22 Martha 1951 g. Soviet Army entered a new 240-mm rocket M-24F. At the same time it took to arms and launcher - fighting machine BM-24 (Grau-8U31 index). They were the main elements of multiple launch rocket systems, intended to destroy the fortifications, destruction and suppression of artillery and mortar batteries, as well as the destruction of enemy forces in the areas of concentration.
Artillery unit BM-24 weighs 1420 kg and includes 12 guides cell type, arranged in two tiers of 6 guides in each. The length of each rail 2 m. Package guide is mounted on the frame, rotatably mounted on a pedestal. Used for aiming pivot mechanism type and worm screw type lift mechanism. Both mechanisms are manual drive. There is also a counterweight mechanism of the pushing spring type. The vertical guidance possible angles range from + 10 ° to + 50 °, horizontal route guidance available in the sector 140 °. The launcher is shooting single shots or gulp. The duration of the volley - 6-8 seconds. Due to the fact that the mass of the projectile is M-24F 112,25 kg, and MD-24F-even shell 155 kg, launcher supplied removable tray, which is attached to the breech guide and in which the projectile is pushed into the guide until it locks into a special stop charging time is not more than 3-4 minutes.
As used undercarriage chassis terrain ZIS-151 triaxial truck. chassis design was very similar to the undercarriage of BM-14-16: cab and fuel tanks are easy protection, protected from rocket engine hot propellant gases, and unloading the springs and improve installation stability during firing at the rear of the chassis frame are mounted two screw jacks.
95-strong petrol engine provides the greatest rate of motion of a charged setting on the highway 55 km / h. It is capable of climbing angle to the passages 28e and the depth of 750 mm. Cruising charged launcher on the highway equals 600 km. Combat vehicles BM-24 were armed brigade (shelves) rocket artillery corps submission. The brigade had 54 combat vehicles; She was attached to the rifle and mechanized corps, and to amplify those housings formed brigade, equipped fighting machine BM-24T chassis medium tracked artillery tractor AT-C.
Performance characteristics MRL BM-24
The caliber of the projectile, mm……………………………………240
number Of Ways……………………………………………………..12
The highest velocity of the projectile, m / s………………………. 280—600
production time volley, from……………………………………….6—8
firing range, m…………………………………… 6575—16000
The highest elevation angle, city………………………………..50
Horizontal angle of fire, city……………………………..140
Weight, kg:
missile…………………………112,5—109,0
launcher……………………………………….7140
RSZO BM-24T
During the Second World War, the situation is repeated several times, when advancing armored units were forced to stop the offensive only because, that remained without the support of artillery and infantry, traveling in does not have sufficient cross-wheeled vehicles. For this reason, the Soviet command in the postwar years has sought to equip all combat units of armored divisions and corps Tracked vehicles, not inferior to the cross-tanks. A good example of this is to create, together with the wheel combat vehicle rocket launchers as BM-24 and its analog BM-crawler 24T. If the BM-24 came on the shelves of weapons (crews) rocket artillery infantry and mechanized corps, the machine BM-24T were armed regiments rocket artillery tank shells.
Although the BM-24T initially only be seen as an analogue track wheeled combat vehicle BM-24, designers had to develop her almost from scratch. The fundamental difference between artillery unit BM-24T is the replacement of tubular cell guides. In multilateral launchers such guides exclude influence of propellant gases of a jet engine of the projectile on other projectiles during its movement along the rail. Besides, a tubular guides are easy to manufacture, than cell guides and at the same ballistics have a smaller length. In particular, BM-24T in length of the guide 1400 mm compared with 2000 mm in the BM-24. Artillery unit BM-24T has a package of 12 guides, placed in two tiers of six guides in each tier. Package guide is attached to the swivel, connectors ball chase with a fixed pedestal, frame mounted on the chassis side members.
Lifting and swiveling mechanisms artillery pieces have manual actuators, and provide guidance package guides in the vertical plane at angles ranging from + 10 ° to + 50 °, firing sector in a horizontal plane is 180 °. Shooting is the same rockets, which are included in ammunition combat vehicle BM-24. Full salvo time is 6-8 with, for loading takes 3-4 minutes. Use as Coil BM-24T medium crawler chassis prime mover AT-C has a diesel engine in the power-54T 1275 HP. On the highway, this engine allows us to develop the highest speed 35 km / h, on rough terrain - 20 km / h. Cruising on the highway is 300 km.
Due tracked undercarriage BM-24T has a high cross-country. It overcomes rises with the angle 30 ° and the depth of the passages 1 m. On the march the whole calculation of the combat vehicle is placed in a closed cabin, equipped with fan, a fire extinguisher and radio. Transfer time machine from traveling to combat does not exceed 1.5-2.0 m. In the firing position cab window closed light armor shields. Due to the considerable weight of the combat vehicle (counting, ammunition and spare parts it is 16100 kg) its stability is ensured by firing and without the use of jacks. Estimating BM-24T overall, It should be noted, what, as well as many tracked vehicles, it has a lower, than its wheeled prototype, moving speed and a smaller reserve and limited lifespan. Its weight is almost twice the weight of the BM-24. However, all these drawbacks are largely offset by a high cross, allowing the right time to support the advancing armored units powerful fire.
The performance characteristics of the MLRS BM-24T
The caliber of the projectile, mm……………………………………240
number Of Ways……………………………………………………..12
The highest velocity of the projectile, m / s………………………. 280—600
production time volley, from……………………………………….6—8
firing range, m……………………………………6575—16000
The highest elevation angle, city………………………………+50
Horizontal angle of fire, city……………………………..180
Weight, kg:
missile…………………………112,5—109.0
launcher…………………………………..14118,0
Photo RSZO BM-24
