Thor (SM-75/PGM-17A) IRBM
Fearful that the Soviet Union would deploy a long-range ballistic missile before the United States, in January 1956 the Air Force began developing the Thor, a 1,500~mile intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The Thor program unfolded with amazing speed, and within 3 1/2 years of the program's inception the first Thor squadron became operational in Great Britain. The Thor was a stop-gap measure, however, and once the first generation of ICBMs based in the United States became operational, the Thor missiles were quickly retired. The last of the missiles was withdrawn from operational alert in 1963.
SpecificationsHere's how the Thor worked
Development History
Here's where the Thor was deployed.
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