Valkiri

Valkiri
Type	Multiple rocket launcher
Place of origin	South Africa
Service history
In service	1972–present [1]
Used by	South African National Defence Force
Wars	South African Border War Angolan Civil War
Production history
Designer	Armscor, Somchem
Variants	Bateleur (40 launch tubes)
Specifications
Mass	6,400 kg (14,080 lbs)
Length	5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
Width	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Height	2.32 m (7 ft 7 in)
Crew	2
Caliber	127 mm (5 in)
Barrels	24
Effective firing range	36 km (22 mi)
Filling	HE-Fragmentation 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Engine	diesel
Suspension	Mercedes Benz Unimog 4×4 truck
Operational range	400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph) (road)

The Valkiri is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher. It is a 127mm system with a wheeled launcher vehicle, and fire control equipment developed by Armscor. ^[2] Contemporary models consist of a single launch module with five eight-cell rocket pods on a Unimog or SAMIL-100 carrier. Its mission is to engage in counter-battery strikes against hostile artillery and air defences as far as 36 km (22 mi) away. Other potential warheads include cluster and an anti-tank mine dispenser. ^[3]

Background

In history, there are many examples of the use of these types of vehicles. In the second world war, its use by Soviet Union became famous: Katyusha rocket launcher or "Stalin's organ".

The system is inspired by the Soviet BM-21 Grad, which was deployed against South African expeditionary forces in Angola during Operation Savannah . Development was completed in 1971. ^[4] Valkiris played a key role in Operation Alpha Centauri and Operation Moduler during the late 1980s.

South Africa developed its arms industry in the follow-up of the international sanctions against apartheid, which foreclosed its access to the international arms market. The UN voted for voluntary sanctions by 1963 and made these compulsory by 1977.

Variants

• Valkiri-22 Mk 1 (original version): 24 launch tubes mounted on a Unimog light 4x4 truck.

• Bateleur (current version): 40 launch tubes mounted on an armoured Samil 100 6x6 truck.

• Valkiri-5 a shortened lighter trailer-mounted version for airborne use. It has 12 launch tubes and uses a shortened version of the 127 mm rocket that has a maximum range of 5500 metres. ^[5]

Operators

•   South Africa - South African National Defence Force: 76 in reserve. ^[6]

References

1. "Valkiri - Multiple launch rocket system". Archived from the original on 19 January 2008.
2. "Valkiri Multiple Artillery Rocket" . Retrieved 25 October 2006.
3. ARG. "Bateleur - Multiple launch rocket system". Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
4. Monick, S. The Forging of a Strike Force (Part I): Central themes in the history of the South African Army 1980-1990. Scientia Militaria, 1993, Volume 23 Issue 3 p. 364-377.
5. Heitman, Helmoed-Römer (1990). South African Armed Forces. Cape Town, South Africa: Buffalo Publications. p. 123. ISBN   9780620148788.
6. Leon Engelbrecht (27 January 2011). "Denel FV2 Bateleur Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)" . Retrieved 5 November 2014.

External links

• Army Recognition.com
• Photos at decade SA Bush War—halfway down the page