not a deterrent in the previous version of this article the r 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 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