Rocket Launchers - USSR: Books - History, Types and Construction

Katyusha : Russian Multiple Rocket Launchers 1941-Present

Although military rockets have been used since the Middle Ages, it was not until the Soviet Union pioneered the concept of Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs) in the late 1930s that they emerged as a decisive weapon. In the modern era, these Soviet/Russian Katyushas have served in combat in Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Georgia.
Developed to fill the operational need for massed artillery fire support, the MRL possesses enormous destructive power and a devastating psychological impact.

This New Vanguard book provides a survey of Soviet and Russian Federation MRLs from the beginning of their development in 1941 to the present. It focuses on the history, design, and specifications of self-propelled ground MRL systems, but also covers towed, static, railway, and naval mounts.
It highlights the many variants of the principal systems and include MRL unit tables of organization and equipment, information on MRL munition types, and coverage of dedicated MRL resupply vehicles.

Contents: Introduction - The World War II MRLS - The Cold War MRLs - Modern MRLs - Analysis and Conclusion - Bibliography - Index.

Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005

The Scud missile was developed as the centerpiece of Soviet plans to fight nuclear war in the heart of Europe. However, it was never used in its intended role and has instead become a symbol of the changing nature of warfare in the aftermath of the Cold War.
Saddam Hussein's Iraqi armed forces were almost helpless in the face of the Coalition forces in the 1991 Gulf War; the only weapon that Iraq could use to injure the Coalition forces was its arsenal of Scud missiles.

This book explores the development and variants of the missile and its launch systems, its proliferation outside of the West, and its role in conflicts around the world.

Contents: Introduction - R-11: The Scud A - The Scud Name - The Scud at Sea - R-17: The Scud B - Scud Improvements - Scud Warheads - Scud B: The Secret Variants - Scud Organization - Launching the Scud - Warsaw Pact Scuds - Scud Proliferation - The Scud at War: Egypt - The Scud at War: Iraq - The Scud at War: Other Conflicts - The Scud at War: Afghanistan - Scud Proliferation: North Korea - Scud Replacements - Futher Reading - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

Red SAM: The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile

The Russian SA-2, nicknamed "Red SAM," is history's dominant antiaircraft missile. In 1960 it famously downed Gary Powers' U-2 spyplane, and two years later it was one of the missiles deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which almost sparked a nuclear showdown between America and the USSR. The SA-2 was also deployed in Vietnam, North Korea, Egypt, and even the Gulf War.

Using photographs, color artwork, and rare accounts from the weapon's designers, Steven J Zaloga examines the missile's development, linking this to its massive impact on Cold War air campaigns, and investigates the design changes that have helped the SA-2 stand the test of time.

Contents: SAM Origins - The Spyplane Menace - Operation Anadyr: the Cuban Missile Crisis - Deep Modernization - The Flying Telephone Pole in Vietnam - Operation Kavkaz: S-75 in the 1967-73 Middle East Wars - Foreign Guidelines - Final Refinements - Further Reading - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

The Russian S-300 and S-400 Missile Systems

NEW

Few modern missile systems have had such significance as the S-300 family. Highly regarded technically, Russia's most powerful air-defense systems have been a major strategic asset to the country, exported to major powers around the world, and are a key weapon in many international hotspots and in recent wars.

In this book, professional missile systems analyst Steve Zaloga uses his specialist knowledge to assess and analyse them in detail. He explains that the S-300 is, in fact, three systems: the S-300P, designed as a replacement for older Soviet strategic SAM systems, the S-300V, developed to defend against Pershing ballistic missiles, and the S-300F, designed for ship defense.
He also considers the supplementary S-350 system and the new-generation S-400 system, deployed in Syria and sold to both China and Turkey. An assessment of the latest S-500 system, designed to counter ballistic missiles and hypersonic cruise missiles, is also provided.

Packed with detailed colour artwork and new photos, this book explains the considerable evolution of the S-300 family, perhaps the world's most famous strategic SAM, over the last three decades.