Soviet tanks with rockets

Inspired by a chat with Oli.

I know that many Western Allied tanks were fitted with rockets - from the huge multi-tube launchers positioned over the turret of some American Shermans to the addition of a couple of aircraft rockets to some British-owned tanks (Shermans again!).

However, what about the Russians?

Apparently, tests were undertaken in fitting rockets to T-34s & KV1s - on the hull not the turret.

Does anybody have any further info, or (hopefully) pictures of this?

 

Sorry Ricky, explained badly, the KV had RS-82 (I think) on the track covers, but RBT-5 had turret-mounted weapons:
Described as tank-torpedoes (that's the Russian for it as well, so it's not an iffy translation on the kit manufacturer's part) I can't find much more about them. Also apparently there were BTs with 132 mm rockets (presumably RS-132 aircraft rockets) on the turret.
http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/rus ... dabt-2.htm

 

This looks like the produce of one of two schools of engineering thought

1) The it seemed like a good idea at the time line of reasoning
2) Maybe the enemy will laugh themselves to death school of thought.

 

The launcher reminds me a bit of the TOW arrangement on the Bradley.

 

On the other hand it did go into service and the kit describes the weapon as having a 1700 metre range. Imagine having 2 x 250kg aircraft bombs available whenever you need air support, and not having to call up the airforce...

 

The rokets were actually fitted on a sherman and used at the end of the war

 

Well if I had the misfortune to be serving in something like this then I wouldn't get any closer to the enemy then 1700 m. I would be a case of:
"If anyone wants me I'll be over there, Waaaaay over there." :-?

 

A man after my own heart :lol:
But if you have to go fight somebody then bunging a couple of 500-lb bombs at them before you get closer sounds like a good idea. And don't forget, it's a thirties design so the armour wasn't that bad and the 45mm gun was very good. Plus the thing was fast.

 

But surely the addition of an extra 1,000lbs would inhibit speed and manouevrability somewhat?

 

A wonderful encouragement to fire them quickly.

 

I think it lost about 5-8 mph, maybe reduced cross-country ability as well. And very probably didn't do much for traverse rates or going up slopes in any direction other than straight up - if it went along a slope the heightened CofG would have made it a bit iffy?

 

rockets

Can you count 'Jet engines' as rockets?
If so you should have seen some of the things we had at SADE
(Specialised Armour Development Establishment)
!!!!!!!!

 

That was sherman Caliope.

Soviets had a bit different system. They were first large scale users of Rocket artilery. Their katyusha system was usualy mounted on trucks ( ZIS-5, ZIS-6, GAZ-AA/AAA etc.) They were organized the same way as normal artilery in batteries. As range of RS-82 was not that great and they were in range of german artilery some light tanks ( ussualy T-60) were modiffied to BM-8-24. Turret was removed and Katyusha system (RO-82) mounted. Picture:
http://www.battlefield.ru/t60_2.html

Later with apearance of RS-132 and other rockets range also improved so trucks were used as a rule.

Ineteresting inteview with someone who fired Katyushas:
http://www.iremember.ru/artillerymen/chumanov/chumanov.htm
BTW Guards mortars are Kayushas.

Americans and British started to develop rocket artilery only late in the war ( after they met Nebelwerfers i the Western desert and Italy). So they didnt use it on large scale.

WHOA. Jet powered Valentine and Sherman. Good pics.

 

Weren't there landing craft that had their cargo bays fitted with rocket launchers to support the D-Day landings. I'm sure I've seen pictures somewhere.

 

LCR

CORRECT. LCR
LANDING CRAFT ROCKET.

 

LCTR

SORRY, LCT(R)
I know what sticklers you young lions are for accuracy!!

 

Yes but that was in 1944. and they are not to useful when you are few klicks from the beach .

 

LCT(R)

Well, the 13/18th. Hussars were glad of them on D DAY.

 

There was the British 'Land Mattress' - deployed in 1944 after a long R&D time




And we also had several types of rocket launcher for AA use.

P.S - lovely pics Merlin!