Katyusha rocket launcher

E88011

The Katyusha rocket launcher was a Soviet World War II-era multiple rocket artillery system famed for its devastating salvos and distinctive howling sound.

Aliases (1)

Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Soviet weapon system
multiple rocket launcher
self-propelled artillery
advantage high mobility
high rate of fire
low production cost
classifiedAs Guards mortar
countryOfOrigin Soviet Union
crewSize truck crew plus rocket team
deploymentMode batteries of multiple launchers
designedFor area saturation bombardment
developedBy Soviet Union
Soviet military engineers
disadvantage limited range compared to heavy artillery
long reload time
poor accuracy
era World War II era
firstCombatUse July 1941
firstCombatUseLocation Orsha, Belarus
hasMediaType military equipment
hasNickname Katyusha
Stalin’s organ
inspired postwar multiple rocket launcher designs
launchMethod rail launchers
mountedOn Studebaker US6 truck
ZiS-6 truck
various tracked chassis
namedAfter "Katyusha" wartime song
notableFor devastating salvo fire
distinctive howling sound
psychological impact on enemy troops
operatedBy Guards mortar units
Soviet artillery units
partOf Soviet artillery arsenal
producedInDecade 1940s
propellantType solid-fuel rockets
serviceEntry 1941
soundCharacteristic howling rocket noise
successor BM-21 Grad
tacticalRole counter-battery fire
indirect fire support
preparatory bombardment
usedAgainst Nazi Germany armed forces
usedBy Red Army
Soviet Air Force ground units
Soviet Navy
usedInConflict Eastern Front of World War II
World War II
weaponType unguided rocket artillery

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
RKKA
equipment
Katyusha rocket launcher ("BM-21 Grad")
successor

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