16-receiver 140-mm towed launcher RPU-14 was designed primarily for weapons of rocket artillery units of the Airborne Forces of the USSR. Factory tests took place during the installation 1956 city, field testing and shooting continued with sleigh 3 yeast in 27 June 1957 city, in the same year it took the Soviet Army. The installation is used for the destruction of manpower and fire weapons, as well as to suppress artillery and mortar batteries and the destruction of the lung field installations. It combines small size and weight - high firepower.
Launcher RPU-14 is a package of 16 guides (four rows of four each barrel), mounted on the carriage 85 mm divisional gun D-44. Each guide has a length 1150 mm. caliber - 140,3 mm. Package sent, together with impact devices is mounted on the upper machine gun carriage. Here are mounted and guidance mechanisms. Lower machine gun carriage has two sliding frame box-section, provided with permanent openers. Two-wheeled undercarriage, wheel type automobile tires, filled with spongy rubber GK. Podressorivanie- torsionnoe.
Fighting axis consists of two straight semiaxes. The design of the mast allows tow launcher tracked or wheeled tractor with a very high speeds - up 65 km / h (on paved roads). At the same time allowed the transport of the installation in a charged form. For rolling installation on the battlefield calculating forces gun carriage is equipped with a special roller of small diameter. In the stowed position, it is secured and transported to the installation, and substituted if necessary under the bed. For transfer of the launcher from traveling to combat is required 2 minutes. Installation can be carried in the cargo compartment of military transport aircraft and helicopters and parachute parachute way with the use of specific platforms.
Firing is carried out by the same 140-mm projectiles turbojet, which are used for firing of MLRS BM-14-16. This high-explosive shells of M-14 and PF-smoke shell M-14E. shooting is operated by remote control, possible shooting single shots or gulp. The duration of 8-10 seconds zalpa-. Loading the installation is done manually. Trained calculation performs this operation for 3 minutes. Modification PAR-14 is used in the airborne troops Poland under the designation WP-8Z. This towed setting unlike RPU-14 has a package of eight guiding shafts (two rows of four each barrel).
The performance characteristics of RPU-14
The caliber of the projectile, mm………………….140
number Of Ways……………………………..16
The highest velocity of the projectile, m / s…………….399—403
firing range, m………………………..10000
The highest elevation angle, city…………………50
Horizontal angle of fire, city………………20
Weight, kg.
missile…………………………..39,6
launcher…………………………….925
Photo RPU-14 (8U38)
