RM-70 multiple rocket launcher explained

RM-70
Origin:Czechoslovakia
Type:Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Is Artillery:yes
Is Vehicle:yes
Service:1972–present
Used By:See users
Wars:Western Sahara War[1]
Russo-Georgian War
Sri Lankan Civil War
First Libyan Civil War
Afghanistan conflict (1978–present)
2013 Kivu Offensive
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Weight:33.7 tonnes (74,295 lb)
Length:8.75m (28.71feet)
Width:2.5m (08.2feet)
Height:2.7m (08.9feet)
Crew:6
Caliber:122.4 mm (4.8 in)
Barrels:40
Max Range:20km (10miles)
Armour:Steel
Secondary Armament:Universal machine gun vz. 59
Engine:T-903-3 V12 multi-fuel
Engine Power:250 hp (184 kW)
Suspension:8×8 wheeled
Vehicle Range:400km (200miles)
Speed:85km/h

The RM-70 (Raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak Army version and heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent area-saturation rocket artillery system that was introduced in 1971[2] (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 Slovakia, it was sold to several countries 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 122 mm rockets pack for automatic 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 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 a range of 17.5 km, the "Kuš" with five PPMI-S1 anti-personnel mines or the "Krizhna-R" with four PTMI-D anti-tank mines and a range of 19.45 km.

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 Republic and Slovakia

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

Unknown operational status

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. RM-70 MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHES WITH POLISARIO FORCES AAIN UM SERUSA POLISARIO CAMP, WESTERN SAHARA (SANITIZED). March 26, 1982. Central Intelligence Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20170123204642/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/document/cia-rdp82t00709r000100120001-3. dead. January 23, 2017.
  2. Web site: Československé vojenství - Vaše dotazy - Odpovědi na dotazy 1231. - 1245 . Vojenstvi.cz . 2014-05-05.
  3. Web site: CZK - vz. 70 (122mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy . Forum.valka.cz . 2014-05-05.
  4. Web site: CZK - vz. 70/85 (122mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy . Forum.valka.cz . 2014-05-05.
  5. Web site: SVK - RM 70/85M (122mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy . 26 May 2004 . Forum.valka.cz . 2014-05-05.
  6. Web site: SVK/DEU - RM 70/85 Modular (122mm / 227mm raketomet) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Raketomety a taktické raketové systémy . Forum.valka.cz . 2014-05-05.
  7. Web site: CZK - VMZ vz.92 Križan (velkokapacitní mobilní zatarasovač) :: Československo / ČR / SR (CZK/CZE/SVK) :: Speciální nástavby . 9 June 2004 . Forum.valka.cz . 2014-05-05.
  8. Web site: TATRA engine :: Tatratrucks.com. www.tatratrucks.com.
  9. http://armyrecognition.com/april_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/excalibur_army_offers_a_modern_version_of_the_rm-70_rocket_artillery_system_41304163.html Excalibur Army offers a modern version of the RM-70 rocket artillery system
  10. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2024 . February 13, 2024 . Routledge . 978-1032780047 . 1st . 432.
  11. http://armyrecognition.com/april_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/analysis_new_combat_vehicles_and_tanks_at_military_parade_in_south_korea_by_army_recognition_11704172.html Analysis: New combat vehicles and tanks at military parade in North Korea by Army Recognition
  12. Web site: N.Korea's 'conservative' display contrasts with past WPK celebrations | NK News. 10 October 2015.
  13. Book: Cooper . Tom . Grandolini . Albert . Fontanellaz . Adrien . Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 2: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1975-1991 . 2019 . Helion & Company Publishing . Warwick, UK . 978-1-912866-29-8 . 66.
  14. Web site: Oryx . Attack On Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine . 2024-03-04. Oryx.
  15. Web site: Bulgarian arms imports, 2009 calendar year. UNODA. 14 June 2013.
  16. Web site: Trade Registers . armstrade.sipri.org . Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . 7 September 2023.
  17. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2011 . 2011 . Routledge . 978-1-85743-606-8 . 320 . en . International Institute for Strategic Studies .
  18. Web site: UNROCA (United Nations Register of Conventional Arms). www.unroca.org.
  19. RM-70 MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHES WITH POLISARIO FORCES AAIN UM SERUSA POLISARIO CAMP, WESTERN SAHARA (SANITIZED). March 26, 1982. Central Intelligence Agency. https://web.archive.org/web/20170123204642/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/document/cia-rdp82t00709r000100120001-3. dead. January 23, 2017.