M-63 Plamen

M-63 Plamen
M-63 Plamen
	; M-94 Plamen S of SLF
Type	Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Specifications
Crew	7
Primary; armament	128mm x 32

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The M-63 "Plamen" (M-63 "Plamen"/М-63 "Пламен") is the first Yugoslav made multiple rocket launcher. Development of this system started in 1958, and it was finished in 1963 when Yugoslav Peoples Army ordered prototype of M-63 "Plamen" multiple rocket launchers and first set of "Plamen-A" rockets. Later the "Plamen-B" rocket with new, more destructive warhead was developed, and "Plamen-S" rocket with greater range.

Professor Obrad Vucurovic, Mechanical Engineering time, Chief operating officer of the Artillery department of Military Technical Institute as project manager and chief engineer, developed and managed construction and production of MRL M-63 "Plamen"

MRL M-63 "Plamen" main purpose is support of front-line units, with strong and sudden attacks on enemy forces. It can be also used against enemy structures such as encampments, airfields, industrial facilities, command centers, communication centers, storehouses, etc.

The M-63 Plamen consists of 32 Ø128mm tubes, which are firing partly-destructive and training rockets in range 8600m (12625m - "Plamen-S" rocket). The effect of each rocket on the target is equivalent to the effect of a 105mm artillery shell. All 32 rockets can be fired in either 6.4, 12.5 or 19.2 seconds. The launcher is mounted on a single axle trailer which can be towed by vehicles with a 800mm high tow hitch. The towing vehicle carries reserve rockets, so the battle complement is 64 missiles. The system is manned by 7 soldiers.

This system was used en masse during the Yugoslav wars.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Yugoslavia/Serbia

M-63 "Plamen" - Original towed 32 pipe 128mm multiple rocket launcher.
M-71 "Partizan" - Man portable single pipe 128mm rocket launcher, used by infantry.
M-94 "Plamen-S" - Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher intended for impact, sudden and quick fire assaults against personnel and non-armored vehicles. It appeared as a result of merging of the launching device and towing vehicle for the M-63 128 mm MRL system by adding some newly designed assemblies. The "Plamen-S" fires two types of missiles: the M-63 "Plamen-A" (with a range of 8600m) and the M-87 "Plamen-D" (with a range 12625m). The launcher is mounted on the TAM-150 T11 BV 6x6 military truck.
M-63 "Plamen-R" - The 128mm MRL with eight pipes mounted on the Russian-made UAZ-469 army jeep. Only a prototype version made.

[edit] Croatia

RAK-12 - Croatian made towed multiple rocket launcher with twelve 128mm pipes.^{[citation needed]} The launcher fires two types of rockets: M 91 (range 8500m) and M 93 (range 13000m).^{[citation needed]} The Croatian amry is operates 8 RAK-12 MRLs with some 60 held in reserve.^{[citation needed]}
LOV RAK-24 - Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher with twenty-four 128mm pipes.^{[citation needed]} The MRL is mounted on Croatian made light armored personnel carrier LOV.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Operators

Croatia 200 M-63 Plamen^{[citation needed]} and 4 M-94 Plamen-S^{[citation needed]}
Serbia - 18 M-94 Plamen-S (some 80 Plamen-B towed MLRS in reserve)^[1]
Bosnia and Herzegovina - 40
Republic of Macedonia - 12 (in reserve)