OVERVIEW: The SS-N-3A SHADDOCK (P-6/ 4K88) is a turbojet-powered, supersonic Surface-to-Surface anti-ship missile armed with a 1000 kg HE warhead.

DETAILS:    The SS-N-3A SHADDOCK was designed to engage US aircraft carriers and their strike groups.  The conventional-armed version of SS-N-3A SHADDOCK used an inertial guidance with mid-course correction via data link and terminal active radar.    After launch the Shaddock would climb to cruise altitude following datalink steering commands, with the missile’s position tracked using a beacon transponder by the FRONT DOOR/FRONT PIECE radars (SSG/SSGN) or SCOOP PAIR (DDG/FFG). 
The SHADDOCK used several programmable midcourse cruise profiles, flying at 1300 ft., 13000 ft. or 23000 ft. AMSL, with radar guided terminal phase at an altitude of around 300 ft. AMSL. The SHADDOCK‘s complex guidance scheme  depended on datalink support during the midcourse profile, with the cruise altitude determined largely by the need to maintain line of sight to the launch vessel.  
Once the Shaddock had line of sight to the target, a video datalink was engaged which relayed the seeker image to an operator on the launch vessel, who would use the datalink to lock the seeker on that target. The missile would then transition to terminal homing and descend to impact, losing datalink contact as it fell below the radio horizon.  Because of the datalink, the lowest altitude midcourse profile reduced range to around 55 nautical miles.  The P-6 Submarine-deployed Version of the P-35 were deployed on  ECHO SSGN and JULIET SSGs required the submarines to surface before firing for up to 30 or more minutes until the Shaddock seekers turned on.  This created a major vulnerability for the firing submarine. The heavy dependence on datalinks also provided opportunities for jamming.  The SS-N-3A SHADDOCK also had modes for attacking coastal targets.
 
NOTES: The nomenclature of the "SHADDOCK/SEPAL" missile shows the confusion in Western intelligence in the 1960.  Both are virtually identical missiles.  Further confusing the issue, the earlier variant, the P-5 was given the NATO designator SS-N-3C Shaddock, while the subsequent P-35 versions were designated SS-N-3A and SS-N-3B.

SOURCES: Air Power Australia. "Soviet/Russian Cruise Missiles." Accessed December 1, 2013. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Rus-Cruise-Missiles.html#mozTocId742062 ; http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/theater/ss-n-3.htm;  Wikipedia. "P-5 Pyatyorka." Accessed December 1, 2013. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-5_Pyatyorka ; GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. "SS-N-3 / SSC-1a Shaddock." Accessed December 1, 2013. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/ss-n-3.htm
























