Russian Rockets and Their Launchers

Discussions on all aspects of the USSR, from the Russian Civil War till the end of the Great Patriotic War and the war against Japan. Hosted by Art.
Post Reply
User avatar
Robert Hurst
Member
Posts: 1192
Joined: 04 Oct 2002, 16:11
Location: Worksop, Notts, UK

Russian Rockets and Their Launchers

#1

Post by Robert Hurst » 17 Feb 2003, 13:27

Hi

82 mm Rocket

The first 82 mm rockets were used in action near orszy in July 1941 and were soon greatly feared by the German troops who had to endure their devastating bombardments.

The 82 mm rockets were used mainly in high explosive form but there was a special RS-82 rocket which had a high-fragmentation warhead.


Data

Overall length: 596 mm (23.5 in)
Diameter: 82 mm (3.23 in)
Weight: 8 kg (17.6 lb)
Weight of warhead: 3.05 kg (6.725 lb)
Weight of propellent: 1 kg (2.2 lb)
Range: 5,500 m (6,017 yds)
Muzzle velocity: 315 m/sec (1,033 ft/sec)

M-8 Launcher

One of the most widely used of all Russian launchers was the M-8 which was mounted on a ZIS-6 truck as a standard fitting, but was sometimes fitted to other vehicles.

The M-8 carried 36 82 mm rockets in three rows. On top were fourteen rockets, under them was a row of twelve and slung under the bottom row were ten rockets. The launcher rails were perforated steel beams attached to a steel tube frame. The rails were about 1,880 mm (74 in) long and could be elevated from + 15 to + 45 degrees and traversed 10 degrees using controls on the left of the vehicle.

The rockets were fired electrically via primers in the rocket venturii using power from a battery in the cab which was protected by a steel sheet over the roof. Ripple firing was brought about by a rotary switch box, but the minimum number that could be fired was two rockets.

A variant was the M-8-48 mounted on the GAZ-63 which appeared in 1944. This carried 48 rockets and was unusual in that the rails faced to the rear when travelling.

A 1941 variant was a special eight-rocket frame introduced for mountain troops.

132 mm Rocket

Introduced just after the 82 mm rocket the 132 mm was the result of research started in 1933. In time it became by far the most widely used of all the Russian rockets and served on for many years after the war.

Data

Length overall: 1,420 mm (55.9 in)
Diameter: 132 mm (5.2 in)
Weight: 93.7 lb)
Weight of warhead: 18.5 kg (40.8 lb)
Weight of propellent: 7.08 kg (15.6 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 355 m/sec (1,165 ft/sec)
Range: 8,500 m (9,300 yds)

M-13 Launcher

The M-13 could carry 16 132 mm rockets on eight I-section steel rails arranged eight on top and eight underneath held on studs fixed to the rocket bodies. The rails were 4,877 mm (192 in) long and were supported on a steel tube frame similar to that used on the M-8. Elevation was limited to a maximum of 45 degrees. Traverse was either 10 or 20 degrees according to the chassis used. The sight used was a MP41 dial sight normally used for mortars.

The first of many vehicles to carry the M-13 were the ZIZ-6 or ZIS-150 trucks which were replaced in 1944 by the GAZ-63. Other vehicles used were the T-60 and T-70 light tank chassis.

Variants of the basic M-13 were the M-13-UK which gave an increased
dispersion to cover a wider area with fire and the later M-13-DD which was used with an improved rocket to give a range of up to 1,100 m (1,203 yds).

The text and photos were taken from "WWII Fact Files: Mortars and Rockets", by Peter Chamberlain and Terry Gander.

Regards

Bob
Attachments
M-13 Launcher.jpg
M-13 Launcher.jpg (52.21 KiB) Viewed 2469 times
132 mm rocket.jpg
132 mm rocket.jpg (41.82 KiB) Viewed 2471 times
82 mm M-8  launcher on ZIS-6 truck.jpg
82 mm M-8 launcher on ZIS-6 truck.jpg (36.9 KiB) Viewed 2470 times
Last edited by Robert Hurst on 17 Feb 2003, 15:53, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Robert Hurst
Member
Posts: 1192
Joined: 04 Oct 2002, 16:11
Location: Worksop, Notts, UK

#2

Post by Robert Hurst » 17 Feb 2003, 13:32

Hi

300 mm Rocket

The 300 mm rocket was produced in 1942 and was fired from four-rocket static racks. These frames were not unlike the German schweres Wurfgerat 40 or 41 in general appearance and like them they were usually emplaced for 'set-piece' barrages. The rocket weighed 72 kg (158.75 lb) and it had a range of up to 2,800 m (3.063 yds), and the frames were referred to as the M-30 frame.

310 mm Rocket

There were two main variants of the 310 mm rocket. The first was produced in 1943 and had a weight of 92.5 kg (204 lb) and a range of up to 4,800 m (5,250 yds). It was fired from the M-30 frame in the same way as the 300 mm rocket. The second 310 mm rocket appeared in 1944 and had an increased weight of 94.6 kg (208.6 lb) but the range remained the same as before.

The rockets were fired from mobile mountings but could also use the M-30. It is possible that the designation of the 310 mm rocket was TS-31.

M-31 Launcher

The first M-31 was fitted onto the GAZ-AA truck but after 1944 they were replaced by the GAZ-63. The M-31 consisted of two banks of six rectangular launching frames on a mounting similar to that used on the M-8 and M-13. Elevation and traverse controls were provided and an artillery dial sight was fitted. Jacks were provided at the rear for stabilising the chassis during firing.

Like all the other Russian launchers a wide range of alternative vehicles were used to carry the M-31 and the above vehicles were only the 'standard' types. A variant of the basic M-31 was the M-31-UK which gave increased rocket dispersion.

Data

Length of frames: 2,997 mm (118 in)
Width of frames: 2,133 mm (94 in)
Length (inc. vehicle): 6,299 mm (248 in)
Height travelling: 3,251 mm (128 in)
Width: 2,133 mm (94 in)
Elevation: 10 to 50 degrees
Traverse: 20 degrees

Other Russian Rockets

One rocket about which very little is known is the 280 mm (11 in) rocket produced in Leningrad during the Siege. Production began in 1942. References have also been found relating to a rocket weighing 57 kg (125.7 lb) being fired from a M-20 launcher which appears to have been similar to the M-13.

During 1942 a 120 mm (4.72 in) rocket was produced which weighed 14 kg (30.8 lb) an dhad a range of 5,000 m (5,470 yds). Nothing else can be discovered about this projectile.

The above text and photos wree taken from "WWII Fact Files: Mortars and Rockets", by Peter Chamberlain and Terry Gander.

Regards

Bob
Attachments
310 mm M-31 Rocket Launcher.jpg
310 mm M-31 Rocket Launcher.jpg (36.33 KiB) Viewed 2463 times
300 mm Rocket.jpg
300 mm Rocket.jpg (36.03 KiB) Viewed 2464 times
M-13 Launchers.jpg
M-13 Launchers.jpg (35.36 KiB) Viewed 2465 times


User avatar
Oleg Grigoryev
Member
Posts: 5051
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:06
Location: Russia

#3

Post by Oleg Grigoryev » 18 Feb 2003, 10:38

Well the bottom one is definitely is not GAZ-AA – it is a Studebaker.
Image

And here is the only remaining “Katusha” on a tractor.

Image

User avatar
Robert Hurst
Member
Posts: 1192
Joined: 04 Oct 2002, 16:11
Location: Worksop, Notts, UK

#4

Post by Robert Hurst » 21 Feb 2003, 13:27

Hi Oleg

Thanks for the photos, but I still want to beg to differ with your remark as to the type of truck being used to carry the 310 mm M-31 rocket.

The difference between the GAZ-AA and the Studebaker US6 truck is in the shape of the radiator. The GAZ-AA radiator is round in shape whereas that of the Studebaker US6 is square, as is shown not only in your colour photo, but also in the two photos that I am attaching to this reply.

For the provenance of the above to two photos please see my earlier post on Katyusha launchers in this section.

Regards

Bob
Attachments
Studebaker US6 b.jpg
BM-31 launcher mounted Studebaker US6 chassis at a Moscow victory parade.
Studebaker US6 b.jpg (45.69 KiB) Viewed 2433 times
Studebaker US6 a.jpg
BM-13N launcher on Studebaker US6 chassis during the fighting for Berlin.
Studebaker US6 a.jpg (51.83 KiB) Viewed 2434 times

User avatar
Oleg Grigoryev
Member
Posts: 5051
Joined: 12 Mar 2002, 21:06
Location: Russia

#5

Post by Oleg Grigoryev » 22 Feb 2003, 00:14

well may be I am wrong in regards to Studebacker but its most defenetly not a GAZ-AA Image the picture is from manufacturer website.

there was GAZ AAA Image but it does not look like your truck either.


It does however look somewhat as post war ZiS-151

Image

User avatar
Juha Tompuri
Forum Staff
Posts: 11562
Joined: 11 Sep 2002, 21:02
Location: Mylsä

#6

Post by Juha Tompuri » 22 Feb 2003, 21:14

Oleg & Bob

Here`s a Finnish(?) Gaz-AA and Studebaker related story.
" After the WWII a US farmer and a soviet state farm worker met. They started to argue, which worked/owned bigger farm . The US farmer said: "our farm is so big, that it takes a whole day to drive around it". The Soviet replied: "we too have such trucks".

Regards, Juha

Post Reply

Return to “The Soviet Union at War 1917-1945”