BM-21 Grad

BM-21 "Grad"

Type Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin  Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1964–present
Used by See Operators
Wars Sino-Vietnamese War
1995 Cenepa War
Iran–Iraq War
Soviet War in Afghanistan
Lebanese Civil War
First Chechen War
Second Chechen War
Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel
2008 South Ossetia War
Cambodian–Thai border dispute
Bombardment of Yeonpyeong
2011 Libyan civil war
Production history
Produced 1963–present
Specifications (9K51)
Weight 13.71 tonnes (30,225 lb)
Length 7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
Barrel length 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Width 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height 3.09 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew 4

Barrels 40
Rate of fire 2 rounds/s
Muzzle velocity 690 m/s (2,264 ft/s)
Maximum range 20 km (new rockets 30–40 km)
Sights PG-1M panoramic telescope

Engine V-8 gasoline ZiL-375
180 hp (130 kW)
Suspension 6×6 wheeled
Operational
range
405 km (251 mi)
Speed 75 km/h (47 mph)

The BM-21 launch vehicle (Russian: БМ-21 "Град"), a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher,[1] and a M-21OF rocket[2] were developed in the early 1960s. BM stands for boyevaya mashina, ‘combat vehicle’, and the nickname grad means ‘hail’. The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket has designation as M-21 Field Rocket System. The complete system is more commonly known as a Grad multiple rocket launcher system. In NATO countries, the system (either the complete system or the launch vehicle only) was initially known as M1964. Several other countries have copied it or developed similar systems.

Contents

Description

The M-21 Field Rocket System with a BM-21 launch vehicle (122 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 to replace the aging 140 mm BM-14 system. The launch vehicle consists of a Ural-375D six-by-six truck chassis fitted with a bank of 40 launch tubes arranged in a rectangular shape that can be turned away from the unprotected cab. The vehicle is powered by a water-cooled V-8 180 hp gasoline engine, has a maximum road speed of 75 km/h (47 mph), road range of up to 750 kilometres (470 mi), and can cross fords up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) deep. The original vehicle together with supporting equipment (including the re-supply truck 9T254 with 60 rockets) is referred to by the GRAU index 9K51; the launcher itself has the industrial index of 2B5. In 1976, the BM-21 was mounted on the newer Ural-4320 six-by-six army truck.

The crew of five men can emplace the system and have it ready to fire in three minutes. The crew can fire the rockets from the cab or from a trigger at the end of a 64-metre (210 ft) cable. All 40 rockets can be away in as little as 20 seconds, but can also be fired individually or in small groups in several-second intervals. A PG-1M panoramic telescope with K-1 collimator can be used for sighting. The BM-21 can be packed up and ready to move in two minutes, which can be necessary when engaged by counter-battery fire. Reloading is done manually and takes about 10 minutes.

Each 2.87-metre (9 ft 5 in) rocket is slowly spun by rifling in its tube as it exits, which along with its primary fin stabilization keeps it on course. Rockets armed with high explosive/fragmentation, incendiary, or chemical warheads can be fired 20 kilometres (12 mi). Newer high explosive and cargo (used to deliver anti-personnel or antitank mines) rockets have a range of 30 kilometres (19 mi) and more. Warheads weigh around 20 kilograms (44 lb), depending on the type.

The relative accuracy of this system and the number of rockets each vehicle is able to quickly bring to bear on an enemy target make it effective, especially at shorter ranges. One battalion of eighteen launchers is able to deliver 720 rockets in a single volley. However, the system cannot be used in situations that call for pinpoint precision.

Variants

Soviet Union

Adaptations of the launcher were/are produced by several countries including China, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Poland and Romania.

Belarus

Ukraine

People's Republic of China

Former Czechoslovakia

Poland

Egypt

The Egyptians domestically manufacture the rockets "Sakr-36" and "Sakr-18" with a respective range of 36 and 18 km (11 mi), and the latest "Sakr-45" with a superior range of 45 km (28 mi). Rather than a standard HE-Frag round, the Egyptian military prefers a 23-kilogram (51 lb) cluster munition, which can be extremely effective against lightly armored equipment and troop concentrations. Both rockets, as well as the original Soviet models of course, are fired by locally manufactured rocket launchers like the RL-21 (copy of BM-11) and RC-21 (copy of BM-21, similar to the Hadid HM20). The Helwan Machine Tools Company also produces portable systems with one, three, four and eight launch tubes.

Gaza Strip

Since 2006, Hamas has made use of 122mm Grad rockets and 122mm Grad-style copies made in Iran, and others have been Eastern-bloc editions modified to expand their range and lethality.[3] The rockets were believed to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip via tunnels from Egypt.[3] Some of the rockets were of a Chinese Grad variant.[4] Hamas sources said they were pleased by the performance of the Chinese variants of the BM-21 Grad rocket, which demonstrated a far greater range and blast impact than Palestinian made rockets, as well as Russian-origin Grads or Katyushas.[4][5]

On 28 February 2008 at least ten 122mm Grad rockets hit the coastal city of Ashkelon.[6] In other incidents, longer range rockets were used, with twice that of the BM-21 Grad. These longer range rockets were erroneously reported by the media to be also Grad rockets.[6]

In the 2010 attacks on Eilat and Aqaba, nine standard 122mm Grad rockets were used. For the most part, rockets are smuggled into the Gaza Strip through the network of tunnels between the Strip and Egypt.[7]

On 23 February 2011 at least two 122mm Grad rockets were fired at Beersheba hitting and severely damaging a house in a residential area.[8] On 23 March 2011 another two Grad rockets were fired at Beersheba, seriously injuring a civilian.

During the first week of April 2011, Israeli defense forces intercepted and destroyed several Grad rockets fired from Gaza near Ashkelon in southern Israel, using a newly deployed anti-missile system called Iron Dome.[9]

On Saturday August 20, 2011, over 24 Grad rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, landing in Beersheba and Ashdod and killing 1 Israeli. Hamas has claimed responsibility for these attacks.[10]

On Saturday October 29, 2011, the Islamic Jihad fired eight Grad rockets towards Ashdod, Gan Yavne, and west of Be'er Sheva wounding one person and causing light wounds to two more,[11] just hours after Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed Ahmed al-Sheikh Khalil, a commander of the Islamic Jihad and four of its munitions experts.[12] They allegedly were responsible for firing one additional Grad rocket towards Ashdod the previous Wednesday.,[13] in response to attacks from the Israeli Air Force towards a militant squad that was preparing to launch rockets, earlier in the month.[14]

Hamas have used small man-portable single-tube launchers for rockets in attacks against Israel, designated 122 mm 9P132/BM-21-P.[15] The 122 mm Grad rockets used in Gaza have a range of about 40 km (25 mi), and can reach the Israeli towns of Ashdod, Beer-Sheva, Ofakim, Gedera, Kiryat Gat, Ashqelon, Sderot, Rehovot, Kiryat Malachi and Gan Yavne.

Ethiopia

The Homicho Ammunition Engineering Complex produces the rockets while the Bishoftu Motorization Engineering Complex produces the launching tubes and has converted existing trucks to diesel engine. Bishoftu motorization has also produced a six tube launcher to be mounted on light trucks.

North Korea (DPRK)

Iran

D.I.O. from Iran produces copies of the BM-11 and BM-21 systems that can fire the original Soviet rockets as well as the locally developed "Arash" with a range of 20.5 km (12.7 mi). There is also a rocket with a range of 75 km (47 mi).

Pakistan

Romania

South Africa

Projectiles

Origin Ammunition type Minimum range Maximum range Length Weight Warhead weight
metres miles metres miles metres ft in kg lb kg lb
9M22U (M-21OF) USSR/Russia Fragmentation-HE 5,000 3.1 20,380 12.66 2.87 9 ft 5 in 66.6 147 18.4 41
9M28F USSR/Russia Fragmentation-HE 1,500 0.93 15,000 9.3 2.27 7 ft 5 in 56.5 125 21.0 46
9M28K USSR/Russia Anti-tank mines 13,400 8.3 3.04 10 ft 0 in 57.7 127 22.8 50
9M43 USSR/Russia Smoke 20,000 12 2.95 9 ft 8 in 66 150 20.2 45
9M217 USSR/Russia Anti-tank submunitions 30,000 19 3.04 10 ft 0 in 70 150 25 55
9M218 USSR/Russia HEAT submunitions 30,000 19 3.04 10 ft 0 in 70 150 25 55
9M519 USSR/Russia RF jammer 18,500 11.5 3.04 10 ft 0 in 66 150 18.4 41
9M521 USSR/Russia Fragmentation-HE 40,000 25 2.87 9 ft 5 in 66 150 21 46
9M522 USSR/Russia Fragmentation-HE 37,500 23.3 3.04 10 ft 0 in 70 150 25 55
PRC-60 USSR/Russia Underwater charge (for BM-21PD) 300 0.19 5,000 3.1 2.75 9 ft 0 in 75.3 166 20 44
Type 90A China Fragmentation-HE 12,700 7.9 32,700 20.3 2.75 9 ft 0 in 18.3 40
M21-OF-FP Romania Fragmentation-HE 5,000–6,000 3.1–3.7 20,400 12.7 2.87 9 ft 5 in 65.4 144 6.35 14.0
M21-OF-S Romania Fragmentation-HE 1,000 0.62 12,700 7.9 1.927 6 ft 3.9 in 46.6 103 6.35 14.0
Oghab Iran HE fragmantation 45,000 28 4.82 15 ft 10 in 360 790 70 150
Fajr-3 Iran HE fragmantation 43,000 27 5.2 17 ft 1 in 407 900 45 99
Fajr-5 Iran HE fragmantation 75,000 47 6.485 21 ft 3.3 in 915 2,020 90 200
Sakr-45A Egypt AT / AP submunitions 42,000 26 3.310 10 ft 10.3 in 67.5 149 24.5 54
Sakr-45B Egypt Fragmentation-HE 45,000 28 2.900 9 ft 6.2 in 63.5 140 20.5 45

Also Incendiary, Chemical, Illumination, Antipersonnel mines.

Operators

See also

References

  1. ^ Splav 122 mm BM-21 multiple rocket launcher family (Russian Federation), Multiple rocket launchers, Jane's Armour and Artillery
  2. ^ 122 mm BM-21 Grad-series rockets (Russian Federation), Artillery rockets, Jane's Ammunition Handbook
  3. ^ a b c Israel and Hamas: Conflict in Gaza 2008-2009. Congressional Research Service.
  4. ^ a b Hamas turns to Chinese rockets over homemade: 'We need weapons that work'
  5. ^ Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Terror in Gaza: Twelve months since the Hamas takeover”, 16 June 2008.
  6. ^ a b HAMAS Rockets
  7. ^ Hamas operatives were responsible for the two rocket attacks on Eilat and Aqaba. The Egyptian media strongly attacked Hamas and Iran because of the rocket fire, calling Hamas an "Iranian agent" and demanding it be punished. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. August 15, 2010
  8. ^ Gaza militants fire rockets at Beersheba, Israel. BBC News. February 23, 2011
  9. ^ Iron Dome Intercepts Three Grade Rockets as Attacks on Southern Israel Continue. Haaretz.com April 9, 2011
  10. ^ Rockets kill 1 in Israel; Hamas military wing ends truce CNN.com August 21, 2011
  11. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/three-men-wounded-as-rocket-barrage-strikes-southern-israel-1.392598
  12. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/iaf-strike-kills-five-islamic-jihad-militants-in-southern-gaza-strip-1.392591
  13. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/rocket-fired-from-gaza-explodes-in-southern-israel-1.392179
  14. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-strikes-four-gaza-sites-after-rocket-hits-israel-1.392256
  15. ^ Aviation Week, "Grad Rockets Hit Aqaba Port". 4/23/2010
  16. ^ Galerie Foto
  17. ^ LAROM – reactive missile launcher
  18. ^ Latest rockets manufactured in China
  19. ^ Israeli air strikes hit two Gaza towns
  20. ^ Kazak Army Equipment
  21. ^ Kyrgyz Army Equipment
  22. ^ Index of Peruvian Military Equipment
  23. ^ "MILITARIUM – Uzbrojenie Wojska Polskiego w 2008 r"
  24. ^ Russian Army Equipment
  25. ^ Frente Polisario
  26. ^ Tajik Army Equipment
  27. ^ Turkmen Army Equipment
  28. ^ Uzbek Army Equipment

External links