Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)

Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
includes two BM-31-12 Katyusha Rocket Launcher with Optional Loading Crew, one Command Rifle team, one Observer Rifle team, one Small three-hole base & one Small two-hole bases.

Following on from the success of the BM-13-16 Katyusha during the close of 1941, the need for a larger rocket quickly became apparent. The response to this demand was the BM-31-12. Following the standard Soviet naming convention, BM stood for ground vehicle; 31 for the rocket type / model used and the 12 for the number of rails or tubes.

Check out the Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery in the online store here...

Desperate Measures!
January, 1945: In the west, the German Ardennes offensive failed to achieve its goal of forcing the Allies to the negotiating table. In the east, the Germans traded ground for time, falling back into western Poland and east Prussia and establishing Festerplatz,
or fortress cities. Despite the setbacks, Germany itself was still in German hands and the Allied advances had all been stopped.

Learn more about Desperate Measures! here...

The rocket was developed from an earlier design, the M30. However, the request for a longer range weapon led to the design of the M31 which had a maximum range of 4325 metres compared to the 2800 metres of the M30. This payload was delivered from a metal framework mounted on the chassis of a Studebaker US6 truck.

Each rocket was armed with a 28.9kg warhead and when combined on mass, the BM-31-12 proved extremely effective during the closing stages of the war in particular during the fierce street fighting during the Battle of Berlin.

Launchers & Crew designed by Evan Allen
Bases & Scenic Plugs designed by James Brown
Painted by James Brown

The Command Rifle Team

The Observer Rifle Team

Observer teams need a good view of the battlefield in order to do their job correctly. Be sure to deploy them in a position where they have an excellent view of the battlefield such as on a hilltop or on the top floor of a multi-level building.

The BM-31-12 Katyusha Rocket Launchers

The BM-31-12 Katyusha in Flames Of War

			Armour
Name	Mobility	Front	Side	Top	Equipment and Notes
Weapon	Range	ROF	Anti-tank	Firepower
BM-31-12 Katyusha	Wheeled	-	-	-	Mobile rocket launcher.
BM-31-12 rocket launcher	16"/40cm	-	3	1+	Rocket launcher, Super heavy rockets.

Super Heavy Rockets
A Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion equipped with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers uses the Super Heavy Rockets special rule.

At the start of the game, place a Full Salvo marker with a Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion equipped with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers. Remove this marker after firing an Artillery Bombardment.

If a battalion with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers does not have a Full Salvo marker when it fires an Artillery Bombardment, roll a Skill Test for each Rocket Launcher able to fire in the Bombardment. Only those that pass the Skill Test can fire as part of the Bombardment.

Place a Full Salvo marker on a battalion with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers at the end of any Shooting Step in which every Rocket Launcher in the platoon was able to fire an Artillery Bombardment, but none did so.

Mobile Rocket Launchers
Guards rocket mortar battalions used ‘shoot n’ scoot’ tactics like their German counterparts.

A Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion that fired may take a Skill Test in the Assault Step instead of taking part in an Assault:

If it passes the Skill Test, remove all Smoke Trail markers from all Rocket Launcher teams in the battalion.

Otherwise, they are too slow in getting away, leaving them vulnerable to counterbattery artillery fire using the Fire In the Sky rule on page 138 of the rulebook.