OVERVIEW:  The Nike-Hercules (MIM-14B) is a fixed, two-stage, solid fuel, command guidance, long range, medium-to-high altitude, surface to air missile equipped with a 285 kg warhead using command fuzing. It also has an anti-SRBM capability.

DETAILS:  The Nike-Hercules system was primarily deployed to defend critical installations and cities while semi-mobile units were deployed to protect field armies and theatres of operation. After launch and booster jettison, the guidance system is activated, programming the missile to roll toward the target and dive into the intercept plane.  During flight, the missile receives continual intercept course updates from the ground.  This command link is also used to order the detonation of the missile's warhead.  


Specifications: 

Weight: 		4869 kg 
Length: 		12.141 m 
Diameter: 		0.879 m (missile)
Wingspan: 		3.51 m (booster)
Speed:			3.65 mach
Max Range, anti-air:	5-83.7 nm (9-155 km)(SAM role)
	   anti-SLBM:	17-37 nm (max), depending on target trajectory)
	   SSM:		98.8 nm (182.9 km) 
Altitude		20,000-100,000 feet (6096-30,480 m)
Reload time:		?? minutes/missile
Max target speed: 	?? km/h (head on); ?? km/h (receding)
Max Maneuverability:	?? g
	

NOTES:  IOC: 1958. Used by Italy, South Korea, Turkey and the United States. Could be fitted with a nuclear warhead for use in the surface-to-surface (SSM) mode.
 

SOURCES: IHS. "MIM-14 Nike-Hercules." Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, 03 March 2016 ; http://ed-thelen.org/index.html#missiles ; http://nikemissile.org/IFC/nike_hercules.shtml ; 
"Ed's Nike Missile Web Site." Ed's Nike Missile Web Site. Accessed December 11, 2016. http://ed-thelen.org/index.html#missiles ; "Nike Hercules United States Nuclear Forces." Accessed December 11, 2016. https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/nike-hercules.htm ; The Nike Historical Society. "HERCULES MIM-14, MIM-14A, MIM-14B." Accessed December 10, 2016. www.nikemissile.org/IFC/nike_hercules.shtml ; Dept. of the Army. "Nike Hercules Technical Description" (TM9-1440-250-10/2), 13, 16, 86. 1960. http://ed-thelen.org/TM9-1440-250-10-2-Dec1960-1.pdf.