The RIM-67 Standard Missile SM-2ER represented a key stage in the evolution of United States Navy air defense during the Cold War, and USS Josephus Daniels (CG 27) was one of the ships that carried this long-range weapon at sea. As a Belknap-class guided missile cruiser, Josephus Daniels was designed to protect carrier battle groups from high-speed aerial threats, including enemy aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The SM-2ER was central to that mission.
The SM-2ER, or Standard Missile Two Extended Range, was developed to replace earlier Terrier and Talos missiles while retaining long reach and improved reliability. Unlike its predecessors, the SM-2ER combined modern electronics with proven propulsion concepts. It used a two-stage design, with a solid-fuel booster derived from earlier missile systems and a sustained flight motor that allowed it to engage targets at significant distances. This gave cruisers like Josephus Daniels the ability to defend large areas of ocean and provide layered protection for high-value assets.
Aboard Josephus Daniels, the SM-2ER was integrated with the ship’s combat systems and radar suite, including the AN/SPS-48 and AN/SPS-49 air search radars. These sensors detected and tracked incoming threats, feeding data to the ship’s fire control system. The missile relied on semi-active radar homing, meaning it guided toward radar energy reflected off the target. This required close coordination between the ship’s radar operators and the missile system during an engagement, highlighting the importance of trained crews and disciplined procedures.
Physically, the presence of the SM-2ER shaped the cruiser’s appearance and internal layout. The missiles were housed in twin-arm launchers rather than vertical launch systems, which would come later in naval design. Handling rooms, magazines, and maintenance spaces supported the storage and preparation of these large missiles. Each round represented a significant investment in technology and manpower, and strict safety standards governed every aspect of their use aboard ship.
Operationally, the SM-2ER gave Josephus Daniels credibility as an area air defense platform. During deployments, the cruiser could operate on the outer edges of a task force, extending the defensive perimeter far beyond the carrier itself. In exercises and patrols, this capability acted as a deterrent, signaling that hostile aircraft or missiles would face engagement well before reaching their intended targets.
Although later retired along with the ship, the SM-2ER’s service aboard USS Josephus Daniels marked an important chapter in naval missile history. It bridged the gap between early guided missile systems and the more advanced, vertically launched weapons that dominate modern fleets. In doing so, it reflected a period when technology, doctrine, and ship design were rapidly adapting to the realities of modern naval warfare, with Josephus Daniels standing watch as a capable and confident guardian at sea.
