9K52 Luna-M
rocket artillery system
The 9K52 Luna-M (Russian: Луна, English: Moon; NATO reporting name: Frog-7) is a Soviet short-range artillery rocket system which fires unguided and spin-stabilized 9M21 rockets. It was originally developed in the 1960s to provide divisional artillery support using tactical nuclear weapons but gradually modified for conventional use. The 9K52 was succeeded by the OTR-21 Tochka.
Description
Originally called the 3R-11 and 9R11, the 9M21 is a solid fuel rocket, with four off-angle vernier chambers immediately behind the warhead section. When the main engine section ignites, the verniers activate to start spinning the rocket, to improve stability and accuracy. At range, the 9M21 has a nominal CEP (circular error probable) of 400 meters. Western intelligence estimated that its CEP at maximum range was 500 to 700 meters. Russian sources admit the likely impact point could fall anywhere within an area 2.8 kilometers in depth from range error, and 1.8 kilometers in width in azimuth error.
The initial 3R-11 rocket, known also by its military designation R-65 (NATO: Frog-7A), measures 8,900 mm in length. It was replaced in 1968 with an improved R-70 (NATO: Frog-7B) which measures 9,400 mm.
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