photo from Military Photos.net
Ground Launch Cruise Missiles (GLCM) were deployed in 1983 as a response to Soviet truck and trains loaded with SS-20 ballistic missiles. GLCM deployed 16 nuclear missiles per mission and utilized large trucks to support launch, and mobility of nuclear resources. The purpose was that mobile nuclear missiles were much harder for an enemy to find and target. This posed a large threat to the USSR. In the US Strategy, this also meant an ability to place weapons close to its enemy.
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The GLCM program threatened and terrified the Soviet Union by altering the way United States missiles were targeted. GLCM involved an ever mobile Nuclear Missile threat that traveled around the European theatre. What the Russians saw was a severe, insurmountable threat that seemed more as a “First Strike” weapon. A weapon this close to it’s target lessened the identification time that a country needs to determine if a missile has been fired at them and what they need to do retaliate, thus negating the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction.
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During the program there were 464 GLCM’s in use across Europe, and deployed out of six Main Operating Bases (MOB). The six MOB’s were (1) Greenham Common in the United Kingdom, (2) Comiso in Italy, (3) Florennes in Belgium, (4) Wueschheim in Germany, (5) Wonensdrecht in the Netherlands, and (6) Molesworth, also in the United Kingdom.
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The Soviet Union protested the GLCM presence, and for good reason. We had parked and traveled Nuclear weapons less than 10 minutes away from their country. The Missiles could travel up to 1,500 miles at around 550 miles per hour. From GLCM tracks in England, much of the Soviet Union, including Moscow, was within range. The Intermediate range Nuclear Force, or INF, Treaty was signed in 1988, which ended the GLCM program. Although it ended, there can be no doubt that it was a true strategic success in bringing the Soviets back to the nuclear bargaining table.
When the Americans used technicals
The missile itself was the derivative of the US Navy’s Tomahawk program. Tomahawks were simply adapted to fire from a new land-based platform. Practically all of the changes were internal and involved updating and re-writing the software that would make this missile work from its new launch vehicle. The launch vehicle was designed with an erector that would hydraulically point the missile skyward. The vehicles themselves traveled with the full compliment to travel a route, provide its own security, food, communications, and launch its payload if necessary.
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Security Police assigned to GLCM units wore tabs on their 
shoulders identifying them as members. The tab was a point of pride for most and as the GLCM Program was terminated as was the tab although it would be seen into the 1990’s.
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EXCERPT: From the book Defensor Fortis
