MGM-52 Lance
| Type: | Surface-to-surface missile artillery |
| Warhead: | Nuclear or conventional high-explosive |
| Guidance: | Gyroscopic, thrust vectoring, radio command |
| Propulsion: | Pre-packaged storable liquid |
| Trajectory: | Ballistic with spin stabilization |
| Range: | 8-75 miles (13-120km) |
| Weight: | 2,900-3,425 pounds (1,315-1,550kg) |
| Length: | 20.5 feet (6.25m) |
| Diameter: | 22 inches (56cm) |
| First firing: | 15 March 1965 |
Lance was a surface-to-surface ballistic missile designed to provide greater fire support for Army divisions. It was the first Army missile to utilize prepackaged storable liquid propellant and the last short range, nuclear-capable missile. Its four spin motors fired immediately after launch, producing a black smoke trail that accompanied every Lance firing. It had a self-propelled launcher and a simplified inertial guidance system and could operate in all types of weather.
The lightweight Lance was highly mobile, simple to operate, rugged, and reliable. Chance Vought Corp. was designated as the system’s prime contractor on 01 November 1962. Testing began at White Sands Missile Range in 1964.
In the late 1950s, the Army’s Ballistic Research Laboratory proposed a future artillery family of ballistic missiles, creatively designated as Missiles “A” through “D.” Missile “B” was developed to replace both the Honest John and the Sergeant missile. Development of Missile “B” began in 1962, with the intent to deliver a 1,000-pound nuclear, conventional, or chemical warhead to a range of 75 kilometers, or 47 miles. In November 1962, Missile “B” was redesignated as the Lance.
The first test flight of a Lance missile occurred successfully on 15 March 1965 at White Sands Missile Range. Tests continued through 1977, using a variety of warheads on 321 missiles.
Full-scale production of the Lance was approved in September 1970. The first Lance battalion was deployed to Europe in September 1973. Conventionally armed Lance missiles were used by many NATO countries. Compared to the Sergeant that it replaced, the Lance was far easier to operate and maintain. With a reaction time of less than 15 minutes, the missile could be fired at short notice and, because of its compact size, more missiles could be moved by a single unit.
When the Cold War ended in the 1990’s, there was no longer a need for nuclear-armed, short-range ballistic missiles. Lance was quickly deactivated in 1991 and replaced by the newer ATACMS. The remaining Lance missile were used as targets for testing. Vought proposed a Lance II version, designated as the T-22, which later saw development in the Assault Breaker program.
