JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) (02/11/91)
From: "Larry W. Jewell" <JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Following is data on USSR's BM-xx series of Multiple Launch Rocket
Systems.
BM-21
Combat Weight: - - - - 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
Crew: - - - - - - - 6
Chassis: - - - - - - Ural-375D 6X6 truck
Calibre: - - - - - - 122 mm (4.8 in)
No. of Launcher Tubes: - 40
Length of Rocket: - - - standard 3.23 m (10.6 ft)
short 1.91 m (6.3 ft)
Weight of Rocket: - - - standard 77 kg(169.75 lb)
short 45.8 kg(100.97 lb)
Warhead Types: - - - - HE, fragmentation, incendiary, smoke, chemical
Warhead Weight:- - - - 19.4 kg (42.77 lb)
Maximum Range: - - - - standard 20.38 km (12.66 mi)
short 11.00 km ( 6.84 mi)
Entered service in the 1960's. The launcher load can be mixed and the unit
has been seen mounted on an Izuzu 6X6. They have been used in Lebanon,
Israel, Afghanistan. The PLO uses the rockets for random hell-raising.
BM-24
Combat Weight: - - - - 9200 kg (20,283 lb)
Crew: - - - - - - - 6
Chassis: - - - - - - 2500-kg (5,512-lb) ZIL-157 6X6 truck
Calibre: - - - - - - 240 mm (9.45 in)
No. of Launcher Rails: - 12
Length of Rocket: - - - 1.18 m (3.87 ft)
Weight of Rocket: - - - 112.5 kg (248 lb)
Warhead Types: - - - - HE-fragmentation, smoke, chemical
Warhead Weight:- - - - 46.9 kg (103.4 lb)
Maximum Range: - - - - 11 km (6.84 mi.)
Entered service in the 1950's and supplanted by the BM-21 or BM-27.
BM-27
Combat Weight: - - - - 22750 kg (50,155 lb)
Crew: - - - - - - - 6
Chassis: - - - - - - ZIL-135 8X8 truck
Calibre: - - - - - - 220 mm (8.66 in.)
No. of Launcher Tubes: - 16
Length of Rocket: - - - 4.8 m (15.75 ft.)
Weight of Rocket: - - - 360 kg (793.7 lb)
Warhead Types: - - - - HE-fragmentation, chemical, submunitions
Warhead Weight:- - - - (update needed)
Maximum Range: - - - - 40 km (24.85 mi.)
The 16-round 220-mm (8.66 in.) BM-27 MRL entered the active inventory
of the Soviet Army in the mid-1970's and is found in selected Category I
motorized rifle and tank division artillery regiment rocket-launcher bat-
talions, and at battalion strength in the combined arms army artillery
brigades. In the tank army the artillery brigade has been replaced by an
MRL regiment of three battalions with 72 BM-27s, while at front level the
system has been integrated into the rocket-launcher brigade of the artil-
lery division. The BM-27 is designed to provide chemical, HE, and submun-
ition (including anti-personnel, incendiary, and minelet) supporting fire
to first-echelon manoeuvre units during offensive and defensive operations.
The launcher comprises one layer of four tubes on two layers of six tubes,
and is carried on the rear platform of a Zil-135 8X8 truck chas-sis. A
rapid-reload system allows a second ZIL-135 carrying 16 reload rounds to
transfer its load within five minutes. For firing four stabi-lizer jacks
have to be lowered, tow at the rear and one on each side of the vehicle.
It is believed that the system has also been exported to Syria for combat
evaluation against Israel.
From: The Encyclopedia of World Military Weapons, Crescent Book, 1988
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We flattened cities in Germany and Japan in World War II. I don't know
what's so sacred about Hanoi...Let world opinion go fly a kite.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Mendel Rivers %%%%%%%
Larry W. Jewell JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU