Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - GMC CCKW-352, BM-13-16 Katisuha rocket launcher

All drawings © o5m6 2004. All rights reserved.
No publication in any form without the author's written permission.
Last Updated: February 08, 2004

GMC CCKW-352, 2½-ton, 6x6, with BM-13-16 "Katiusha" Rocket Launcher

In 1942, the Russian military engineers were urgently searching for suitable BM-13-16 "Katiusha" rocket launcher chassis as addition to and substitution for their own, by now more and more obsolete ZIS-6 truck.
Therefore, in the course of this year, they tested and deployed no less than 9 Lend-Lease truck chassis, partially presented here, among them the GMC CCKW-352, better known as "Deuce-and-a-Half" or "Jimmy".
Out of more than half a million produced from 1941 throughout the war, with all kinds of bodies, with the short 145in. (as shown here) and the long 164in. wheelbase, with open and closed cab, with and without winch, with Timken split axle (as shown here) and Chevrolet banjo axle, the Russians received only 6,700 pieces.

Note
The vehicle shown here respresents an early production type, as is indicated by the "GMC" embleme on the upper brushguard, omitted from July 1942 onwards.
The slogan on the windshield protection plate means "smert fachistam" or "death to the fashists".

Special thanks to Mr. Ferdinand Hejl, Czech Republic, for providing precious informations.