Military Vehicles

The Vought Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is amongst the most powerful land weapons of NATO forces today.

Using the chassis of the M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Vought created a Self-Propelled Launcher Loader (SPLL) vehicle which mounted 12 M26 unguided free-flight rockets in two six-missile pods (together known as the M270 launcher unit0.

Each standard rocket contains 644 M77 submunitions which scatter widely over the area of impact.  Consequently, each M26 is able to assault an area of 0.23 sq km (0.09 sq miles).

During the Gulf War, Iraqi units nicknamed the MLRS ‘steel rain’ on account of its terrible inescapability.  Other warheads include biological or chemical munitions and anti-tank mines.

Country of Origin    :United States
Crew                        :3
Weight                     :25,191kg (55,546lb)
Dimensions             :Length: 6.8m (21.31ft); width: 2.92m (9.58ft); height: 2.6m (8.53ft)
Range                       :480km (300miles)
Armour :Details classified
Armament                :12 x MLRS rockets
Powerplant               :1 x Cummins VTA-903 8-cylinder diesel, developing 500hp (373kW)
Performance            :Maximum road speed: 64km/h (40mph); fording: 1.1m (3.6ft); gradient: 60 percent; vertical obstacle: 1m (3.3ft)

The Vought MGM-52C Lance entered the US arsenal as the replacement for the Honest John and Sergeant battlefield missiles in 1972.

Between then and 1992, when the Lance was phased out of service, it relied upon two vehicles: the M752 launch vehicle and the M688 loader-transporter.

Both were built upon the M548 cargo carrier, in turn developed from the chassis of the M113 armoured personnel carrier.  The M548 was produced as a general support vehicle for the US Army Signal Corps.

It had fully amphibious capabilities and was equipped with night-vision equipment for the driver.

The design has proved sound, and is still in production in the US and in service around the world in differing configurations and variants.

Country of Origin    :United States
Crew                        :1 + 3
Weight                     :8300kg (18,300lb)
Dimensions             :Length: 6.55m (21.49ft); width: 2.69m (8.83ft); height: 2.72m (8.92ft)
Range                      :480km (300miles)
Armour :44mm (1.73in)
Armament               :1 x tactical nuclear missile
Powerplant              :1 x Detroit-Diesel Model 6V-53 6-cylinder diesel, developing 215hp (160kW)
Performance            :Maximum road speed: 64km/h (40mph); fording: amphibious; gradient: 60 percent; vertical obstacle: 0.61m (2ft); trench: 1.68m(5.52ft)