One of the major threats against US airpower in the air war over North Vietnam was the SA-2 'Guideline'. Called the 'flying telephone pole' by pilots who saw it and the S-75 by the Soviets who built it, the SA-2 was the first SAM used in combat anywhere in the world.

Developed to protect the Soviet Union's major cities and facilities, it was deployed in huge numbers. As with all systems, there were deficiencies that required nearly continual upgrades to more and more potent weapons. Typical of the Soviets, those systems provided to overseas customers were either older versions or had been downgraded in capabilities. So it was with the SA-2.

Though its most well-known combat use was with North Vietnam, where literally thousands were expended during the brief bouts of bombing in the North, it was also used by countries in the Middle East. The Egyptians and Syrians used them against the Israelis and Iraq used them against Iran, often as simple surface to surface weapons. In Vietnam, the US initially couldn't figure out how to defeat the system, resulting in rather large losses. Yet once a defense was discovered against them, the SA-2s would literally go out of control once launched, often causing grievous damage to their own population as the rogue missiles slammed into the ground near the launch sites.

Steven J Zaloga takes us through the background, development and deployment of the S-75, including all of its updated variants. Its combat history is also told in some detail, with revelations about its actual success now available to us thanks to the more open Russian archives and that fact that the missile is now out of service with nearly everyone who used it. A small section also includes information on its various operators during the years. It's last know success was in 1993 when an Su-27 was shot down during the conflict between Georgia and Abkahzia. All of the support systems to the SA-2 are also covered. There are a goodly number of high quality photographs and this is even further enhanced by the superb illustrations of Jim Laurier, who presents us with cutaways and color profiles.

Overall, an outstanding addition to the Osprey line up and a book that I can give my highest recommendation.

May 2007

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