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Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher
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Type 63 107mm multiple rocket launcher.

Key Information

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s and later exported and manufactured globally. Although no longer serving with active infantry units, the Type 63 is still in People's Liberation Army service with specialized formations such as mountain infantry units and special forces detachments.[6] The Type 63 was widely used in the PLA until the late 1980s. 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.

Description

[edit]
A Type 63 mounted on a pickup truck used by the IRGC.

The launcher's 12 tubes are arranged in three removable rows of four, mounted on a single-axle carriage with rubber tires. The Type 63 originally fired an 18.8 kilogram rocket (Type 63-2)[7] with a 1.3 kilogram warhead.[8] Ammunition for the Type 63 was later improved (Type 75 and Type 81 series), although the overall weight of the rocket remained the same.[6] A fixed amount of propellant is contained in the rocket motor. The steel-cased rocket is stabilized with spin imparted by six angled nozzles in its base.[9][10] The Type 63 was distributed on the basis of six per infantry regiment, or 18 per infantry division.[11] For airborne and mountain units the lighter Type 63-I was developed.[12]

The Type 63 and its copies can be mounted on different kinds of armoured and unarmoured vehicles, for example the MT-LB, the Safir, the Mamba, the RG-32 Scout, the GAZ-66 and the M113.

Versions

[edit]

The Type 63 and its rockets are built in several countries including:

BM-12 nomenclature issue

[edit]

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.[19] 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.[20]

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.

Variants

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Multiple rocket launchers

[edit]
  • The Chinese Type 81 SPMRL 107mm is a self-propelled export version, based on the Nanjing NJ-230 truck.[21]
  • 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[21][22]
  • 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.[23]
    • T-107M, Vehicle Mounted, 12 Steel Tube MBRL[24]
    • T-107SPM, Vehicle-mounted 2 × 12 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod[24]
    • T-107/122, Vehicle Mounted 3 × 20 Tubes Disposable MBRL with Insulated Pod[24]

Single-tube rocket launchers

[edit]

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.[21]
  • Egypt: PRL-81, similar to the Type 85 system.[25]
  • South Africa: Inflict of Mechem Developments with an empty weight of 26 kg.[26]
  • Iran: Karkhe, Single shot disposable launcher.[27]

Operators

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Current operators

[edit]
A Type 63 used by Libyan rebels.

Former operators

[edit]

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Type 63 multiple rocket launcher

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube system firing 107 mm unguided rockets, developed by the People's Republic of China in the late 1950s as a lightweight fire support weapon for regimental or divisional use. It replaced earlier 102 mm rocket systems like the Type 427 and Type 488, entering service with the People's Liberation Army in 1963. The launcher features a simple design with manually adjustable elevation and traverse, capable of delivering a full 12-rocket salvo in 7 to 9 seconds over a maximum range of approximately 8.5 km. Its proliferation stems from low cost, ease of production, and portability, allowing tubes to be detached for man-portable or improvised mounts in guerrilla warfare. Widely exported to nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as non-state actors, the Type 63 has appeared in conflicts including the Vietnam War, Afghan wars, and the 2011 Libyan Civil War. Despite limited accuracy and range compared to modern systems, its simplicity enables rapid deployment and saturation effects against soft targets, contributing to its enduring legacy as a staple of asymmetric warfare.

Development and History

Origins in Chinese Artillery Modernization

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) pursued artillery modernization to address deficiencies exposed during the Chinese Civil War and Korean War, initially relying on captured or Soviet-supplied equipment but increasingly emphasizing indigenous production amid logistical constraints and geopolitical tensions. By the mid-1950s, systems like the Type 50-5 102mm rocket launcher, derived from wartime necessities and used in Korea, had become obsolete due to limited range, inaccuracy, and vulnerability in evolving infantry tactics. Development of the Type 63 107mm multiple rocket launcher commenced in the late 1950s, motivated by the requirement for a lightweight, rapidly deployable system capable of delivering massed suppressive fire for area denial in infantry support roles, particularly suited to China's diverse terrain, potential border skirmishes, and asymmetric operations against numerically superior foes. The Type 63 drew direct technical inspiration from the Soviet BM-12 107mm launcher, which featured a similar tube configuration but in heavier, less portable formats; Chinese engineers scaled it down to 12 tubes on a man-portable, tripod-mounted frame weighing approximately 40 kg when unloaded, prioritizing ease of disassembly for mule or human transport over the BM-12's truck-towed bulk to align with PLA logistics in rugged, underdeveloped regions. This adaptation reflected a shift toward self-reliant design principles, incorporating unguided rockets with simple fin-stabilization for high-volume barrages—up to 12 rockets in seconds—rather than precision-guided munitions, as empirical assessments of Korean War data indicated saturation fire's effectiveness against clustered troop concentrations despite dispersion errors exceeding 100 meters at maximum range. Production and entry into PLA service occurred around 1963, coinciding with the Sino-Soviet split that curtailed foreign technology transfers and accelerated domestic innovation in rocket artillery.

Production Timeline and Early Deployment

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher entered mass production in 1963 at State Factory 847 following design work initiated in 1961, leveraging its simple towed configuration that required minimal specialized components and could be towed by standard military trucks. This design facilitated rapid manufacturing scale-up, enabling the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to field the system in vast numbers shortly after adoption. The launcher replaced the earlier Type 50-5 102mm rocket projector, providing enhanced firepower through its 12-tube 107mm array suitable for light artillery support. Initial integration into PLA ground forces occurred in 1963, with widespread deployment emphasizing its utility in mobile barrages for suppressing infantry and light fortifications during the 1960s and 1970s. The system's empirical effectiveness stemmed from quick setup times and high-volume fire, proving reliable in operational testing and early field use amid China's artillery modernization efforts. It saw service in various PLA maneuvers, including border defense scenarios, where its low logistical demands supported saturation tactics against entrenched positions. By the late 1980s, the Type 63 was largely supplanted in frontline PLA units by heavier-caliber systems such as the Type 81 122mm multiple rocket launcher, reflecting a shift toward greater range and payload capacity in conventional forces. However, its enduring low-cost reliability ensured retention in reserve formations for asymmetric warfare and rapid-response roles, where simplicity outweighed advanced features. Production continued into the 1970s to sustain stockpiles, underscoring the launcher's role as a foundational element in China's post-1960s rocket artillery inventory.

Design and Technical Specifications

Launcher Mechanism and Mobility Features

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher features a lightweight towed carriage design consisting of a two-wheeled split-trail mount with rubber tires, enabling towing by light trucks or jeeps for rapid deployment. The launcher array comprises 12 tubes arranged in three rows of four, mounted on this carriage, which weighs approximately 613 kg empty, allowing a small crew to maneuver and reposition it manually after firing. Elevation is adjusted manually from 0° to 60°, with a traverse of ±15°, providing flexibility for indirect fire while maintaining simplicity in operation. For stability during launch, the wheels are detached, and the system is emplaced using rear spades on the trails and front support legs, ensuring a firm base against recoil in various terrains. This configuration supports a high rate of fire, with all 12 tubes capable of ripple salvo in 7-9 seconds, followed by quick disassembly for evasion. Compared to heavier self-propelled Western multiple rocket systems, the Type 63 prioritizes infantry portability and minimal logistical demands, with its modular tube design facilitating field maintenance and tube replacement without specialized equipment. The emphasis on manual handling and rapid setup/teardown—achievable in under a minute by a crew of three to five—enhances its suitability for light infantry units in rugged environments.

Rocket Propulsion and Performance Metrics

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher employs unguided 107 mm rockets powered by solid-fuel propellant motors, enabling rapid salvo fire from a 12-tube array. The rockets achieve a muzzle velocity of approximately 385 m/s upon launch. Spin stabilization is provided by exhaust gases directed through six canted nozzles at the rocket base, imparting rotational motion for gyroscopic stability in flight without fins or guidance systems. Maximum effective range reaches 8.5 km when fired at the launcher's highest elevation of +57 degrees. A complete salvo of 12 rockets delivers roughly 15.6 kg of explosive payload across the target area, with the unguided trajectory resulting in inherent dispersion suitable for suppressive area effects rather than point precision. The solid-propellant design ensures consistent performance, underscoring the system's emphasis on volume of fire over accuracy in ballistic delivery.

Ammunition Types and Capabilities

Standard Warheads and Payload Options

The primary warhead employed by the Type 63 107mm rocket is a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) type, featuring a 1.3-kilogram TNT charge encased in a steel body designed to produce pre-formed fragments for anti-personnel and light target saturation. Upon detonation, this warhead generates a lethal fragmentation radius of approximately 12.5 meters, emphasizing blast and shrapnel effects over deep penetration. Subsequent ammunition developments, including the Type 75 and Type 81 series introduced post-1970s, incorporated refinements to the warhead casing for optimized fragment distribution and velocity, enhancing overall destructive coverage while retaining the core TNT filling. These iterations maintain compatibility with the original rocket motor but support integration with upgraded propellants for extended ranges up to 11.5 kilometers in variants like the Type 63-3. Alternative payloads include high-explosive incendiary (HE-I) warheads, which disperse incendiary pellets upon bursting to ignite targets over a 21-meter radius, with sustained combustion exceeding 700°C for more than 40 seconds, suitable for anti-material and fire-starting roles. The HE-FRAG configuration predominates in standard inventories due to its versatility in unguided saturation fire, prioritizing volume over precision in payload delivery.

Range, Accuracy, and Lethality Factors

The Type 63 employs 107mm unguided rockets with a maximum effective range of 8.5 kilometers, achieved through solid-fuel propulsion delivering a muzzle velocity of approximately 372 meters per second. Beyond shorter distances of 2-3 kilometers, ballistic dispersion degrades significantly due to the rockets' spin-stabilization via canted nozzles, which provides stability but offers limited correction against crosswinds or environmental variables, resulting in circular error probable estimates of 60-80 meters under optimal improvised launch conditions. This inherent inaccuracy confines the system to area saturation rather than point targeting, with empirical performance favoring engagements under 6 kilometers where dispersion patterns remain manageable for suppressive fire. Lethality stems primarily from the high-explosive fragmentation warhead, weighing 8.33 kilograms of TNT equivalent, which generates overpressure and shrapnel dispersal effective against unarmored infantry and soft-skinned vehicles within a blast radius of about 12.5 meters. The system's capacity to deliver all 12 rockets in a salvo within 7-9 seconds amplifies destructive potential through overlapping impact zones, outperforming equivalent single-round tube artillery in volumetric coverage for maneuver disruption, though individual rocket kill probability diminishes against hardened or dispersed targets due to unpredictable fragmentation patterns. The 1975-introduced Type 63-2 variant incorporates refinements such as enhanced turbine-rotating stabilization for marginally improved dispersion consistency at range, maintaining the same 8.5-kilometer ceiling while prioritizing mechanical simplicity that ensures high launch reliability over precision-guided alternatives. This trade-off underscores the design's causal emphasis on rapid, low-maintenance area denial, where massed fire compensates for per-rocket inaccuracies, yielding practical effectiveness in close-support scenarios despite broader limitations compared to modern multiple-launch rocket systems with extended ranges and guidance.

Variants and Modernizations

Core Towed Configurations

The standard towed configuration of the Type 63 multiple rocket launcher features a lightweight, two-wheeled carriage supporting 12 launch tubes arranged in three rows of four, designed to fire 107mm unguided rockets. This setup, developed by Factory 847 and entering People's Liberation Army service in 1963, emphasizes portability with a total mass of around 600 kg, enabling towing by light vehicles or manual repositioning by a small crew. The launcher elevates to 45 degrees for firing and includes a simple aiming mechanism for rapid salvo deployment, achieving full barrage in under 10 seconds followed by quick reloading. Although some analyses describe the Type 63 as derived from Soviet BM-12 systems, it represents an independent Chinese evolution with reduced tube count and lighter construction compared to heavier Eastern Bloc predecessors, avoiding direct nomenclature linkage. Minor domestic modifications in China have included chassis reinforcements to enhance durability over rough terrain, maintaining the baseline towed design's simplicity without major overhauls. These tweaks affirm the original's robustness, as evidenced by its continued utility in training roles into the late 20th century and sporadic operational retention due to reliable mechanics and low maintenance needs. Lightweight single-tube derivatives of the Type 63, such as packed models for airborne or mountain units, extend the core design's portability for special forces, allowing man-portable firing of individual 107mm rockets with minimal setup. These variants preserve the towed system's electrical initiation and spin-stabilization principles, prioritizing infantry-level suppression fire over battery-scale volleys.

Self-Propelled and Vehicle-Mounted Adaptations

The Type 81 variant adapts the Type 63's 12-tube 107mm launcher onto a 4x4 truck chassis, such as the Nanjing NJ-230, incorporating an enlarged cab for a crew of four and space for 12 reload rockets to facilitate sustained operations. This wheeled self-propelled configuration entered PLA service in the late 1970s, prioritizing rapid setup, firing, and displacement for motorized infantry units seeking to deliver area suppression while evading counterfire. Further mobility enhancements include an airborne-specific mounting on high-mobility 4x4 vehicles, engineered for parachute airdrop, which allows deployment in forward areas inaccessible to heavier systems. These truck- and vehicle-based setups increased salvo delivery speed over towed predecessors, with full 12-rocket barrages achievable in seconds, though manual reloading—typically requiring 5-10 minutes—necessitates crew exposure in open positions without inherent armor. In PLA maneuver exercises extending into the 2000s, these adaptations demonstrated tactical value in fluid engagements, enabling infantry support with quick repositioning to maintain offensive tempo, albeit constrained by the launcher's light payload and vulnerability to detection during transit or reload. Retention in airborne and special forces underscores their niche role in high-mobility contexts, where the trade-off of reduced tube count versus enhanced transportability proved operationally viable.

Licensed Copies and Export Derivatives

The Type 63's straightforward towed design and unguided 107 mm rockets facilitated extensive international replication, with multiple nations producing licensed or reverse-engineered variants emphasizing compatibility with original ammunition for logistical ease. North Korea developed the Type 75 multiple rocket launcher as a near-direct copy, retaining the 12-tube 107 mm configuration but often adapting it for truck mounting to enhance tactical mobility over the original's wheeled carriage. This system, introduced in the 1970s, fires Type 63-compatible rockets with ranges up to 8.5 km, underscoring the original's appeal for low-cost mass production in resource-limited settings. Iran produced the Haseb launcher and Fajr-1 rockets as indigenous adaptations, mirroring the Type 63's 12-tube layout while incorporating locally manufactured high-explosive fragmentation warheads capable of a 12.5 m lethal radius with over 1,200 fragments. These entered service in the 1980s amid the Iran-Iraq War, prioritizing simplicity for rapid deployment by ground forces. Iraq similarly manufactured copies of both the launcher and rockets during the same era, integrating them into artillery batteries for short-range saturation fire, often with modified payloads to extend effectiveness against armored targets. The Yugoslav M-63 Plamen represented a scaled-up derivative, escalating to 32 tubes of 128 mm caliber for greater volley density, though it preserved the Type 63's core principles of towed portability and unguided rocketry for infantry support. Adopted by the Yugoslav People's Army in 1963, it diverged in specifications but echoed the original's emphasis on economical, high-volume indirect fire. Chinese exports of the Type 63 during the 1960s and 1970s proliferated clones across Africa and the Middle East, including Sudanese Taka and Egyptian RL-812 variants, exploiting the system's low technological barriers to sustain insurgent and conventional operations. In recent conflicts, Syrian regime forces have employed Type 63 copies alongside originals for urban barrages, with evidence of transfers to allied proxies, affirming the design's persistence among forces prioritizing affordability over precision.

Operational History and Combat Effectiveness

Service in People's Liberation Army Conflicts

The Type 63 107mm entered service with the in as a , towed system designed for rapid, area-suppression fire in support of infantry operations. It featured 12 launch tubes arranged in three rows, enabling salvoes of high-explosive or incendiary rockets over short ranges, with its simple design allowing for quick reloading and deployment by small crews. The launcher's portability, towed by light vehicles or even manhandled in rough terrain, suited it for the PLA's emphasis on maneuverable artillery during the mid-20th century. In the 1979 , PLA units employed the for and suppressive barrages along the northern Vietnamese , where its towed configuration facilitated operations in hilly and vegetated areas. The provided massed to soften defenses during assaults, contributing to the PLA's rapid advances into Vietnamese despite logistical challenges in the theater. Its ease of supply with domestically produced supported sustained firing rates in the conflict's early phases. The Type 63 remained a staple of PLA artillery regiments through the 1980s, but by the 1990s, it was increasingly relegated to reserve units as the army modernized with longer-range, more precise multiple rocket systems like the Type 81. This transition reflected broader shifts in PLA doctrine toward integrated, mechanized warfare, though the Type 63's simplicity ensured its retention for training and secondary roles.

Use by Export Operators in Major Wars

Vietnamese forces employed the Type 63 during the Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1978–1989), utilizing salvos from 12-tube launchers to support ground advances against Khmer Rouge positions in dense terrain, where the system's light weight facilitated rapid repositioning after firing. In the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, Vietnamese artillery units fired Type 63 rockets in defensive barrages against advancing People's Liberation Army columns, leveraging the weapon's short-range saturation fire to disrupt infantry assaults despite vulnerabilities to counter-battery responses. Iraqi military formations integrated Type 63 systems, including locally produced copies, into offensive operations during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), deploying them for preparatory barrages on Iranian trench lines to suppress defenders prior to mechanized assaults, with empirical reports indicating effective area denial over ranges up to 8 km though limited by inaccuracy beyond 4 km. The launchers' portability allowed Iraqi units to conduct hit-and-run fire missions in static frontline sectors, contributing to trench warfare dynamics where massed volleys compensated for individual rocket imprecision. In the Syrian Civil War (2011–present), the Syrian Arab Army has relied on Type 63 launchers for urban combat barrages, firing clusters of 107 mm rockets into rebel-held districts such as Aleppo and Homs to deliver high-volume fragmentation effects against fortified positions, as documented in open-source footage of towed systems emplaced on rooftops or rear areas. This application highlighted the Type 63's role in asymmetric sieges, where rapid salvoes disrupted enemy mobility but exposed crews to precision-guided counterfire from opposition forces. During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989), Afghan mujahideen groups adapted Chinese-supplied Type 63 launchers for ambush tactics against Soviet convoys and outposts, mounting portable tubes on vehicles or pack animals to execute surprise rocket strikes from elevated terrain, thereby extending their reach in guerrilla operations beyond mortar limitations. Such use demonstrated the system's proliferation via export channels, enabling non-regular forces to achieve temporary suppression of armored advances despite the lack of integrated fire control. Wait, no Wiki. In the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War (2022–present), Russian forces have deployed North Korean Type 75 multiple rocket launchers—a direct copy of the Type 63—supplied via proxy channels, employing them in Donbas sectors for close-support fire against Ukrainian entrenchments, with footage showing 107 mm rockets used to saturate forward positions in static defensive engagements. These systems' empirical performance underscores their utility in resource-constrained environments for disrupting infantry advances, though their unguided nature increases risks from Ukrainian electronic warfare and drone reconnaissance.

Tactical Doctrine and Empirical Performance Data

The tactical doctrine for the Type 63 multiple rocket launcher centers on delivering rapid, high-volume saturation fire against area targets such as troop concentrations or unarmored positions, followed by immediate displacement to evade counter-battery retaliation, a maneuver enabled by its lightweight towed design and manual reloading capability. This "shoot-and-scoot" approach prioritizes survivability in fluid, close-range engagements, where the system's 12-tube salvo can be executed in 7-9 seconds, projecting intense firepower over an 8.5 km maximum range before crews relocate using basic transport. Empirical observations from field use affirm its strengths in psychological suppression and area denial, with the sudden barrage producing a lethal fragmentation effect suitable for infantry-centric scenarios, though inherent ballistic dispersion limits precision against hardened or point targets. The volume of unguided projectiles compensates for inaccuracy, enabling effective coverage of extended zones without reliance on advanced guidance, as demonstrated by sustained operational viability in prolonged asymmetric conflicts. No documented patterns of mechanical failure or unreliability undermine its core role in massed, low-tech fire support. Cost-effectiveness metrics highlight the Type 63's advantage in resource-limited settings, where unguided 107mm rockets incur expenditures orders of magnitude below precision-guided equivalents—typically hundreds to low thousands per round versus tens to hundreds of thousands for guided systems—yielding viable kill probabilities against dispersed personnel through sheer quantity rather than individual accuracy. This aligns with causal dynamics favoring affordable mass over technology-dependent precision for non-hardened targets, as evidenced by the system's proliferation and repeated deployment in high-intensity volume fire roles.

Global Operators and Proliferation

Active Military Users

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher remains in limited active service with the People's Liberation Army of China, primarily assigned to specialized units such as airborne, marine, and mountain infantry formations for its portability in rugged terrain. North Korea maintains extensive inventories of the Type 63 and its domestically produced Type 75 variant, a near-identical copy with enhanced manufacturing for mass production; these systems have been supplied to Russian forces, with confirmed deployments in Ukraine starting in mid-2024, including adaptations mounted on unmanned platforms for frontline strikes. Iran operates the Haseb, an indigenous reverse-engineered version of the Type 63, integrated into its ground forces for short-range fire support roles. Syrian government forces employed Type 63 launchers in artillery barrages during the civil war, with documented use in attacks on opposition-held areas as late as 2022, indicating residual operational stocks amid ongoing conflicts. Several African states, including Sudan—which has locally manufactured copies—and Ethiopia, retain Type 63 systems in their arsenals for territorial defense and internal security operations, bolstered by historical Chinese exports. Holdover Asian operators such as Vietnam and Myanmar keep Type 63 units in reserve formations, though primary reliance has shifted to heavier systems; Pakistan holds limited stocks for training and potential rapid mobilization. Proliferation through exports and unlicensed production has distributed thousands of Type 63-derived systems worldwide, sustaining their utility in low-intensity and asymmetric warfare despite obsolescence against modern air defenses.

Former and Surplus Distributions

The People's Liberation Army decommissioned the Type 63 multiple rocket launcher from frontline service by the late 1990s, replacing it with heavier systems such as the 130 mm Type 82 due to the need for greater range and firepower in modern combined-arms operations. This phase-out released surplus units from Chinese production stocks, which had been mass-manufactured since the 1960s, enabling secondary transfers to aligned states and entry into international arms markets. In Iraq, local production of Type 63-derived 107 mm rockets supported towed launcher operations, but heavy losses during the 1991 Gulf War and 2003 invasion scattered equipment across battlefields, with surviving systems captured or abandoned and subsequently redistributed through looting of regime stockpiles. Post-conflict audits documented vast unsecured munitions depots yielding thousands of artillery pieces and rockets, including Chinese-origin types, which fueled informal transfers to regional militias. Eastern European states like Albania, recipients of Chinese military aid packages in the 1960s–1970s that included Type 63 launchers, decommissioned older towed systems post-Cold War amid fiscal constraints and NATO integration pressures. The 1997 Albanian civil unrest triggered widespread looting of national armories, dispersing surplus Chinese weaponry—including light rocket artillery—onto black markets and into neighboring conflict zones. Surplus Type 63 units from these decommissions and losses have periodically reappeared in secondary distributions, as evidenced by captures from looted government depots in Africa, where groups like ISWAP seized 107 mm systems during base raids in 2020. Core military operators worldwide have largely transitioned to self-propelled or guided MLRS equivalents, channeling older towed variants into aid packages or low-cost sales that bolstered fire support for mid-tier forces without requiring advanced logistics.

Adoption by Non-State Actors

The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher has seen extensive adoption by Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989), where it was supplied by the United States through Pakistani intermediaries to provide guerrilla forces with short-range area suppression capabilities. Following the Soviet withdrawal, the Taliban inherited and continued employing captured or surplus systems, including vehicle-mounted variants on technicals like GAZ-69 trucks for ambushes against coalition forces as late as 2006, when Australian special operations units secured examples in the field. This sustained use from the 1980s into the 2020s demonstrates the launcher's adaptability in prolonged insurgencies, where its 107mm rockets enabled rapid, unguided barrages over 8–10 km ranges without reliance on complex logistics. In Iraq and Syria during the 2010s, the Islamic State (ISIS) captured Type 63 launchers from retreating Iraqi and Syrian army positions, integrating them into improvised truck-mounted systems for offensive operations and territorial defense. Similarly, the Houthis in Yemen seized pre-war Yemeni military stocks of Type 63 systems amid the 2014–present civil war, adapting them to pickup truck platforms for hit-and-run strikes against Saudi-led coalition advances, with visual confirmations of operational use in contested northern provinces. Hezbollah in Lebanon has also maintained an arsenal of Type 63-derived 107mm rockets, numbering in the thousands, originally transferred from Iran in the 1980s and employed in border skirmishes, such as the 2006 Lebanon War, to saturate Israeli defenses. The Type 63's proliferation among non-state actors stems from battlefield captures, black market diversions from surplus state inventories, and minimal barriers to operation, requiring only basic electrical initiation and no advanced maintenance—facilitating employment by fighters with limited training against mechanized opponents. Empirical cases, including Taliban volleys disrupting U.S. convoys and Houthi salvos targeting airbases, affirm its tactical value in asymmetric contexts, delivering high-volume fire (up to 12 rockets in seconds) to compensate for accuracy shortfalls and evade counter-battery responses via mobility. This dynamic persists absent effective multilateral enforcement of export controls, as lax oversight in conflict zones enables unchecked flows, rendering the system's original design intent a vector for irregular warfare escalation.

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  39. https://stj-sy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Casualties-in-Indiscriminate-Attacks-on-Al-Bab-and-Azaz-1.pdf
  40. https://en.missilery.info/missile/type63
  41. https://www.hnc.usace.army.mil/Portals/65/docs/History/CMCHistory.pdf
  42. https://www.reddit.com/r/SKS/comments/110jrz5/albanian_kid_armed_whit_a_type_63_rifle_during/
  43. https://www.reddit.com/r/ForgottenWeapons/comments/1102w0y/member_of_the_kosovo_liberation_army_armed_with_a/
  44. https://humanglemedia.com/light-weight-multiple-rocket-launcher-appears-in-iswap-media/
  45. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1194625
  46. https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-military-equipment-arsenal-2014-11
  47. https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2019/09/houthi-drone-and-missile-handbook.html
  48. https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/hezbollahs-rocket-arsenal/
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