Not a deterrent In the previous version of this article the R 16 was referred to as the first truly credible rocket based nuclear deterrent in the Soviet arsenal This is inaccurate the long response time and unprotected launch facilities meant that the R 16 was a first strike weapon only as was its counterpart the Atlas because in case of a surprise first strike by the US all these missiles would have been blown to bits before they could even be fueled for launch I ve changed the text to the first truly successful intercontinental ballistic missile 24 5 122 13