Rocket weapons

[Juha Tompuri]

Soviet rockets used:

RS-82:

115522
115526

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7#p1860108
Also seen at SA-photos 115528 and 115529

Finnish rockets used during the Winter War

Translated from the diary link provided above in case someone should be interested:
Date 10 March 1940
"Patrol activities in the direction of Someri:
"Our patrol took action against the ice bound transport ship "Kasakstan" by shooting it using 'rocket missiles' mounted on skis that the patrol had brought with them. Each 'rocket missile' comprised two naval net mines, the hollow part of which had been filled with dynamite. Each missile carried about 80kgs explosives.
"Despite heightened enemy guarding readiness and in spite of being spotted by the sentries our patrol was able to launch the 'rocket missiles' at a range of 150m. The patrol launched 6 missiles all of which exploded. The men observed that at least two of them exploded against the side of the ship and one on the deck where it bounced from the snow drift next to the side of the ship. After the explosions loud shouts and wailing was heard from the ship. Our patrol was subjected to heavy artillery and MG fire and projectors were in action.
"On the return trip at dawn the men were attacked by two bombers and six fighters for about an hour.
"Losses:
Our - none
Enemy- not known"

So, the case from soviet point of view was as such:
Group of finns (around 30 men) closed to Sommers island and in 5.15 lighted island and situated naer transport KAZACHSTAN with flares. Soon in ice hummocks near island 8 explosions was heard. Battery from Sommers opened fire and deisperse enemy's group. No one rocked reach target - all hit obstacles. Soviet troops then captured rocketing device (looks like torpedo on ski), but sappers exploded them before one can test them

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&start=15


Finnish rocket launchers(recoilless rifle) protos.
Tyrnävä March 1944:
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ALMOST3.htm
SA-photos 147535-147541

[Mangrove]

After the first widespread operational use of the M-8 rocket against the Finnish troops took place at Krivi between the 15th and 18th of September of 1942, the HQ of the Finnish 3rd Brigade wrote a comprehensive document (dated 13 October 1942) regarding the effects of the weapon. At this point, the rocket launcher was known as "urkutykki" and "hehtaaripyssy" and the effect on moral created by the weapon as "urkutykkikauhu" and "urkukauhu".

The document goes on explaining the different physical and mental effects the weapon had during the fightings during the September 1942. The most serious physical effects seems to have been the ones created by the high air pressure after the rocket exploded. This manifested as chest pain, headache and nausea. The shrapnels created by the explosion had only minor effect on the troops and the wounds could be treated in matter of days.

[Vaeltaja]

No mention of 150 Rkh/41 or 280 Rkh/43?

[JTV]

SA-photos 147535-147541

The weapon protypes in these photos seem to be rocket launchers, not recoilless rifles. I was recently pointed out that the particular photos seem to be closely linked to Major Ilmari Liikanen, who after World War 2 established Raikka Oy, company internationally maybe best known for recoilless rifles based to countermass-principle. He is actually visible in one of the photos (4th photo from the top). Unfortunately practically nothing is known for his activies during World War 2, but considering his later involvement it seems likely that he may have been behind these particular prototypes.

SA-photos number 128544 - 128546 show Major Liikanen's defence of his doctoral thesis in May of 1943. The subject of his thesis was involved to ballistics and among crowd seem to be Generals Nenonen and Valve.

The company he created exists even today and is apparently involved in military development. Year 2012 they bagged a deal to manufacture new type of detonators for antitank-mines used by Finnish military:
http://www.raikka.fi/

Jarkko

[JTV]

No mention of 150 Rkh/41 or 280 Rkh/43?

Just in case you did not spot this one already:
http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ALMOST4.htm#150Rkh41

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

The company he created exists even today and is apparently involved in military development. Year 2012 they bagged a deal to manufacture new type of detonators for antitank-mines used by Finnish military:
http://www.raikka.fi/

Slightly off-topic:
Raikka 81 counter-mass recoilless 81mm twin gun proto
IIRC from 70's?

http://www.pkymasehist.fi/phpBB2/viewto ... it=#p27661

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

Soviet rockets used:

RS-82:

115522
115526

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7#p1860108
Also seen at SA-photos 115528 and 115529

Among others:

[Juha Tompuri]

AFAIK a M-132 rocket as a sign post at Vuosalmi direction 1944.08.08
SA-photos 156511-156512

Regards, Juha

[Juha Tompuri]

Soviet M-30/31 300mm rockets
Mentioned as "Andrusha" at Vuosalmi direction 1944.08.09-09.17
SA-photos
156741-156744
159219, 159224-159226
164019-164021

[Juha Tompuri]

The document goes on explaining the different physical and mental effects the weapon had during the fightings during the September 1942. The most serious physical effects seems to have been the ones created by the high air pressure after the rocket exploded. This manifested as chest pain, headache and nausea. The shrapnels created by the explosion had only minor effect on the troops and the wounds could be treated in matter of days.

Yep, a thin body with a high HE content.

Regards, Juha