Oh, oops - I should have know that too. Been awhile.
Double oops. And that should be “Neat idea”.
Love that cold launch of the 118 - he explained that to me as well. Wonder if that came from the Ohio’s pushing the SLBM’s out? That Trident II is one big son of a gun.
The pads helped keep the missile body centered in lieu of the shock isolation suspension system used for Minuteman giving the added bonus of a reusable launcher which we then traded away during SALT negotiations.