Artillery / Multiple rocket launchers / Valkiri
Valkiri
General Facts
- TYPE
Multiple rocket launcher - ORIGIN
South Africa - NICKNAMES
Bateleur (South African Army designation for Valkiri Mk II)
Chindungu (UNITA nickname)
Multiple Artillery Rocket System / MARS - DESIGNED
1977 - 1981 (Mk I)
1985 - 1989 (Mk II) - DESIGNER
Somchem - PRODUCTION
1982 - ? (Mk I)
1990 - ? (Mk II) - PRODUCERS
South Africa - QUANTITY
25 (Mk I)
16 (Mk II) - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Longer range than BM-21
Good accuracy
Expensive
Introduction
The Valkiri is a multiple rocket launcher of South African origin. The design is based on the Soviet BM-21 Grad, but was slightly improved in order to counter it from longer distances. Valkiri is Afrikaans for Valkyrie. The product improved Valkiri Mk II is known as Bateleur, which is a type of bird of prey.
Layout
The Valkiri system exists in two versions. The original Mk I is based on an Unimog 4x4 truck and is fitted with a 24 round launcher. The product improved Mk II is based on a SAMIL-100 6x6 truck with armored cab and it has a 40 round launcher.
Firepower
The Valkiri is fitted with a 24 round launcher for the 127mm unguided and spin stabalized rockets. The effective range is 22 km and the rate of fire is one rocket per second. The Mk II is fitted with a 40 round launcher that is also able to fire longer range rockets with a maximum range of 36 km.
Protection
The Mk I is based on an unarmored vehicle. A tarpaulin cover can be fitted over the launcher to disguise it as a normal truck. The Mk II protects the crew from mines, small arms fire and shell splinters. In both versions the crew is exposed during firing and reloading.
Mobility
Both versions of the Valkiri are mounted on a cross country truck, allowing for adequate mobility in the bush and on the road.
Users
The Valkiri Mk I and Mk II are both in use with the South African army. The Valkiri was offered for export and demonstrated abroad but no orders were placed.
Valkiri
The original Valkiri is based on the Unimog 4x4 truck chassis. It is a small vehicle and when fitted with a tarpaulin cover it looks like an ordinaray Unimog truck as used in the South African army. Two outriggers are placed at the rear and are lowered before firing. The Valkiri Mk I can only fire the original shorter range rockets.
- Specifications:
- Valkiri
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (commander, driver) |
Length | 5.35 m |
Width | 2.3 m |
Height | 2.32 m |
Ground clearance | 0.3 m |
Weight | 6.4 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Unimog 4x4 truck, 12.50 x20 tires |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | V6 diesel, 99 hp at 2.800 rpm |
Power ratio | 15.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | 2x 4 gear shift |
Speed | 90 km/h |
Fuel | 90 L |
Range | 400 km |
Wall | 0.35 m |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | 30% gradient |
Fording | 0.6 m |
Armor | No |
NBC equipment | No |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 127mm Valkiri Mk I (24x) |
Weapon1 | 127mm Valkiri Mk I launcher 24 rounds, all ready to fire, 1 rpm 110 degrees traverse -0 to +50° elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Bateleur
The Bateleur, also known as the Valkiri Mk II, is the product improved version of the original Valkiri. It is based on the SAMIL-100 truck and has been fitted with an armored and mine protected cab. Two hydraulic stabalizers are fitted at the rear and are lowered before firing. The Bateleur fires longer range 127mm rockets, but is also able to fire the original 127mm rockets.
- Specifications:
- Bateleur
Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
---|---|
Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
Length | 9.3 m |
Width | 2.35 m |
Height | 3.4 m |
Ground clearance | 0.35 m |
Weight | 21.5 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | SAMIL-100 6x6 truck, 16.00 x20 run flat tires |
Turn radius | ? |
Engine | V10 diesel, 315 hp at 2.500 rpm |
Power ratio | 14.7 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Automatic, 5 speed |
Speed | 93 km/h |
Fuel | 400 L |
Range | 800 km at 80 km/h |
Wall | 0.5 m |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | 35% gradient |
Fording | 1.2 m |
Armor | Steel, mine proof cab |
NBC equipment | ? |
Night vision | No |
---|---|
Smoke | No |
Remarks | - |
Armament | 127mm Valkiri Mk II (40x) 7.62mm MAG machine gun |
Weapon1 | 127mm Valkiri Mk II launcher 40 rounds, all ready to fire, 2 rpm 110 degrees traverse -0 to +50° elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm MAG machine gun on cabin roof manual traverse and elevation non-stabilized |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |