OVERVIEW:  The SA-2b GUIDELINE (S-75M Dvina) SAM battalion is a semi-fixed air defense unit intended to protect major industrial and population centers a well as major headquarters, logistic centers, and airfields against medium-to-high level air threats at medium range.

DETAILS:  Each SA-2 site is capable of 360 degree coverage. Each battalion will typically have six single-rail launchers for their V-750 missiles positioned approximately 60 to 100 m (200 to 330 ft) apart from each other in a hexagonal "flower" pattern, with radars and guidance systems placed in the center. Typically another six missiles are stored on tractor-trailers near the center of the site.

A typical engagement begins with detection by the SPOON REST early warning radar.  The target is then handed off to the FAN SONG acquisition radar, which tracks the target and continuously computes an optimal missile trajectory for intercept, while tracking the missile via its transponder beacon. Flight commands to the missile were transmitted via one of three uplink channels fly the missile as close as possible to the intended trajectory. Each missile site can handle a single target at a time, but is capable of employing a maximum of three missiles simultaneously against the selected target.  The lethal radius of the warhead is approximately of about 65 m (213 ft) at lower altitudes, and up to to 250 m (820 ft) at high altitude. The missile itself is accurate to about 75 m (246 ft). Because of this, the missiles were usually fired in salvos of two per target.    


Specifications:

Maximum Acqusition Range: 	148 nm (SPOON REST)
Maximum Tracking Range:		78 nm (FAN SONG C)
Engagement Envelope:		9850-72000 feet (altitude),  4.3-15.6 nm range (SA-2)
Reload Time:			10 minutes
Mobility:			Semi-fixed


NOTES: IOC: 1960. The system is transportable by road but has a limited ability to support mobile troops because of the requirement for good roads and the time required to displace to new positions. 

SOURCES: "Almaz S-75 Dvina/Desna/Volkhov Air Defence System / SA-2Guideline" Air Power Australia. Accessed December 3, 2016. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-75-Volkhov.html ; "S-75 Dvina - Wikipedia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed December 3, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-75_Dvina ; 
"V-75 SA-2 GUIDELINE." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. Accessed December 3, 2016. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/v-75-specs.htm ; "V-750 SA-2 GUIDELINE Russia / Soviet Nuclear Forces." Accessed December 3, 2016. https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/airdef/v-75.htm ; 
Zaloga, Steven J. Red SAM: The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile, 43. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007 
