Artillery / Multiple rocket launchers / BMD-20

BMD-20

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Multiple rocket launcher

  • ORIGIN
    USSR

  • NICKNAMES
    8U33 (GRAU designation for launcher)
    MD-20 Shtorm-1 (nickname for missile)

  • DESIGNED
    1945 - 1951

  • DESIGNER
    GSKB Spetzmash

  • PRODUCTION
    1952 - late 1950's

  • PRODUCERS
    USSR

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Powerful warhead
    Limited production cost
    High rate of fire
    Mediocre range
    Limited accuracy
    Reloading take a long time

Introduction

The BMD-20 is an early Cold War era multiple rocket launcher of Soviet origin. It was developed shortly after the Cold War and was intended to bombard a large area at once. The BMD-20 was a powerful weapon but suffered from a number of drawbacks. Its accuracy was limited and it carried only four missiles which were difficult to reload.

Layout

The BMD-20 launch vehicle is based on a Zil-151 6x6 truck chassis which carries the designation 8U33. It carries four large MD-20F solid fuel rockets with 200mm diameter. The lattice type launcher can be raised and has a marginal traverse. The fin stabilized missiles are launched over the cab, demanding the vehicle to face the target direction. The windows of the driver's cab are protected by folding metal sheet covers. Two jacks at the rear of the chassis are lowered before firing to prevent damage to the chassis. The rockets are ripple fired in 6 seconds and take 6 to 10 minutes to reload.

Firepower

The BMD-20 was a very powerful artillery piece. The large artillery rockets have a 40 kg blast fragmentation warhead that create a crater 6 meters wide and 3 meters deep. The maximum range of the rockets is 18.750 meters. Dispersion of rockets was about 210 meters in range and 90 meters in traverse. Their limited accuracy made the BMD-20 only useful against area targets. Effectiveness was improved by using multiple launchers at the same time.

Mobility

The Zil-151 6x6 truck allows for a good mobility on road and reasonable cross country mobility. The petrol engine allows for a maximum speed of 60 km/h on roads. Emplacement time is about 2 minutes.

Users

The primary user of the BMD-20 was the Soviet military. It was used from 1951 until the mid 1970's. At that time it was replaced by the more potent BM-27 Uragan. Unlike other Soviet artillery weapons the BMD-20 was not widely exported. In Ethiopia the BDM-20 was used until the late 1980's. Nowadays it remains in active use with North Korea.

Variants

8U33

The 8U33 is the launch vehicle associated with the BMD-20 multiple rocket launcher. It is based on the Zil-151 truck. Some BMD-20 are based on the Zil-157. It is unknown if these are late production models or renovated models. The 8U33 is easily recognized by the 4 round lattice type launcher. Out of the 6 crewmembers 3 are seated in the cab and 3 outside behind the cab.

  • Specifications:
  • 8U33
TypeMultiple rocket launcher
Crew6 (commander, driver, gunner, 3 loaders)
Length7.54 m
Width2.30 m
Height2.85 m (travelling)
Ground clearance0.25 m
Weight8.7 t combat load
Ground pressure?
WheelbaseWheeled chassis, 6x6
Turn radius?
EnginePetrol engine, 92 hp
Power ratio10.6 hp/t
TransmissionManual
Speed60 km/h on road
Fuel?
Range520 km on road
Wall0.5 m
Trench0.6 m
Gradient28% slope
Fording0.8 m
ArmorNo
NBC equipmentNo
Night visionNo
SmokeNo
Remarks-
Armament200mm MD-20 Shtorm-1 rocket (4x)
Weapon1200mm MD-20 Shtorm-1 rocket
4 rounds, all ready to fire
+9 to +60° elevation
limited traverse
Weapon2-
Weapon3-
Weapon4-
Weapon5-
Weapon6-

MD-20 Shtorm-1

The MD-20 Shtorm-1 is the rocket associated with the BMD-20. The GRAU index of the rocket is 53-F-951. The rockets are fin-stabilized, solid fuel powered and feature 7 nozzles. It is believed only a single type of warhead was available. This is a 30 kg HE-Frag warhead with impact fuze.

TypeArtillery rocket
Diameter0.16 m body, 0.20 m wingspan
Length3.049 m
Weight194 kg
GuidanceUnguided, ballistic flight
Warhead30.1 kg HE-Frag warhead with impact fuze
PropulsionSingle-stage solid propellant rocket motor
Speed590 m/s
Range18.75 km
Altitude-
Engagement envelopeDispersion is 1/90 of range and 1/200 in traverse.
Remarks-

Copyright © 2002 - 2014 Weaponsystems.net