Thanks to the Gulf War, there are very few who were adults at that time who don't know what a Scud is. Before that, it was a fast moving low cloud, but to most of us it is a missile. In fact, it is one of the Soviet Union's first mobile ballistic missiles

Initially it was considered little more than an upgraded V-2. The launch systems were large and complex, requiring a considerable number of men and a lot of equipment to get set up for use. Over the years that was trimmed down to something a lot more manageable and a lot more mobile.

Probably the largest actual user of this missile and its derivatives was Iraq which used a considerable number of them in the 'war of the cities' with Iran (who also had the missile) and in the Gulf War against Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, the Scud was provided to many Soviet bloc countries as well as to North Korea, who still exports variants of this missile.

Author Steven J. Zaloga is well known as an authority on things military and he tells the story of the Scud from its development through its deployment and up to its continued use today. This includes the modifications to the systems along the way as well as the upgrades made by Iraq and North Korea.  Ably illustrated by Jim Laurier and Lee Ray as well as a fine selection of period photos, this is a book that you'll find both interesting and enjoyable. I know I learned quite a bit from it and I know you will as well.

September  2006

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