BM-14
| BM-14 | |
|---|---|
 A 140mm, 16-round launcher (BM-14) mounted on aGAZ-63truck. | |
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1952 - c.1990 (USSR)/ present (Others) |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | NII 303 |
| Designed | 1950 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5,323 kg (11,735 lb) |
| Length | 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in) |
| Width | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in) |
| Crew | 6[3] |
| Caliber | Diameter: 140 mm (5.5 in) Length: 1 m (3 ft 3 in) Weight: 39.6 kg (87 lb) |
| Barrels | 16 in two rows |
| Elevation | +50°/0° |
| Traverse | 180° |
| Muzzle velocity | 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 9.8 km (6.1 mi)[3] |
| Engine | GAZ-51 70 HP 6-cylinder petrol |
| Suspension | Wheeled GAZ-63 4x4 chassis |
Operational range | 650 km (400 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph)[3] |
TheBM-14(BM forBoyevaya Mashina,'combat vehicle'), is aSoviet-made 140mmmultiple launch rocket system (MLRS),normally mounted on a truck.
The BM-14 can fire 140 mm M-14 rockets with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, a smoke warhead or a chemical warhead. It is similar to theBM-13 "Katyusha"and was partly replaced in service by the 122 mmBM-21 Grad.
Launchers were built in 16 and 17-round variants. The rockets have a maximum range of 9.8 kilometers (6.1 mi).
The weapon is not accurate as there is no guidance system, but it is extremely effective insaturation fire.
Variants[edit]
- BM-14 (8U32)- 16-round model (two rows of 8), launcher mounted on theZIS-151truck. Entered service in 1952. Also known asBM-14-16.
- BM-14-17 (8U35)- 17-round (8+9 launch tubes) launcher, mounted on theGAZ-63A. Developed in 1959. This launcher was also used on naval vessels, for exampleProject 1204patrol boats.
- BM-14-17M (8U35M)- modified model, mounted on theGAZ-66.
- RPU-14 (8U38)- towed 16-round version, based on the carriage of the 85mm gunD-44and used by SovietAirborne Troops,where it was replaced by the 122mmBM-21V "Grad-V".
Ammunition[edit]
The BM-14 launcher and its variants can fire 140mm rockets of the M-14-series (also called Soviet-made M14 artillery rockets). They have a minimum range of 3.8 kilometers (2.4 mi) and a maximum range of 9.8 kilometers (6.1 mi).[4]The M-14 series consist of three known types:
- M-14-OF- an M-14 rocket with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead containing 3.68 kilograms (8.1 lb) ofTNT.[5]
- M-14-D- an M-14 rocket with a smoke warhead containingwhite phosphorus.[4]
- M-14-S- an M-14 rocket with a chemical warhead containing 2.2 kilograms (4.9 lb) ofsarin.[4]
Use[edit]
During theSyrian Civil War,arocket enginefrom a 140 mm M-14-series rocket was identified on 26 August 2013 bythe U.N. fact-finding missionin theMuadamiyat al-Shamdistrict southwest ofDamascus,allegedly originating fromthe chemical attack on Western Ghoutaon 21 August 2013.[6]
The rockets nozzle assembly had 10 jet nozzles ordered evenly in a circle with an electrical contact plate in the middle. The bottom ring of the rocket engine had thelot number"Г ИШ 4 25 - 6 7 - 179 К" engraved,[6]: 21–22 which means it was produced in 1967 by factory 179 (Sibselmash plantinNovosibirsk).[7]However, no warhead was observed at the impact site and none of the 13 environmental samples taken in the Western Ghouta area tested positive for sarin, although three had "degradation and/or by-products" possibly originating from sarin.[8]: 43–45 On 18 September, the Russian Presidential Chief of StaffSergei Ivanovcommented on the U.N. missions findings. He said "these rockets were supplied to dozens of countries", but that "the Soviet Union never supplied warheads with sarin to anyone".[9]Another type of rockets was used inthe Eastern Ghouta attack.[4]
Operators[edit]
Current operators[edit]
Algeria− 48 BM-14/16 as of 2023[update][10]
Cambodia− 20 BM-14-16 as of 2023[update][11]
Republic of Congo[12]
Cuba[13]
Egypt− 32 as of 2023[update][14]
North Korea[15]
Russia− BM-14-17 mounted on Shmel-class (Project 1204) patrol boats as of 2023[16]
Vietnam[17]− fielded during theVietnam Warfrom 1967[18]
Former operators[edit]
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan?/
Republic of Afghanistan/
Islamic State of Afghanistan/
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan-[19]- People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
People's Republic of Angola/Angola− A number destroyed during theAngolan Civil War.[20]Operated BM-14-16s as late as 2005[21]
Democratic Kampuchea/
People's Republic of Kampuchea/
State of Cambodia
China[22]
Indonesia-Indonesian Marine Corps(Korps Marinir) operated 36 BM-14-17 launchers. Replaced by theRM-70in 2003[23]
Federation of Arab Republics (1972-1977)
North Vietnam
Polish People's Republic-[24]− retired
Somalia− BM-14-16 and BM-14-17[25]
Soviet Union[26]− Passed on to successor states in 1991
Syria− 200 BM-14 purchased in 1967.[27]Was in service as late as 2016[28]
South Yemen− 15 BM-14 in 1989.[29]Passed on to the unified Yemeni state
Yemen[30]
Similar designs[edit]
- TheType 63 130mm multiple rocket launcher(not to be confused with the towedType 63of 107mm) is the Chinese version of the BM-14-17. It has a slightly smaller calibre but is fitted with 19 instead of 17 launch tubes. The Type 63 MRL is based on the Nanjing NJ-230 or 230A 4x4 truck, a licence-produced version of the Soviet GAZ-63/63A.
- TheWP-8z(Polish:Wyrzutnia Pocisków rakietowych) was a Polish towed rocket launcher that was developed in 1960. The weapon was subsequently produced between 1964 and 1965. It fired the same rockets as the RPU-14 but had only 8 launch tubes. The main operator was the 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division (Polish:6 Pomorska Dywizja Powietrzno-Desantowa).[31]with 12-18 WP-8s in its inventory.[32][33]
See also[edit]
- BM-12multiple rocket launcher
- KatyushaWorld War II multiple rocket launchers (BM-13, BM-8, and BM-31)
- M16 (rocket),U.S. 4.5 inch multiple rocket launcher
- BM-21 Grad122 mm multiple rocket launcher
- BM-27 Uragan220 mm multiple rocket launcher
References[edit]
- ^Haryadi 2019, p. 337
- ^Isby, David C. (1990).The War in Afghanistan 1979-1989: The Soviet Empire at High Tide.Concord Publications. p. 41.ISBN978-9623610094.
- ^abcFoss, Christopher (1977).Jane's pocket book of towed artillery.New York: Collier. p. 171.ISBN0020806000.OCLC911907988.
- ^abcd"Attacks on Ghouta"(PDF).Human Rights Watch. 10 September 2013.
- ^"Projectile and Warhead Identification Guide".US National Ground Intelligence Center.Scribd.com. 1 January 1997.Retrieved29 April2015.
- ^abSellström, Åke;Cairns, Scott; Barbeschi, Maurizio (16 September 2013)."Report of the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic on the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August 2013"(PDF).United Nations. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 17 September 2013.Retrieved29 April2015.
- ^"Chemical weapon propulsion unit on Syrian missile 'made in Siberia', says Russian expert".The Siberian Times.18 September 2013.
- ^"The final U.N. report"(PDF).United Nations Mission to Investigate Alleged Uses of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic.13 December 2013.
- ^"Kremlin denies Soviet Union supplied warheads with sarin to other countries".Itar Tass.18 September 2013.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 316.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 236.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 444.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 394.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 321.
- ^Grzelczyk, Virginie (20 July 2017).North Korea's New Diplomacy: Challenging Political Isolation in the 21st Century.Springer. p. 117.ISBN978-1-137-45024-1.Retrieved3 September2023.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 188.
- ^Military Balance 2023,p. 299.
- ^Zabecki, David T. (May 2011). "Rockets and Rocket Launchers". In Tucker, Spencer C. (ed.).The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History(2 ed.). p. 988.ISBN978-1-85109-960-3.
- ^Tucker-Jones, Anthony (30 October 2014).The Afghan War: Operation Enduring Freedom 2001–2014.Pen and Sword. p. 43.ISBN978-1-4738-4228-1.Retrieved3 September2023.
- ^"Operations Moduler and Hooper 1987-88".rhodesia.nl.
- ^Foss 2005,p. 1011.
- ^United States Defense Intelligence Agency (1979).The Chinese Armed Forces Today: The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Handbook of China's Army, Navy and Air Force.Prentice-Hall. p. 212.ISBN978-0-13-132902-7.
- ^"BM-14/17: Generasi Pertama Self Propelled MLRS Korps Marinir TNI AL - Indomiliter.com".18 July 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2020.Retrieved15 November2020.
- ^Military Balance 1989,pp. 49−50.
- ^Foss 2005,p. 1020.
- ^Military Balance 1989,p. 34.
- ^"Sipri: Trade Registers".Archived fromthe originalon 23 April 2014.Retrieved10 May2015.
- ^International Institute for Strategic Studies(February 2016).The Military Balance 2016.Vol. 116. Routlegde. p. 354.ISBN9781857438352.
- ^Military Balance 1989,p. 142.
- ^Foss 2005,p. 1022.
- ^"Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's | IHS".Articles.janes.com.Retrieved3 September2013.
- ^"6 PDPD".Oocities.org.Retrieved3 September2013.
- ^"Wyrzutnia rakietowa WP-8z".Militarium. 17 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2013.Retrieved3 September2013.
External links[edit]
- Use of BM-14 by the Taliban
- Description of BM-14
- Use of BM-14 by Cuban Armed Forces
- Range and Payload
- Algerian use of BM-14 as of 1993
- Walk-around of Type 63 130mm MRL
Bibliography[edit]
- Haryadi, Letkol. (Mar.) Yosafat Robert (2019).Sejarah Kavaleri Korps Marinir(in Indonesian). Surabaya: Penerbit Karunia.ISBN978-979-9039-97-2.
- Prenatt, Jamie; Hook, Adam (2016).Katyusha – Russian Multiple Rocket Launchers 1941–Present.New Vanguard 235. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd.ISBN978-1-4728-1086-1.
- Institute for Strategic Studies(1989).The military balance, 1989-1990.London: Brassey's.ISBN978-0080375694.
- Foss, Christopher F. (15 August 2005).Jane's Armour & Artillery, 2005-06(26th ed.). Janes Information Group.ISBN978-0-7106-2686-8.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies(February 2023).The Military Balance 2023.Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. p. 188.ISBN978-1-032-50895-5.