BM-21 Grad

BM-21 Grad
Country	Soviet Union
Role	Multiple rocket launcher
In service	1963–present
Built	2000

The BM-21 “Grad” (Russian: БМ-21 “Град”, lit. ‘hail’) is a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher. The weapons system and the M-21OF rocket which it fires evolved in the early 1960s and saw their first combat use in March 1969 during the Sino-Soviet border conflict. BM stands for boyevaya mashina (Russian: боевая машина – combat vehicle), and the nickname grad means “hail”. The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket is designated as the M-21 field-rocket system

Source: BM-21 Grad on Wikipedia

BM-21 Grad on URAL 4320 Chassis Walk Around
Photographer	Yuri Pasholok
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	120

BM-21 Grad on URAL 4320 1

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BM-21 Grad on URAL 4320 9

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General Characteristics and Role

The BM-21 “Grad” (Russian for “hail”) is a Soviet-era 122 mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) designed to deliver large volumes of fire against enemy infantry, armored vehicles, artillery positions, and command posts. The system is mounted on a highly mobile Ural-4320 6×6 cross-country truck chassis. The combination is robust, relatively inexpensive to produce, and simple to operate, making it one of the most widely exported and utilized MLRS systems globally. It is designed to saturate a target area quickly, providing massive destructive power over a wide zone.

Property	Typical Value (BM-21 on Ural-4320)
Type	Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
National Origin	Soviet Union (currently Russia)
Service Entry	1963 (Original BM-21)
Chassis	Ural-4320 6×6 Military Truck
Crew	3-5 (Varies by user/version)
Length (Vehicle)	7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
Width (Vehicle)	2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Height (Launcher Stowed)	3.09 m (10 ft 2 in)
Weight (Combat Loaded)	Approx. 13.7 metric tons

Launch System and Performance

Launcher: 40 launch tubes (4 rows of 10) mounted on the rear of the truck.
Rocket Caliber: 122 mm.
Maximum Range: Standard rockets range from about 20 km to 27 km (12.4 to 17 miles), though modern variants can reach up to 40 km.
Firing Rate: A full salvo of 40 rockets can be fired in about 20 seconds.
Re-load Time: Manual reloading typically takes 5 to 10 minutes by a trained crew.
Engine (Ural-4320): KAMAZ-740.10 V8 diesel engine or similar.
Road Speed: Up to 85 km/h (53 mph).
Cross-Country Mobility: Excellent, thanks to the 6×6 all-wheel drive and high ground clearance of the Ural truck.

Ammunition and Impact

Standard Ammunition: High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-Frag) rockets (9M22 family).
Specialized Rounds: Can fire rounds with chemical, smoke, illumination, incendiary, and anti-tank mine-laying warheads.
Salvo Area: The 40-round salvo of a single BM-21 can effectively saturate a target area of approximately 700 meters by 700 meters, or about 32 acres.
Operational Doctrine: Typically deployed in batteries, where multiple launchers fire simultaneously to achieve devastating area saturation.