Gods of War. The most formidable artillery systems of the Russian army

The types and purposes of self-propelled guns are very diverse: they can be either armored or unarmored, use a wheeled or tracked chassis. The self-propelled gun can have a full-rotating turret or a fixed wheelhouse gun installation. Some of the self-propelled guns with a turret-mounted gun are very similar to tanks, but they differ from tanks in their armor-weapon balance and tactics combat use.

The Russian military theorist and practitioner Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin already in 1912 predicted the use and appearance in armed forces Russia and the world of cars, armored vehicles, tanks and self-propelled artillery mounts.

“Is there anything impossible, for example, in the fact that cars will not only completely replace carts in convoys, but will even make their way into field artillery? Instead of field guns with horse harnesses, mobile armored batteries will enter the competition on the battlefield, and the land battle will become like a sea battle.”

The history of self-propelled artillery begins with the history of heavy cannon armored vehicles in the early 20th century and the development of tanks during the First World War. Moreover, technically the first french tanks"Saint-Chamon" and "Schneider" are more likely to be analogues of later assault self-propelled guns rather than tanks. The middle and second half of the 20th century were a time of rapid development of a variety of self-propelled artillery systems in leading technological developed countries. The achievements of military science at the beginning of the 21st century - high precision fire, electronic positioning and guidance systems - allowed self-propelled guns, according to experts who noted high role self-propelled artillery in conditions modern combat, take significant place among other armored vehicles, previously exclusively owned by tanks.

self-propelled guns
self-propelled howitzers
self-propelled howitzer guns

By combat weight

Based on combat weight, self-propelled guns are divided into the following classes:

light (up to 20 tons)
medium (up to 40 tons)
heavy (over 40 tons)

By gun caliber

According to the caliber of the self-propelled guns, they are also divided into:

light (up to 50 mm)
medium (no more than 122 mm)
heavy (152 mm or more)

Since World War II, almost all lightly armed self-propelled guns are anti-aircraft.

By layout

Based on the location of the fighting compartment, self-propelled guns are divided into the following types:

with a front-mounted fighting compartment
with a mid-mounted fighting compartment
with rear-mounted fighting compartment

According to armor protection

According to the armor protection of the fighting compartment, self-propelled guns are divided into the following types:

fully armored (closed type)
partially armored
- semi-closed type - these self-propelled guns had no roof in their conning towers
- open type - these self-propelled guns had no conning towers, the guns were mounted directly on the platform, and the crew was protected only by the gun’s armor shield.

By purpose

In the post-war years, the USSR conducted a study and generalization of combat experience, on the basis of which a classification of self-propelled artillery guns was made. Depending on their purpose, they were divided into the following groups:

anti-tank self-propelled guns (tank destroyers) - were intended to fight enemy tanks and their anti-tank weapons when accompanied by friendly troops.
self-propelled assault guns (pillbox destroyers) - used to destroy durable long-term structures on cutting edge enemy defense (for example, Soviet SU-152/ISU-152 were quite often used as anti-pillbox guns)
escort self-propelled artillery installations ( self-propelled howitzers) - accompanied with fire infantry and motorized units and formations, performing the tasks of defeating enemy personnel and fire weapons, as well as combating medium and light tanks. (SU-122 and SU-152/ISU-152 were designed precisely for such combat use. But they were also effective against heavy tanks. So the SU-152/ISU-152 destroyed Tiger tanks with high-explosive shells.)
anti-aircraft self-propelled guns - served to cover troops from air attacks on the march and during the offensive.
special self-propelled launchers - these included mortar and rocket launchers, as well as field missile launchers on a self-propelled base.

Wehrmacht classification

The Wehrmacht used quite complex system classification of armored vehicles. The Army classification included the following types of armored vehicles that can be classified as self-propelled guns:

Flakpanzer (Flak Pz.) - anti-aircraft tank (ZSU)
Jagdpanzer (Jagd Pz.) - tank destroyer ( anti-tank self-propelled gun based on the main tank)
Panzerjäger (Pz.Jäg.) - anti-tank self-propelled guns based on obsolete tanks, armored personnel carriers, etc.
Sturmgeschütz (StuG) - assault gun
Sturmhaubitze (StuH) - assault howitzer
Selbstfahrlafette (Sfl.) - self-propelled field artillery system

Tactics for using self-propelled guns

According to the modern concept of warfare, the main areas of application of self-propelled artillery installations are the tasks of mobile support with artillery fire from closed firing positions of units and subunits of other branches of the military and artillery offensive. Thanks to their high mobility, self-propelled guns are capable of accompanying tanks during deep breakthroughs of enemy defenses, sharply increasing combat capabilities breakthrough tank and motorized infantry units. The same mobility makes it possible to suddenly launch artillery strikes against the enemy using self-propelled artillery forces independently without the assistance of other types of troops. To do this in advance using the method full preparation All shooting data is calculated. Self-propelled guns are moving forward to firing position, fire at the enemy without sighting and sometimes even without adjustment, then leave the firing position. Thus, when the enemy determines the location of the firing position and takes action, it will be too late - the self-propelled guns are no longer there.

In the event of a breakthrough by enemy tanks and motorized infantry, self-propelled guns can also be used as an effective anti-tank weapon. For this purpose, their ammunition kit contains special types shells, such as the guided winged 152.4 mm artillery shell "Krasnopol". IN lately Self-propelled guns have mastered a new use for themselves in the role of a “super-heavy anti-sniper rifle”, capable of destroying enemy snipers in conditions that are very difficult to hit with other fire weapons (for example, destroying snipers’ shelters).

Anglo-American designers concentrated on to a greater extent on the development of a class of self-propelled howitzers (M7 Priest, M12, Bishop, Sexton) and, to a somewhat lesser extent, on the development of anti-tank self-propelled guns (

For hundreds of years, artillery was an important component of the Russian army. However, she reached her power and prosperity during the Second World War - it is no coincidence that she was called the “god of war.” An analysis of a long-term military campaign made it possible to determine the most promising areas of this type of troops for decades to come. As a result, today Russia’s modern artillery has the necessary power both to effectively conduct combat operations in local conflicts and to repel massive aggression.

Legacy of the past

New samples Russian weapons“they trace their lineage” back to the 60s of the 20th century, when the Soviet army leadership set a course for high-quality rearmament. Dozens of leading design bureaus, where outstanding engineers and designers worked, laid the theoretical and technical basis for the creation of the latest weapons.

The experience of previous wars and analysis of the potential of foreign armies clearly showed that it is necessary to rely on mobile self-propelled artillery and mortar launchers. Thanks to decisions made half a century ago, Russian artillery has acquired a substantial fleet of tracked and wheeled missile and artillery weapons, the basis of which is a “flower collection”: from the nimble 122-mm Gvozdika howitzer to the formidable 240-mm Tulip.

Barrel field artillery

Russian barrel artillery has a huge number of guns. They are in service with artillery units, units and formations Ground Forces and represent the basis of the firepower of the units Marine Corps and internal troops. Barrel artillery combines high firepower, accuracy and accuracy of fire with simplicity of design and use, mobility, increased reliability, flexibility of fire, and is also economical.

Many samples of towed guns were designed taking into account the experience of the Second World War. They're in Russian army are gradually being replaced by self-propelled artillery pieces developed in 1971-1975, optimized for performing fire missions even in conditions of a nuclear conflict. Towed guns are supposed to be used in fortified areas and in secondary theaters of military operations.

Samples of weapons

Currently, Russian cannon artillery has the following types of self-propelled guns:

Floating howitzer 2S1 “Gvozdika” (122 mm).
Howitzer 2SZ "Akatsia" (152 mm).
Howitzer 2S19 "Msta-S" (152 mm).
2S5 "Gyacinth" gun (152 mm).
2S7 “Pion” gun (203 mm).

A self-propelled howitzer with unique characteristics and the ability to shoot in the “burst of fire” mode 2S35 “Coalition-SV” (152 mm).

120 mm are intended for fire support of combined arms units self-propelled guns 2S23 “Nona-SVK”, 2S9 “Nona-S”, 2S31 “Vena” and their towed counterpart 2B16 “Nona-K”. The peculiarity of these guns is that they can serve as a mortar, mortar, howitzer or anti-tank gun.

Anti-tank artillery

Along with the creation of highly effective anti-tank missile systems, significant attention is paid to the development of anti-tank artillery guns. Their advantages over anti-tank missiles lie primarily in their relative cheapness, simplicity of design and use, and the ability to fire around the clock in any weather.

Russian anti-tank artillery is moving along the path of increasing power and caliber, improving ammunition and sighting devices. The pinnacle of this development was the 100-mm anti-tank smoothbore gun MT-12 (2A29) "Rapier" with increased initial speed projectile and an effective firing range of up to 1500 m. The gun can fire the 9M117 “Kastet” anti-tank missile, capable of penetrating armor up to 660 mm thick behind dynamic protection.

The towed PT 2A45M Sprut-B, which is in service with the Russian Federation, also has even greater armor penetration. Behind dynamic protection, it is capable of hitting armor up to 770 mm thick. Russian self-propelled artillery in this segment is represented by the 2S25 Sprut-SD self-propelled gun, which has recently entered service with paratroopers.

Mortars

Modern Russian artillery is unthinkable without mortars of various purposes and calibers. Russian models of this class of weapons are extremely effective means of suppression, destruction and fire support. The troops have the following types of mortar weapons:

Automatic 2B9M "Cornflower" (82 mm).
2B14-1 “Tray” (82 mm).
Mortar complex 2S12 “Sani” (120 mm).
Self-propelled 2S4 “Tulpan” (240 mm).
M-160 (160 mm) and M-240 (240 mm).

Characteristics and Features

If the “Tray” and “Sleigh” mortars repeat the designs of the Great Patriotic War, then “Cornflower” is a fundamentally new system. It is equipped with automatic reloading mechanisms, which allows firing with an excellent rate of fire of 100-120 rounds per minute (compared to 24 rounds per minute for the Tray mortar).

The Russian artillery can rightfully be proud of the Tulip self-propelled mortar, which is also an original system. In the stowed position, its 240-mm barrel is mounted on the roof of an armored tracked chassis; in the combat position, it rests on a special plate resting on the ground. In this case, all operations are performed using a hydraulic system.

Coastal troops in the Russian Federation as a branch independent forces The Navy was formed in 1989. The basis of its firepower is made up of mobile missile and artillery systems:

"Redoubt" (rocket).
4K51 "Rubezh" (missile).
3K55 "Bastion" (missile).
3K60 "Bal" (rocket).
A-222 "Bereg" (artillery 130 mm).

These complexes are truly unique and represent real threat any enemy fleet. The newest "Bastion" has been in combat duty since 2010, equipped with Onyx/Yakhont hypersonic missiles. During the Crimean events, several “Bastions”, demonstratively placed on the peninsula, thwarted plans for a “show of force” by the NATO fleet.

Russia's newest coastal defense artillery, the A-222 Bereg, operates effectively against small, high-speed vessels moving at a speed of 100 knots (180 km/h), medium surface ships (within 23 km of the complex), and ground targets.

Heavy artillery as part of the Coastal Forces is always ready to support powerful complexes: the Giatsint-S self-propelled gun, the Giatsint-B howitzer gun, the Msta-B howitzer gun, D-20 and D-30 howitzers, MLRS.

Multiple launch rocket systems

Since WWII rocket artillery Russia, as the legal successor of the USSR, has a powerful group of MLRS. In the 50s, the 122 mm 40-barrel BM-21 Grad system was created. The Russian Ground Forces have 4,500 such systems.

The BM-21 Grad became the prototype of the Grad-1 system, created in 1975 to equip tank and motorized rifle regiments, as well as the more powerful 220-mm Uragan system for army artillery units. This line of development was continued by the long-range Smerch system with 300-mm shells and the new Prima divisional MLRS with an increased number of guides and rockets increased power with a detachable head part.

Procurement is underway for a new Tornado MLRS, a bi-caliber system mounted on the MAZ-543M chassis. In the Tornado-G variant, it fires 122-mm rockets from the Grad MLRS, being three times more effective than the latter. In the Tornado-S version, designed to fire 300-mm rockets, its combat effectiveness coefficient is 3-4 times higher than that of the Smerch. The Tornado hits targets with a salvo and single high-precision rockets.

Flak

Russian anti-aircraft artillery is represented by the following self-propelled small-caliber systems:

Quad self-propelled gun "Shilka" (23 mm).
Self-propelled twin installation "Tunguska" (30 mm).
Self-propelled twin launcher "Pantsir" (30 mm).
Towed twin unit ZU-23 (2A13) (23 mm).

The self-propelled guns are equipped with a radio instrument system that provides target acquisition and automatic tracking and generation of guidance data. Automatic aiming of guns is carried out using hydraulic drives. "Shilka" is exclusively an artillery system, while "Tunguska" and "Pantsir" are also armed with anti-aircraft missiles.

A self-propelled artillery mount (SAU), which should in the future replace the 152-mm Msta-S self-propelled guns available to the troops. The caliber of the new howitzer remained the same, but the gun itself is new and has excellent characteristics in terms of range and accuracy - while the Msta-S had a maximum firing range of about 25 km, the Coalition-SV, according to various sources, will be able to hit targets at distances from 40 to 70 km. Another important innovation is the robotic loading and firing process. A fully autonomous automatic loader is used, in addition, the ammunition is reloaded using an automatic transport-loading machine at a high rate...

Artillery of heavy mechanized and motorized rifle brigades By the end of 2015, the Russian Ground Forces will adopt new heavy self-propelled artillery units (SAU) 2S35 “Coalition-SV”. According to plans Russian Ministry Defense by 2020, new self-propelled guns will have to replace all self-propelled artillery mounts 2S19 "Msta-S", 2S3 "Akatsiya" and 2A65 "Msta-B" of 152 mm caliber. Compared to aging artillery installations, the Coalition-SV self-propelled gun will have a significantly greater firing range and combat effectiveness.

Development artillery installation"Coalition-SV" of 152 mm caliber has been produced by the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" since 2006. In 2011, the development and release of working design documentation for the new self-propelled artillery mount "Coalition" and the transport-loading vehicle for it were completed, and in 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense received the first ten pre-production samples of the new gun, which took part in the Victory Parade on May 9, 2015 year. Their participation in the parade, along with other new weapons, was the first public demonstration of the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled guns.

Artillery installation

The basis of the promising self-propelled gun "Coalition" in terms of its armament is the 2A88 gun of 152 mm caliber with a barrel length of 52 calibers. The installation is equipped with a muzzle brake and a modular loading system with a pneumatic mechanism for sending the projectile into the barrel. The new system allows you to load the 2A88 at any pointing angle without the need to return the installation barrel to a horizontal position after each shot. This system made it possible to increase the rate of fire of the Coalition gun by one and a half times to 16 rounds per minute.

The main ammunition of the installation includes high-explosive fragmentation and guided ammunition. The latter are guided according to the GLONASS navigation system data. In addition, the Coalition self-propelled gun can fire lighting, smoke and incendiary shells. The maximum firing range for the Coalition gun is 70 kilometers. For comparison, the same figure for the Msta-S self-propelled guns is only 29 kilometers. The Burevestnik Central Research Institute explains such a significantly increased firing range of the Coalition gun by using “new physical principles.”

The transportable ammunition load of the Coalition self-propelled gun, depending on the version of the installation, can include from 50 to 90 ammunition. The 2F66-1 universal transport and loading vehicle, developed by Burevestnik based on the KamAZ-6560 truck, can also work in tandem with a self-propelled artillery mount. The latter can transport ammunition of 120-155 mm caliber and load self-propelled artillery ammunition within 15 minutes.

It should be noted that the Coalition self-propelled gun will be equipped with an automated fire control system. It will allow the installation tool to be completely automatic mode select a target, aim at it and fire until it is completely destroyed. In addition, the weapon will be integrated into a unified tactical control system, which will allow the Coalition self-propelled gun to receive target designation data from other vehicles or fighters via a digital secure channel. This system will allow the Coalition gun to operate day and night and quickly adjust its fire.

Versions of self-propelled guns "Coalition"

In the spring, at the Victory Parade, they showed tracked versions of the Coalition self-propelled artillery unit - the Coalition-SV self-propelled gun. This machine is made on a six-roller chassis of the main battle tank T-90A, not very suitable for such heavy vehicles. The total combat weight of the Coalition-SV self-propelled gun is 48 tons. For comparison, the same figure for the T-90 in full combat gear is slightly more than 46 tons.

However, serial samples of the Coalition-SV self-propelled guns, after the launch of full-scale production of the installation, are planned to be produced on the basis of the seven-wheel universal tracked platform of heavy equipment "Armata", on the chassis of which it is also planned to produce T-14 tanks, T-15 infantry fighting vehicles, engineering vehicles barriers, anti-aircraft missile systems and several other classes of equipment.

The tracked version of the Coalition self-propelled gun is assembled according to a turret design with a body divided into three compartments - control, combat and engine-transmission compartments of the installation. The control compartment in the Coalition-SV installation is located in the front part of the hull with a central location for the driver and a side position for the gun commander and gunner. The fighting compartment of the Coalition installation is made completely uninhabited precisely thanks to the new fire control system and automatic loader.

The howitzer itself is installed in a rotating turret, on the left and right sides of which type 902 grenade launchers are placed for setting up smoke screens. On the roof of the Coalition installation there are also two laser warning system sensors at the front and rear. In addition, on the roof of the Coalition turret there is a remote-controlled 6S21 turret with a KORD 12.7 mm machine gun and an ammunition load of 200 rounds. The engine and transmission compartment of the Coalition self-propelled gun is located in the rear of the artillery hull.

"Burevestnik" also led the development of a self-propelled artillery mount of an articulated design, in which two tracked vehicles are combined into a system of multiple units with the control of the second vehicle from the first. According to the project, it was planned to place a crew with a fighting compartment in the first link of the installation, and in the second link an additional self-propelled gun ammunition for 200 rounds.

In addition to the Koalitsiya-SV tracked self-propelled gun, a wheeled version of the self-propelled artillery mount will also be produced for the Russian Armed Forces. It received the designation SAU 2S35-1 “Coalition-SV-KSh”. This howitzer is placed on the chassis of a modified KamAZ-6560. In this truck for installation heavy gun the developers strengthened the frame frame and the armor of the cabin in which the crew is accommodated. At the same time, the fighting compartment of the wheeled self-propelled gun, just like in the tracked artillery mount, remained uninhabited.

In general, the new Coalition self-propelled artillery systems will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces, but the fate of these self-propelled guns in service has not yet been fully determined.

2S35 "Coalition-SV" is a Russian 152-mm brigade-level self-propelled howitzer. Developed at the Nizhny Novgorod Central Research Institute "Burevestnik". The 2S35 self-propelled gun is designed to destroy tactical nuclear weapons, artillery and mortar batteries, tanks and other armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, manpower, air defense and missile defense systems, command posts, as well as to destroy field fortifications and impede the maneuvers of enemy reserves in the depths of their defense . On May 9, 2015, the new 2S35 “Coalition-SV” self-propelled howitzer was officially presented for the first time at the Parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In 1989, the artillery regiments of motorized rifle and tank divisions Soviet army The 152-mm self-propelled howitzer 2S19 was adopted. In terms of its characteristics, at the time of adoption, the Msta-S self-propelled gun was approximately equivalent to its foreign counterparts, however, already in the early 1990s, the NATO member countries adopted the “Joint Memorandum on Ballistics,” which defined a new standard for 155-mm howitzers and set the maximum firing range for high-explosive fragmentation shells at 30 km, and for active-reactive shells at 40 km. In order to eliminate the gap between Russian divisional artillery and the artillery of NATO countries, the development of a new modification of the 2S19 under the name 2S33 “Msta-SM” began (some sources give the index 2S19M).

In parallel with the work on modernizing the Msta, the 3rd Central Research Institute conducted research on the issue of further unification of the artillery armament of self-propelled howitzers with sea-based systems, and the Burevestnik Central Research Institute was exploring the possibility of creating a three-barreled artillery complex. Due to the collapse of the USSR and difficult financial situation In Russia, work was stopped, but already at the beginning of 2002, under the leadership of chief designer A.P. Rogov, department No. 0514 of the Nizhny Novgorod Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" designed a model of a multifunctional promising combat module, armed with a two-barrel advanced artillery system. As a result of the successful demonstration of the developed module, it was decided to develop and manufacture an experimental model of a new artillery system within two years. By March-April 2003, the optimal designs of the cradle, clip, guides and gun bolt were designed and accepted for further work.

After final approval, production of the weapon began. JSC Motovilikhinskiye Zavody manufactured parts for the barrel and bolt group and the cradle, while TsKB Titan manufactured the pneumatic delivery system for projectiles. In July 2003, the design departments of the Burevestnik Central Research Institute began constructing a test bench for firing tests based on the B-4 towed howitzer. In June-July 2004, the assembly and debugging of the stand was completed, and by September, test results were received that confirmed the correctness of the design solutions of the artillery system. Simultaneously with the stand based on the B-4 howitzer, a mobile complex stand was manufactured at the Ural Transport Engineering Plant, which was a 2S19 self-propelled gun with a double-barreled gun installed instead of the 2A64 howitzer. This stand also passed tests that confirmed the operability of the design of the loading mechanisms of the future promising self-propelled guns. In addition to the double-barreled version, a single-barrel version of the gun was also manufactured and tested, placed on the chassis of the 2S5 self-propelled gun. Based on the results of the analysis, it was subsequently decided to abandon the double-barrel design, since the single-barrel version had greater reliability of the mechanisms and a lower price. The resulting developments formed the basis of the development work under the name “Coalition-SV” (GRAU index - 2S35).

Officially, work on the creation of the 2S35 began in 2006. In 2011, the stage of issuing working design documentation for the wheeled and tracked versions of the system, as well as the transport-loading vehicle for them, was completed. By 2013, the Ural Transport Engineering Plant produced the first two prototypes of the Coalition-SV self-propelled guns, and in 2014, a series of 10 2S35 units was delivered, which took part in the anniversary Victory Parade on Red Square. After completion of all types of tests, the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer is planned to be adopted by the brigade level of the ground forces Russian Federation, where by 2020 it will have to replace the outdated 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled guns.

Modifications

Despite the fact that the prototypes for full-scale testing are based on the chassis of the main T-90A tank, in the future, as development progresses, the chassis can be replaced by the universal interspecific heavy platform "Armata". In addition to the tracked version of the 2S35 self-propelled guns, a wheeled version is also being developed, designated 2S35-1 “Coalition-SV-KSh”. Unlike the tracked version of the Koalitsiya-SV-KSh self-propelled gun, it is placed on a modified base of the KamAZ-6560 truck. The main modifications to the chassis concerned the strengthening of the truck frame frame. Like the basic self-propelled gun 2S35, the self-propelled howitzer 2S35-1 has an uninhabited fighting compartment. The crew of the self-propelled guns is located in an armored chassis cabin. Deployment time is up to one and a half minutes. The 2S35-1 self-propelled guns are also planned to be put into service in 2015, simultaneously with the basic version. Along with the work on creating wheeled and tracked versions of the Coalition self-propelled guns, work was carried out on the articulated structure. The system consists of two links on a tracked chassis, connected to each other. The first link houses the crew with a fighting compartment, the second contains an additional ammunition load of 200 rounds. As part of the initiative work carried out by the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik", on the basis of the artillery unit of the self-propelled gun "Coalition" modified by OJSC "Motovilikha Plants", an experimental weapon was developed that operates on new physical principles, allowing you to increase the maximum firing range by 1.5 times. The results obtained during the experimental work determined the future prospects for the development of artillery systems. As stated general manager Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" will be created on the basis of "Coalition-SV" artillery complex For coastal troops Navy.

Armored hull and turret

Self-propelled howitzer 2S35 "Coalition-SV" is made according to the turret design. The geometry of the vehicle's body is similar to that of the T-90 tank and is divided into three sections: control, combat and power (engine and transmission) sections. Compared to the T-90 tank, the front part of the hull has been significantly modified to accommodate the control compartment. In the middle of the control compartment is the driver's seat with chassis controls, and to the left and right of it are the positions of the gun commander and gunner, respectively. In the middle part of the hull there is a deserted fighting compartment. The process of forming a shot and loading the gun is carried out in a fully automatic mode. A 152 mm 2A88 howitzer is installed in the rotating turret of the self-propelled gun. System 902 grenade launchers are installed on the left and right sides of the turret, as well as on the roof, for setting up smoke screens. In the front and rear parts of the roof there are two warning sensors about laser irradiation of the self-propelled guns. In the stern there is a motor-transmission compartment with a power plant.

Armament

The main armament of the 2S35 self-propelled gun is the 152-mm howitzer 2A88. 2A88 is attached to the muzzle of the pipe muzzle brake. Loading the gun is modular. The projectile is loaded into the barrel using a pneumatic loading mechanism. The design of the loading mechanism ensures loading of the self-propelled gun at any vertical guidance angle without returning the barrel to the loading line. The shot is carried out by a microwave charge initiation system. Thanks to the applied design of the loading mechanisms on the 2S35 self-propelled guns, a high rate of fire is ensured with a maximum rate of fire of 16 rounds per minute. The main ammunition of the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer includes high-explosive fragmentation shells, as well as guided projectiles created on the basis of the Krasnopol projectile, and using flight path correction using GLONASS. In addition, the use of projectiles is provided special purpose, such as lighting, smoke and incendiary. The maximum firing range is 70 km.

According to various sources, the transportable ammunition of the self-propelled gun ranges from 50 to 70 rounds. To supply 2S35 self-propelled howitzers with rounds, the design bureau of the Burevestnik Central Research Institute, based on the KamAZ-6560 truck, developed a universal transport and loading vehicle 2F66-1, capable of transporting shells of 120-155 mm caliber. The total transportable ammunition is more than 90 rounds, and the loading time of the self-propelled gun takes less than 15 minutes.

As an additional weapon, a 6S21 remote-controlled turret with a 12.7-mm KORD machine gun is installed on the roof of the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer turret. The installation consists of a weapons unit for guidance drives and a laser range finder. Control is carried out through television channels, vertical guidance angles range from −5° to +75°. Ammunition in the cartridge box is 200 rounds.

Special equipment

The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer is equipped with an automated control system for the processes of gun guidance, target selection, navigation and self-propelled gun positioning. The gunner and commander's workstations are equipped with displays that display information from a unified information and command system. Integration of 2S35 self-propelled artillery systems into Unified system tactical level control allows you to receive target designations via a digital communication channel, carry out a round-the-clock overview of the area both during the day and in the dark, perform autonomous calculations of firing installations and adjust your fire.

Organizational structure

The 2S35 self-propelled howitzer is designed to arm the artillery of heavy mechanized and motorized rifle brigades of the Ground Forces to replace the 152-mm 2S19 Msta-S howitzers. While the 2S35-1 wheeled howitzer will have to go into service with medium motorized rifle brigades of the Ground Forces to replace the 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzers. In addition, wheeled self-propelled guns can enter service with air assault and mountain brigades.

The 2S35 self-propelled gun is planned to be put into service to replace the previous generation self-propelled gun 2S19 "Msta-S". Compared to the Mstoy-S, the Koalitsiya-SV has a significantly increased maximum firing range (70 km versus 29 km) and a 1.5-fold increased rate of fire. Just like the 2S19M2 self-propelled gun, the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer implements the “simultaneous fire attack” function, which allows you to hit a target simultaneously with several projectiles fired from one self-propelled gun and located on different flight trajectories. In addition, the 2S35 ammunition includes shells of increased power. The crew of the self-propelled guns has been reduced to three people. Firing is fully automated and does not require the presence of gun crew members in the fighting compartment of the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer; thanks to the new layout, the combat effectiveness of the self-propelled guns has been increased.

After the adoption of the “Joint Memorandum on Ballistics” by NATO member countries in the early 1990s, a number of states began work on creating new self-propelled guns or modernizing existing self-propelled artillery units equipped with a 155-mm barrel with a length of 52 calibers and a charging chamber volume of 23 liters . By 1998, the Federal Republic of Germany had launched mass production of PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, created on the basis of the previously canceled PzH 70 project. Unlike its predecessor, the PzH 2000 was armed with a gun with new ballistics, which made it possible to increase the firing range of L15A2 projectiles to 30 km, and active-reactive ones with ERFB-BB shells up to 41 km. In addition, the rate of fire was increased to 8-10 rounds per minute. Compared to the Koaltsiya-SV self-propelled gun, the PzH-2000 self-propelled howitzer has a shorter maximum firing range, greater weight and a larger crew (5 people versus 3). In addition, loading and firing from the PzH-2000 self-propelled gun is not fully automated, like other modern analogues of the 2S35 self-propelled gun.

A direct conceptual analogue of the 2S35 self-propelled gun was the North American project of the XM2001 “Crusader” self-propelled howitzer, launched in 1994 to replace the M109 self-propelled gun and its modifications. The XM2001 self-propelled gun had a new 155-mm gun with a length of 56 calibers with an increased firing range and a rate of fire of 10-12 rounds in the first minute. The crew consisted of 3 people, and the entire process of loading and firing, as in the 2S35 self-propelled guns, was fully automated. In 2006, it was planned to begin small-scale production, and in 2007 - mass production, however, due to the high cost and insufficient mobility of self-propelled guns, the Crusader project was closed and did not receive further development. Compared to the 2S35 self-propelled gun, the XM2001 self-propelled howitzer had a shorter maximum firing range (57 km versus 70 km), but the total weight of the self-propelled gun was 43.64 tons, versus 48 tons for the 2S35.

Another modern analogue of the 2S35 self-propelled howitzer is the Chinese self-propelled gun PLZ-05, created using technologies obtained in the 1980s from the American company Space Research. Unlike the Coalition-SV, the PLZ-05 self-propelled gun has a shorter firing range and a larger crew, but despite this, it competes with the best similar Western weapons in potential sales markets.

The adoption and equipping of brigade-level artillery formations with self-propelled artillery installations "Coalition-SV" will allow the Russian army to eliminate the backlog that persisted after the collapse of the USSR Western countries and China in the field of artillery weapons. According to estimates by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the 2S35 self-propelled gun is 1.5-2 times superior to similar systems in terms of its range of characteristics. Compared to the M777 towed howitzers and M109 self-propelled howitzers in service with the US Army, the Coalition-SV self-propelled howitzer has a higher degree of automation, increased rate of fire and firing range, meeting modern requirements for combined arms combat. At the same time, despite its shortcomings, according to Popular Mechanics, the US artillery, armed with M777 towed howitzers, which can be transported by MV-22 tiltrotors, and the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled guns, maintains parity with Russia in the field of conventional artillery.

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The 2S2 “Pion” self-propelled artillery mount tops the rating of the most powerful and long-range guns that were in service until recently. According to international treaties The main number of Pion self-propelled guns were withdrawn from service in 1990, mothballed and sent for storage. A small part of the installations are still in operation, but all of them have been relocated to the eastern military district. The caliber of the gun is 203 mm with a barrel length of 55 calibers. It fires shells of several modifications weighing about 100 kg at a range of 47 km. The Pion self-propelled gun was originally developed to fire nuclear ammunition.

Development history

Long-range guns, heavy-duty artillery mounts were actively used in the Second world war. In the next decade, interest in them waned, as they showed significant shortcomings in their application. This is a high complexity and cost of the mechanical part. Very low rate of fire and mobility. A sharp renewal of interest in long-range artillery systems occurred after the advent of tactical nuclear charges. Has arrived an entire era designing powerful artillery systems. The engineers reached the 420 mm caliber with the Oka mortar. A powerful artillery installation firing from closed positions is difficult to notice. This is its advantage, however, with the advent and reduction in cost of missile systems, such weapons are gradually leaving the arena, but continue to remain in the army’s reserves.

Key dates for the Pion self-propelled gun:

1975 - adopted into service;
1983 - modernization;
1990 - withdrawal from service.

Main performance characteristics

Gun caliber - 203 mm;
Barrel length - 55 calibers (more than 11 meters);
Firing range ballistic trajectory– 47 km;
Direct fire range – 6-8 km;
Projectile weight – 80-110 kg for various modifications;
Rate of fire – 1.5-2.5 rounds/min (rate of fire and maximum rate);
Pointing angle – 0-60 degrees vertically and -15 +15 degrees horizontally;
Guidance control - hydraulic powered by a separate engine;
Sight - gun panorama (Hertz panorama) + additional sight for direct fire;
Loading - manually using a projectile trolley or from the back of a truck (transport vehicle for ammunition);
Chassis ammunition - 4-8 shells with powder shots and capsule tubes;
The transport vehicle's ammunition capacity is 40 rounds.

Self-propelled chassis:

Chassis weight - up to 45 tons;
Crew – 7 people;
Armor class - bulletproof;
Engine power - 780-840 hp. according to modifications 2S7 and 2S7M (2S7M updated version, produced from 1983-1986);
Transmission - mechanical, two 7-speed gearboxes. Hydraulic shift control;
Highway speed -50 km/h (13.8 m/sec);
Cruising range on the highway – 675 km;
Time to transfer to combat position - 10-7 minutes;
The ditch to be overcome is 2500 mm;
Fordability - 1200 mm;
Ascent/descent overcome – 25.

These performance characteristics are quite suitable for firing tactical nuclear ammunition. Code names for nuclear charges for 23 mm caliber: “Kleschevina”, “Sazhenets”, “Perforator”. In addition to nuclear shells, conventional high-explosive fragmentation and cluster charges can be fired. Chemical ammunition has also been developed for this caliber.

General layout

The body is made with a minimum height, which ensures good installation security when the gun barrel is lowered in the marching position. The structure is frameless, and the supporting structure is a welded hollow structure made from a sheet of bulletproof armor. The body is divided by transverse partitions into four compartments. The crew cabin is located in the very front part, which is designed as a front overhang over the tracks. The compartments following the cabin are the engine and transmission compartments. The drive is made to the front sprockets through two gearboxes.

The gun is installed in the stern. In the transport position, the axis of the gun barrel is parallel to the longitudinal axis in the center of the chassis. This provides good stability. The rear and stern parts are balanced. This is important when crossing ditches of 2500 mm.

Engine

The very first version of the Pion self-propelled gun was equipped with a V-46 or V-46-1 engine. This is a diesel tank diesel engine with 12 cylinders and 780 hp. power. The engine was taken from the T-72 tank. Before installation, layout changes were made to fit the engine compartment of the chassis. To preserve engine life and quick winter starting, the engine is equipped with a powerful pre-heater.

During the modernization of the 2S7 Pion self-propelled guns to the 2S7M self-propelled guns, the V-46 diesel engine was replaced with a more advanced multi-fuel V-84 engine. Fuel - diesel fuel, summer and winter varieties, kerosene, gasoline, mixed fuel. The total engine power increased to 840 hp.

Transmission and chassis

The transmission is completely mechanical without torque converters, and hydraulics are used only for steering. Bevel gearboxes and gearboxes were borrowed from the T-72 tank. Manual transmission 7 speed + 1 reverse gear. The drive is made using front sprockets, which is somewhat unusual for a tracked chassis weighing 45 tons.

During development, the initial requirement was for a mass of up to 50 tons, so the main chassis components were borrowed from the T-72 tank. These are six pairs of dual rubber-coated steel rollers. They have individual torsion bar suspension. The hydraulic shock absorbers are equipped with a locking system. It turns on when the bulldozer coulter is lowered and the unit is moved to the firing position.

Aiming

Guidance is carried out by a classic gun sight (Hertz panorama). The well-proven model PG-1M was chosen. In the modernized version of 1986, the gunner receives data from the R-173 radio station. Digital indicators are used to display data. The rate of fire was increased by 2.5 times. For direct fire there is an OP-4M sight.

Auxiliary equipment, recoil devices

The tactical use of self-propelled artillery systems involves firing from protected, closed positions. On the march, the self-propelled gun is protected by bulletproof armor, but in a combat position it requires a protected position. Especially for these conditions, the hydraulics for lifting the barrel, aiming and installing recoil devices are driven not from the main one, but from auxiliary engine. The reliable four-cylinder diesel generator 9Р4-6У2 was chosen as it. The generator has a power of 18 kW (24 hp). Through the main pump of the hydraulic system, the drive of all self-propelled gun systems necessary for firing is provided.

The main anti-recoil device is made in the form of a bulldozer blade mounted at the rear of the machine. The coulter is lowered and raised by a hydraulic system. The second recoil element is the rear sprocket lowered to the ground. Each sprocket is raised and lowered by one hydraulic cylinder. After this, the tracks change shape, and the chassis has a powerful rear stop.

The set of auxiliary equipment includes a hand trolley for transporting the projectile. When loading from a transport vehicle, it is not required. With a trolley, it is possible to feed a projectile from the ground level at any inclination of the barrel.

A 100-kilogram projectile from a cart or transport vehicle was mounted on a special manipulator on the right side of the vehicle, after which it was loaded into the breech of the gun barrel. The loading system turned out to be complex, but it allows for the fastest possible reloading without changing the barrel angle.

Auxiliary weapons

Additional weapons are designed to protect the vehicle on the move and in a firing position. Protection against attack aircraft is provided by MANPADS and an NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun of 12 mm caliber. The crew is issued machine guns and F1 grenades.

Communications, surveillance equipment

Since 1975, the Pion self-propelled guns have been equipped with the R-123M radio station. In the 1986 modification, the radio station was replaced by the more modern R-173. R123M - tube onboard radio station for open FM communication at 20-51 MHz. The transmitter on the GU-50 lamp provides 40 W of maximum power and communication over 25 km and more. The device was outdated and by 1986 it was replaced by the most modern airborne radio station R-173.

R-173 operates at 30-76 MHz with a transmitter power of 45 W. The element base is radiation-resistant microcircuits for military purposes. Provides digital data transmission at 16 kbit/sec. This ensures compatibility with various speech encryption algorithms, transmission of exact time, target coordinates and any other data necessary for tactical work. R-173 ensures the functioning of self-propelled guns in automated system fire control. The R-173 radio station is now in service and is installed on all Strategic Missile Forces vehicles.

Work under normal daytime conditions is carried out without the use of electronics. During the daytime, 8 prismatic periscope devices TNPO-160 are used, having wide application on various armored vehicles. At night, some of them need to be replaced with TVNE-4B night vision devices.

Shells

The long firing range makes the separate loading system rational. In this case, no sleeve is used. First, a projectile weighing about 100 kg is loaded into the barrel using a hydraulic system. Then it loads powder charge in linen bags. The fuse is provided by a disposable primer tube, which is ejected after each shot when the bolt moves to recharge.

The main type is the 3VOF34 high-explosive fragmentation charge weighing 110 kg. Firing range - 37 km. It is also available in an active-reactive version with an increased range of up to 47 km, which is the maximum value for this weapon.

Despite the growing importance of aviation on the modern battlefield, artillery does not give up its positions and retains its role effective remedy hitting any targets - from infantry to fortifications. One of its most important types is self-propelled artillery units (self-propelled guns). They are often used for fire support of troops on the battlefield, for artillery preparation before storming enemy positions, as well as for mining dangerous areas of defense and destroying enemy minefields. Implementation latest technologies provides self-propelled artillery units with high accuracy, rate of fire and mobility. The significance of self-propelled guns in the realities of typical regional conflict of our time has increased significantly.

One of the most anticipated new products, which general public could see one of the recent Victory Parades in Moscow, the newest self-propelled artillery mount 2S35 “Coalition-SV”. This machine has a long and complicated story creation.

Story

In 1989, the 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzer was put into service. In terms of its main characteristics, it was in no way inferior to its foreign analogues. But over time, everything changed: the firing range of foreign self-propelled guns increased to 40 kilometers (with some ammunition), and the Burevestnik Central Research Institute (Nizhny Novgorod) began to develop a new artillery system, called Msta-SM. In parallel with them, specialists from this research institute developed several multi-barreled artillery systems.

At the beginning of 2003, designers already had sufficient developments to create a double-barrel howitzer self-propelled system. In 2004, tests began, as a result of which they decided to abandon the double-barrel layout. Installing two barrels at once on one machine seriously complicated and increased the cost of the design. It was these works that gave rise to a new project, later called “Coalition”.

The project officially started in 2006. In 2013, the first two prototypes were made, and the following year the first batch of self-propelled guns of ten vehicles was made.

By 2020, this 152-mm self-propelled howitzer should replace the outdated Akatsiya and Msta self-propelled guns.

Design

The Coalition-SV self-propelled gun is built on the basis of the main Russian T-90 tank. In the future, they want to transfer it to the base of the Armata universal combat platform, as well as create a wheeled version.

The self-propelled gun is made according to a turret design and the structure of its hull generally repeats the layout of the T-90 hull. The hull consists of three compartments: power, combat and control compartments. The control compartment is located in the bow of the hull; it houses the driver-mechanic and machine control devices. Nearby are places for the gun commander and gunner.

The fighting compartment is completely uninhabited; it is located in the middle part of the hull. Loading and formation of a shot occurs fully automatically, without the participation of the crew. Loading is separate. The crew is completely separated from the combat compartment, which increases its safety and also protects it from powder gases. The control module is computerized, all information is displayed on displays. The vehicle commander and gunner's positions are equipped with operations control systems. At their positions, the commander and gunner can receive information about the surrounding terrain, aim the gun, receive target designations via a special communication channel and calculate corrections for firing. They can do all this at any time of the day.

At the rear of the vehicle there is a power compartment with an engine and transmission. A 152 mm rifled howitzer is located in a rotating turret. The tower also houses a smoke jamming system and laser warning sensors.

There is a muzzle brake on the muzzle of the gun. The gun is loaded automatically, and the projectile can be loaded into the gun at any angle of inclination: there is no need to lower the barrel onto the loading line. The loading mechanism is pneumatic. The shot is fired using a microwave charge.

The loading mechanism significantly increased the rate of fire of the Coalition-SV. The rate of fire of the installation is 1.5 times higher than the Msta and Akatsiya self-propelled guns. The gun's ammunition capacity ranges from 50 to 70 shells. The self-propelled gun can use high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, guided projectiles, the flight of which can be adjusted using information from the GLONASS system, as well as special-purpose projectiles: smoke, illumination, incendiary.

The self-propelled gun is capable of firing at a range of up to 70 kilometers. "Coalition-SV" can operate in the "flurry of fire" mode, in which it produces large number shots at the same target, but along different trajectories, due to which the shells hit the target almost simultaneously. The vehicle can be prepared for firing in the shortest possible time and leave the position one minute after it ends.

A special vehicle based on KamAZ was created for Coalition-SV, which can transport and unload ammunition. It only takes 15 minutes to top up your bookmaker from this machine.

On the roof of the self-propelled gun turret there is a machine gun mount with a KORD machine gun. It is controlled remotely, its elevation angle is 75 degrees. The installation contains a guidance system and a laser rangefinder.

The armor of the artillery hull is bulletproof steel.

They plan to put the “Coalition” into service in brigades of the Russian Ground Forces.

Machine modifications

Now the self-propelled guns are based on the T-90 tank, but some experts believe that the universal Armata platform will be much better suited for these purposes. However, there are several other options - for example, as a base self-propelled gun an all-terrain vehicle KamAZ-6560 can be used. The cross-country ability of the wheeled version will most likely be lower than the tracked one, however, it should be much more mobile and have a serious advantage in speed.

There is information about experiments with the charge for this weapon. A new charge created on the basis of a substance with a high energy capacity can significantly increase the firing range. But there has been no official confirmation of this yet.

There is another option for this installation. It consists of two articulated vehicles: the first is an self-propelled gun, and the second is a transport-loading vehicle, which the installation carries on a trailer. Thanks to this scheme, the loading time of an artillery mount is reduced several times and the maneuverability of the complex is significantly increased.

It is also planned to install Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled guns on warships.