P-70 Ametist
NATO: SS-N-7 Starbright
Overview
P-70 Ametist
Left side view of P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile on display. Note the booster rockets on the bottom left.
Source: Unknown author -
© copyright lies with original owner
4K66 (GRAU designation)
P-20L (early project name)
India
Description
Introduction
The P-70 Ametist is late Cold War era subsonic anti-ship missile of Soviet origin. It was developed in the 1960's for underwater launch by guided missile submarines, significantly improving chances of survival for the launch platform. In the West the P-70 is known by its NATO reporting name "SS-N-7 Starbright".
Design
The P-70 is a longer and sleeker missile than the older Soviet P-15 Termit. The guidance section and warhead are located in the nose. The main wings are folded within the launch container. Two booster engines on each side provides initial velocity upon launch. They are discarded when depleted and the solid fuel sustainer engine takes over. Flight altitude is about 60 meters above sea level.
Guidance
The P-70 is fitted with an active radar seeker. The first stage of flight uses inertial navigation. In the terminal phase the seeker switches on. There is no secondary seeker type.
Firepower
The P-70 is fitted with either a 500 kg shaped charge warhead or a 200 kT nuclear warhead. The maximum range is about 65 km. Various sources report a maximum range of 80 km. Possibly the latter range can be achieved when the launch platform is surfaced. The sustained flight speed is Mach 0.9. Flight altitude is about 60 meters above sea level.
Platforms
The P-70 was used as the primary armament on two types of nuclear powered attack submarines. The first and foremost being the Project 670 Skat (NATO: Charlie I) class with 8 launch tubes. The second being the sole Project 661 Anchar (NATO: Papa) class which carried 10 missiles. The submarines that launch the P-70 have forward angled launch tubes. These are flooded just before launch. Maximum depth of launch is 30 to 40 meters. Reportedly P-70 missiles can also be launched from P-120 launch tubes.
Users
The main user of the P-70 was the USSR. A small number of P-70 was included in the lease of a Charlie I submarine to India. When the USSR dissolved all remaining P-70 missiles were inherited by Russia. They were never in active service and in 1992 all launch platforms were out of service. Some sources indicate an official out of service date of 1995.
Variants
P-70 Ametist
Rear view of P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile on a trailer.
Source: S.Avilov -
© copyright lies with original owner
P-70 Ametist
The P-70 Ametist is a subsonic sea skimming anti-ship missile of which only one model was produced. The missile is fitted with either a conventional shaped charge warhead or 200 kt nuclear warhead.
The P-120 Malakhit (NATO: SS-N-9 Siren) is a further development of the P-70 and looks rather similar. The P-70 can be distinguished from the later P-120 by being shorter, lacking the infrared seeker pod and having four booster rockets instead of two.
Details
Media
P-70 Ametist
Forward view of a P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile on a transport trailer.
Source: S.Avilov
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
P-70 Ametist
Line diagram of P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile and its launch container.
Source: H. Arribas
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
P-70 Ametist
Artist impression of a P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile in flight.
Source: www.knaapo.ru
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
P-70 Ametist
Line diagram of P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 Starbright) missile alongside its succesor, the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 Siren) missile.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
P-70 Ametist
Artist impression of Project 661 Anchar (NATO: Papa) class guided missile submarine. Note the cut away diagram of the 10 launch tubes for the P-70 missile.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
P-120 Malakhit
The P-120 Malakhit (NATO: SS-N-9 Siren) is a further development of the P-70. The P-120 remedies most weak points of the P-70.