Artillery / Multiple rocket launchers / BM-14
BM-14
General Facts
- TYPE
Multiple rocket launcher - ORIGIN
USSR
- NICKNAMES
2B2 (nickname for BM-14M)
2B2R (nickname for BM-14MM)
8U35 (nickname for BM-14-17)
8U38 (nickname for RPU-14)
WP-8 (Polish production RPU-14) - DESIGNED
Late 1940's - DESIGNER
Unknown - PRODUCTION
1952 - late 1960's - PRODUCERS
Poland
USSR
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Better range and firepower than BM-13
Low cost and complexity
Reasonable mobility
Limited range and accuracy
Lacks any kind of protection
Introduction
The BM-14 is a series of multiple rocket launchers of Soviet origin. The BM-14 was developed in the late 1940's to replace the famous BM-13 and its design was partly inspired by the German Nebelwerfer.
Layout
The BM-14 is a conventional design, usually consisting of two rows of eight launch tubes. Aiming is done with an indirect fire sight attached to the launcher. The rockets feature solid propellant, are spin stabilized and do not feature wings. Several types of warheads are available.
Firepower
All BM-14 launchers feature 16 or 17 launch tubes for the same family of 140mm M-140 rockets. They can be ripple fired in 10 seconds and have a range of 9.5 km. The accuracy is limited due to the lack of wings. The warhead types include HE-Frag, smoke and chemical.
Protection
All BM-14 launchers do not feature any protection from direct and indirect fire or NBC threats. The launcher is operated, fired and reloaded outside the vehicle.
Mobility
The BM-14 launcher has been fitted to four types of 4x4 and 6x6 military trucks, providing it with good mobility on roads and reasonable mobility in the field. The RPU-14 is a towed version which is usually towed by jeeps or light trucks. It can also be manhandled over short distances in the field.
Users
The BM-14 was adopted by Soviet forces, various Warsaw Pact nations and many Soviet allies in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. They have been used in various conflicts, but most have been replaced by the later and more capable BM-21 Grad. Nowadays the BM-14 is considered obsolete and hardly any remain in service.
BM-14-16
BM-14-16: Original version with 16 launch tubes on Zil-151 6x6 truck. Introduced in 1952.
BM-14M: Improved BM-14-16 based on Zil-157 6x6 truck. Introduced in 1958.
BM-14MM: A 16 round launcher mounted on a Zil-131 6x6 chassis. Introduced in 1959.
- Specifications:
- BM-14-16
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 7 |
Length | 6.92 m |
Width | 2.3 m |
Height | 3.17 m |
Ground clearance | 0.27 m |
Weight | 8.4 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 6x6, 8.25 x20 tires, 3.67 + 1.22 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | ZIL-121 6-cylinder petrol, 92 hp |
Power ratio | 11.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h |
Fuel | 300 L |
Range | 600 km |
Wall | 0.6 m |
Trench | 0.7 m |
Gradient | 50% gradient |
Fording | 0.8 m |
Armor | No |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 140mm BM-14 rocket launcher (16x) |
Weapon1 | 140mm BM-14 16-round rocket launcher 16 rounds, all ready to fire 0 to +52° elevation 140° left and 60° right traverse non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
BM-14-17
BM-14-17: A 17 round launcher mounted on a GAZ-69A 4x4 truck. Introduced in 1959.
BM-14-17M: A 17 round launcher mounted on a GAZ-66 4x4 truck.
- Specifications:
- BM-14-17
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 6 |
Length | 5.41 m |
Width | 1.99 m |
Height | 2.25 m |
Ground clearance | 0.27 m |
Weight | 4.6 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 10.00 x18 tires, 3.3 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | GAZ-51A 6-cylinder petrol, 70 hp at 2.800 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.3 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse |
Speed | 65 km/h |
Fuel | 195 L |
Range | 650 km |
Wall | 0.5 m |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | 50% gradient |
Fording | 0.8 m |
Armor | No |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 140mm BM-14 rocket launcher (17x) |
Weapon1 | 140mm BM-14 17-round rocket launcher 17 rounds, all ready to fire 0 to +52° elevation 145° left and 65° right traverse non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
RPU-14 towed launcher
RPU-14: Towed version with 16 launch tubes in a four by four pack mounted on a two wheel chassis.
WP-8: Polish version with 8 launch tubes.
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 5 |
Ordnance | 140mm M-14 rocket (16x) |
Elevation | 0 to +48° |
Traverse | 30° total |
Rate of fire | ? |
---|---|
Range | depends on ammunition |
Carriage | 2 wheel split trail carriage, 6.50 x20 tires, 1.45 m track, 0.32 m ground clearance |
Weight | 1.835 kg (loaded) |
Length | 4.04 m |
Width | 1.8 m |
---|---|
Height | 1.6 m |
Towing vehicle | 4x4 light truck |
Speed | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 5 |
Ordnance | 140mm M-14 rocket (8x) |
Elevation | -12 to +47° |
Traverse | 28° total |
Rate of fire | ? |
---|---|
Range | depends on ammunition |
Carriage | 2 wheel split trail carriage, 0.25 m ground clearance |
Weight | 370 kg (empty), 688 kg (loaded) |
Length | 3.29 m |
Width | 1.63 m |
---|---|
Height | 1.2 m |
Towing vehicle | 4x4 light truck |
Speed | - |
Remarks | - |
M-140 artillery rockets
M-14OF: Standard M-14 rocket with HE-Frag warhead, introduced in 1952.
M-14D: M-14 rocket with smoke and incendiary warhead, introduced in 1955.
M-14KChR: M-14 rocket with chemical warhead, introduced in 1955.
Type | Artillery rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 140 mm body, no wings |
Length | 1.092 m |
Weight | 39.6 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | HE-Frag, 18.8 kg |
Propulsion | Solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 402 m/s max |
Range | 3.8 km minimum, 9.8 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Artillery rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 140 mm body, no wings |
Length | 1.051 m |
Weight | 40.3 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Smoke, 0.3 kg HE plus 3.6 kg white phosphorus |
Propulsion | Solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 402 m/s max |
Range | 3.8 km minimum, 10.1 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |
Type | Artillery rocket |
---|---|
Diameter | 140 mm body, no wings |
Length | 1.050 m |
Weight | 39.1 kg |
Guidance | Unguided, ballistic flight |
---|---|
Warhead | Chemical, 18.3 kg |
Propulsion | Solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 402 m/s max |
Range | 3.8 km minimum, 9.8 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | - |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | - |