A bulk of North Korean ground-based firepower is tied up in self-propelled, towed and rocket-projected artillery systems. The M-1991 falls into the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) class of weapons and has been in service since the late-1980s / early-1990s. Inspired by the truck-based rocket projecting vehicles of the Soviet-era, the M-1991 is a locally-produced wheeled system and marks one of the farther-reaching rocket launchers in North Korean Army service.
The M-1991 succeeded the M-1985 series vehicles. It utilizes a 6x6 heavy-duty military-grade truck chassis complete with enclosed forward cab. Over the rear of the vehicle is set the launching component atop a trainable mounting. 22 x 240mm battlefield rockets (surface-to-surface) are set in a three-layered tube arrangement on this launcher. Each rocket can be equipped with various warheads to suit a specific battlefield role. The standard fitting is a High-Explosive, FRAGmentation (HE-FRAG) form suitable for use against "soft" targets like troop concentrations and light-armored vehicles. Alternatively, the warhead may take the form of chemical or incendiary to produce nastier effects upon the recipients.
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The rockets hold a range from 40 to 60 kilometers with the launcher able to clear the 22 rocket load in just forty-four seconds. This makes the M-1991 one of the more potent rocket assault vehicles in the North Korean inventory behind the KN-09 series.
The truck-based chassis provides some off-road mobility and good ground clearance but holds origins in a Cold War design of foreign origination. A diesel-fueled unit powers the three axles and provides a road speed maximum of 80 kmh with a road range out to 800 kilometers. Fording is possible up to 1.2 meter depths due to the vehicle's inherently high stance.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Fire Support / Assault / Breaching
Support allied forces through direct / in-direct fire, assault forward positions, and / or breach fortified areas of the battlefield.
✓Special Purpose
Special purpose design developed to accomplish an equally-special battlefield role or roles.
Powerplant:
1 x Diesel-fueled engine of unknown make, model and output rating.
22 x 240mm rockets held in launcher tube component (trainable mounting).
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
22 x Rockets in standard pack fitting; reloads provided by accompanying resupply vehicles; variable warheads to include HE-FRAG, incendiary and chemical types.
M-1991 - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
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