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Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
includes two BM-31-12 Katyusha Rocket Launcher with Optional Loading Crew, one Command Rifle team, one Observer Rifle team, one Small three-hole base & one Small two-hole bases.

Following on from the success of the BM-13-16 Katyusha during the close of 1941, the need for a larger rocket quickly became apparent. The response to this demand was the BM-31-12. Following the standard Soviet naming convention, BM stood for ground vehicle; 31 for the rocket type / model used and the 12 for the number of rails or tubes.

Check out the Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery in the online store here...
Desperate Measures!
January, 1945: In the west, the German Ardennes offensive failed to achieve its goal of forcing the Allies to the negotiating table. In the east, the Germans traded ground for time, falling back into western Poland and east Prussia and establishing Festerplatz,
or fortress cities. Despite the setbacks, Germany itself was still in German hands and the Allied advances had all been stopped.

Learn more about Desperate Measures! here...

Desperate Measures!
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) The rocket was developed from an earlier design, the M30. However, the request for a longer range weapon led to the design of the M31 which had a maximum range of 4325 metres compared to the 2800 metres of the M30. This payload was delivered from a metal framework mounted on the chassis of a Studebaker US6 truck.

Each rocket was armed with a 28.9kg warhead and when combined on mass, the BM-31-12 proved extremely effective during the closing stages of the war in particular during the fierce street fighting during the Battle of Berlin.

Launchers & Crew designed by Evan Allen
Bases & Scenic Plugs designed by James Brown
Painted by James Brown

The Command Rifle Team
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
The Observer Rifle Team
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Observer teams need a good view of the battlefield in order to do their job correctly. Be sure to deploy them in a position where they have an excellent view of the battlefield such as on a hilltop or on the top floor of a multi-level building.
The BM-31-12 Katyusha Rocket Launchers
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
The BM-31-12 Katyusha in Flames Of War
      Armour
   
Name
Mobility
Front
Side
Top
Equipment and Notes
Weapon
Range
ROF
Anti-tank
Firepower
 
BM-31-12 Katyusha
Wheeled - -
-
Mobile rocket launcher.
BM-31-12 rocket launcher 48"/120cm
-
3 1+
Rocket launcher, Super heavy rockets.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Super Heavy Rockets
A Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion equipped with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers uses the Super Heavy Rockets special rule.


At the start of the game, place a Full Salvo marker with a Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion equipped with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers. Remove this marker after firing an Artillery Bombardment.

If a battalion with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers does not have a Full Salvo marker when it fires an Artillery Bombardment, roll a Skill Test for each Rocket Launcher able to fire in the Bombardment. Only those that pass the Skill Test can fire as part of the Bombardment.

Place a Full Salvo marker on a battalion with BM-31-12 Katyusha rocket launchers at the end of any Shooting Step in which every Rocket Launcher in the platoon was able to fire an Artillery Bombardment, but none did so.

Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Mobile Rocket Launchers
Guards rocket mortar battalions used ‘shoot n’ scoot’ tactics like their German counterparts.


A Guards Hero Rocket Mortar Battalion that fired may take a Skill Test in the Assault Step instead of taking part in an Assault:

If it passes the Skill Test, remove all Smoke Trail markers from all Rocket Launcher teams in the battalion.

Otherwise, they are too slow in getting away, leaving them vulnerable to counterbattery artillery fire using the Fire In the Sky rule on page 138 of the rulebook.

Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Examples Of The Loading Crew Figures
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery Prepare To Fire
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
The Contents of the Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery Box Set
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have any issues with any of the components.
The Command Rifle Team
Description of Components
a. 1x Officer figure with binoculars.
b. 1x NCO figure with SMG.
c. 1x Rifleman figure pointing.


Assembling the Command Rifle Team
Simply arrange figures A, B and C to taste on the small three-hole base provided.

Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
The Observer Rifle Team
Description of Components
a. 1x Kneeling figure with binoculars.
b. 1x Seated radio operator.

Assembling the Observer Rifle Team
Simply arrange figures A and B to taste on the small two-hole base provided.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Crew
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Description of Components
a. 2x Standing rocket bearers holding rocket.
b. 2x
Standing rocket bearers without rocket.
c.
2x Kneeling rocket bearers holding rocket.
d. 2x Kneeling rocket bearers without rocket.
e. 1x NCO figures with hands on hips.
f. 1x NCO figures with hand up.

Scenic Base Plugs
Description of Components
a. 2x Rocket scenic plugs.
b. 2x Rock scenic plugs.
c. 2x Tree stump scenic plugs.

Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) One-Piece Resin Trucks
Description of Components
a. 1x Resin truck varient A.
b. 1x Resin truck varient B.
Rocket Pod Components
Description of Components
a. 2x Y-shaped rocket pod support brackets.
b. 2x U-shaped rocket pod support brackets.
c. 2x Rocket pod grills.
d. 2x Resin rocket pods.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Bases
Description of Components
a. 1x Small three-hole base.
b. 1x Small two-hole base.
Assembling The BM-31-12 Katyusha
Step 1. Begin by attaching the rocket pod grill to the front of the rocket pod. Step 2. Next, attach the Y-shaped support bracket to underside of the rocket pod.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Below: The Y-shaped support bracket attaches to the underside of the rocket pod via the plug and notches shown in the examples below. Step 3. With the Y-shaped support bracket in place, its time to add the U-shaped support bracket.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Below: The U-shaped support bracket attaches the bottom rocket pod via notches shown in the examples below and then mates with the Y-shaped support bracket. Step 4. Next, attach the fully-assembled rocket pod to the deck of the one-piece resin truck.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Below: The examples of the locations where the rocket pod attaches to the deck of the one-piece resin truck. Below: With the rocket pod in place; the BM-31-12 Katyusha is now fully-assembled and ready for crew to be added.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Adding Crew Figures
Step 1. Attach an NCO figure to each of the one-piece resin bases. Step 2. Next, add the crew figures carrying the rockets. The rocket bearing figures are designed to work together as seen in the examples below.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Below: The Kneeling rocket bearing figures and how they work together.
Below: The crew figures positions around the BM-31-12 Katyusha.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)
Step 3. Any holes in the bases that still filling can be filled with the scenic plugs provided in the box set.
Below: An example of the scenic plugs in use.
Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32) Heavy Rocket Mortar Battery (SBX32)


Last Updated On Monday, February 17, 2014 by Blake at Battlefront