RM-70 multiple rocket launcher

RM-70 multiple rocket launcher

Czech Republic Land Forces RM-70
Type Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service 1972-present
Used by See users
Wars 2008 South Ossetia war, Sri Lankan Civil War
Specifications
Weight 33.7 tonnes (74,295 lbs)
Length 8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Width 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew 6

Caliber 122.4 mm (4.8 in)
Barrels 40
Maximum firing range 20 km (12 mi)

Armor Steel
Secondary
armament
Universal machine gun vz. 59
Engine T-903-3 V-12 multi-fuel
250 hp (184 kW)
Suspension 8×8 wheeled
Operational
range
400 km (250 mi)
Speed 85 km/h (53 mph)

The RM-70 (raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovakian army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent area-saturation artillery system that was introduced in 1971[1] (but the NATO designation is M1972).

Overview

RM-70 was developed in Czechoslovakia as a successor for the RM-51, achieving initial operational capability with its Army in 1972. The launcher was being produced in Dubnica nad Váhom (Slovakia). Originally, it was sold to East Germany. After the Soviet Union collapse and the split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, it was sold to several states in Africa, America, Asia and Europe.

RM-70 replaced the Ural-375D 6x6 truck by a Tatra T813 "Kolos" 8x8 truck as carrier platform for the 40-round launcher. The new carrier vehicle provides enough space for carrying 40 additional 122mm rockets pack for reload. Nevertheless, RM-70 performance remains near the same as Grad even in terms of vehicle's speed and range. This rocket launcher can fire both individual rounds and volleys, principally by means of indirect fire. It is designed for concentrated fire coverage of large areas (up to 3 hectares in one volley) by high explosive fragmentation shells. The fire is robust with almost 256 kg of explosives used in one volley of 40 rockets. The rockets used are either the original Soviet 9M22 and 9M28, or locally developed models. These are the JROF with a range of 20.75 km, the JROF-K with a range of 11 km, the "Trnovnik" with 63 HEAT-bomblets and with a range of 17.5 km, the "Kuš" with five PPMI-S1 anti-personnel mines or the "Krizhna-R" with 4 anti-tank mines PTMI-D and with a range of 19,450 m.

The vehicle is provided with a central tyre pressure regulation system (to allow its adaptation to the nature of the traversed ground), a headlight with white light on the forward cab roof and, if necessary, with a snow plough SSP 1000 or a dozer blade BZ-T to arrange its own emplacement or to remove obstacles.

Variants

Czech and Slovak Republics

Croatia

Operators

Map of RM-70 operators in blue with former operators in red
RM-70 Slovak army.
Polish RM-70/85
Indonesian Korps Marinir RM-70 unit firing

Current operators

Former operators

See also

References

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