Fighting vehicle RM-70 | Missilery.info (2024)

At the end of the 1960s the Czechoslovak defense industry completed the development of the RM-70 combat vehicle based on the Soviet BM-21 combat vehicle. The RM-70 combat vehicle was produced in Czechoslovakia since 1970 and is currently in service with the armies of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Libya and Zimbabwe. The RM-70 MLRS was also armed with reactive artillery divisions of the National People's Army of the GDR. After the unification of Germany, the German government transferred these systems to Turkey and Greece.

In connection with the beginning of production in Czechoslovakia in 1983 of an improved four-axle cross-country vehicle "Tatra-815", a new combat vehicle RM-70/85 was developed on its base. Externally, it is distinguished by the presence of an unarmored crew cabin.

Recently, on the chassis of the Tatra-815 has been developed a new version of the combat vehicle, which received the designation KRIZAN, and equipped with a 40-barrel package of guides from the BM-21 and a set of tools for remote terrain mining.

The NATO designation is M1972. The system was first demonstrated during the parade in Czechoslovakia, which took place after the SHIELD-72 manoeuvres.

According to data from 1992-1993, the combat vehicle was in service with the armies of the CIS, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Libya, Poland and Turkey.

The RM-70 system includes:

• self-propelled launcher,
• unguided rockets,
• fire control system,
• transport-charging machine.

Structurally, RM-70 is a combination of the BM-21 artillery unit with the chassis of the Czechoslovak off-road vehicle "Tatra-813".

The launcher is made according to the classic scheme with the location of the artillery unit in the rear of the wheeled chassis. At the front of the chassis there is an armored crew cabin and power plant with transmission units. Due to the relatively large length of the chassis in the middle part of the chassis it was possible to place the original hydraulic device for recharging the launcher.

The artillery part consists of a package of tubular rails (40 barrels), swiveling frame, guidance mechanisms and appropriate electrical equipment. It is completely identical in design to the BM-21 artillery unit, and fires uncontrollable rockets with the M-21OF fragmentation and blasthead (2.87 m long, 66 kg weight, 20.5 km range). It is also possible to use all new ammunition developed recently in Russia for BM-21 MLRSs.

In most of the MRZO RM-70s produced the chassis of the Tatra-813 truck was used as a wheeled chassis. This chassis has a V-shaped twelve-cylinder diesel engine "Tatra" T-930-3 with an output of 270 hp.

The chassis is made on the 8x8 wheel arrangement, wheels of two front axles are controlled. Due to the use of low-pressure tires with a developed tread pattern and the presence of a centralized air control system in the tires, the passability of the launcher over rough terrain is extremely high. It can climb steeply up to 30°, 0.6m high walls and 1.5m wide ditches. It forwards fords to a depth of 1.4 m without prior preparation. When driving on the highway, the launcher has a maximum speed of 80 km/h.

The launcher is equipped with a radio station, firefighting and WMD protection equipment. There is a bulldozer blade at the front of the chassis, which can be used to equip the fire position or remove obstacles from the road. There is also a winch for self-testing of the launcher.

A significant difference between the RM-70 and the prototype is its increased firepower: two minutes after the production of the first salvo, the RM-70 can give a second salvo and leave the combat position even before the enemy strikes back. This capability is provided by a hydraulic device for mechanized recharging of the launcher. It is a rack with 40 rockets on it. By means of the hydraulic drive, the projectiles can be moved horizontally towards the stern of the wheeled chassis (the missile heads also point in the same direction). For recharging, the artillery section guide package is rotated by 180° and mounted at zero elevation angle. All 40 projectiles located on the rack are simultaneously pushed into the rails, after which the launcher can continue firing. It is also possible to reload the launcher manually using a transport and charging machine.

Firing is carried out using the same attachments that are fitted to the BM-21.

As an auxiliary weapon, a 7.62 mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof of the armoured cabin, which can be used to fire both ground and air targets.

According to United Nations sources, between 1992 and 2000, the following number of RM-70 series combat vehicles were exported:

1. В.Н. Шунков "Ракетное оружие" Минск 2001г. 528с.
2. Photos - Pictures RM-70 RM70
3. RM-70 SAMOHODNI VISECEVNI LANSER RAKETA 122 mm
4. JANE'S ARMOUR AND ARTILLERY 1992-93. THIRTEENTH EDITION. EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER F FOSS. Copyright© 1992 by Jane's Information Group Limited. Surrey, UK. Printed and bound in Great Britain by Biddles Limited, Guildford and King's Lynn. –P. 717,718.
5. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2000-2001. Twenty-first Edition. Edited by Christopher F Foss. Copyright© 2000 by Jane's Information Group Limited. Surrey, UK. –P. 773.
6. Jane's ARMOUR AND ARTILLERY. Twenty-fourth Edition 2003-2004. Edited by Christopher F Foss. Copyright© 2003 by Jane's Information Group Limited. Surrey, UK.–P. 848.
7. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2007-2008. Twenty-eighth Edition. Edited by Christopher F Foss. Copyright© 2007 by Jane's Information Group Limited. Surrey, UK. Printed in Great Britain by Cambridge University Press. –P. 1009.
8. Christopher F Foss. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2010-2011. Thirty-first Edition. Copyright© IHS Global Limited. Surrey, UK. Printed and bound in the UK by the MPG Books Group. –P. 1065.

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