Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
| Type 63 107mm rocket launcher | |
|---|---|
 Type 63 rocket launcher | |
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  People's Republic of China |
| Wars | 2011 Libyan civil war, Afghanistan war, Afghan civil war |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1961 |
| Manufacturer | State Factory 847 |
| Produced | 1963 - ? |
| Variants | Type 81 SP version on truck |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 602 kg (1,327 lb) |
| Length | 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Width | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Height | 0.91 m (3 ft) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Shell | HE, HE-I and HE-frag |
| Caliber | 106.7mm |
| Elevation | -3° to +57° |
| Traverse | 32° |
| Muzzle velocity | 385 m/s (1,260 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 8.05 km (5 mi) |
The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s, based on the Soviet BM-12 MRS[1] and using similar rockets. Although no longer serving with active infantry units, the Type 63 is still in People's Liberation Army service with specialized formations such as mountain infantry units and special forces detachments.[2] The Type 63 was widely used in the PLA until the late 1980s. It was adopted as the successor of the Type 50-5 of 102mm.
China has also developed a Type 63 multiple rocket launcher of 130mm.
Description
The launcher's 12 tubes are arranged in three removable rows of four each, mounted on single-axle carriage with rubber tires and split poles. The Type 63 originally fired a 18.8 kilogram rocket Type 63-2[3] with a 1.3 kilogram warhead.[4] Ammunition for the Type 63 was later improved (Type 75 and Type 81 series), although the overall weight of the rocket remained the same.[2] A fixed amount of propellant is contained in the rocket motor. The rocket is stabilized with a slow spin and can be launched even without the launcher.
The Type 63 was distributed on the basis of six per infantry regiment, or 18 per infantry division.[5] For airborne and mountain units the lighter Type 63-I was developed.[6]
Both the Type 63 and its copies can be mounted on different kinds of armoured and unarmoured vehicles, for example the MT-LB, the HMMWV, the Mamba, the RG-32 Scout, the GAZ-66 and the M113.
Licence versions
The Type 63 and its rockets are license-built in several countries including:
- Sudan - Taka.[7]
- Iran - Fajr-1 of D.I.O. with Haseb-1 rocket.[8]
- South Africa - RO 107 of Mechem Developments.[9]
- North Korea - Type 75.
- Turkey - T-107 of MKEK with rockets TR-107 "Anadolu" and TRB-107.
- Egypt - RL812/TLC of the Helwan Machinery and Equipment Factory (Factory 999).[10][11]
Variants
Multiple rocket launchers
- The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck.
- North Korea has developed versions with 18 and 24 launch tubes that are mounted on vehicles such as the tracked VTT-323 or the wheeled M1992.
- Roketsan of Turkey has designed an improved 107mm multiple rocket launch system, consisting of a HMMWV with two 12-round launch modules and a fire control system. The system uses the TR-107 and TRB-107 rockets but the range has been increased to 11km.[12]
Single-tube rocket launchers
A number of countries have developed single-tube, man-portable rocket launchers that fire the same type of rockets:
- China: Type 85 with an empty weight of 22.5 kg.[13]
- Egypt: PRL-81
- South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg.[14].
Operators
The Type 63 has been exported to many countries including:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Cambodia
- Djibouti
- Iraq
- Libya
- Myanmar
- Nicaragua
- Sudan
- Syria
- Vietnam
- Zimbabwe
Notes
- ^ Jalali; Ali Ahmad, & Grau; Lester W., (2002), Afghan guerrilla warfare: in the words of the Mujahideen fighters, Zenith Imprint, pg. 407, ISBN 0760313229
- ^ a b sinodefence.com
- ^ JAA, p. 594.
- ^ fas.org
- ^ JAA, p. 593.
- ^ http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-63-r.htm
- ^ MIC page on Taka
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/Aerospace-Industries-Organization-107-mm-12-round-Fadjr-1-multiple-rocket-launcher-system-Iran.html
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/Mechem-Developments-107-mm-RO-107-12-round-towed-multiple-rocket-launcher-system-South-Africa.html
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/107-mm-12-round-RL812-TLC-multiple-rocket-launcher-Egypt.html
- ^ http://fact999.momp.gov.eg/Ar/MilProductDetials.aspx?pro=hMF/Ihxili5ZUAKbNEFn0Iu8g1ve7yeLfUVhTAlV1yw=#
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/International-Defence-Review-2005/Roketsan-considers-feasibility-of-shore-bombardment-system.html
- ^ http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-63-r.htm
- ^ http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/Mechem-Developments-107-mm-Inflict-single-tube-rocket-launcher-South-Africa.html
References
- (JAA) Jane's Armour and Artillery 1981-82, Christopher Foss (ed.), London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0727-X.
External links
- OrData report on 107-mm rocket projectile
- GlobalSecurity on the Type 63 and Type 81
- Mao’s Rockets and the Eastern Afghan Border War, Part I Part II Part III, article series about the use of Type 63 rockets in Afghanistan.
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