Seaslug (missile)

Seaslug was a first-generation surface-to-air missile developed by Armstrong Whitworth (later part of the Hawker Siddeley group) for use by the Royal Navy. Its origins date back to the 1944 LOPGAP project. The missile entered operational service in 1961 and remained in use until the early 1980s, including during the 1982 Falklands War.

Designed to engage high-altitude targets such as reconnaissance aircraft or bombers before they could launch stand-off weapons, Seaslug was fitted only to the eight County-class destroyers, which were purpose-built around the system. The missile was fired in combat at an airborne target on a single occasion, by HMS Antrim during the Falklands War, but failed to hit its target, although it was later used against surface targets.

Seaslug's medium-range role was initially intended to be replaced by the long-range Blue Envoy missile. However, Blue Envoy was cancelled in favour of a new medium-range system, Sea Dart. Sea Dart entered service in 1973 aboard the Type 82 destroyerHMS Bristol (D23) and gradually replaced Seaslug as the County-classdestroyers were withdrawn from service during the 1980s.