The Tank Museum

The T34 Rocket Launcher was a US-designed launch frame mounted above the turret of a Sherman tank, capable of delivering a payload of sixty 4.5in (115mm) unguided rockets in a short period of time.



The system traversed with the turret, and elevated with the main gun barrel. It was initially developed in 1943 as a way to give “bunker busting” firepower to tanks for the D-day invasion, but wasn't used as its weight made the tank too top heavy for easy transport in a landing craft. A small number were, however, used later in the war.



They were limited by their reload time and inaccuracy. The noise created by the rockets firing was often enough to drive targets off in terror on its own though. This sound as well as the clustered pipes of the launcher looking like an organ - leading to the weapon being nicknamed after the ‘Calliope’ steam organ.

1 day ago | [YT] | 3,481



@z4ri905

“I’m using the T34 launcher!” “You’re launching rockets right? Right?”

1 day ago | 92  

@Tyde_Studios

So, all the Russian T34s, the American T34, and now this supposed T34??? I always knew this one as JUST the Calliope lol

1 day ago (edited) | 102

@Croissant-123

Soviet T-34:💀 American T34:💀 The other American T34: 🚀

1 day ago | 20  

@AndreiTupolev

Imagine the confusion it could have caused at a German headquarters. "Sir, intercepted communications report that the Americans are bringing T34s into this sector." "Huh?"

1 day ago | 36

@AndreiTupolev

America's Katyusha, or Roosevelt's Organ

1 day ago | 17

@DavyBoyz

Rockets + Tank = Happy

1 day ago | 28  

@VolcanicSpacePizza

Another thing named T34? This is getting confusing.

1 day ago | 32

@OwO2620

Now mount it on either a T34 or T-34, maybe use a T34 hull for a T-34 turret with this T34

1 day ago (edited) | 12

@bryant7201

The Sherman rain roof had excellent drainage and a distinctive look.

1 day ago | 3

@mikestanmore2614

"... with this very unpleasing, sneezing and wheezing, the calliope crashed to the ground." Manfred Mann.

1 day ago (edited) | 13  

@Zzrik

1.German soldier be like " Achtung T-34 panzer." 2. Second German soldier "Amerikanisch ? Oder Sowjetisch?" 1. "Ja"

1 day ago (edited) | 9

@70baja

I had a model of one. It came with a pamphlet describing how to construct a diorama of a winter scene with soldiers whitewashing it for camouflage. It also had details on converting the suspension to the later model with the offset track guide wheels and formed metal guide plates

1 day ago | 6

@carriertaiyo2694

The Americans mounted them on tanks. The Germans, on armored half tracks. The Russians put them on simple, easy to mass produce trucks. I think the Russians got this one right.

1 day ago | 5

@Old_Paths_Channel

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that the Sherman was there! 🇺

1 day ago | 3

@Silkl4sh

You can make everything out of sherman - tank, anti tank tank, rocket launcher frame, mine flail, a foodtruck!

1 day ago | 4  

@archstanton3763

Wouldn’t want to be on the receiving on end of that.

1 day ago | 2  

@Otto-the-Hetzer

DID YOU KNOW? Calliope is also the name of the ancient greek muse of poetry, and is mentioned in the preface of the Iliad!

1 day ago | 3

@theapexdragon5010

Russian t-34, American heavy T34, and American T34 sherman. Gotta love naming conventions lol

1 day ago | 1  

@blacklupos

It was such a beast in Company of Heroes

1 day ago | 24

@SatelliteYL

American Katyusha

1 day ago | 5