The Valkiri (Valkyrie) is a South African self-propelled multiple rocket launcher developed in the 1980s by Somchem, a division of the Denel corporation.^[1][2] A statue from 1908 by Stephan Sinding located in Copenhagen, presents an active image of a valkyrie. ... BM-13 Katyusha RM-70 of the Polish Army A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system, in use since the Second World War. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... Denel Aerospace Systems is a division of Denel, the South African armaments production company. ...

Development of the system was completed in 1981. It was fielded in 1987 and 1988 by the South African Defense Force (SADF) in southern Angola against Cuban supported FAPLA forces, specifically during operations Hooper and Modular. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the name of the armed forces of South Africa. ... FAPLA or Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola (Peoples Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola) was originally the armed wing of the Angolan MPLA movement but later became the countrys official armed forces when the MPLA took control of the government. ... Operation Hooper was a military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War. ... Operation Modular was a military operation by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War. ...

Description

It is closely based on, but not a copy of, the Soviet BM-21 (Grad). The most significant differences are: Soviet redirects here. ... BM-21 battery. ...

• Different rockets (127 mm versus 122 mm).
• Improved range and accuracy of rockets.
• Smaller, lighter more mobile 4x4 2-ton truck chassis (the SAMIL).
• Could easily be disguised as small canvas covered truck.

It was designed to be a self contained system that could be easily transportable in a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft. SAMIL Trucks (South African MILitary) are the standard logistical transport vehicles of the South African National Defence Force, manufactured by Truck-Makers in Rosslyn, Pretoria. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ...

The standard 127 mm rocket is 2.68 m long and designed for use against personnel or soft skinned targets. The pre-fragmented warhead is designed with a proximity fuze for detonation at a certain height above ground. Look up Proximity fuze in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A proximity fuze (also called a VT fuze) is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive automatically when close enough to the target to destroy it. ...

Variants

• Valkiri-22 (original version): 24 launch tubes
• Bateleur (current version): 40 launch tubes

References

1. ^ Rockets and Missiles. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.
2. ^ Valkiri Multiple Artillery Rocket. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Multiple Launch Rocket System

• Army Recognition.com
• FAS.org
• Photos at SA Bush War—half way down the page