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NOTE: This article is about the RM-70 multiple rocket launcher in ArmA 2: ACR. For Czechoslovak RM-70s in ArmA 3's CSLA Iron Curtain Creator DLC, see RM-70 (CSLA). |
The RM-70 is a wheeled self-propelled multiple rocket launcher vehicle used exclusively by Czech military forces in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the Army of the Czech Republic DLC.
Overview[]
- Role:
- Indirect fire support
| « | The RM-70 (raketomet vzor 1970) multiple rocket launcher is a Czechoslovak army version and the heavier variant of the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, providing enhanced performance over its parent artillery system. Armoury Description
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Design[]
Using an 8x8 truck chassis as its base, the RM-70 is a 122 mm multiple rocket launcher that was developed to replace the older RM-51 MRL in Czech service.
Armament
It is armed with a 122 mm rocket artillery pod on the rear flatbed and has up to 40 high-explosive (HE) rockets in reserve. The cab-mounted UK-59 medium machine gun on the other hand, feeds from a single 100-round 7.62 mm belt box and has a further two more boxes to spare for a combined total of 300 rounds.
RM-70, post-fire mission. Note the cab gunner manning the roof-mounted UK-59 GPMG.
Features
Capability and role-wise, the in-game RM-70 is almost identical to its Russian-made counterpart in several ways; its launcher pod for instance, is loaded to fire the same munitions used by the BM-21 and also carries the exact same number of rockets as the former.
The main difference with the RM-70 is that unlike the BM-21, its cab is armoured and has reinforced glass with armoured shutters which provide better protection for the crew from small arms fire. It is also unique for possessing a roof mounted MMG, which allows the vehicle's crew to defend themselves from enemy infantry that get too close for them to engage with the rocket launcher.
Mobility
The RM-70 controls better on uneven terrain when it is matched up against the BM-21. Handling is also smoother whilst the RM-70 is being driven off-road, and it can accelerate faster on all types of terrain as well.
Drawbacks
Its only downside stems from its munitions, which have significantly less destructive power compared to the 227 mm rockets fired by its American counterpart; though as compensation it does carry more spare rockets (the M270 is limited to 12 rockets at maximum whereas the RM-70 has 40).
Crew Capacity
The RM-70 has a total of four seats in its cab; two main seats for the primary crew (the driver and main gunner) and two more for a secondary gunner who handles the roof-mounted UK-59, along with one spare seat for a passenger.
Protection[]
The RM-70 has a base armour value of 50.
Body[]
The vehicle's hull can incur up to 50 points of damage.
Engine[]
The engine can only take 20 points of damage before failure. Only 20% of damage will be transferred onto the RM-70's main "health" pool.
A damaged engine will prevent the RM-70 from attaining its top speed.
Fuel tank[]
The fuel tank can only survive 15 points of damage before rupturing. 50% of damage is always transferred onto the RM-70's main "health" pool.
A damaged fuel tank will cause the RM-70 to gradually leak fuel over time.
Wheels[]
Each wheel can only take 15 points of damage before bursting.
Turret[]
The rocket pod can withstand only 40 points of damage. Only 30% of damage is shared with the RM-70's "health" pool.
Disabling this component will prevent the gunner from adjusting the pod's elevation and rotation.
Armament[]
The RM-70's primary "gunner" operates the 122 mm GRAD rocket pod fitted to the back of the truck, while the cab "front gunner" handles the UK-59 7.62 mm medium machine gun mounted onto the cab's roof:
122 mm GRAD[]
| Base damage value | Damage type | Initial velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|
| 340 | High-Explosive | 445 |
Multiple rocket launcher. Launches 122 mm rockets fitted with high-explosive (HE) warheads that are highly effective against infantry and unarmoured/lightly-armoured ground vehicle targets.
Without a firing solution selected the GRAD can fire one rocket every 0.8 seconds. Rockets are hard launched with an initial velocity of 445 m/s, and take a further 1 second post-launch to reach a top in-flight speed of 700 m/s. The warheads have a blast radius of 30 metres.
UK-59[]
| Base damage value | Aerodynamic friction | Initial velocity (m/s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | -0.00096 | 825 |
7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun. Useful for self-defence purposes against infantry and unarmoured ground vehicles that are too close for the GRAD rocket pod to engage.
It can attain a fire rate of up to 667 rounds per minute and has a muzzle velocity of 825 m/s. Accuracy-wise, it has a fixed dispersion of 0.001 rad at ranges of up to approximately 900 metres. The UK-59 can be freely swivelled in any direction horizontally but vertically, it is restricted to an elevation of only 10 degrees and a depression angle of 40 degrees. It cannot be manually zeroed.
Capabilities[]
The RM-70 does not have selectable range modes and can only toggle between two fire modes:
- Semi: 3,583 to 20,193 metres (ETA 90-65 seconds)
- Burst: 3,583 to 20,193 metres (ETA 90-65 seconds)
The Semi fire mode fires only one rocket per volley. The Burst fire mode launches five rockets per barrage. Assuming the RM-70 is using its default Semi fire mode, it is capable of launching all 40 of its rockets in less than 32 seconds.
Trivia[]
- The RM-70 is the sole MRL vehicle of its kind in ArmA 2 that is armed with a cab-mounted MMG.
- Prior to the latest Steam version patches, RM-70s spawned by script or placed in the editor would incorrectly have Czech Army units wearing desert camouflage gear as opposed to woodland.[1]
- Unlike the other two rocket artillery vehicles, the RM-70 is not configured to be usable with the Artillery support module in the editor, which makes it completely unusable by the AI without modifying the settings of the module itself (at the config-level).
- This bug continues to persist in the latest Steam versions of the DLC and has yet to be fixed by the official patches. Furthermore, the RM-70's artillery computer strings were never added, causing a missing string to appear if the player commands AI subordinates to fire at a location via the Command Menu.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 18 February 2024, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
External links[]
See also[]
Vehicles of comparable role and configuration[]
- M270 MLRS (USMC/U.S. Army counterpart)
- BM-21 Grad (Russian Armed Forces/Takistani Army counterpart)
- Zamak MRL (AAF/LDF counterpart, ArmA 3: Tanks only)
 ACR - Vehicles (ArmA 2)
| |
|---|---|
| Wheeled | ATV • BRDM-2 • Dingo 2 CZ • HMMWV GPK • Military Offroad • Pandur II 8x8 CZ • RM-70 • T810 • UAZ-469 |
| Tracked | BMP-2 • T-72M4 CZ |
| Rotor-wing | Mi-171Sh • Mi-24V |
| Fixed-wing | L-159 ALCA • L-39C • L-39ZA |
| Aquatic | PBX |
| (Parenthesis) denote variants. Operation Arrowhead | Army of the Czech Republic | |