BM-14
- TYPE
Multiple rocket launcher - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
2B2 (nickname for BM-14M)
2B2R (nickname for BM-14MM)
8U35 (nickname for BM-14-17)
8U38 (nickname for RPU-14)
WP-8 (Polish production RPU-14) - DESIGNED
Late 1940's - DESIGNER
Unknown - PRODUCTION
1952 - late 1960's - PRODUCERS Poland USSR
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS Better range and firepower than BM-13 Low cost and complexity Reasonable mobility Limited range and accuracy Lacks any kind of protection
USSR
Poland
Better range and firepower than BM-13
Limited range and accuracyThe BM-14 is a series of multiple rocket launchers of Soviet origin. The BM-14 was developed in the late 1940's to replace the famous BM-13 and its design was partly inspired by the German Nebelwerfer.
The BM-14 is a conventional design, usually consisting of two rows of eight launch tubes. Aiming is done with an indirect fire sight attached to the launcher. The rockets feature solid propellant, are spin stabilized and do not feature wings. Several types of warheads are available.
All BM-14 launchers feature 16 or 17 launch tubes for the same family of 140mm M-140 rockets. They can be ripple fired in 10 seconds and have a range of 9.5 km. The accuracy is limited due to the lack of wings. The warhead types include HE-Frag, smoke and chemical.
All BM-14 launchers do not feature any protection from direct and indirect fire or NBC threats. The launcher is operated, fired and reloaded outside the vehicle.
The BM-14 launcher has been fitted to four types of 4x4 and 6x6 military trucks, providing it with good mobility on roads and reasonable mobility in the field. The RPU-14 is a towed version which is usually towed by jeeps or light trucks. It can also be manhandled over short distances in the field.
The BM-14 was adopted by Soviet forces, various Warsaw Pact nations and many Soviet allies in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. They have been used in various conflicts, but most have been replaced by the later and more capable BM-21 Grad. Nowadays the BM-14 is considered obsolete and hardly any remain in service.
BM-14-16: Original version with 16 launch tubes on Zil-151 6x6 truck. Introduced in 1952.
BM-14M: Improved BM-14-16 based on Zil-157 6x6 truck. Introduced in 1958.
BM-14MM: A 16 round launcher mounted on a Zil-131 6x6 chassis. Introduced in 1959.
- Specifications:
- BM-14-16
Type Multiple rocket launcher Crew 7 Length 6.92 m Width 2.3 m Height 3.17 m Ground clearance 0.27 m Weight 8.4 t combat load Ground pressure ? Wheelbase Wheeled chassis, 6x6, 8.25 x20 tires, 3.67 + 1.22 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track Turn radius ? Engine ZIL-121 6-cylinder petrol, 92 hp Power ratio 11.0 hp/t Transmission Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse Speed 60 km/h Fuel 300 L Range 600 km Wall 0.6 m Trench 0.7 m Gradient 50% gradient Fording 0.8 m Armor No NBC equipment No Night vision No Smoke No Remarks - Armament 140mm BM-14 rocket launcher (16x) Weapon1 140mm BM-14 16-round rocket launcher
16 rounds, all ready to fire
0 to +52° elevation
140° left and 60° right traverse
non-stabilizedWeapon2 - Weapon3 - Weapon4 - Weapon5 - Weapon6 -
BM-14-17: A 17 round launcher mounted on a GAZ-69A 4x4 truck. Introduced in 1959.
BM-14-17M: A 17 round launcher mounted on a GAZ-66 4x4 truck.
- Specifications:
- BM-14-17
Type Multiple rocket launcher Crew 6 Length 5.41 m Width 1.99 m Height 2.25 m Ground clearance 0.27 m Weight 4.6 t combat load Ground pressure ? Wheelbase Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 10.00 x18 tires, 3.3 m wheelbase, 1.6 m track Turn radius ? Engine GAZ-51A 6-cylinder petrol, 70 hp at 2.800 rpm Power ratio 15.3 hp/t Transmission Manual, 4 forward, 1 reverse Speed 65 km/h Fuel 195 L Range 650 km Wall 0.5 m Trench ? Gradient 50% gradient Fording 0.8 m Armor No NBC equipment No Night vision No Smoke No Remarks - Armament 140mm BM-14 rocket launcher (17x) Weapon1 140mm BM-14 17-round rocket launcher
17 rounds, all ready to fire
0 to +52° elevation
145° left and 65° right traverse
non-stabilizedWeapon2 - Weapon3 - Weapon4 - Weapon5 - Weapon6 -
RPU-14: Towed version with 16 launch tubes in a four by four pack mounted on a two wheel chassis.
WP-8: Polish version with 8 launch tubes.
- Specifications:
- RPU-14
- WP-8
Type Multiple rocket launcher Crew 5 Ordnance 140mm M-14 rocket (16x) Elevation 0 to +48° Traverse 30° total Rate of fire ? Range depends on ammunition Carriage 2 wheel split trail carriage, 6.50 x20 tires, 1.45 m track, 0.32 m ground clearance Weight 1.835 kg (loaded) Length 4.04 m Width 1.8 m Height 1.6 m Towing vehicle 4x4 light truck Speed - Remarks -
Type Multiple rocket launcher Crew 5 Ordnance 140mm M-14 rocket (8x) Elevation -12 to +47° Traverse 28° total Rate of fire ? Range depends on ammunition Carriage 2 wheel split trail carriage, 0.25 m ground clearance Weight 370 kg (empty), 688 kg (loaded) Length 3.29 m Width 1.63 m Height 1.2 m Towing vehicle 4x4 light truck Speed - Remarks -
M-14OF: Standard M-14 rocket with HE-Frag warhead, introduced in 1952.
M-14D: M-14 rocket with smoke and incendiary warhead, introduced in 1955.
M-14KChR: M-14 rocket with chemical warhead, introduced in 1955.
- Specifications:
- M-14OF
- M-14D
- M-14KChR
Type Artillery rocket Diameter 140 mm body, no wings Length 1.092 m Weight 39.6 kg Guidance Unguided, ballistic flight Warhead HE-Frag, 18.8 kg Propulsion Solid propellant rocket motor Speed 402 m/s max Range 3.8 km minimum, 9.8 km maximum Altitude - Engagement envelope - Remarks -
Type Artillery rocket Diameter 140 mm body, no wings Length 1.051 m Weight 40.3 kg Guidance Unguided, ballistic flight Warhead Smoke, 0.3 kg HE plus 3.6 kg white phosphorus Propulsion Solid propellant rocket motor Speed 402 m/s max Range 3.8 km minimum, 10.1 km maximum Altitude - Engagement envelope - Remarks -
Type Artillery rocket Diameter 140 mm body, no wings Length 1.050 m Weight 39.1 kg Guidance Unguided, ballistic flight Warhead Chemical, 18.3 kg Propulsion Solid propellant rocket motor Speed 402 m/s max Range 3.8 km minimum, 9.8 km maximum Altitude - Engagement envelope - Remarks -
Media
The RPU-14 has been supplemented in many third world nations with the newer and lighter Chinese Type 63.
Go to Type 63
Most BM-14 have been replaced by the newer and more capable BM-21 Grad system.
Go to BM-21 Grad
