The Katyusha Rocket Launcher was used extensively throughout WW2 by the Red Army. Russian Soldiers coined the Nickname after a song "Katyusha" and actually translates as "Katie" shortened from "Katherine". The Germans called Katyushas "Stalin's Organ" after the strange Wailing sound they made when launching. Though not particularly accurate they were none the less devastataing if troops & equipment happened to be nearby when the barrage landed. Very cheap to produce they were used in great quantities by the Red Army when they wanted to clear a path to move forward or soften up enemy positions ready for an assault. The Seelowe Heights is a good example of this when Zhukov & Koniev's Armies were about to cross the Oder River in the final stages of the war in 1945 as they pushed on towards Berlin.
Excellent posting all round Spit. It's the least I can do to add a video here, and to offer a relevant link from within War44: http://www.war44.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259 Katyushas, sadly, no sound. [youtube]iB5oG7Pz5bw[/youtube]
Well it took some finding but the sound can be heard here. Agreed, it's a weird sound, very unexpected. Those of us in the UK might be reminded of the "TARDIS" sound effect. [YOUTUBE]gBFYoXImstw[/YOUTUBE]
Make sure you look closely, they are not the same models... :silly: BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Austin K6 (6X4)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on ZIS-6 (6X4)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Ford WOT-8 (4X4)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Chevrolet G-7117 (4X4)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on GMC CCKW-352 (6X6)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on International K7 (4X4)Truck Chassis
BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Dodge T-203B (4X4)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Studebaker US6 (6X6)Truck Chassis BM-13-16 Rocket Launcher on Ford-Marmon HH6 (4X4)Truck Chassis
Crews from the 4th Guards Rocket Artillery Regiment mounted M-13 rockets on rails of BM-13-16 rocket launchers which were based on the ZIS-6 truck chassis. September 1943
BM-13-16 Rocket Launchers from the 4th Guards Rocket Artillery parading on the street of Rostov Summer 1943.
Hello everybody! I'm searching for some information about russian BM-13 "Katushya" rocket launcher. That what you wrote up, helps me some. Fo what? I'm writing an article about BM-13. I have full information about types and technical specyfication of vehicles on which Katushya was mounted. And from technical aspect I have all, but I'm searching now for relations and reports where Katiusha was used, and how it looks like, and what say people who use Katiushas, people who saw damaged caused by fiering Katiushas, from Allied and Axis site. If you have some informations about topic which I'm interested in, please write me. P.S: Sorry byt my english is so bad, but i think that you understand me
Very interesting martins, in the mean time if you could add what you have learned here we would be grateful .. :thumb: