Pershing Operational Test Unit

Pershing troops undergo a combat readiness check at a firing site in Western Germany while being observed by a member of POTU (c. 1967)

The Pershing Operational Test Unit (POTU) was the U.S. Army agency responsible for the operational testing of the Pershing 1 Field Artillery Missile System, the Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System and the Pershing II Weapon System.^[1] Created in 1965, POTU was assigned to United States Army Europe and located in Heidelberg, Germany. Personnel consisted of one lieutenant colonel, two majors, one captain, two warrant officers and four non-commissioned officers.

In 1965, the Army contracted with the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of Johns Hopkins University to develop and implement a test and evaluation program.^[2] APL developed the Pershing Operational Test Program (OTP), provided technical support to the Pershing Operational Test Unit (POTU), identified problem areas and improved the performance and survivability of the Pershing systems.

POTU planned, scheduled, and executed the tests, evaluations, and missile firings to support OTP. POTU would select three firing batteries from the 56th Field Artillery Command in West Germany to participate in Follow-on Operational Tests (FOT) using an unannounced field alert status verifications (FASV) at the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) site. POTU selected missiles, equipment and personnel (colloquially referred to as a tap) for transport to either Cape Canaveral or White Sands Missile Range. After arrival, the missiles and launchers would be equipped with telemetry and the missiles would have range safety equipment installed for in-flight destruction if needed. Shoots were supported by elements of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The missile crews would perform tactical countdowns and launch the missile. Data collectors from APL observed the crews and equipment. After the shoot, data and evaluations were compiled into reports of the performance estimates of the operational capabilities of the Pershing missile system. POTU members wore red hats during evaluations, leading to red hat as a nickname.

References

↑ Lyman, Donald R. (May–June 1977). "POTU: Testing Pershing in Europe and CONUS" (PDF). Field Artillery Journal: 15–17.
↑ Mentzer, Jr., William R. (1998). "Test and Evaluation of Land-Mobile Missile Systems" (PDF). Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest. Johns Hopkins University.

Pershing missile

Systems	Pershing 1 Field Artillery Missile System Pershing 1a Field Artillery Missile System Pershing II Weapon System

56th Field Artillery Command	4th Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment 1st Battalion, 81st Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment 266th Chemical Detachment 55th Support Battalion 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment 4th Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment 193rd Aviation Company 38th Signal Battalion

59th Ordnance Brigade	41st Ordnance Company 579th Ordnance Company 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment 82nd U.S. Army Missile Detachment 85th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment

German Air Force	Missile Wing 1 Missile Wing 2

214th Field Artillery Brigade	2nd Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery Regiment 3rd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment

1st Field Artillery Missile Brigade	2nd Missile Battalion, 79th Artillery Regiment 251st Ordnance Detachment

United States Army Missile Command	Pershing Project Manager's Office

United States Army Europe	Pershing Operational Test Unit

Treaties	Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Equipment	AN/TRC-80 Radio Terminal Set M474 Carrier M656 Ford Truck M1001 MAN Truck

Other	Applied Physics Laboratory Pershing missile bibliography Pershing missile displays Pershing missile launches Pershing missile models Pershing Professionals Badge Pershing tab Deutschland 83

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