CZK - RPL-1 (protilietadlový raketomet)

Work on the 105mm rocket launcher project began in 1953. The work was carried out by the development centre Konštrukta Trenčín. It was a competing design to the rocket launcher designed by Konstruktura Brno (PLR-8). The rocket project has been in the works since 4/1953. The preliminary design was completed by 4/13/1953 and was to use propulsion chambers and powder charges from the 130mm rocket launcher vz.51. In late 5/1953 the first tests were carried out and 50 prototype samples were produced. Production of further modified samples was not authorized until 8/1953. Missile tests in 1954/55 were largely unsuccessful. The production of the missiles was problematic, they had high dispersion, imperfect burning of the powder fuel, and stabilization of the missiles in flight was also problematic. In all, about 170 missiles were in development (90 were delivered by 2/1956).
According to the project, the towed version of the rocket launcher was to have 25 rocket tubes. The working sample of the rocket launcher completed on 30/11/1955 had only four rocket tubes mounted. The rocket launcher itself was designed as an interchangeable unit, different rocket launcher assemblies could be fitted to the launcher. The prototype rocket launcher was lafeted on the cancelled 57mm R 10 anti-aircraft gun lafette.
On 2.12.1955 probably the last firing tests were carried out, during which 15 rockets were fired. A three-man rocket launcher crew was in plated stations on the sides of the rocket launcher. In late 1955, designs for a self-propelled version of the RPL-1 rocket launcher were developed. The proposed platforms were the Praga V3S truck (documentation Zb 6345-P dated 4/11/1955) and the T-34/85 medium tank (12/19/1955). The 105mm calibre rocket design by Konštrukta Trenčín was also used in a competing design by Konštrukty Brno (PLR-8), where it replaced the original 100mm rocket design.
Due to design problems of the projected missiles, the RPL-1 project was finally cancelled along with the competing PLR-8 in 5/1956.


Mgr.Martin Dubánek - Od bodák po tryskáče - Nedokončené Československé zbrojní projekty 1945-1955, Mladá fronta 2011, ISBN : 978-80-204-2515-7
Mgr.Martin Dubánek - Czechoslovak anti-aircraft rocket launchers of 105 mm calibre, Naše vojsko No.2/2008, ISSN: 0027-8211
URL : https://www.valka.cz/CZK-RPL-1-protilietadlovy-raketomet-t121801#450073 Version : 0
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