The evolution of the MLRS: from the “Dark Ages” to the collapse of the USSR
From the darkness of centuries...
Once upon a time, more than half a thousand years ago, after the discovery of gunpowder, Chinese commanders used “fire arrows” that terrified their enemies - in a sense, this weapon can be called the prototype of modern missiles, including multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS).
Chinese fire arrows
Throughout subsequent human stories rockets have been developed and lost over the centuries - presumably they were used by the Mongols during their devastating raids of the 12th-13th centuries - they disguised the rockets as dragons, which caused horror among European knights. Then “Chinese fire arrows” were used in Iran and India against European invaders.
In the 450th century, the Koreans used the Hwachha anti-personnel gunpowder weapon, which can rightfully be considered the prototype of modern MLRS: the range of the Hwachha MLRS is up to XNUMX meters.
Korean anti-personnel MLRS "Hwachha" reached 450 meters
In Europe, the use of rockets came later, only in the 1807th century, for example, in XNUMX. fleet Britain fired several thousand (according to some sources, several tens of thousands) Congreve rockets at Copenhagen during the artillery preparation, and strikes were also carried out with barrel artillery, as a result of which Denmark capitulated.
Launch of Congreve rockets
Congreve missile nomenclature
In Russia, since 1817, Congreve rockets with a firing range of up to 2 meters have been used, however, apparently, they were used mainly for entertainment purposes, for launching fireworks. Military For these purposes, the rockets designed by the Russian artillery officer, designer and rocket specialist A. D. Zasyadko were used during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829.
A little later, missiles in Russia began to be used even from the first submarines - the first underwater firing took place in 1834 from Schilder’s submarine, which moved using muscle power.
Schilder's submarine prototype could fire missiles even from underwater
At the beginning of the 20th century, unguided rockets appeared in aviation - During the First World War, Entente troops, including Russia, used French Le Prieur rockets using black powder against enemy balloons.
Airplane armed with unguided missiles
It is necessary to understand that at that time the effectiveness of the MLRS was quite limited - barrel artillery was superior to the MLRS in all respects - range, accuracy, accuracy of fire, as well as the power of the warhead (warhead).
The heyday
The real breakthrough of multiple launch rocket systems was the 20th century, when the Katyusha MLRS were created, which in many ways became one of the symbols of the Great Patriotic War, and the post-war Grad MLRS, in fact the prototype of all modern MLRS and is still actively used on the battlefield - It would not be a great exaggeration to say that the Grad MLRS was used in almost all wars and armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th - early 21st centuries.
It is characteristic that, contrary to popular belief, Nazi Germany had access to the Katyusha MLRS, that is, they could very well copy and develop it, but the Germans did not attach much importance to this type of weapon, preferring barrel artillery.
MLRS "Katyusha" (left) and MLRS "Grad" (right). Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense
German MLRS during World War II
The accuracy of cannon artillery still remained unattainable for MLRS, but their range was already comparable (for comparable calibers). In principle, it is unlikely that anyone could harbor the illusion that unguided shells for MLRS would ever become as accurate as shells from artillery systems with a rifled barrel.
Most of the self-propelled artillery units (SAU) were based on a tracked chassis, while most of the MLRS used a wheeled chassis. Accordingly, the advantage of the MLRS was the rapid advancement to firing positions and the delivery of powerful fire strikes with many shells at once, and then a quick retreat. At the same time, self-propelled guns could follow tanks and infantry over very rough terrain, supporting them with fire adjusted according to data from forward artillery gunners.
Little by little, the caliber of the MLRS increased more and more - the USSR introduced the Uragan MLRS of 220 mm caliber with a firing range of up to 35 kilometers - rockets with cluster warheads showed themselves to be very effective.
MLRS "Hurricane". Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense
The Uragan was followed by the Smerch MLRS of 300 mm caliber, with twelve guides sending huge rockets up to 70 kilometers away. Later, shells appeared that reached a range of 120 kilometers.
MLRS "Smerch". Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense
For all Soviet MLRS - "Grad", "Uragan" and "Smerch", a large number of ammunition of various types were created - with monoblock and cluster warheads, with the installation of anti-personnel or anti-tank mines, as well as incendiary, propaganda, lighting, chemical, installations interference For the Smerch MLRS, ammunition was developed equipped with 9N142 Motiv-3M self-aiming elements, which hit targets - enemy tanks with a shock core according to infrared sensor data.
Separately, it is necessary to highlight such MLRS as the heavy flamethrower system TOS-1 "Buratino" and the subsequent TOS-1A "Solntsepek". These vehicles operate over a short range, the guide packages are placed on a tank chassis, but their distinctive feature is the use of powerful thermobaric warheads that literally burn out the enemy in fortifications. It is characteristic that in open areas thermobaric warheads are no longer as effective as high-explosive fragmentation warheads, but when working on buildings, any caves or tunnels, bunkers and bunkers, they have no equal.
TOS-1A "Sun." Image by Wikimedia Commons / Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Also, rockets with thermobaric warheads were created for the Uragan MLRS and the Smerch MLRS.
As for other countries of the world, in the East they were producing with all their might under license or simply copying Soviet MLRS, and the Warsaw Pact countries were doing the same thing. In turn, Western countries, like Nazi Germany, primarily focused on cannon artillery systems.
In the USA, a fairly successful, but poorly maneuverable MLRS M270 MLRS of 227 mm caliber on a tracked chassis was developed. Its advantages include the ability to reload in batches, which not only speeds up reloading, but also allows the use of projectiles of different calibers within one vehicle, including ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
MLRS M270 MLRS
Then the collapse of the USSR happened, after which many developments in the Union were suspended or curtailed, and Western countries, confident in their victory and the limitless power of aviation, focused on other threats.
At the same time, in the East they thought differently and paid quite a lot of attention to the development of the MLRS, however, this is a completely different story.
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