The Soviet Army found tremendous value in the relatively inexpensive wheeled self-propelled rocket projector, perhaps more so than any other participating military power of World War 2 (1939-1945). Such weapons provided a much-needed shock value against enemy forces and preceded a major offensive alongside huge barrages of artillery fire. The various "Katyusha" systems - BM-8, BM-13 and BM-31 - fulfilled this role during the conflict and their designs revolved around adoption of an existing 6x6 wheeled truck chassis with cab and flatbed mating a limited traverse rocket-launching platform. Following the close of the war in 1945, thought was given to a new generation of similar vehicles and one such development became the "BM-24" series. Today, weapons belonging to this class are categorized under the "MLRS" designation - "Multiple Launch Rocket System" - their primary purpose remaining shock value and saturation of target areas at range.
The BM-24 followed the same design form and function as the BM offerings before it. The launcher component was a rather simplistic steel cage consisting of 12 x 240mm rockets, each capable of holding warheads (including chemical) to suite the mission need. The original vehicle of choice was the multi-purpose ZiS-151 6x6 series featuring a single forward axle and two rear axles. The cab held enough room for up to three persons including the driver (a typical crew numbered six). Power was supplied through a 5.6L ZiS-121 6-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Production of the truck model began in 1947 and spanned into 1958 out of Automotive Factory No. 2 in Moscow - Zavod Imeni Stalina (hence the "ZiS" designation). In 1956, this factory was handed a new name - "Zavod Imeni Likhacheva" - and, thusly, the designation of the truck appropriately changed to "ZiL-151". ZiL-151 marks were eventually superseded by the ZiL-157 series if 1958.
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March 2023 - It has been reported that the Russian Army has brought some of its aging, retired stock of Katyusha 6x6 vehicles back into service for fighting in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
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.
22.0 ft (6.7 meters) Length
7.5 ft (2.3 meters) Width
9.5 ft (2.91 meters) Height
20,283 lb (9,200 kg) Weight
10.1 tons (Light-class) Tonnage
1 x ZiL-151 6-cylinder water-cooled, gasoline-fueled engine developing 109 horsepower driving conventional 6x6 all-wheel arrangement. Drive System
40 mph (65 kph) Road Speed
267 miles (430 km) Road Range
12 x 240mm M-24FUD rockets (HE, Smoke, Chemical) by way of launcher rails over rear of carrier vehicle.
AMMUNITION
Dependent upon ammunition carrier. Various warhead types.
BM-24 - Base Series Designation; launcher fitted to rear of ZiL-151 6x6 utility truck.
BM-24T - Tracked version mating launcher to AT-S artillery mover.
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