M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System

M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
MLRS 05.jpg
M270 MLRS
Type Rocket artillery
Place of origin  United States
Service history
In service Since March 31, 1983
Production history
Designer Vought Corporation
Designed 1977
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Diehl BGT Defence
Produced 1980–2003
Variants M-270A1
Specifications
Weight 55,000 lb
Length 22 ft 6in
Width 9 ft 9in
Height 8.5 ft
Crew 3
Rate of fire Rockets: 12 rounds in < 60 sec

Missiles: 2 rounds in 20 sec
Primary
armament		 M269 Launcher Loader Module
Engine Cummins Diesel
500 hp
Operational
range		 300 miles
Speed 40 mph

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is a multiple rocket launcher, a type of rocket artillery.

The first rocket systems were delivered to the U.S. Army in 1983. The system is in widespread use in NATO countries and it has also been manufactured in Europe. Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured, along with more than 700,000 rockets. The system has been used in the Gulf War and Iraq War, where it proved itself as a practical and effective weapons system. The production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian army.

Contents

Overview

The system is capable of firing guided and unguided projectiles to a distance of up to 42 km (26.1 miles). Firing ballistic missiles, (such as the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System—ATACMS) it is capable of reaching out to 300 km (186 miles) with the warhead reaching a maximal altitude of ~50 km (164,000 ft). The M270 is a very mobile unit, thus well suited for the so called shoot-and-scoot tactic: it can fire its rockets very rapidly and immediately move away to avoid returning counter-battery fire.

MLRS was developed jointly by the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and France. It was developed from the older General Support Rocket System (GSRS).

The rockets and ATACMS missiles are contained in interchangeable pods. Each pod contains six standard rockets or one guided ATACMS missile (the two types cannot be mixed). The launcher can hold two pods at a time, which it loads using an integrated crane. All twelve rockets or two ATACMS missiles can be fired in under a minute. One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometer with submunitions. For this reason, the MLRS is sometimes referred to as the "Grid Square Removal Service"[1] (metric maps are usually divided up into 1km grids). The U.S. Army is currently working on developing and fielding unitary (one large warhead instead of submunitions) rocket and ATACMS variants, as well as a guided rocket.

MLRS has recently been upgraded with guided rounds. Phase I testing of a guided unitary round (XM31) was completed on an accelerated schedule in March 2006. Due to an Urgent Need Statement the guided unitary round has already been fielded and used in action in Iraq.[2] Lockheed Martin also received a contract to convert existing M30 DPICM GMLRS rockets to the XM31 unitary variant.[3]

Service history

The M270 MLRS conducts a rocket launch.
MLRS-System with launch vehicle, loader and a command center inside an APC

When first deployed with the U.S. Army, the MLRS was used in a composite battalion consisting of two batteries of traditional artillery (howitzers) and one battery of MLRS SPLLs (self-propelled loader/launchers). The first operational organic or "all MLRS" battalion 4th Bn, 27th FA started training in the winter of 1985 at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Alpha Battery, 4/27th FA (MLRS) was deployed en masse to Peden Barracks at Wertheim, West Germany in April of that year. "Sudden Impact" as it was known by its members fired its first rounds in theater and was considered operational by June of that year. Three other firing batteries soon joined. A btry 92FA (MLRS) Was deployed to the gulf war in 1989 from Ft.Hood Texas. 3/27th FA (MLRS) out of Ft. Bragg deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in August of 1990. 6/27th FA (MLRS) deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in October 1990, December 1990 1/27th FA (MLRS) part of the 41st BDE (Babenhausen,Germany) deployed, and 1/158th FA from Ft Sill deployed in January 1991. A Btry 6/27th FA was the first ground unit to fire in support of Operation Desert Storm, firing a missile at approximately 00:40 (12:40am) January 18. The 4/27th FA (MLRS) was deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield on Christmas Day 1990. In early Feb 91 1/27th FA launched the biggest MLRS night fire mission in history.[4] It has since been used in numerous military engagements including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In March 2007 the British Ministry of Defence decided to send a troop of MLRS to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand; they will use newly developed guided munitions.

MLRS rockets and missiles

M77 DPICM submunition of type used by MLRS M26 rocket. 644 M77s per rocket. The M77 was developed from the M483A1 that was developed for artillery shells.

The M270 system can fire MFOM, MLRS Family Of Munition rockets and artillery missiles, which are manufactured and used by a number of countries. These include:

Selected rocket specifications

M993 Launcher specifications

Operators

Nicknames

US military operators refer to the M270 as "the commander's personal shotgun" or as "battlefield buckshot." It is also commonly referred to as the "Gypsy Wagon", because crews store additional equipment such as camouflage netting, cots, coolers, and personal items on top of the vehicle as the launcher itself lacks adequate storage space for the crew. Within the British military a common nickname is "Grid Square Removal System." With the adoption of the new M30 GPS guided rocket it is now being referred to as the "70 kilometer sniper rifle." [10] During the 1991 Gulf War, the Iraqis referred to the small M77 submuntions rockets as the "Steel Rain."

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ben Rooney, "Tank-busting helicopters ready for action", Daily Telegraph, April 21, 1999.
  2. ↑ "Guided MLRS Unitary Rocket Successfully Tested", Microwave Journal, Vol. 49, No. 3 (March 2006), page 39.
  3. ↑ "Lockheed Gets $16.6M to Convert MLRS Rockets, Asked to Speed Up GMLRS Production (updated)", Defense Industry Daily, August 2, 2006.
  4. ↑ "MLRS Gridsmashers - First Combat Fire (Historic)", YouTube video, 13 February 1991
  5. ↑ Guided Unitary MLRS Rocket, Lockheed Martin, retrieved: 30 March 2010
  6. ↑ http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/mlrs.html
  7. ↑ Army Technology - MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System - Specifications
  8. ↑ 227mm Multiple Launched Rocket System (MLRS)
  9. ↑ globalsecurity.com M270
  10. ↑ http://perfunction.typepad.com/perfunction/2008/01/gmlrs-the-70-ki.html

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