BM-13 „Katiusha“ + Studebaker US-6 – the USSR salvo fire system

"Katiusha" is the unofficial generic name for the BM-8 (82 mm) and BM-13 (132 mm) mobile jet mortars. Such devices were actively used by the Red Army during World War II. Back in 1916, combat rockets with smokeless gunpowder (the prototype of the later jet device) were invented by Ivan Gravė. In 1924 he received patent No. 122. Subsequent work on the development of jet shells with smokeless powder continued until the beginning of the German attack on the USSR. In March 1941 successful polygon tests of the device "BM-13" with "M-13" shells were carried out, and on June 21 an order was signed on their serial production. On the night of June 30 1941 the first two BM-13 units rolled off the line at the Comintern plant in Voronezh. Initially, they were mounted on the “ZIS-5” chassis, but the use of this chassis was recognized as inappropriate and it was replaced by the “ZIS-6”. Later, the BM-13" and "BM-13N" were mounted only on the Studebaker US-6 chassis. An experimental artillery battery of seven machines, led by Captain I. Flerov, was used for the first time in combat conditions against the Germans in the shelling of the Orsha railway junction on July 14, 1941. The first 8 regiments of 36 vehicles each were formed on August 8, 1941. The improved modification "BM-13N" was constructed in 1943 and until the end of World War II, about 1,800 such devices were produced. Shooting range - about 5 km. Although the weapon was not very accurate, it was very effective when used in masse. And where else is the emotional - psychological effect: during the salvo, all rockets were launched practically at the same time and in the firing zone, the entire territory was "torn apart" by heavy jet shells. And the deafening howl caused by the flying rockets was simply driving me crazy. Those, who did not die, were practically unable to seriously resist due to contusions, shocks, and psychological breakdown. The mobility of the devices allowed the devices to quickly change their deployment locations after the impact and avoid a retaliatory strike by the enemy.

A complex, well designed and highly detailed model for intermediate to advanced modelers. It features a recreated cabin interior, engine compartment equipment, undercarriage and combat equipment, that can be rotated in horizontal and moved in vertical. The model depicts the BM-13 combat vehicle on the Studebaker US-6 chassis of the USSR Red Army.