AN/SPG-55

AN/SPG-55

The USS Mahan (DDG-42) underway in 1983 to test and evaluate the Terrier New Threat Upgrade (NTU) Combat System. Two AN/SPG-55B directors are above the Mark 10 Terrier/Standard missile launcher and the sailors.
Country of origin	United States
Type	Missile fire-control
Precision	Fire control quality three-dimensional data

Rear view of the AN/SPG-55B aboard USS Worden (CG-18).

The AN/SPG-55 was a tracking / illumination radar for Terrier and RIM-67 Standard missiles (SM-1ER/SM-2ER). It was used for target tracking and Surface-to-air missile guidance on numerous ships including Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers,Belknap-class cruisers, Leahy-class cruisers and Farragut class destroyers. It was also used on the nuclear-powered single units USS Long Beach (CGN-9), USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) and USS Truxtun (CGN-35). The SPG-55 was part of the Mk 76 missile fire control system.^[1]

Name

The designation "AN" stands for "Army-Navy" while "SPG" is not an acronym, but part of the MIL-STD-196E Type Designation System:^[2]

• First letter (installation) - S = Water (surface ship)
• Second letter (type of equipment) - P = Radar
• Third letter (purpose) - G = Fire Control or Searchlight Directing

Variants

An SPG-55 on the starboard side USS America (CV-66). (center of image)

• AN/SPG 55 - Original version supported Beam riding Terrier missiles.
• AN/SPG 55A - Supported Beam-riding and homing Terrier missiles
• AN/SPG 55B - Supported Beam-riding and homing Terrier missiles as well as newer Standard missiles.

See also

• List of radars
• RIM-2 Terrier Missile

External links

• Radars and Computers aboard USS Sterett and other Warships during the Vietnam War

References

1. ↑ "MK 76 Missile Fire Control System". Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. 
2. ↑ Department of Defense (1998). Department of Defense Standard Practice Joint Electronics Type Designation System. MIL-STD-196E.