M-63 Plamen (from Serbian: пламен, lit. 'flame') is a 128mm multiple rocket launcher developed in 1963 in Yugoslavia for use in the Yugoslav People's Army.
| M-94 Plamen S | |
|---|---|
 M-94 Plamen S | |
| Type | Multiple rocket launcher |
| Place of origin | Yugoslavia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1963–present |
| Wars | Yugoslav Wars Syrian civil war Second Nagorno-Karabakh War Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Military Technical Institute |
| Manufacturer | 14. oktobar Krušik |
| Variants | M-94 Plamen-S |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,134 kg (4,705 lb) |
| Length | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) |
| Width | 2.21 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 1.26 m (4 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 6 |
| Shell | Length: 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) Weight: 23 kg (51 lb) |
| Caliber | 128 mm (5.0 in) |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | 0° to 48° |
| Traverse | 30° |
| Muzzle velocity | 420 m/s (1,400 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 12.6 km (7.8 mi)[1] |
Development edit
Serbian Prof. Obrad Vučurović, mechanical engineer at the Military Technical Institute was project manager and chief engineer of development of the M-63 Plamen and all other Yugoslavia MLRS until breakdown of country when he continued to develop for Serbia M96 Orkan 2. His knowledge and previous development has influenced new MLRS systems developed in Serbia in last couple of years including new 150 km long range MLRS which is in project phase of development. His work is widely acknowledged and many of his unique developed features could be found on MLRS around world.[2]
MRL M-63 Plamen main purpose is support of front-line units, with strong and sudden attacks on enemy forces. It can be also used against enemy structures such as encampments, airfields, industrial facilities, command centers, communication centers, storehouses, etc.
The M-63 Plamen consists of 32 Ø128mm tubes, which can fire original Plamen-A and Plamen B rockets with a range of 8,600m. The effect of each rocket on the target is equivalent to the effect of a 105mm artillery shell. All 32 rockets can be fired in either 6.4, 12.5 or 19.2 seconds. The launcher is mounted on a single axle trailer which can be towed by vehicles with an 800mm high tow hitch. The towing vehicle carries reserve rockets, so the battle complement is 64 missiles.
The M-63 Plamen was widely used during the Yugoslav Wars. It has also been sighted in the Syrian Civil War, used by rebel fighters under the Free Syrian Army.[3]
Variants edit
- M-63 Plamen – Original towed 32-tube 128 mm multiple rocket launcher. Uses Plamen-A and Plamen-B rockets (with a range of 8,600 m).[4]
- M-94 Plamen-S – Launcher mounted on 6x6 truck. The M-94 is able to use original Plamen-A and Plamen-B rockets (with a range of 8,600 m), and improved Plamen-D rocket with extended range (12,625 m). build by FRY, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia state[5]
- RAK-12 – Croatian built version with twelve 128 mm tubes, enabling weapon to be towed by lighter vehicles like Jeeps.[6] The launcher fires two types of rockets: M91 (range 8,500 m) and M93 (range 13,000 m).[7] The Croatian Army operates eight RAK-12 MRLs with some 60 held in reserve.
- LOV RAK-24 – Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher with twenty-four 128 mm pipes. The MRL is mounted on Croatian-made light armored personnel carrier LOV.[8]
Operators edit
Current operators edit
Azerbaijan - 10 (RAK 12)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - 23[9]
Croatia - 8 (+60 in reserve) (RAK-12)
Cyprus - 24
Free Syrian Army[10](RAK 12)
North Macedonia[11] - 12
Serbia - 38 Plamen-S 6x6[12][13] and about 300 towed in reserve*
Montenegro-24 active
Ukraine - 2 active (RAK 12)[14]
Former operators edit
Slovenia - 4 (in reserve - retired due to lack of ammunition and spare parts)
Yugoslavia - passed on to successor states
See also edit
Comparable systems edit
Replaced by edit
- LRSVM Morava New developed MLRS for Serbia Army and export intended to replace Oganj M-77, Plamen M-63 and Grad BM-21
References edit
- ^ Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's pocket book of towed artillery. New York: Collier. p. 155. ISBN 0020806000. OCLC 911907988.
- ^ Urosevic, Andrej; Stojsic, Vladimir; Sakovic, Danilo; Tomasevic, Marko. "Obrad Vucurovic, Rocket design elements, Launcher design problems, Biography and Textbooks, Weapon systems gallery". vucurovic.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013.
- ^ "Croatian RAK-12 in Syria". 30 March 2013.
- ^ "128 mm M-63 - Jane's.com".
- ^ "M-94 Plamen-S Multiple Launch Rocket System". www.military-today.com.
- ^ http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/RH-ALAN-128-mm-12-round-VLR-128-M91A3-RAK-12-multiple-rocket-launcher-Croatia.html [dead link]
- ^ http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Ammunition-Handbook/128-mm-M91-and-M93-HE-frag-rockets-Croatia.html [dead link]
- ^ "RH ALAN 128 mm (24-round) LOV RAK 24/128 self-propelled rocket launcher (Croatia) - Jane's Armour and Artillery". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-04.
- ^ Administrator. "Bosnia Herzegovina army land ground armed defense forces military equipment armored vehicle UK | Bosnia Herzegovina army land ground forces UK | East Europe UK". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
- ^ "Syrie: rudes combats à Abou Dali entre les djihadistes d'Hayat Tahrir al-Cham et le régime de Damas". France Soir (in French). 19 October 2017.
- ^ Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1.
- ^ "M-94 Plamen-S Multiple Launch Rocket System". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "LRSV Plamen S Prokuplje 2009". YouTube.
- ^ "Ukrainian Border Guards received Croatian RAK-SA-12 MRL".