M-77 Oganj
| M-77 Oganj | |
|---|---|
 M-77 Oganj of the Serbian Army | |
| Type | Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin |  Yugoslavia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1977-present |
| Wars | Yugoslav Wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Military Technical Institute Belgrade  Serbia |
| Designed | 1968-1975 |
| Manufacturer | Bratstvo Novi Travnik Bosnia and Herzegovina, Krusik Valjevo Serbia , IMK 14. oktobar Kruševac Serbia |
| Produced | 1975 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 22.4 tonnes (49,383 lbs) |
| Length | 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Cartridge | Length: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) Weight: 65 kg (143 lb) Warhead: 20 kg (44 lb) |
| Caliber | 128 mm (5.0 in) |
| Barrels | 32 |
| Maximum firing range | 20 km (12 mi) |
Secondary armament | NSV or M2 Browning machine gun |
| Maximum speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
The M-77 Oganj is a 128mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher developed in the former Yugoslavia. NATO designation is the YMRL-32
Development
Development started in 1968. Prof. Obrad Vucurević, Mechanical Engineer at the time, and Chief operating officer of the Artillery department of Military Technical Institute Belgrade, developed and managed construction and production of the M-77 Oganj.[1]
The 6 pre-serial production version, based on a FAP 2220 6x6 truck, was shown to the public for the first time in 1975. Serial production started two years later. The M-77 is mounted on FAP 2026 BDS/A 6x6 truck bed. The rocket system is placed on the back of the platform with 32 128mm launch tubes capable of reaching targets 20,600 metres away. The crew consists of five men.[2]In 1994 Serbia developed new version called Oganj C with designation M94. Oganj C(M94) could fire two type of rockets M91 (cluster-type warhead with 40 submunition grenades) and M77 (HE warhead). Other feature was design that it is caring reload rocket pack of 32 additional rockets that allows the launcher to be reloaded within 3 minutes for second salvo.
Unique features
One of unique features of Oganj M-77 is movable canvas that allows him to be easy masked and became very hard to be noticed by enemy until it is combat position and ready to fire. In that way it can be used to misled enemy and it is effective way of Military deception. Originally invented in 1977 by Military Technical Institute Belgrade that system saw latter use in China Type 90A Type 90B and PR50 MLRS. This feature was latter copied by other Multiple rocket launcher manufacturers and designers.
Modernization
Military Technical Institute Belgrade on demand from Serbia army has produced modernization program for Oganj M-77. Fixed barrels will be replaced with container system similar like LRSVM Morava and it will include modern navigation and fire control system. Containers will allow Oganj to use many different rockets including 107mm, Plamen 128mm, Grad 122mm and Oganj 128mm. As part of modernization new rocket 128mm with range of 50km and better CEP will be produced by Krušik Valjevo.
Operators
Current operators
Bosnia and Herzegovina - 36
Croatia - 12 (phased out, to be reactivated in 2015, uses 122 mm rockets)
Serbia - 130
Former operators
Yugoslavia - passed on to successor states
See also
Related development
Comparable systems
Compatibile with
- LRSVM Morava New developed MLRS for Serbia Army and export intended to replace or complement Oganj M-77, Plamen M-63 and Grad BM-21
References
- ^ Obrad Vucurović Archived March 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ M-77 at FAS.org
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