"Smerch" (MLRS): performance characteristics and photo of multiple rocket launchers

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

After the memorable "Katyusha", our Armed Forces have always paid special attention to multiple rocket launchers. There is nothing surprising in this: they are relatively cheap, easy to manufacture, but at the same time they are extremely mobile, ensuring the defeat of the enemy’s manpower and material base almost anywhere, wherever military operations were conducted.

One of the most effective representatives of this family was the Smerch system. This MLRS for all the time of its use has shown itself to be an effective and extremely reliable weapon.

What can the system be used for?

Smerch was designed to destroy both enemy manpower and heavily armored rolling stock. With the help of this system, command centers and communications centers can be destroyed, as well as minefields can be remotely planted at a distance of up to 70 km.

History of Creation

In 1961, the MLRS was adopted by the USSR Armed ForcesM-21, the characteristics of which did not fully suit the Soviet military. That is why, at the end of the 1970s, scientific research was carried out at the State Research and Production Enterprise "Splav" as soon as possible, aimed at creating a multiple rocket launcher system that would ensure more confident hitting of targets by equipping it with powerful projectiles with a high content of explosives.

As a result, in the middle of 1980, the Smerch project was sent to the state expert commission for consideration. This MLRS ensured the delivery of the projectile to a distance of up to 70 km. Recall that the requirements of the military at that time provided for a chassis that could maneuver on the ground at speeds up to 70 km/h (with high cross-country ability).

Begin production

The new Smerch rocket launcher met all the stated requests, had great prospects due to the low cost of production, and therefore already in 1985 a decree was issued to begin work on the mass production of the system. Already in 1987, the work was completely completed, and the first "Tornados" began trial shootings.

At the beginning of next year, the MLRS (taking into account the elimination of some shortcomings and comments) was finally recommended for adoption by the country.

Main characteristics of the prototype

The adopted system fired shells of 200 mm caliber, with a range of effective enemy suppression of 20/70 km. The huge advantage of high-explosive type shells is that their action was not much inferior to the combat characteristics of previously adoptedinto service with blanks.

Thus, the range of destruction of the enemy's lying (!) infantry exceeds 1300 meters from the epicenter of the charge explosion. One tracked chassis could carry 25 to 35 rounds.

Characteristics of the adopted system

Despite all the above performance characteristics, military experts were not completely satisfied with the destructive power of the shells. After refinement, the final version of the Smerch MLRS was born, the performance characteristics of which are given below.

Thus, the caliber was raised to 300 mm, the weight of the projectile was increased to 815 kilograms. The explosive charge itself has a mass of more than 250 kilograms. The firing range remained the same (maximum - 90 kilometers). This time, the designers provided not only a tracked (object 123), but also a wheeled chassis based on the MAZ-543A car.

It should be noted that the MLRS 9k58 "Smerch" is precisely a complex, which includes several structural elements at once.

Main components

• Chassis 9A52-2 based on MAZ-543A.
• 9T234-2 transport and loading vehicle.
• The shells themselves.
• Automatic fire control and correction system "Vivarium".
• Means for education and training of complex operators.
• Automotive complex for topographic survey of the area 1T12-2M.
• 1B44 direction finding system.
• Equipment for the repair and maintenance of the material part 9Ф381.

Detailed performance characteristics

As mentioned above, the chassis9A52-2 was created on the basis of the MAZ-543A car, whose wheel formula is 8x8. As for the artillery unit, it includes sixteen rails, a swivel mechanism with aiming and corrective devices, as well as electromechanical and hydraulic stabilizing devices.

Aiming and turning mechanisms can guide projectiles at an angle of 5-55 degrees. Horizontal guidance - within 30 degrees in each direction. This reactive system "Smerch" in many ways differs from the same "Hurricane", which has a horizontal guidance limit - the same 30 degrees (15 degrees per side). To make the installation more stable when firing, there are two hydraulic stops in the rear part, which are manually reset.

The advantage of the complex is also the fact that rockets can be transported directly in the rails. Given that the chassis vehicle is equipped with night vision devices and a high-quality radio station, even night transportation is not particularly difficult.

Guide Details

The guides themselves are made in the form of thick-walled pipes, in the walls of which there is a screw groove, for which a reactive charge pin clings at the moment of firing. This pin is an analogue of rifling in the barrels of small arms, as it sets the required projectile flight vector.

The whole set of rails is rigidly fixed on the rectangular cradle. Thanks to the two semi-axes by which it is connected to the uppermachine tool, this base can be accurately aimed at the target using rotary mechanisms.

At a given trajectory, the charge is held with the help of drop-down stabilizers (like RPG shots). The Smerch volley fire system covers more than 67 hectares at a time!

Most often, shooting is carried out from closed positions. It is possible to control fire directly from the operator's cab. The calculation of the complex includes four people in peacetime and six in wartime. A BM commander, one gunner, and a driver are appointed. The number of soldiers serving the weapon varies.

A little about shells

It should not be assumed that the shells of the "Smerch" are a banal blasting charge. Currently, more than a dozen varieties are already in use, and new types are constantly being developed.

The standard high-explosive projectile 9M55F is most commonly used. The head part is one-piece, the weight of the explosive does not exceed 100 kg. They are used to process advanced enemy fortifications, to fight against infantry and light armored vehicles on the march.

Specially for the destruction of enemy manpower, the 9M55K model was developed. The head of each projectile contains 72 separable elements (2 kilograms each) with explosives and submunitions. Only 10-12 such charges are enough to completely destroy a standard motorized infantry company.

On the contrary, the 9M55K1 projectile was developed specifically for combating armored vehicles (including heavy tanks). In its head part there are five shells withautomatic aiming. If the combat system "Smerch" is used as a "tank hunter", then a single salvo of only four vehicles is enough to completely destroy an entire tank company (!)

Other mechanisms

The rotating part of the machine is the most complex in its design. Its design includes a rocking chair, rotary, lifting and compensating mechanisms, as well as a manual guidance mechanism and a workplace for the guidance operator. Locking mechanisms are important (including for the hydraulics of the rocking chair), on which the accuracy of shooting largely depends. The compensation mechanism includes a pair of torsion bars and fastening parts.

In general, the Smerch MLRS, the photo of which is in the article, is subjected to catastrophic overloads during salvo fire, so not only the accuracy of shooting, but also the safety of the entire crew depends on the state of the compensatory mechanisms.

In normal mode, a hydroelectric drive is used to aim the guides at the target. If the mechanism fails or is disabled, there is a manual drive. When moving, all rotating parts are blocked by locking blocks. In addition, the hydraulic lock of the rocking chair greatly unloads the entire complex when firing.

The aiming mount includes a proven and well-proven sight D726-45. The goniometric device is the usual full-time PG-1M gun panorama.

What does the Smerch complex provide?

• Complete security of the calculation, which provides the ability to conduct both combat and trainingshooting.
• Possibility of single and salvo fire. If a volley strike is carried out, then all shells leave in 38 seconds. This is how Smerch rocket artillery differs from its other counterparts, which take longer to fire.
• If there is a possibility of hitting a firing crew by sniper or harassing enemy fire, then it is possible to control fire from a shelter located at a distance of up to 60 meters from the vehicle.
• More than half of the control components are duplicated. Even if the main elements fail, you can aim at the target and shoot manually.

Other features

Since the complex was put into service relatively recently (in 1987), it is not planned to be removed from production by now. Moreover, today several programs have been developed to modernize the Smerchs currently in service.

So, it was within the framework of this program that the complex received the Vivarium automatic fire control system, although before that the Kapustnik was installed, which was used in parallel in the Uragan MLRS.

Traditionally, our designers took care of the flawless operation of all systems in those climatic conditions that can be found throughout the territory of the former Soviet Union. Thus, the Smerch multiple launch rocket system can be used at temperatures from -50 to +45 degrees Celsius.

In addition, today the operators of the combat complex have the ability to clearly see the target, even in the absence of pre-issuedher coordinates or communications with the gunner. The fact is that (in full accordance with the rearmament program until 2020), the equipment of the updated Tornadoes works perfectly with the guidance of unmanned aerial vehicles, which are also currently being adopted by our Armed Forces.

The same applies to other guidance control systems that are already in service or are just being developed. So, in combat conditions, operators can use the Hurricanes or Gradov guidance systems. In general, "Smerch" - MLRS is surprisingly "plastic", which ensures the incredible breadth of possibilities for its use.

Order of combat use

As in all other cases, the use of this multiple rocket launcher system is fully subject to the special provisions of the Charter.

First, the command post of the brigade of MLRS vehicles should receive data about the enemy, as well as about the place of his deployment. Based on the information received, calculations are made about the direction of impact. The type of ammunition is selected, the density of firing, as well as its adjustment depending on the conditions on the ground. After that, all information is transmitted to the command post of the division that was chosen to solve the corresponding combat mission.

After that, the command staff examines the received data, correlating them with the available resources. Given that Smerch is a reactive system, it requires a fairly open and spacious position for its operation, since in conditions of heavily wooded or mountainous terrain, launching projectiles may not be safe for the operators themselves.

Information is further transmitted to the unit commanders who are responsible for attacking enemy positions.

The transmitted data is processed on the computing facilities of the Smerch battery (six machines). Everything happens automatically, as the military has repeatedly found out that this approach dramatically increases the effectiveness of the fire. In addition, this reduces the time required to bring the complex into combat position hundreds of times.

Immediately after that, the unit commanders are waiting for the order to open fire on enemy positions.

That's what "Smerch" is. This MLRS has proved to be a surprisingly effective and reliable weapon, and therefore is today in service with dozens of countries in the world. Modernized versions of it are constantly supplied to our troops today.