View source for BM-14

{{Infobox weapon
| name               = BM-14
| image              = Реактивная система залпового огня БМ-14.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = A 140mm, 16-round launcher (BM-14) mounted on a [[ZIS-151]] truck.
| origin             = [[Soviet Union]]
| type               = [[Multiple rocket launcher]]
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1952 - c.1990 (USSR)/ present (Others)
| used_by            = 
| wars               = [[Vietnam War]]<br />[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br />[[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]]<br />[[Dhofar War]]<br />[[Indonesian invasion of East Timor]]<ref>Haryadi 2019, p. 337</ref><br />[[South African Border War]]<br />[[Angolan Civil War]]<br />[[Lebanese Civil War]]<br />[[Soviet-Afghan War]]<ref name="Afghan">{{cite book|title=The War in Afghanistan 1979-1989: The Soviet Empire at High Tide|first=David C.|last=Isby|publisher= Concord Publications |date=1990|page=41|isbn=978-9623610094}}</ref><br />[[Algerian Civil War]]<br />[[Somali Civil War]]<br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]{{cn|date=January 2019}}<br />[[Syrian Civil War]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = NII 303
| design_date        = 1950
| manufacturer       = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = <!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = yes
| is_vehicle         = yes
| is_UK              = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|5323|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|5.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = 
| width              = {{convert|1.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height             = {{convert|2.24|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| crew               = 6<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Jane's pocket book of towed artillery|last=Foss|first=Christopher|date=1977|publisher=Collier|page=171|isbn=0020806000|location=New York|oclc=911907988}}</ref>
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| caliber            = Diameter: {{convert|140|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br>Length: {{convert|1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<br>Weight: {{convert|39.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| barrels            = 16 in two rows
| rate               = 
| velocity           = {{convert|400|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = {{convert|9.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />
<!-- Artillery specifications -->| elevation          = +50°/0°
| traverse           = 180°
<!-- Vehicle specifications -->| engine             = GAZ-51 70 HP
| engine_power       = 6-cylinder petrol
| pw_ratio           = 
| suspension         = Wheeled GAZ-63<br>4x4 chassis
| vehicle_range      = {{convert|650|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| speed              = {{convert|65|km/h|mi/h|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />
}}

The '''BM-14''' (BM for ''Boyevaya Mashina'', 'combat vehicle'), is a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-made 140mm [[multiple rocket launcher|multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)]], normally mounted on a truck.

The BM-14 can fire 140 mm M-14 rockets with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, a smoke warhead or a chemical warhead. It is similar to the [[BM-13|BM-13 "Katyusha"]] and was partly replaced in service by the 122 mm [[BM-21 Grad]].

Launchers were built in 16 and 17-round variants. The rockets have a maximum range of {{convert|9.8|km|sp=us}}.

The weapon is not accurate as there is no guidance system, but it is extremely effective in [[saturation fire]].

==Variants==
[[File:Stalin_line_-_BM-14.JPG|thumb|300px|BM-14-16 (8U32)]]
[[File:16-tube multiple launch rocket.JPG|thumb|300px|A 140mm, 16-round towed launcher (RPU-14).]]
* '''BM-14 (8U32)''' - 16-round model (two rows of 8), launcher mounted on the [[ZIS-151]] truck. Entered service in 1952. Also known as '''BM-14-16'''.
** '''BM-14M (2B2)''' -  modified model, mounted on the [[ZIL-157]].
** '''BM-14MM (2B2R)''' - final upgrade, mounted on the [[ZIL-131]].
* '''BM-14-17 (8U35)''' - 17-round (8+9 launch tubes) launcher, mounted on the [[GAZ-63]]A. Developed in 1959. This launcher was also used on naval vessels, for example [[Project 1204]] patrol boats.
** '''BM-14-17M (8U35M)''' -  modified model, mounted on the [[GAZ-66]].
* '''RPU-14 (8U38)''' - towed 16-round version, based on the carriage of the 85mm gun [[85 mm divisional gun D-44|D-44]] and used by Soviet [[Russian Airborne Troops|Airborne Troops]], where it was replaced by the 122mm [[BM-21 Grad|BM-21V "Grad-V"]].

==Ammunition==
The BM-14 launcher and its variants can fire 140mm rockets of the M-14-series (also called Soviet-made M14 artillery rockets). They have a minimum range of {{convert|3.8|km|sp=us}} and a maximum range of {{convert|9.8|km|sp=us}}.<ref name="HRW"/> The M-14 series consist of three known types:
* '''M-14-OF''' - an M-14 rocket with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead containing {{convert|3.68|kg|sp=us}} of [[Trinitrotoluene|TNT]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/25044683/Projectile-and-Warhead-Identification-Guide-Foreign|title=Projectile and Warhead Identification Guide|work=US National Ground Intelligence Center|publisher=Scribd.com|date=1 January 1997|access-date=29 April 2015}}</ref>
* '''M-14-D''' - an M-14 rocket with a smoke warhead containing [[white phosphorus]].<ref name="HRW"/>
* '''M-14-S''' - an M-14 rocket with a chemical warhead containing {{convert|2.2|kg|sp=us}} of [[sarin]].<ref name="HRW"/>

==Use==
During the [[Syrian Civil War]], a [[rocket engine]] from a 140&nbsp;mm M-14-series rocket was identified on 26 August 2013 by [[United Nations Mission to Investigate Alleged Uses of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic|the U.N. fact-finding mission]] in the [[Muadamiyat al-Sham]] district southwest of [[Damascus]], allegedly originating from [[Ghouta chemical attack#The Western Ghouta attack|the chemical attack on Western Ghouta]] on 21 August 2013.<ref name="The first UN report">{{cite web |first1=Åke |last1=Sellström |author-link=Åke Sellström |first2=Scott |last2=Cairns |first3=Maurizio |last3=Barbeschi |title=Report of the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic on the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Ghouta area of Damascus on 21 August 2013 |publisher=United Nations |date=16 September 2013 |url=https://disarmament-library.un.org/UNODA/Library.nsf/780cfafd472b047785257b1000501037/e4d4477c9b67de9085257bf800694bd2/$FILE/A%2067%20997-S%202013%20553.pdf |access-date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917130833/http://www.un.org/disarmament/content/slideshow/Secretary_General_Report_of_CW_Investigation.pdf |archive-date=17 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The rockets nozzle assembly had 10 jet nozzles ordered evenly in a circle with an electrical contact plate in the middle. The bottom ring of the rocket engine had the [[lot number]] "Г ИШ 4 25 - 6 7 - 179 К" engraved,<ref name="The first UN report" />{{rp|pages=21–22}} which means it was produced in 1967 by factory 179 ([[Sibselmash plant]] in [[Novosibirsk]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/chemical-weapon-propulsion-unit-on-syrian-missile-made-in-siberia-says-russian-expert/|work=The Siberian Times|title=Chemical weapon propulsion unit on Syrian missile 'made in Siberia', says Russian expert |date=18 September 2013}}</ref> However, no warhead was observed at the impact site and none of the 13 environmental samples taken in the Western Ghouta area tested positive for sarin, although three had "degradation and/or by-products" possibly originating from sarin.<ref name="The Final UN report">{{cite web|title=The final U.N. report|url=https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/report.pdf|publisher=[[United Nations Mission to Investigate Alleged Uses of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic]]|date=13 December 2013}}</ref>{{rp|pages=43–45}} On 18 September, the Russian Presidential Chief of Staff [[Sergei Ivanov]] commented on the U.N. missions findings. He said "these rockets were supplied to dozens of countries", but that "the Soviet Union never supplied warheads with sarin to anyone".<ref name="Tass">{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/middle-east-and-north-africa/700932|work=Itar Tass|title=Kremlin denies Soviet Union supplied warheads with sarin to other countries|date=18 September 2013}}</ref> Another type of rockets was used in [[Ghouta chemical attack#The Eastern Ghouta attack|the Eastern Ghouta attack]].<ref name="HRW">{{cite news|title=Attacks on Ghouta|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria_cw0913_web_1.pdf|publisher=Human Rights Watch| date=10 September 2013}}</ref>

==Operators==
[[File:BM-14 operators.png|thumb|300px|Map of BM-14 operators in blue with former operators in red]]

===Current operators===
* {{ALG}} − 48 BM-14/16 {{as of|2023|lc=yes}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=316}}
* {{CAM}} − 20 BM-14-16 {{as of|2023|lc=yes}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=236}}
* {{flag|Republic of Congo}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=444}}
* {{CUB}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=394}}
* {{EGY}} − 32 {{as of|2023|lc=yes}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=321}}
* {{PRK}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grzelczyk |first1=Virginie |title=North Korea's New Diplomacy: Challenging Political Isolation in the 21st Century |date=20 July 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-137-45024-1 |page=117 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JtYtDwAAQBAJ |access-date=3 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* {{RUS}} − BM-14-17 mounted on Shmel-class (Project 1204) patrol boats as of 2023{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|page=188}}
* {{SYR}} − 200 BM-14 purchased in 1967.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sipri: Trade Registers |url=http://portal.sipri.org/publications/pages/transfer/trade-register |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423140358/http://portal.sipri.org/publications/pages/transfer/trade-register |archive-date=23 April 2014 |access-date=2015-05-10}}</ref> Was in service as late as 2016<ref>{{cite book|title=The Military Balance 2016|date=February 2016|volume=116|isbn=9781857438352 |publisher=Routlegde|author=International Institute for Strategic Studies|page=354|author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}</ref>
* {{VIE}}{{sfn|Military Balance 2023|p=299}} − fielded during the [[Vietnam War]] from 1967<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Rockets and Rocket Launchers |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History |last=Zabecki |first=David T. |date=May 2011 |editor-last=Tucker |editor-first=Spencer C. |edition=2 |page=988 |isbn=978-1-85109-960-3 |ref={{harvid|Tucker|2011}}}}</ref>

===Former operators===
* {{flag|Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|1980}} ? / {{flag|Republic of  Afghanistan|1987}} /{{flag|Islamic State of Afghanistan|1992}} / {{flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|2004}}- <ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker-Jones |first1=Anthony |title=The Afghan War: Operation Enduring Freedom 2001–2014 |date=30 October 2014 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-4738-4228-1 |page=43 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzMRBQAAQBAJ |access-date=3 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* {{flag|People's Democratic Republic of Algeria|1964}} 
* {{flag|People's Republic of Angola|1975}} / {{ANG}} − A number destroyed during the [[Angolan Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rhodesia.nl/modhoop.htm|title=Operations Moduler and Hooper 1987-88|website=rhodesia.nl}}</ref> Operated BM-14-16s as late as 2005{{sfn|Foss|2005|page=1011}}
* {{flag|Democratic Kampuchea|1976}} / {{flag|People's Republic of Kampuchea}} / {{flag|State of Cambodia}}
* {{CHN}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=United States Defense Intelligence Agency |title=The Chinese Armed Forces Today: The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency Handbook of China's Army, Navy and Air Force |date=1979 |publisher=Prentice-Hall |isbn=978-0-13-132902-7 |page=212 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1ssAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}</ref>
* {{INA}} - [[Indonesian Marine Corps]] (Korps Marinir) operated 36 BM-14-17 launchers. Replaced by the [[RM-70]] in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indomiliter.com/bm-1417-generasi-pertama-self-propelled-mlrs-korps-marinir-tni-al/|title=BM-14/17: Generasi Pertama Self Propelled MLRS Korps Marinir TNI AL - Indomiliter.com|date=18 July 2015 |access-date=15 November 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106041010/https://www.indomiliter.com/bm-1417-generasi-pertama-self-propelled-mlrs-korps-marinir-tni-al/|archive-date=6 November 2020}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Egypt|1972}} [[Federation of Arab Republics|Federation of Arab Republics (1972-1977)]]  
* {{flag|North Vietnam}}
* {{flag|Polish People's Republic|1952}} - {{sfn|Military Balance 1989|pages=49−50}} − retired
* {{SOM}} − BM-14-16 and BM-14-17{{sfn|Foss|2005|page=1020}}
* {{URS}}{{sfn|Military Balance 1989|page=34}} − Passed on to successor states in 1991
* {{flag|South Yemen}} − 15 BM-14 in 1989.{{sfn|Military Balance 1989|page=142}} Passed on to the unified Yemeni state
* {{YEM}}{{sfn|Foss|2005|page=1022}}

==Similar designs==
* The '''Type 63 130mm multiple rocket launcher''' (not to be confused with the towed [[Type 63 multiple rocket launcher|Type 63]] of 107mm) is the Chinese version of the BM-14-17. It has a slightly smaller calibre but is fitted with 19 instead of 17 launch tubes. The Type 63 MRL is based on the Nanjing NJ-230 or 230A 4x4 truck, a licence-produced version of the Soviet GAZ-63/63A.
* The '''WP-8z''' ({{langx|pl|Wyrzutnia Pocisków rakietowych}}) was a Polish towed rocket launcher that was developed in 1960. The weapon was subsequently produced between 1964 and 1965. It fired the same rockets as the RPU-14 but had only 8 launch tubes. The main operator was the 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division ({{langx|pl|6 Pomorska Dywizja Powietrzno-Desantowa}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/140-mm-8-round-WP-8-Multiple-Rocket-System-Poland.html |title=Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's &#124; IHS |publisher=Articles.janes.com |access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref> with 12-18 WP-8s in its inventory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/area51/rampart/1966/6pdpd.htm |title=6 PDPD |publisher=Oocities.org |access-date=2013-09-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarium.net/viewart.php?aid=495 |title=Wyrzutnia rakietowa WP-8z |publisher=Militarium |date=2009-02-17 |access-date=2013-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927051106/http://www.militarium.net/viewart.php?aid=495 |archive-date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[BM-12]] multiple rocket launcher
* [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha]] World War II multiple rocket launchers (BM-13, BM-8, and BM-31)
* [[M16 (rocket)]], U.S. 4.5 inch multiple rocket launcher
* [[BM-21|BM-21 Grad]] 122&nbsp;mm multiple rocket launcher
* [[BM-27|BM-27 Uragan]] 220&nbsp;mm multiple rocket launcher

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|BM-14}}
*[http://www.fas.org/terrorism/str/index.html Use of BM-14 by the Taliban]
*[https://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/rpu-14.htm Description of BM-14]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509122555/http://www.cubapolidata.com/cafr/cafr_army.html Use of BM-14 by Cuban Armed Forces]
*[http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/07-08-2006/83771-Katyusha-0 Range and Payload]
*[http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/algeria/dz_appen.html Algerian use of BM-14 as of 1993]
*[http://www.primeportal.net/artillery/david_lueck/type_63_mrl/ Walk-around of Type 63 130mm MRL]

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Haryadi|first= Letkol. (Mar.) Yosafat Robert|title=Sejarah Kavaleri Korps Marinir|publisher=Penerbit Karunia|year=2019|location=Surabaya|isbn=978-979-9039-97-2|language=ID}}
* {{cite book|first1=Jamie|last1=Prenatt |first2= Adam|last2= Hook|title=Katyusha – Russian Multiple Rocket Launchers 1941–Present|series=New Vanguard 235|publisher= Osprey Publishing Ltd|location=Oxford|year= 2016|isbn=978-1-4728-1086-1|ref={{harvid|Prenatt|2016}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The military balance, 1989-1990 |date=1989 |publisher=Brassey's |location=London |isbn=978-0080375694 |ref={{harvid|Military Balance 1989}} |author1-link=Institute for Strategic Studies }}
* {{cite book |last1=Foss |first1=Christopher F. |title=Jane's Armour & Artillery, 2005-06 |date=15 August 2005 |publisher=Janes Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-2686-8 |edition=26th |language=English}}
* {{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2023 |date=February 2023 |publisher=Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated | ref={{harvid|Military Balance 2023}}|isbn=978-1-032-50895-5 |page=188 |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}

{{PostWWIISovietAFVS}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{SovArtyColdWar}}
[[Category:Cold War artillery of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Multiple rocket launchers of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Chemical weapon delivery systems]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]