RM-51
Appearance
	
	
| RM-51 multiple rocket launcher | |
|---|---|
|  RM-51, mounted on ZIL-157 truck, displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Sofia, Bulgaria. | |
| Type | Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher | 
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia | 
| Service history | |
| In service | 1956–late 1990s | 
| Used by | See users | 
| Production history | |
| Designer | Škoda, Zbrojovka Brno and VTÚ | 
| Designed | 1949–1956 | 
| Manufacturer | Škoda | 
| Variants | vz. 51, M-51, R-2 | 
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7.575 tonnes | 
| Length | 7 m (23 ft 0 in) | 
| Width | 2.38 m (7 ft 10 in) | 
| Height | 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) | 
| Crew | 6 | 
| Caliber | Diameter: 130 mm (5.1 in) Length: .8 m (2 ft 7 in) Weight: 24.2 kg (53 lb)[1] | 
| Barrels | 32 (4 rows) | 
| Elevation | +50°/0° | 
| Traverse | 240° (120° left/right) | 
| Rate of fire | 32 rockets in 12.4 seconds (2 min. reloading time) | 
| Muzzle velocity | 420 m/s (1,400 ft/s) | 
| Maximum firing range | 8.2 km (5.1 mi) | 
| Main armament | ORNNG missiles with NZ-60V warhead | 
| Suspension | 6×6 wheeled | 
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) (road) 10 km/h (6.2 mph) (cross-country) | 
The RM-51 (Raketomet vzor 1951) multiple rocket launcher was a Czechoslovak Army alternative of the BM-13 multiple rocket launcher developed in the 1950s.
Variants
[edit]- vz. 51 – Original model, based on Praga V3S 6×6 truck.
- M-51 – Export version used by Austria, based on Steyr 680 M3 6×6 truck.
- RM-51 – Export variant, based on ZIS-151 and ZIL-157 6×6 trucks.
Operators
[edit] Austria – 18 delivered in 1974, designated M-51.[2] Austria – 18 delivered in 1974, designated M-51.[2]
 Bulgaria – 24 delivered in 1963.[3] Bulgaria – 24 delivered in 1963.[3]
 Democratic Republic of the Congo – 6 in service as of 2021.[4] Democratic Republic of the Congo – 6 in service as of 2021.[4]
 Indonesia – In 2012, Indonesian Army retrofitted their RM-51, including replacing the original Praga V3S truck with Reo M35A2 truck.[5][6] Indonesia – In 2012, Indonesian Army retrofitted their RM-51, including replacing the original Praga V3S truck with Reo M35A2 truck.[5][6]
 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
 Cuba – 20 delivered between 1965 and 1966.[3] Cuba – 20 delivered between 1965 and 1966.[3]
 Egypt – 50 delivered between 1957 and 1958.[3] Egypt – 50 delivered between 1957 and 1958.[3]
 Libya – 36 delivered between 1976 and 1977.[3] Libya – 36 delivered between 1976 and 1977.[3]
 Romania – 58 delivered between 1956 and 1965.[3] Designated R-2,[7] the launchers were later mounted on ZIL-157 trucks.[8] Romania – 58 delivered between 1956 and 1965.[3] Designated R-2,[7] the launchers were later mounted on ZIL-157 trucks.[8]
Gallery
[edit]- 
			
			Vintage vz. 51 on Praga V3S chassis
- 
			
			Egyptian vz. 51 during Six-Day War
- 
			
			Captured Egyptian vz. 51 at parade in Jerusalem, 1968
See also
[edit]- RM-70 multiple rocket launcher – the successor of RM-51
References
[edit]- ^ Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 157. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
- ^ "Bundesheer – TRUPPENDIENST – Ausgabe 1/2005 – Waffengattungen des Österreichischen Bundesheeres".
- ^ a b c d e "Stockholm International Peace Research Institute". Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 461. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ "UPAYA PEMANFAATAN KEMBALI SISTA RL ARMED 130 MM – Ditpal-tniad.mil.id". Ditpal-tniad.mil.id. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Artileria română în date și imagini, p. 136
- ^ Janes.com
- Christopher Chant, A compendium of armaments and military hardware, Routledge, 1987, ISBN 0-7102-0720-4
- Christopher F. Foss, Artillery of the World, ISBN 0-7110-0505-2
- Franklin D. Margiotta, Brassey's encyclopedia of land forces and warfare, Brassey's, 1996, ISBN 1-57488-087-X
- Stroea, Adrian, col. conf. univ. dr., Băjenaru, Gheorghe, lt. col, Artileria română în date și imagini, Editura Centrului Tehnic-Editorial al Armatei, București, 2010, ISBN 978-606-524-080-3
External links
[edit]Wikimedia Commons has media related to RM-51.
- Description and photos in Slovak Archived 2015-12-20 at the Wayback Machine
 
	


