Pershing Operational Test Unit

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. 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. 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 Verification (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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-11.

v t e 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	3rd Ordnance Battalion 41st Ordnance Company 579th Ordnance Company 512th United States Army Artillery Group 74th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachment 82nd U.S. Army Missile Detachment 5th United States Army Artillery Group 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
Schools	United States Army Ordnance Missile and Munitions Center and School United States Army Field Artillery School
Johns Hopkins University	Applied Physics Laboratory
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	Pershing missile bibliography Pershing missile displays Pershing missile launches Pershing missile models Pershing Professionals Badge Pershing tab Field Artillery Missileman's Badge Deutschland 83 Coleman Aerospace Hera

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Pershing missile