Pershin' was a family o' solid-fueled two-stage medium-range ballistic missiles designed and built by Martin Marietta t' replace t' Redstone missile as t' United States Army's primary theater-level weapon. T' Pershin' systems lasted over 30 years from t' first test version in 1960 through final elimination in 1991. Avast! It was named for General John J. Ya scallywag! Pershing. Well, blow me down! T' systems were managed by t' US Army Missile Command (MICOM) and deployed by t' United States Army Field Artillery Corps. Ahoy! T' 400 kT warhead was greatly over-powered for t' QRA mission, and a smaller warhead required greater accuracy. T' contract went t' Martin Marietta in 1975 and t' first development launches began in 1977. Pershin' II was t' use t' new W85 warhead with a 5-50 kT variable yield or an earth-penetrator W86 warhead. T' warhead was t' be packaged in a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MARV) with active radar guidance and would be launched with t' Pershin' I rocket engines. In 1975, t' US turned down a request from Israel t' purchase t' new Pershin' II.