RM-51

The RM-51 (Raketomet vzor 1951) multiple rocket launcher was a Czechoslovak Army alternative of the BM-13 multiple rocket launcher developed in the 1950s.

RM-51 multiple rocket launcher
RM-51, mounted on ZIL-157 truck, displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Type	Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1956–late 1990s
Used by	See users
Production history
Designer	Škoda, Zbrojovka Brno and VTÚ
Designed	1949–1956
Manufacturer	Škoda
Variants	vz. 51, M-51, R-2
Specifications
Mass	7.575 tonnes
Length	7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Width	2.38 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height	2.18 m (7 ft 2 in)
Crew	6
Caliber	Diameter: 130 mm (5.1 in) Length: .8 m (2 ft 7 in) Weight: 24.2 kg (53 lb)[1]
Barrels	32 (4 rows)
Elevation	+50°/0°
Traverse	240° (120° left/right)
Rate of fire	32 rockets in 12.4 seconds (2 min. reloading time)
Muzzle velocity	420 m/s (1,400 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Main armament	ORNNG missiles with NZ-60V warhead
Suspension	6×6 wheeled
Maximum speed	40 km/h (25 mph) (road) 10 km/h (6.2 mph) (cross-country)

Variants

• vz. 51 – Original model, based on Praga V3S 6×6 truck.
• M-51 – Export version used by Austria, based on Steyr 680 M3 6×6 truck.
• RM-51 – Export variant, based on ZIS-151 and ZIL-157 6×6 trucks.

Operators

•  Austria – 18 delivered in 1974, designated M-51.^[2]
•  Bulgaria – 24 delivered in 1963.^[3]
•  Democratic Republic of the Congo – 6 in service as of 2021.^[4]
•  Indonesia – In 2012, Indonesian Army retrofitted their RM-51, including replacing the original Praga V3S truck with Reo M35A2 truck.^[5][6]
•  Czechoslovakia
•  Cuba – 20 delivered between 1965 and 1966.^[3]
•  Egypt – 50 delivered between 1957 and 1958.^[3]
•  Libya – 36 delivered between 1976 and 1977.^[3]
•  Romania – 58 delivered between 1956 and 1965.^[3] Designated R-2,^[7] the launchers were later mounted on ZIL-157 trucks.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Vintage vz. 51 on Praga V3S chassis
• 
  Egyptian vz. 51 during Six-Day War
• 
  Captured Egyptian vz. 51 at parade in Jerusalem, 1968

See also

• RM-70 multiple rocket launcher – the successor of RM-51