by France. SS.11s were used during the [[battle of Abu-Ageila (1967)|battle of Abu-Ageila]].<ref>{{cite book|title = Key to the Sinai, The Battles for Abu-Ageila in the 1956 and 1967 Arab-Israeli Wars|first = G.W. |last=Gawrych|publisher = Combat Studies Institute, Research Survey|issue = 7|page = 103|url = https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/KeytotheSinai.pdf|access-date = 27 April 2018 |archive-date = 7 August 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210807134819/https://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/KeytotheSinai.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref>

[[File:Vlra-ss11-b-bis.jpg|thumb|Shooting a missile from a SS.11 VLRA French in 1971.]]

In 1966, the French Navy did an evaluation of the SS.11(M) and SS.12(M) from the fast patrol boat ''[[French patrol vessel La Combattante (P730)|La Combattante]]''.<ref name=R&M/> In 1966, the [[Libyan Navy]] ordered three [[Brave-class patrol boat#Libya|Vosper Thornycroft fast patrol boats]] (the ''Sebha'', ''Sirte'' and ''Susa''). Delivered in 1968, these were the first naval vessels to be armed with the SS.11(M) and AS.12(M) being armed with four on each side of the vessel's bridge;<ref>''Jane's Fighting Ships 1976-77'' page 214</ref> the Libyan fast patrol boats proved that this was 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, Malaysia, Senegal, and Tunisia. NORD also developed a ten-missile trainable launcher for either the SS.11(M) or SS.12(M), which was sold in numbers due to its extremely cost-effective firepower for both light and medium size naval craft.<ref name=R&M/>

During the [[Falklands War]], both the [[British Army]] and the British [[Royal Marines]] used [[Westland Scout]] helicopters armed with the SS.11.<ref name="barg"/> On 14 June 1982, two Army and two Marine Scouts attacked Argentine positions on the south-west outskirts of [[Port Stanley]]. Of the ten missiles fired, nine hit their targets and one was lost due to a command wire breaking.<ref name="barg"/>

==Development==
Development of an improved version of the [[Nord SS.10|SS.10]] (Nord-5203) began in 1953 as the Nord-5210. The missile was intended as a heavy version of the man-portable SS.10 for use from vehicles, ships and helicopters. The missile entered service with the French army as the designation SS.11. It was used as the first helicopter-mounted anti-tank missile in the world (on [[Aérospatiale Alouette II|Alouette II]]s).<ref name="HELOSATWAR">''Helicopters at War'' - Blitz Editions, Page, 63, {{ISBN|1-85605-345-8}}</ref>

From 1962,<ref>{{cite book|title=Jane's Weapon Systems 1969-70|author1=R.T. Pretty|author2=D.H.R. Archer}}</ref> a "B" model of the missile was produced, which replaced some of the original electronics with solid state components. The transistorization improved response time and handling, which reduced the tendency to over-correct during flight.<ref name="HELOSATWAR"/> This was the version used for the development of an infantry version, in which the operator carried three warheads and had a "waist belt fire-control," and three other men carried the missile minus its warhead.<ref name=R&M/>

One of the most unusual uses of the SS.11 was that of probably the smallest anti-shipping missile in the world, with the Swedish Marines employing it in the anti-landing craft role for decades, until it was replaced by a specialized version of the [[AGM-114 Hellfire]]. It was also used by the Finnish coastal artillery for covering narrow channels in the archipelago, being replaced in this role by the Israeli [[Spike (Missile)|SPIKE]] ER (Rannikko-Ohjus 06).

==Description==
A variety of warheads are available for the missile:<ref name="HELOSATWAR"/>
* '''140AC''' hollow-charge: 600&nbsp;mm versus [[Rolled homogeneous armour|RHA]]
* '''140AP02''' blast-fragmentation: 10&nbsp;mm steel plate
* '''140AP59''' anti personnel
* '''140CCN''' anti-shipping

On launch, the SNPE rocket booster, with two outlets on the side of the missile body, burns for 1.2 seconds, after which the Sophie sustainer engine, with single outlet in the rear of the missile body burns for 20 seconds.<ref name=R&M/>

Unlike the earlier SS.10, which steered similarly to an airplane with small flight controls called "spoilers" located on the missiles wings, the SS.11 is steered in flight by a unique system developed by NORD for France's first [[air-to-air missile]], the [[AA.20]], called TVC (thrust vectoring control) in which four small vanes are located around the sustainer's exhaust, which under command momentarily push into the sustainer's thrust causing the missile to move in the direction commanded. Since the missile spins slowly in flight by having the four swept wings slightly offset, a [[gyroscope]] is needed to determine the missile's relative orientation to the ground, that is, up, down and right, left. Unlike the earlier spoiler flight control, TVC is a far more precise method of controlling a missile in flight. TVC has been copied by other missile designs, including the Russians with their [[9K11 Malyutka|9M14 Malyutka]] (NATO name: AT-3 Sagger) and the [[Euromissile HOT]] and [[MILAN]] developed by joint venture of the French and Germans.<ref name=R&M/>

Due to the manual nature of the guidance, called [[MCLOS]], where the operator had to first gain control of the missile and bring it into his line of sight with the target, engagements of targets at short range were poor, but beyond 500 meters accuracy was good to excellent for a well trained operator. In 1967 (by which time NORD had been merged with Aerospatiale), a version of the SS.11, called Harpon, was developed with a much improved guidance system called [[SACLOS]] in which the missile is automatically tracked in flight and brought to the gunner's line of sight. This guidance system drastically increases the SS.11 accuracy, especially at engagement ranges of less than 500 meters.<ref name=R&M/>

==Models==
* '''SS.11'''/'''AGM-22''': Surface-to-surface wire-guided anti-tank missile.
** '''SS.11A1''' '''XAGM-22A'''
** '''SS.11B1''' '''XAGM-22B''': Much improved with transistors
** '''SS.11B1''' (training) '''XATM-22B'''
* '''AS.11''': Air-to-surface missile.
* '''SS.11M''': Maritime surface-to-surface wire-guided anti-ship missile.
* '''HARPON''': SS.11 version with [[SACLOS]] guidance replacing [[MCLOS]]. Entered production in 1967

==Operators==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2022}}
{|
|-valign="top"
|
* {{flag|Abu Dhabi}}
* {{ARG}}
* {{flag|Bahrain}}
* {{BEL}}
* {{BRA}}
* {{flag|Brunei}}
* {{CAN}}
* {{flaglist|Denmark}}
* {{flag|Ethiopia}}
* {{FIN}} - SS 11 B 1, known as ''Rannikko-ohjus 63'' (RO-63).
* {{FRA}}
* {{GER}}
* {{GRE}}
* {{IND}}
* {{IDN}}
* {{IRQ}}
* {{flaglist|Israel}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
|
* {{LBN}}
* {{LBA}}
* {{flag|Malaysia}} - aboard [[Royal Malaysian Navy|RMN]] [[Brave class fast patrol boat|''Pendekar''-class fast patrol boat]]s (now retired)
* {{NLD}}
* {{flaglist|Norway}}
* {{PER}}
* {{POR}}
* {{SAU}}
* {{flag|Senegal}}
* {{SYR}}
* {{RSA}}
* {{ESP}} - aboard army [[Aérospatiale Alouette III]] and navy [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|Sikorsky SH-3]]/AB-212 ASW helicopters
* {{SWE}} - coastal defense against landing craft (''Robot'' 52)
* {{flaglist|Switzerland}}
* {{TUN}}
* {{GBR}}
* {{flag|Uganda}}
* {{USA}}
* {{VEN}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Aerospatiale SS.12/AS.12]], a later derivative of the Nord SS.11
* [[Raketenjagdpanzer 1]], Germany ATGM carrier AFV of 1961

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="barg">Burden 1986, pp.34-342</ref>

}}
* {{cite web |url= http://astronautix.com/lvs/ss11.htm |title=SS.11 |website=Encyclopedia Astronautica  |date=9 August 2003  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031026101833/http://astronautix.com/lvs/ss11.htm |archive-date=26 October 2003 |first= Andreas |last=Parsch}}
* {{Cite web |url= http://waronline.org/IDF/Articles/firstATGM.htm |archive-date=2005-12-15  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215175233/http://waronline.org/IDF/Articles/firstATGM.htm |title= ПТУР первого поколения в АОИ  |date=20 January 2005 |language=ru |trans-title=First-generation ATGMs in the IDF |first=Oleg |last=Granovsky}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-22.html |title=Aerospatiale AGM-22 |website=www.designation-systems.net}}
* {{cite book|title=Missiles of the World|first=Michael J. H. |last=Taylor|publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons|year=1980|isbn=0-684-16593-7}}
* {{cite book |last1= Burden|first1= Rodney A |first2=Michael I |last2=Draper |first3=Douglas A |last3=Rough |first4=Colin R |last4=Smith |first5=David L |last5=Wilton |title= Falklands: The Air War |year= 1986|publisher= Arms and Armour Press|location= London|isbn=0-85368-842-7}}

==External links==
{{externalimage
|topic=Nord SS.11
|width=
|float=right
|image1=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/MISSILES/French%20-%20Early%20AT%20missiles/FrAtMissiles3.jpg SS.11 firing from AMX-13 tank]
|image2=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/MISSILES/French%20-%20Early%20AT%20missiles/FrAtMissiles4.jpg SS.11 on ground mount]
|image3=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/TOW/TOW%20early/uh1_004.jpg SS.11 Fitted to U.S. Army UH-1]
|image4=[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b24/hybenamon/LAND/MISSILES/French%20-%20Early%20AT%20missiles/SS11-HEAT-WARHEAD.jpg SS.11 HEAT warhead]
}}
{{Commons category|Nord SS.11}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/jaglavaksoldier#p/u/12/KBvUya2wpIo Early 1960s video of SS.11 being tested by U.S. Army] on [[YouTube]]

{{US missiles}}

[[Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of the Cold War]]
[[Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of France]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Wire-guided missiles]]