Studenbaker US6-U1 130 mm RM vz.51 - "American truck, Czech system, Soviet supplied."

[DrunkenLamp]

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Studenbaker US6-U1 130mm RM vz.51

History

Studenbaker US6 is American truck that was produced by Studenbaker corporation and REO motor car company. This truck made it’s way into Czechoslovak service trough land lease via Soviet Union.

The rocket launcher development in Czechoslovakia started even before the end of second world war. Czech company Škoda was developing rocket launcher systems for Germany during this time. After the end of second world war this knownledge was used to develop rocket launcher systems for Czechoslovakia alongside VTÚ (Vojenský Technický Ústav) and ZB (Zbrojovka Brno). Czechoslovak Ministry of Defence shown a big interest in rocket launcher systems in late 40s, where first prototypes for Czechoslovak rocket launchers were produced, many calibers were tested, alongside these was for example RK-3 developed by Škoda.

Škoda's 210mm RK-3 on Tatra 128

First official prototype for 130 mm RM vz.51 was built in 1950. OT-810 was considered to mount the prototype but it was rejected, rather the prototype was mounted to US6 Studenbaker, the performance was shown to be great enough. Later the Czechoslovak MoD made a decision to fit this MLRS system to Praga V3S.

130 mm RM vz.51 prototype on Studenbaker US6

The MLRS system was primarily meant to be mounted atop of Praga V3S but probably due the early stage of production V3S series was in, older Studenbaker US6 trucks were used instead in many cases.

Characteristics

Armament

• 130mm raketomet vzor 51

  • -0° degrees of depresion, +50° degrees of elevation (+12° over the cabin)

  • Horizontal guidance of 240° degrees

    Munition

    • 130mm JRROF (HE-FRAG)
      • Velocity: 410 m/s
      • Weight: 24,2 kg
    • 130mm JRRO (HE)
      • Velocity: 410 m/s
      • Weight: 24,2 kg

  • Ammunition count: 62

Crew

• Driver
• Gunner
• Commander
• Loader
• Loader

Mobility

• Engine: 86 hp Hercules JXD
• Transmission: 5+1 Manual
• Top speed of ~60 km/h
• Weight: ~8 000 kg

Armour

• This vehicle lacks any armor

Dimensions

• Lenght: 6380mm
• Height: ~2900mm
• Width: 2240mm

Pictures

Images of Studenbaker’s with RM vz.51 are quite rare, only appearing in Přemístění a činnost velitelského pozorovacího stanoviště (1957), movie meant for military classes.

https://youtu.be/aFduO8PLdDg?t=1268

Cuban service with RM vz.51 on Praga V3S

Sources

RM 51 - CSLA.CZ
13O JRRO
vz.51 - valka.cz
ebadatelna.sk - JRRO
Od bodáku po tryskáče : nedokončené československé zbrojní projekty : 1945-1955. - Martin Dubánek
Studenbaker US6-U1 - valka.cz
https://youtu.be/aFduO8PLdDg?t=1268

[CharAznable3]

Makes sense they used surplus USA trucks as the Soviets got lots of them from WW2. The trucks were also dirt simple to fix!

+1 to MLRs system supremacy!

[BOMBAY9997042-live]

Truck

(Insert knuckles approved meme here)

[CharAznable3]

@BOMBAY9997042-live

knuckles approved meme

bureaucracy of approval…