Hydra 70 Rocket Family

[Capt Gideon]

For those who wish to have more then just the high explosive rockets for the 70mm (2.75 inch) Hydra rockets I have written up a general cross section of the different types. I have also included the M260 and M261 light weight rocket pods and the 114 tube rocket trailer. Enjoy

NAME TALON Laser Guided Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 14.5 kg
LENGTH 1.85 meters
GUIDANCE Semi-Active Laser Homing
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 500 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 6,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
E-FACTOR 1,600 Explosive
WARHEAD TYPE High Explosive Point Detonation
MP DEPLOYMENT 2012
COMMENTS
This is a Hydra 70 rocket with an M151 “10-pounder” HE warhead that has also been fitted with a Talon laser guidance unit. This allows the rocket to home in on the reflected laser light coming off a target that has been illuminated either by the launch platform (normally in direct fire) or by someone with a LLDR acting as a forward observer (normally for in-direct fire). It gives the Hydra 70 rockets a point accuracy that they have lacked up until the Talon.

NAME M156 White Phosphorus Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 10.6 kg
LENGTH 1.47 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
BURST RADIUS 35 meters
WARHEAD TYPE WP Smoke-Incendiary
MP DEPLOYMENT 1980
COMMENTS
This warhead is very similar to the M375A4 81mm mortar shell. When the warhead detonates it spread burning pellets of White Phosphorus which burn at 2,700° C for 120 seconds (34 Combat Turns). The burning phosphorus creates a dense cloud of hot white smoke, which blocks both normal and thermal vision systems. The burning phosphorus will ignite any flammable material it comes in contact with.

NAME M229 “17-Pounder” HE Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 13.9 kg
LENGTH 1.72 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
E-FACTOR 2,100 Explosive
WARHEAD TYPE High Explosive Point Detonation
MP DEPLOYMENT 1975
COMMENTS
This is the standard high explosive rocket with an impact “point detonation” fuse and does damage based on its blast.

NAME M247 HEAT Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 10.2 kg
LENGTH 1.47 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Moving) 600 meters
EFF. RNG. (Stationary) 1000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
E-FACTOR 425 Ballistic, 550 Explosive
WARHEAD TYPE High Explosive Shaped Charge (HEAT)
MP DEPLOYMENT 1980
COMMENTS
This Hydra-70 rocket is equipped with a shaped charge warhead for penetrating armor, very similar to a M72 LAWS rocket except with a larger and faster rocket motor allowing it to penetrate 14.5 cm of Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA) Steel.

NAME M255A1 Flechette Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 12.6 kg
LENGTH 1.74 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
BLAST RADIUS 200 meters (Long) x 80 meters (wide at base) Cone
WARHEAD TYPE Flechette Shrapnel
MP DEPLOYMENT 1990
COMMENTS
When this rocket detonates, it sends out a shower of 1179 Flechette darts each weighing 3.9 grams (E-Factor 8). It creates a conical blast pattern ahead of the rockets path 200 meters long and 80 meters wide at the base when used in direct fire. If used In-Direct Fire it covers an oval area 80 meters wide and 100 meters long. These steel darts are designed to “Fishhook” and tumble once they enter soft tissue to maximize damage.

NAME M259 Illumination Star Shell Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 11.2 kg
LENGTH 1.80 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 2,000 meters
EFF. RNG. 8,000 meters
EFF. ALT. 800 meters
ILLUMINATION RADIUS 1,600 meters (1,000,000 candela for 120 seconds)
WARHEAD TYPE White Parachute Flare
MP DEPLOYMENT 1980
COMMENTS
This version of the Hydra-70 carries a special illumination flare that is suspended by a parachute. It descends slowly, illuminating the area below with a bright white light. These rockets are extremely useful for seeing what is in an area on a dark night, often causing the discovered to scramble for cover.

NAME M261 MPSM Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 12.3 kg
LENGTH 1.82 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
E-FACTOR 120 Ballistic, 250 Explosive, 4 Fragmentation (15 m)
WARHEAD TYPE Multipurpose Submunition (9 M73 HEDP Grenades)
MP DEPLOYMENT 1990
COMMENTS
This version of the Hydra-70 rockets carries one of the most devastating payloads, nine high explosive multi-purpose grenades. Each grenade has a shaped charge in its base able to penetrate 5 cm of RHA steel. Each grenade is also equipped with a fragmentation sleeve, which produces lethal effects to 5 meters and wounding effects to 15 meters. Three wings unfold from the top of the grenade to stabilize and orientate the grenade once it separates from the main warhead.

NAME M261CS RCSM Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 12.3 kg
LENGTH 1.82 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
WARHEAD TYPE Riot Control Submunition (9 M42 CS Gas Grenades)
MP DEPLOYMENT 1990
COMMENTS
This version of the M261 replaces the M73 dual-purpose grenades with M42 CS gas grenades. Each grenade burns for 30 seconds and produces a cloud of gas 22.5 cubic meters. The effects of the gas disappear 15 minutes after exposure stops. Wind, rain, fog and snow will all act against the gas, forcing it from the air or dispersing it, limiting it effect. The gas causes pain to the skin, eyes, throat, and lungs, as well as making seeing and breathing difficult, can induce vomiting and prostrating (laying on the ground helpless). The CS is persistent remaining on the skin clothing and other surfaces until cleaned, this often leads to secondary contact, especially of the hands, which can lead to the eyes or mouth. The gas cloud will dissipate in 5 to 20 minutes depending on the wind.

NAME M264 Red Smoke Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 10.1 kg
LENGTH 1.74 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 100 meters
EFF. RNG. (Direct Fire) 3,000 meters
EFF. RNG. (Indirect Fire) 10,000 meters
MAX. RNG. 10,000 meters
BURST RADIUS 30 meters (burns for 90 seconds)
WARHEAD TYPE Red Phosphorus (72 pellets)
MP DEPLOYMENT 1980
COMMENTS
This warhead is similar to the WP rocket, but the red phosphorus burn much cooler and produces a dense cloud of red smoke without the incendiary effects. Highly combustible materials may still catch fire, but the risk is much lower. When the warhead detonates in an airburst is scatters the burning pellets, which quickly cover the area in the red smoke. The smoke lasts as long as the wing and weather allow.

NAME M278 Infrared Illumination Hydra-70 Rocket
WT. 11.2 kg
LENGTH 1.80 meters
GUIDANCE None
SPEED 2,520 kph (700 m/s)(Mach 2.3)(2.5 km/CT)
MIN. RNG. 2,000 meters
EFF. RNG. 8,000 meters
EFF. ALT. 800 meters
MAX. RNG. 8,000 meters
ILLUMINATION RADIUS 1,600 meters
WARHEAD TYPE Infrared Parachute Flare (1 million candela for 120 sec)
MP DEPLOYMENT 2012
COMMENTS
This warhead operates identically to the M259 white illumination rocket, except the flare appears a dim red to the normal eye. But to those using FLIR or Passive Nightvision the flare is as bright as the M259, providing the same illumination, just in the Infrared spectrum. This is handy for clandestine illumination where you don’t want the opponent to know the area has been illuminated.

MORROW PROJECT 4th Edition Rocket Launchers

NAME M260 Lightweight Rocket Pod
WT. (Empty) 15.5 kg
LENGTH 1.65 meters
DIAMETER 25.4 cm
CAPACITY 7 launch tubes for Hydra-70 rockets
MP DEPLOYMENT 1990
COMMENTS
This is the projects standard small rocket pod for the Hydra-70, 2.75-inch (70 mm) diameter rocket. The holds seven individual launch tubes that are locked into the pod, but can be removed for servicing or replaced if damaged. While originally designed for rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) is also found use mounted on ground vehicles and trailers for use as rocket artillery. A Sidewinder 2-man FAV can even mount a pair of M260 rocket pods on its roof for a fast strike artillery vehicle. The lightweight rocket pods are not for use on high speed fixed wing aircraft.

NAME M261 Lightweight Rocket Pod
WT. (Empty) 35.9 kg
LENGTH 1.65 meters
DIAMETER 40.6 cm
CAPACITY 19 launch tubes for Hydra-70 rockets
MP DEPLOYMENT 1990
COMMENTS
This is the projects standard large rocket pod for the Hydra-70 rockets, replacing the older and heavier LAU-61 rocket pods. The M261 holds nineteen individual tubes locked into the pod casing that can be removed for servicing or replacement. Like its little brother, the M261 was originally designed for rotary wing aircraft and was able to be made lighter then the LAU series pods which were originally designed for high speed fixed wing aircraft. The lightweight series pods worked exceptionally well when mounted on ground vehicles and trailers. The RD-MRWS (Rapid Deployment Multiple Rocket Weapon System) consisted of six M261 rocket pods in a trainable housing on a lightweight trailer, made in small numbers by the U.S. Army.

NAME RD-MRWS Trailer
LENGTH 2.65 meters
WIDTH 1.9 meters
HEIGHT 1.8 meters
GRD. CLEARANCE 0.4 meters
MAX. ROAD SPEED 60 kph
MAX. OFF-ROAD 10 kph
ARMOR VALUE 30 (B), 60 (NB), 690 (EX)
MASS 20 (615 kg unloaded)
STATS SP 485
INT 20
PAYLOAD 114 Hydra-70 2.75-inch (70 mm) Rockets
COMMENTS
The Rapid Deployment-Multiple Rocket Weapon System trailer is basically a repurposing the old M91 rocket launcher trailers for the M55 chemical rockets, removing the old launch tubes and handling cradle, adapting the cradle from 105mm howitzer and installing six M261 rocket pods. This gives the trailer a total of one hundred and fourteen 70-mm rocket tubes instead of the original forty-five 115 mm rocket tubes. It is capable of firing its entire payload in 15 seconds (or 27 to 28 rockets per Combat Turn). It is fordable through up to 76 cm of water and it takes 30 minutes for a trained crew to emplace the launcher and load it. While a 2.5-ton truck that carried the crew and ammunition would normally tow it, it is possible to tow it with lighter vehicles. This is an area attack weapon; you cannot pick a specific target, only the area to be bombarded. While it is possible to use any rocket type the primary rocket used is the M229 “17-pounder” high explosive point detonation rocket, though the M261 Multi-Purpose Sub-Munitions is often a better at attacking both armored and soft targets, dropping 1026 M73 multipurpose grenades over a 500 m by 500 m area, devastating everything in the area.. M156 white phosphorus can also be added in for smoke and incendiary effect, along with the explosive warheads. This is a weapon reserved to MARS teams to be used when facing an enemy with superior numbers and/or equipment; it can be used to buy time by delaying an enemy or to soften up an enemy before an attack.