SCUDS-- what can they do?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been surfing the Web, looking for reliable, consistant data on SCUD missiles.

I am aware that they were developed in the USSR in the 50’s, based on captured Nazi V2 technology. I am aware that they can carry conventional warheads, nuclear (if available), chemical or biowarfare ordinance.

But each account regarding payload, range, & accuracy varies wildly. Part of this may be accounted for by differing models of SCUD, but taken in all, the world’s press is woefully inaccurate about this tinkertoy/terror.

Who can provide me with the True Straight Dope on this infernal device?

Extensive data, & links are a must-have, but I’ll take what I can get, & be grateful.
I believe that this would be of great general intrest to all SDMB members.

And, quite timely, too.

2

Here is some data on the original SCUD-A, -B, -C, and -D models made by Russia/Soviet Union. Iraq received a bunch of SCUD-B’s and reportedly developed modifications to that to make the Al Hussein, Al Hijarah and Al Abbas missiles, which are reportedly more lethal.

3

According to Jane’s, there are 4 models of Scuds the A-D. Each is larger and more accurate than the last.

The Iraqi versions are modeled after the Scud B (cite). They appear to be longer ranged and less accurate than their Soviet counterparts.

Here is a listing of all the suspected Iraqi ballistic missiles. Note that the inventory is unknown for most models, which would indicate that the iintelligence is not complete.

4

Sources may disagree as recipients of the Scud missile often undertake local upgrades.
[ul][li]FAS: SS-1A Scud-B & SS-1B Scud-C (Russian versions)[/li][li]FAS: Hwasong-5 (North Korean Scud-B variant)[/li][li]FAS: Hwasong-6 (North Korean Scud-C variant)[/li][li]FAS: No-Dong-1 (North Korean missile based on the Scud-D)[/li][li]FAS: Shahab-1 (Iranian Scud-B variant)[/li][li]FAS: Shahab-2 (Iranian Scud-C variant)[/li][li]FAS: al-Hussein & al-Hijarah (Iraqi Scud-B & C variants)[/li][li]FAS: al-Abbas (Iraqi Scud-D variant)[/li][li]Jane’s International Security: SS-1 Scud[/li][li]Centre for Defence & International Security Studies: ballistic missile threats[/li]
[li]Information Paper: Iraq’s Scud Ballistic Missiles[/li]US Department of Defense (25 July 2000, HTML format)

[li]A History of Ballistic Missile Development in the DPRK[/li]Monterey Institute of International Studies, Centre for Nonproliferation Studies (1999, PDF format)[/ul]

5

I can’t resist pointing out the rather unfortunate name of North Korea’s No-Dong (SCUD D) missile, mentioned by Crusoe as well as in recent news reports about the cargo intercepted off Yemen.

6

This isn’t intended as a nitpick, rather as a tedious tidbit of militaria, but SCUD isn’t an acronym.

NATO’s Air Standardisation Co-ordinating Committee – currently comprised of representatives from the US, UK, Canda, Australia and New Zealand – assigned English names to Russian and Chinese missiles and aircraft. This was partly because the correct local names were not always known during the Cold War, and partly to provide easily distinguishable names for use across the languages of NATO members.

I had heard, but have no cite as evidence, that the ASCC preferred names that were not overly complimentary towards potential enemies – hence the MiG-21 “Fishbed”, the SS-17 “Spanker” and the Tu-22 “Backfire” among others. Since the end of the Cold War this rules seems to have been slightly relaxed.

7

In this context, a scud is a small freshwater crustacean (an amphipod). I imagine the name could be derived from that, rather than the action of scudding (but perhaps both).