Happy weekend everybody. Check out these pics of what appears to be the latest in Libyan rebel weaponeering; a four-wheel ATV chassis with four rocket launchers mounted on top. At first glance, I was hoping this was a remotely controlled weapon system like these, but after looking at the image closely, I can’t see anything that looks like a power plant for the chassis. However, the last picture in the collection shows what might be a remote launching device for the rocket quad. Let’s hope they’ve put an engine on it since the pictures were taken.
While this may not be a shining example of engineering, it’s a small example of the passion and dedication a lot of these rebels are putting into fighting against a despised ruler. This video showing a rebel re-powdering ancient rifle ammunition with powder taken from kids cap guns is another small example of the rebels’ determination.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds like psypher's comment in the "Afghan IED" thread.
"…meaning they got MLRS from a certain country :-)"
To the right of picture one looks like a nose cone, which might suggest Soviet helicopter rocket pods are a source of their rockets? Then again, those nose cone rockets seem smaller than the one he's holding in his hand; which looks like a S-5 rocket:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-5_rocket
Could be the S-5 rocket: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-5_rocket
However, I think the S-5s were all launched in those rocket pod arrangements, and not individually as presented here.
Looks very much like a S-5 variant. http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/10816/title/SO…
Very likely they re-purposed the "launch tubes" from something else.
If you look at the right side of the first photo, there appears to be the back end of a rocket pod.
They could have decided that moving suck large pods manually was just to unwieldy
Yeah, I saw that and thought of the Hind's rocket pods. I had to dig for a bit before finding something close. Thanks for pulling the appropriate rocket though.
The Libyans sure do love tinkering in their garages.
I imagine that the world’s next greatest can’t-do-without invention is probably sat in some Libyan guy’s shed right this minute. I don’t know what it is, but I want one.
Theres actually 5 tubes too ;)
This is all very interesting, but I doubt this will produce effective results.
Sorry, been an engineer for 35 years and this doesn't even pass the photo test.
Didn't the NLF fire rockets out of bamboo tubes into airbases?
Blah, I was thinking of something else. Retract.
http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/WestPointM…
Not bamboo, but not sure about the identity of the rocket launcher. It looks kind of like a recoiless rocket launcher, but 60mm makes me think mortar.
I love these guys.
welli dont know about you but it looks like there is 5 not 4 tubes and wow they really know how to get the most use out of there old parts its like Mcgyver as a group
I would definitely call it improvised, but not to the extent of Mcgyver, who would probably build missile tubes out of PVC from Home Depot, and make his own explosives, and build the launch vehicle from two bicycle frames, and…you get the idea.
Why put an engine on it? Gas is in very short supply for the rebels, so an engine could be just another dead weight.
I don't see an engine. I see a wheel in the rear that looks like it might be for traverse?
There appears to be some sort of hitch on the back – perhaps it is designed to be towed by one of those tonka-toy quad bikes in the background?
What confuses me about those quad bikes in the background is that they seem to have smaller tires and lack suspension. Why is the rocket launcher better suited to off-roading than its thoretical primary mover?
Alternatively, it was abandoned (hence the rust) and repurposed as the original vehicle wasn't driveable?
I know. The article says ". Let’s hope they’ve put an engine on it since the pictures were taken" My point is that an engine is more of a hassle at times.
Ah. You are correct in the engine being a logistical hurdle, but you need motorization if you want to succeed in the desert. One could design a portable system to be carried portee by trucks, or transported by pack animals (or even by humans dragging it along). The NVA used bicycle portee to move 400 pound loads, so it's not infeasible to go engineless-just tedious, and potentially dangerous.
The bigger hurdle is probably going to be steady resupply of ammunition.
I agree that PORTABILITY is important (not necessarily motorized), and less so for defensive positions. Bikes are very adaptable, and do fine on roads and rough terrain. Of road in Libya would be problem because they are not so good in sand. The NVA did have to deal with mud, but also had a lot of beaten down paths which are great for bicycles. Sand dunes etc are a whole different problem.
I have heard that people in Tripoli are all getting bikes because of the gas shortage.
Regarding the field expedient rifle cartridge reloading video. That makes using a single stage press here at home look totally efficient and safe. Glad I have a 1970's era powder scale and measure.
The fellow in the vid appears to be re=priming Carcano ammo….use what ya got I guess
If they didn't shoot so much of it into the air he wouldn't need to do it.
Not really new weve been playing with such weapons for decades. BUT the problems are clear they are way to valnerable to rifle fire.
This isn't meant to be used as a direct-fire piece. More likely than not, they'll dig a pit for it, and if push comes to shove it can be hitched up and driven away before overrun or capture. I don't see any digging spades or whatnot to properly brace the thing during firing, which contributes to bad precision. It'll work as a psychological weapon, or for indiscriminate bombardment against a base or a city.
While it's a fairly nifty thing… it just shows that even a guy who has kids toys lying about can do with a few tools. A bit scary and shows that not much goes a long way with people who have determination (both to aide our causes and not).
I wish him luck that the rockets don't hang-fire in the tubes!!! That thing would go mental.
Interesting photos from the Libyan rebels weapon lab / day care center.
Likely propaganda (ahhh): SEE:
"The quickness with which Libyan rebels have been able to set up the logistics and infrastructure to ship oil from Libya continues to amaze. As I have pointed out, the rebels have already set up a central bank and the U.S. Treasury, thinking way ahead during its freezing of the assets of Libya's National Oil Corp, added this clause to its relase on the freezing of Gadaffi's oil assets :
Treasury will continue monitoring the National Oil Corporation’s operations in Libya. Should National Oil Corporation subsidiaries or facilities come under different ownership and control, Treasury may consider authorizing dealings with such entities.
If I didn't know better, I'd swear that this is very much an organized effort, with significant pre-planning, and CIA boots on the ground."
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/04/oil-…
Being a winter guy in Minnesota, Surly makes the Pugsley, which has stupendously wide tires to reduce ground pressure. Not sure how they'd do transporting stuff on sand dunes.
I'm only advocating motorized systems because the distance from city to city is high, and not having speed will put them on the back foot against Gaddafi's armored forces, especially if he still has fuel reserves.
The other perk of eschewing motors is that motors can be noisy, and if you want to move equipment at night…