The BM-30 Smerch (tornado) was developed in the early 1980s and was accepted to service with the Soviet Army in 1987. At the time it was the most powerful multiple launch rocket system in the world. Even today it remains one of the deadliest, if not the deadliest artillery rocket system. Currently Russian Army operates just over 100 of these artillery rocket systems. It saw combat during both Russian wars in Chechnya. Recently it saw combat in Ukraine and in Syria. Other operators are Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kuwait, Peru, Syria, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
Russian designation for the whole artillery system is the 9K58, while the launching vehicle is the 9A52.
The BM-30 Smerch has 12 tubes for 300-mm rockets. The standard rocket is 7.6m long and weights 800 kg. This multiple launch rocket system has a firing range of 20 - 70 km. Rockets are fitted with a range and direction correction system for better accuracy. A number of rockets are developed for this vehicle, including HE-FRAG, fuel-air explosive, incendiary, cluster with anti-personnel and anti-tank submunitions or self-guided anti-tank munitions. The Launcher is capable of single or salvo firing.
The Smerch proved to be extremely effective against concentration of troops and armored vehicles, artillery batteries, airfields and other area targets. A full salvo of a single launcher covers an area of up to 67 hectares. Sometimes the Smerch is even referred as a weapon of mass destruction, as its rockets with cluster anti-personnel submunitions destroy every living creature.
The Smerch launch vehicle is prepared for firing within 3 minutes and a full salvo takes 38 seconds.
Smerch-M, improved multiple launch rocket system with new navigation and targeting systems. It is compatible with new extended-range, with a maximum range of up to 90 km. Recently it has been reported that improved rockets with a maximum reach of 120 km have been developed. The latest launcher variant of the Smerch-M has the designation 9A52-2. It is based on the MAZ-543M 8x8 heavy high mobility truck
The kit itself is really something, upon opening the box you are faced with a mountain of plastic. Everything appears to be molded sharply with pratically no flash that I could see and lots of detail.
Im not too clued up on the different molding processes but what ever method was used has produced so really nice parts.
The quality is definitely up to the standard we've come to expect from Meng right down to the sturdiness of the box.
The instruction manual is a 64 step affair and Mengs usual affair.
One whole sprue is the rubber type material, yes the whole sprue and not just the parts on it, which I was quite impressed with.
The suspension system is movable and two pairs of front wheels are steerable. There is a complete engine and transmission sub assembly included nd all doors and windows can be built open or closed.
The launch tubes can be elevated and rotated like on the real vehicle.
This is going to build into one hell of a stunning model, there are 6 different colour schemes to choose from
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