BMD-20

Development of a new long-range projectile systemDRSP-1 was launched in 1945 under the code "Storm-1". The head performer was NII-1 . The work was conducted under the direction of V. P. Barmin . Jet fuel was developed at NII-125 , NII-22 was responsible for developing the B-377 fuse. According to the tactical and technical requirements, the range of the projectile’s flight should have been 20–25 km with a starting weight of not more than 300 kg (of which at least 30 kg should have accounted for the weight of the explosive of the high - explosive warhead) with accuracy of AH not worse than 1/100, had to fit into the dimensions of 3.5 m in length. The missiles were supposed to work in the temperature range from −60 to + 25 ° С. For operation in hot climates, a special engine should be provided, operating in the temperature range from −20 to + 60 ° С ^[1] .

In the period from July to August 1947, tests of rockets in two versions were launched at the Pavlograd proving ground . In the first embodiment, the length of the projectile was 3300 mm with a diameter of 194 mm with a single-chamber engine. In the second version - 3400 mm with a diameter of 210 mm with a two-chamber engine. During the test, more than 50 launches were made. It was assumed that the two-chamber version of the engine will increase the muzzle velocity, thereby increasing the accuracy of the projectile, but the calculations were not confirmed and the single-chamber version of the rocket was adopted as a basis, as well as the refinement of tactical and technical requirements. According to the new requirements, the system had to work with only one type of engine in the temperature range from −60 to + 50 ° С, all welds were to be replaced with threaded connections in order to increase the reliability of the projectiles. As a result of the increased temperature range, the wall thickness of the case was increased to work with higher pressures, so the caliber increased to 200 mm. Replacing the connections with threaded ones led to an increase in the mass of the projectile and a drop in the firing range from 22.5 km to 18.5 km. According to the results obtained, the customer’s requirements were amended by Government Decree No. 5766-2160 of December 27, 1949 ^[2] .

Due to several changes in the requirements of the State Agrarian University , the design of the missile was repeatedly reworked, which resulted in delays in the implementation of OCD for 4 months. In October 1951, 600 shells were delivered for military tests. Trials continued until December. After working out the documentation and the removal of comments on November 22, 1952, Resolution No. 4965-1236 of the MD-20 system as part of the DSDP-1 projectile and BMD-20 combat vehicle were put into service. The projectile was assigned the GAU 53-F-951 index, and the combat vehicle 8U33 ^[1] .

The MD-20 complex consists of a combat vehicle 8U33 and a high - explosive rocket projectile 53-F-951. The system is designed to destroy and suppress adversary manpower, artillery batteries , strong points and enemy focused equipment. The system has the ability to use in mountain conditions ^[3] .

BMD-20 combat vehicle

Fighting vehicle BMD-20 is a self-propelled launcher, based on the ZIS-151 truck and its modifications. A welded-type subframe is installed on the cargo platform, which is the basis for the artillery part of the vehicle. A swivel frame with 4 four guides is placed on the subframe. At the first stage of development, it was intended to use six-meter guides. For placement on the chassis of the ZIS-151 truck, the length was reduced to 4.5 meters, and to comply with the requirements of the rolling stock "0-T", the length was reduced to 3.16 meters. In the back of the machine there are two jacks for absorbing recoil energy when fired. Guides are made in the form of a truss with spiral longitudinal elements. To prevent the shells falling out, two stoppers are installed on the driving spiral rod. The recharging of a combat vehicle is carried out manually by five members of the combat crew’s calculation with the help of grabs on a special tray and a rammer into the guide channel ^{[3] [4]} .

MD-20-F missile

When developing a new missile, the experience of creating the RSZO M-13UK was taken into account, in which, to increase accuracy, the projectile was rotated, but this led to a loss of thrust and a decrease in the velocity of the projectile with a loss in firing range. The use of a new method for positioning jet engines and spiral guides reduced thrust losses to 0.4%. The missile part of the projectile is similar to the shells of the M-13 system . In the upper part there is a steel chamber with a powder charge, in the lower part - a nozzle block with a diaphragm . The ignition takes place with the help of a special device that ignites the charge with a pyro cartridge and an igniter made of an aluminum case with black powder . Full operation of the jet engine is not more than 6 seconds. The rocket engine runs on solid fuel . The fuel charge consists of a single-channel cylindrical powder checkers, weighing 50 kg and a diameter of 160 mm. To eliminate the possibility of longitudinal displacement, the checker is attached with a diaphragm. The diaphragm also prevents the flight of unburned fuel residues. In front of the projectile mounted shock fuse . The main charge consists of TNT , the explosion of which is initiated by two TNT and one tetryl detonators ^[4] .

On the basis of BMD-20 in North Korea , a coastal sea-based complex was developed ^[3] .

•   Democratic People's Republic of Korea - a certain amount as of 2016 ^[5] 200 BMD-20 units were shipped from the USSR from 1955 to 1956 ^{[3] [6]}

Former operators

•   The USSR was in service with the RVGK engineering brigades , as the 233rd RVGK engineering brigade (formed in 1954 in Klintsy ) had two divisions with long-range missiles R-1 (8A11) and two with the BMD-20 (38 machines) ^[7] , one of the BMD-20 divisions participated in military exercises at the Totsk training ground with real use of nuclear weapons , later the brigade was reequipped on the R-11 (R-11M) and in 1958 transferred to the USSR Ground Forces.
•   Cuba - 20 BMD-20 units shipped from the USSR in 1962 ^[6]
•   Ethiopia ^[3]

•   Russia - Military History Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Telecommunications in St. Petersburg

• Angelic RD. Children "Katyusha" from "Vanyushi" // Karpenko A.V. Bastion: Military-technical collection. - St. Petersburg, 2000. - № 2 . - p . 61-66 .
• The task of special national importance. From the history of the creation of nuclear missiles and the Strategic Missile Forces (1945-1959) / Comp. V.I. Ivkin, G.A. Sukhina. - Moscow : Russian Political Encyclopedia (ROSSPEN), 2010. - 1205 p. - 800 copies - ISBN 978-5-8243-1430-4 .

• Fighting machine BMD-20 (index 8U33) (Rus.) . Rocket technology. The date of circulation is January 16, 2012. Archived May 18, 2012.