OVERVIEW: The WM‑18 is an unguided, 140 mm surface-to-surface naval rocket system developed in India for shore bombardment and beach-clearing support. It serves to suppress defensive obstacles and fortifications ahead of amphibious landings.

DETAILS: The WM‑18 consists of 18 launch tubes arranged in a single pod, each firing spin-stabilized 140 mm high-explosive rockets in salvo or single-shot mode. Rockets weigh around 40 kg with a fragmentation warhead. The launcher offers elevation from −15° to +60° and is electrically triggered; reloads are manual. It provides an effective range up to ~9–10 km and is installed port and starboard for wide-cover suppression.

Developed by DRDO and produced by Larsen & Toubro under Indian naval specifications, the WM‑18 was designed specifically for deployment on indigenous amphibious vessels. It supports naval shore bombardment tasks directly launched from ship decks.

Launchers are mounted as fixed twin pods (one per side) on LST(L) ships, integrated into the ship’s fire-control and bridge systems. Missile elevation and train are set manually; rockets are electrically fired in coordinated Mc, enabling rapid beach-target coverage prior to landing operations.

NOTE:
IOC: mid‑1960s
Operators: India (DRDO/L&T WM‑18 on Shardul-class LSTs); Poland; China (on Hainan-class/Type 074); Ukraine (former Polish vessels in Ukrainian Navy), Egypt, Veitnam, Others ...
Platforms: Polnocny-class LSM (Project 770/771/773); INS Shardul (L14), INS Kesari (L15), INS Airavat (L16); INS Magar (L20); Ukrainian Polnocny L401 Yuriy Olefirenko, Others
Conflict used in: Ukrainian conflict (used by Ukrainian Navy in 2010s and 2022 operations)

SOURCE: WM‑18 DRDO‑L&T data (Wikipedia “Shardul‑class tank landing ship”) ; Navypedia “Shardul‑class tank landing ships” ; GlobalMilitary.net “Shardul‑class”; ResearchGate Shardul commissioning report ; OpisyBr WM‑18 data; Seaforces.org Polnocny-class LSM; Defence24.com Ukrainian deployment report; Wikipedia "Shardul-class tank landing ship"