"Introduced in the early 1950s, the BMD-20 Storm MLRS has managed to maintain an existence even today with a select few global operators including North Korea."
Success in using self-propelled, wheeled or tracked, rocket-projecting vehicles against the Germans during World War 2 (1939-1945) prompted the Soviet Union to continue development of such weapons into the post-war years. In 1947, a new system was developed and adopted in 1952 as the "BMD-20". The design consisted of the ZiS-151A military truck (three-axled, 6x6 wheeled) mated to a four-rocket launcher component firing the MD-20F series surface-to-surface battlefield rocket. The type was eventually exported to several Soviet-allied nations including Cuba and North Korea.
As fielded, the vehicle weighed 8.7 tons and sported an overall length of 7.2 meters with a width of 2.3 meters and a height of 2.8 meters. Drive power was supplied by a gasoline-fueled engine of 92 horsepower output allowing for road speeds up to 60 kmh with road ranges reaching 520 kilometers. The basic truck design held the engine in a forward compartment as part of the enclosed cab. A crew of eight was typically assigned to the functions of the vehicle.
Over the rear of the truck was set the rocket-launching section atop a trainable mounting. This component fitted four ready-to-fire rockets of 200mm caliber weighing 195 kilograms. Range of these weapons was 19 kilometers and the full lot could be released in under five seconds with reloading taking just as long. Resupply was managed by accompanying vehicles.
The North Korean Army is still known to field the BMD-20 series MLRS vehicles despite their Cold War-era status. These vehicles are believed to rely on the ZiL-157 series military truck instead of the original ZiS-151A series models.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the BMD-20 (Storm-1) 6x6 Wheeled Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
1 x Gasoline-fueled engine of unknown make and model developing 92 horsepower. Installed Power
37 mph 60 kph Road Speed
323 miles 520 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the BMD-20 (Storm-1) 6x6 Wheeled Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
8 (MANNED) Crew
23.6 ft 7.2 meters O/A Length
7.5 ft 2.3 meters O/A Width
9.4 ft 2.85 meters O/A Height
19,180 lb 8,700 kg | 9.6 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the BMD-20 (Storm-1) 6x6 Wheeled Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
4 x 200mm MD-20F rockets
AMMUNITION: 4 x 200mm surface-to-surface rockets; variable warheads available; reloads dependent upon resupply vehicles.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the BMD-20 (Storm-1) family line.
BMD-20 - Base Series Designation
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the BMD-20 (Storm-1). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 4,000 Units Contractor(s): State Factories - Soviet Union
[ Cuba; Ethiopia; North Korea; Soviet Union ]
Going Further... The BMD-20 (Storm-1) 6x6 Wheeled Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) appears in the following collections:
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