SOVIET BM14-17 ROCKET LAUNCHER

The first prototypes of the BM-14 self-propelled missile launcher were created in the early 1950s. In 1952, the set was adopted by the Soviet Army. Serial production started in the same year. The set remained in the line until around 1990. The BM-14 set was created as a successor to the legendary BM-13 "Katyusha" launcher. A new launcher with a caliber of 140 mm (compared to 132 mm in the BM-13), with 16 missiles in combat position, was mounted on the chassis of a ZIL-151 or GAZ-63 truck. The range of effective fire was also improved: while the BM-13 could hit targets at a distance of up to 8800 m, its successor had a range of 9800 m. effective. During the service, the BM-14 set was modernized mainly by mounting it on other truck chassis, e.g. GAZ-66 or ZIŁ-131. The set was also capable of firing M-14-S missiles with a warhead filled with Sarin war gas. The BM14 set has been exported to many countries, including: Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Syria and Vietnam. Most likely, it was the BM-14 that was used by the Syrian government troops in 2013 to fire at rebel positions with combat gases in the suburbs of Damascus.