Design
The M-132 started development in 1938.1 The first designs had the rockets mounted so that they fired over the sides, but these weren't satisfactory.1 The ZiS-5 truck was the first chassis used.1
The first self propelled artillery weapon produced in quantity by the Soviet Union was the BM-13 rocket launcher.1
Lend-Lease
Under Lend-Lease the Soviet Union received over 100,000 2.5 ton 6x6 Studebaker trucks and almost 10,000 of these were converted to Katyushas.1 The Studebakers had better cross country capabilities than any of the other chassis available to the Soviet Union.1
The cab had anti-blast armor over the windscreen.1
Prototype
Prototypes were first tested in August 1939.1
Production
•BM-13-16:
◦Production started in 19401
Variants
•BM-13-16: Mounted 132 mm rockets.1
•??: Mounted M-30 300 mm rockets.1 Entered service in 1944.1
Usage
Initially only units under the control of the NKVD (secret police) were issued Katyushas.1
First Action
Katyushas were used for the first time in July 1941 at Orsha.1
Post World War II
Some variants of the Katyusha weapons system remained in service with the Soviet Military until 1980s.1
(
http://www.wwiivehicles.com/ussr/trucks/katyusha-bm-13.aspI always though these were very neat, and would like to see them in the game...
