Katiusha is a nickname for small surface-to-surface missiles with solid fuel rocket engine, used massively by the Russians in WWII. And much later until today, it can be said that they are used by insurgent forces worldwide.

“Stalingrad Front”

-We see that in their infinite variety. These missiles were launched from land or from vehicles. Before and now.

“Trucks with Katiusha rockets”

From Appendix 6: The "Katiusha" rockets were a decisive weapon for the Russians against the Germans who invaded their homeland.

-These rockets, known with this popular name, were launched from mobile platforms, especially from prepared trucks.

“Katiusha rocket battery on trucks”

-These rockets had no steering other than the small stabilizing fins.

-They were launched in quantity and through their random direction wreaked havoc with their unpredictability.

-The creation of these rockets was not a spontaneous flowering.

-The rocket history in Russia starts long before, as a weapon and as pyrotechnics games.

“Illustration from the book by the Russian Slemienowicz”

-The above illustration is from the book "The great Art of Artillery" by Slemienovicz where military rockets were already available in the 16th to 19th centuries.

"Russian pyrotechnic and military rockets and mortars"

-This second illustration of artifacts belongs to the "Military Architecture Manual" by Böckler.

“Model on adjustable tripod in 1849”

-Towards 1817 they did experiments with rockets designed by Zasyadko and Kartmazov like the ones shown below. The one on the left in outside view and in section is of the incendiary type. While the same views of the model on the right are of the explosive type. In both we see the propulsive load and the war load.

“Zasyadko models”

-As examples of the constant evolution in the nineteenth century we show those that were made between 1859 and 1867:

"From top to bottom, designs from 1859, 1862, 1863 and 1867"

"Or this one from 1870"

“BM-13 truck with Katiuskas”

-The ones used in WWII were designed by Artomiev and Tikomirov in 1928. One of the models was 82 mm in diameter and a range of 5/6 km.

-Another widely used model was 132 mm in diameter and a range of 8 km.

-They were used for the first time on July 14, 1941 with seven trucks to bomb the Orsha railway station used by the Germans, including convoys leaving everything razed.

“BM-13 truck with katiusha ramps”

-Considered jet-propelled weapon launchers they were designed at Gird and its original name was "Boievaia Mashina".