BM-24 Soviet 240 mm MRL photos (plus a request)

[Mark L]

I've been searching the web for photos of BM-24 and it's variants and found some interesting pics.
I wasn't able to locate any decent photos of the rocket however. If anyone can post any I'd be very grateful.

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/katyusha/katyusha_s.gif

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/bm24.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/katyusha/katyusha.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/katyusha/katyusha_2.jpg

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/katyusha/katyusha_b2.jpg

http://home.att.net/~georgekrejci/Images/Rocket.jpg

[Racer-X]

Actually .. 3rd, 4th and 5th pictures show captured BM-24 vehicles by Israeli army... Check the soldiers' outfit.

Seen these pictures before..

[Mark L]

As can be seen in the URL the images are stored at, most are from:
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/katyusha/Katyusha.html
(got it when I googled "240mm rockets")

As for the model, you are correct, as I said in the original post - this is regarding BM-24 and it's variants.

Here's some information from the source of the photos:


The BM-24 is the Soviet Katyusha, Soviet Army was equipped with BM-24 after WWII. The BM-24 multiple launch rocket system fired the powerful M-24F 240mm rockets, each carrying 27,4 kg of the explosive. In addition to the M-24F, the system could also fire the M-24FUD, having the lighter 18,4 kg shell, but with a longer 10.6 km range. The system had 12 launch tubes located on a rotary frame, disposed on a stub pole at the vehicle rear. The lining and turning mechanisms were hand driven. The cabin and fuel tanks were protected from rocket's exhaust by steel skin plates. Two jacks were set against the soil before shooting to discharge the back axles springs and to stabilize the platform. The 95 hp engine permitted the BM-24 to reach a speed 55 kph on the highway and to have a range of up to 600 km.

Israel developed Israeli version of the Katyusha from the Soviet Katyusha the BM-24, that were captured from arabs in the Six Day War (1967). They were in two battallions in Yom Kippur War (1973) and later in Peace For Galilee (1982). Israeli Katyusha were success, and later the Sherman was used by the IDF as a multy-purpose platform carrier. Among others, the launcher of 240mm rockets was mounted, similar to those fired by the famous Soviet Katyusha.

The first paragraph seems to have been copied from FAS.ORG.

[Racer-X]

More information about the type of rockets used ...

http://www.wio.ru/galgrnd/rocket/rocket.htm

[Mark L]

Thanks ! This is rather interesting.
Have you got any other links like the one you posted ?

[Racer-X]

Not yet ...

When I saw this post, it caught my interest so I began browsing the Internet.

At this moment I'm downloading a movie about the legendary Russian Katyusha. Should be interesting. Consists 2 parts..(> 700 Mb)
Could take a while... :|

[Mark L]

All of the historic rocket systems are interesting, but the BM-24 seems to be somewhat elusive, being less popular than the older BM-13 Katyusha and the more modern Grad and Uragan.
The BM-24 seems to have fallen between, so I can't find any information and images of the system, and the rockets. The rocket design is rather unusual compared to the Grad and the Uragan, for example. It is significantly shorter and wider, seems harder to stabilize in flight when compared to the modern, higher-range, slim-looking rockets.

If you come across anything of interest regarding the 240 mm rockets, I'd appreciate it if you could post it. Thanks.