Type 63 rocket launcher

It was adopted as the successor of the Type 50-5 of 102mm. China has also developed a Type 63 multiple rocket launcher of 130mm. The RPU-14 is a Soviet 140mm MRL of similar design to the Type 63.

• Name — Type 63 107mm rocket launcher • Origin — China • Type — Multiple rocket launcher • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — See Operators • Wars — * Vietnam War • Lebanese Civil War • Sino–Vietnamese War • Soviet-Afghan war • Iran–Iraq War • KDPI insurgency (1989-1996) • Second Sudanese Civil War • Yugoslav Wars • Iraq War • Iraqi insurgency • Somali Civil War • First Libyan Civil War • Central African Civil War • Syrian Civil War • South Sudanese Civil War • War in Iraq (2013-17) • Second Libyan Civil War • Russo-Ukrainian War • Russian invasion of Ukraine • Tigray War • Sudanese civil war (2023–present) • Gaza war • Design Date — 1961 • Manufacturer — State Factory 847 • Production Date — 1963–? • Variants — Type 81 SP version on truck • Weight — 602 kg • Length — 2.90 m • Width — 1.65 m • Height — 0.91 m • Crew — 5 • Cartridge — HE, HE-I and HE-frag • Caliber — 106.7mm • Velocity — 385 m/s • Max Range — 8.05 km • Carriage — Split trail • Elevation — −3° to +57° • Traverse — 32° • Illustration — Type 63 107mm multiple rocket launcher.

The Type 63 and its rockets are built in several countries including: • Sudan – Taka. • Iran – Fajr-1 of D.I.O. with Haseb-1 rocket. • South Africa – RO 107 of Mechem Developments. • North Korea – Type 75. • North Vietnam, Vietnam – H-12. • Turkey – Produced by MKEK as TR-107 "Anadolu" and TRB-107. Actually based on the Iranian Fajr-1 system, after some units were confiscated in a shipping vessel. • Egypt – RL812/TLC of the Helwan Machinery and Equipment Factory (Factory 999).

NATO and western sources have used the Soviet-style designation BM-12 to describe this weapon system, and further even ascribe Soviet origin and initial manufacture of both launcher and rockets. However, there is no evidence in non-western sources of Soviet development or production, or of the BM-12 moniker being applied. Very similar Type 50-5 or Type 488 102mm rockets were manufactured in China and used in the Korean War prior to development of the Type 63. It appears the systems designated BM-12 (for example in Afghanistan and Libya) were or are all of Chinese origin, being merely used or cross-traded by Soviet interests.

• The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck. • Manufactured in North Korea as Type 75 with variants of 16 up to 27 launch tubes that are mounted on vehicles such as the tracked VTT-323 or the wheeled M1992 along developed cluster warhead with 15 submunitions • ROKETSAN of Turkey has designed an improved 107mm multiple rocket launch system, consisting of a HMMWV with two 12-round launch modules and a fire control system. The system uses the TR-107 and TRB-107 rockets but the range has been increased to 11 km. • T-107M, Vehicle Mounted, 12 Steel Tube MBRL • T-107SPM, Vehicle-mounted 2 × 12 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod • T-107/122, Vehicle Mounted 3 × 20 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod

A number of countries have developed single-tube, man-portable rocket launchers that fire the same type of rockets: • China: Type 85 with an empty weight of 22.5 kg. • Egypt: PRL-81, similar to the Type 85 system. • South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg. • Iran: Karkhe, Single shot disposable launcher.

• Illustration — A Type 63 used by Libyan rebels. • – 270 * • – ~4 As of 2021 * * * • Congo-Kinshasa – 12 As of 2021 * • - Manufactured locally as RL812/TLC • – 25 • - 25 As of 2021 • – ~3 As of 2016 * • – 1,300 as of 2020 • Liwa Fatemiyoun infobox flag.png Liwa Fatemiyoun * • Iraqi Kurdistan • Popular Mobilization Forces * * * • – 4 As of 2016 • – 30 As of 2016 * • – 33 As of 2016 • – Type-81 variant in service As of 2021 • Palestine Palestine Liberation Organisation • People's Defense Units (YPG) • – Uses the Type 75 variant delivered by North Korea. • Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – Sahrawi People's Liberation Army • Somaliland: Estimated as 12. • – (Launchers captured in Angola, rockets manufactured locally) * • – 477 As of 2016 * • – Manufactured locally as TR-107. • - Fajr 1 • – Fielded during the Vietnam War. 360 As of 2016 • – 16 As of 2016

* * * • Lebanese Forces • People's Liberation Army (Lebanon) • Amal Movement • Flag of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.svg Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP)/Eagles of the Whirlwind • Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam: 2 • Flag of the Tigray People's Liberation Front.svg Tigray Defense Forces − Surrendered to the Ethiopian forces in the aftermath of the Tigray War