Function: 122mm self propelled rocket launcher.





Background: The BM-21 Grad (Hail) rocket launcher is the world's most widely-used rocket launcher system. Introduced to the Red Army in 1963 as a replacement for the BM-14 140mm rocket launcher, the BM-21's rockets carry the same sized warhead as the 140mm, and have a much longer range. In addition, because the rockets are smaller in diameter, more rockets can be carried per launcher.



The BM-21 can be operated and fired from the cab, or it can be fired from up to 60 meters away remotely. All 40 rockets can be fired in 6 seconds or they can be fired singly or in groups at 0.5 second intervals. Reloading the launcher takes less than 8 minutes.



The BM-21 fires a 122mm diameter rocket out to a range of 20,380 meters. Although the rockets are primarily fin stabilized, each launch tube is rifled to improve the accuracy of the rocket. In addition to HE-fragmentation, chemical, and incendiary warheads, the BM-21 is also capable of firing extended range munitions out to 36,000 meters.



The BM-21 is currently in service with over 50 countries worldwide, and is manufactured in Russia, North Korea, Egypt, China and Czechoslovakia.



Description: The BM-21 is a 40 round multiple launch rocket system mounted on the rear of a Ural-375D 6?6 cargo truck chassis. The rockets are stacked in 4 banks of 10 rockets apiece. Unlike other rocket launchers, there is no blast shielding around the cab of the transport vehicle.





General Characteristics, BM-21 122mm Rocket Launcher





Length:

23.89 feet (7.35 meters)





Width:

7.8 feet (2.40 meters)





Height:

10.04 feet (3.09 meters)





Weight:

13.7 tons





Cruising Range:

450 kilometers



Speed:

Maximum: 47mph (75kph)

Off road: 22mph (35kph)





Emplacent time:

3 minutes

Displacement time:

2 minutes





Rates of Fire:

Maximum: 40 rockets in 6 seconds

Sustained: Individual rockets at 0.5 second intervals





Maximum Range:

20 km with conventional rockets

36 km with extended range rockets







Introduction Date:

1963







Variants:

BM-21V: 12-round launcher developed for use in Airborne units.



BM-21B: 36-round launcher built on a 6x6 ZIL-131 cargo truck chassis.



Grad-P: Single shot rocket launcher.



9A51 Prima: 50-round launcher built on a 6x6 ZIL-131 cargo truck chassis.



BM-11: 30-round North Korean version.



Type 81: 40-round Chinese version.



Sakr-18: Egyptian version of the BM-21. The 122mm rockets fire 23 kg cluster munitions out to 20km.



RM-70: Czechoslovakian version. Introduced in 1972, the RM-70 uses the same launcher as the BM-21, but is mounted on a TATRA 10 ton 8x8 cargo truck chassis. The TATRA has a fully armored and shielded cab and is capable of carrying an additional "pack" of 40 rockets. This pack can reduce loading time to less than 5 minutes.