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9K58 Smerch

The 9K58 Smerch 300 mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) was developed in the early 80's by the Splav State Research and Production Association and entered service with the Russian Army in 1988. The launch vehicle is based on the MAZ-543M 8 x 8 wheeled truck on which is mounted a 12 tube launcher. The launcher is capable of single or salvo firing, and a Smerch unit typically consists of six launchers and six transloaders. The transloader wheeled truck carries 12 rockets, and reloads the launch vehicle by a hydraulic crane. Smerch fires the 300 mm 9M55K solid propellant rocket with a range between 20 km and 70 km. The 9M55K rocket carries either a separable unitary warhead, a warhead containing 72 HE-FRAG (High Explosive Fragmentation) submunitions or a warhead containing five Bazalt MOTIV-3F anti-armor "smart" submunitions.

Specifications

Crew 4
Caliber 300 mm
FIRING RANGE  
Maximum 70 km
Minimum 20 km
Full ripple duration 38 seconds
Number of launch tubes 12
Basic rocket weight 800 kg
Warhead weight 235 kg
Launch vehicle weight 43 tons
Minimum reload time 36 minutes
Transloader carried rockets 12

Sources and Methods


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http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/9k58.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Saturday, June 19, 1999 6:37:33 AM