Mortar 120 mm projectile speed. Internet application of the magazine "bayanay". Mortar base plate lowered to the ground

Due to the simplicity of design and combat qualities, mortars have long and firmly taken their place in the structure of artillery of modern ground forces. Soon after its appearance, this type of weapon began to be installed on various self-propelled chassis, which significantly improved their mobility and survivability. The idea of a self-propelled mortar has survived to this day and is unlikely to be abandoned in the near future. An armored wheeled or tracked chassis gives the combat vehicle the ability to quickly enter and leave a position, and new, more advanced mortars are able to effectively hit targets in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum consumption of ammunition.

General trends

In the field of self-propelled mortars in recent years, there have been several trends aimed at improving combat qualities. First of all, it is necessary to note the gradual transition from 81 or 82 mm caliber systems to more serious weapons. Over the past decades, almost all leading countries have begun to actively develop the direction of 120-mm self-propelled mortars. In fact, such a weapon is a compromise between weight and overall performance and firepower. With acceptable sizes, it is 120 mm mortars that make it possible to send relatively large ammunition to the target over a fairly long distance.

One of the most modern howitzers in the world is the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 (in an abbreviated version - PzH 2000, where the digital index indicates the new millennium). Experts unanimously attribute it to the perfect model of field artillery in the world, which has a serial production..

In addition, mortars also master those firing techniques that were previously characteristic only of howitzers - for example, MRSI or “flurry of fire”, when the gun fires several shots at a maximum rate and different elevation of the barrel, due to which several mines fly up to the target almost simultaneously.

In the field of ammunition for self-propelled mortars, exactly the same trends are observed as in other areas of weapons. Along with high-explosive fragmentation mines, new types of corrected mines are being created. In addition, attempts are being made to create cluster munitions. Gunsmiths are trying to increase the accuracy and power of the new mines, and are also trying to increase their range. The latter is achieved mainly by creating active-reactive mines with their own jet engine. The PERM (Precision Extended Range Munition) program is currently underway in the United States, the goal of which is to create an adjustable mine with a range of up to 16-17 km, which is about twice that of conventional ammunition.

Consider some foreign self-propelled mortars that were created during recent years.

Germany

In the late nineties, the German company Rheinmetall, on its own initiative, upgraded the Wiesel 1 tracked chassis. The resulting Wiesel 2 machine with improved performance attracted the attention of the military and as a result became the basis for several developments, including a self-propelled mortar. In 2004, tests began on two 120-mm mortars based on the Wiesel-2. The new Advanced Mortar System complex included three vehicles: the mortar itself, command post with communication and control systems, as well as a reconnaissance vehicle.

The maximum firing range when using new ammunition created by Rheinmetall exceeds 8 km. Up to 30 min. The crew of the combat vehicle consists of only three people, one of which is a driver mechanic. After the modernization of the armored chassis, the Wiesel-2 has a combat weight of about 4.2 tons, which makes it suitable for air transport and landing.

In 2009, the German Ministry of Defense and Rheinmetall signed a contract, according to which in the coming years the army will receive 38 Wiesel-2 self-propelled mortars, as well as 17 reconnaissance and command vehicles. The first batches have already been delivered. There is information about the continuation of the supply of such self-propelled mortars after the implementation of the existing contract.

Israel

A turntable with a horizontal and vertical guidance system is installed on the base vehicle or armored personnel carrier. To expand the list of usable chassis, Soltam Systems engineers have provided recoil devices that are unusual for mortars.

In addition to the gun platform, CARDOM includes navigation systems, a ballistic computer and other equipment. The main type of weapon suitable for use in the CARDOM system is the 120 mm Soltam K6 mortar with a semi-automatic loading system. When using it, guidance devices allow you to fire in any direction at a distance of up to 7.2 km (when using conventional mines). An experienced calculation can provide a rate of fire of up to 15-16 rounds per minute.

CARDOM systems are already in service with the Israeli army. The version for Israel is mounted on a modified chassis of the M113 armored personnel carrier and is named Keshet ("Bow"). In the middle of last 2012, Soltam Systems, in accordance with the contract, supplied Spain with the first batch of CARDOM systems with 81-mm mortars mounted on the chassis of four-wheeled vehicles. A contract is expected to be signed for the supply of CARDON systems to the USA, where they will be mounted on a Stryker chassis.

China

Approximately in the middle of the 2000s, the People's Liberation Army of China received a new self-propelled mortar PLL-05, created by NORINCO and combining all the advantages of a mortar and a gun. On the six-wheeled WZ551 chassis, a new combat module with a universal weapon is mounted, suitable for firing in a wide range of pointing angles. It is worth noting that the first mention of the PLL-05 appeared at the beginning of the last decade, but then this combat vehicle was offered only for export. Obviously, a few years later, due to lack of demand, the self-propelled mortar was redesigned in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese army and began its mass production.

There is also information about the existence of a cluster mine carrying 30 armor-piercing sub-elements. Claimed penetration - up to 90 mm. Also created for the PLL-05 mortar cumulative ammunition, allowing you to hit armored targets at ranges up to 1100-1200 meters. The maximum rate of fire, regardless of the type of ammunition, is 7-8 rounds per minute.

The PLL-05 combat module with a 120 mm universal mortar can also be mounted on other chassis. In particular, at arms exhibitions and military equipment demonstrated a variant based on the Type 07P eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier. However, equipment for the army is made on the basis of a six-wheeled armored vehicle. Probably, the weight indicators of both options affected this: the PLL-05 available in the PLA is about five tons lighter than the self-propelled mortar based on the Type 07P. Thus, combat vehicles with a weight of about 16.5 tons can be transported by Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft.

United Arab Emirates

As a chassis for a promising combat vehicle, IGG engineers chose the South African-made RG31 Mk 6 MPV armored car. This choice was justified by the peculiarities of the landscape of the Emirates and nearby regions. The authors of the Agrab project considered that the patency of a four-wheeled armored car would be sufficient to complete the assigned tasks, and the protection complex, made in accordance with the MRAP concept, would ensure the safety of the crew and weapons.

The Arachnida fire control system is responsible for firing in the SRAMS combat module. Electronics allows you to calculate the data for firing and transmit them to the guidance mechanisms. If necessary, the calculation of the mortar can use manual mechanisms. When using standard high-explosive fragmentation mines, the Agrab combat vehicle is capable of firing at targets at distances up to 8-8.5 km. The maximum firing range of lighting mines does not exceed 7-7.5 km. Nothing has yet been said about the existence of other ammunition, but the caliber and characteristics of the mortar probably allow expanding the range of mines used.

The Agrab self-propelled mortar was created by IGG on its own initiative. In 2007, testing of the first prototype began. Further tests and fine-tuning of a promising combat vehicle continued until 2010, after which the armed forces of the United United Arab Emirates expressed a desire to purchase a batch of new equipment. In 2011, the UAE Ministry of Defense ordered 72 self-propelled mortars from IGG with a total value of about 215 million US dollars.

Poland

In 2008, Poland presented its project for a self-propelled mortar. Then the company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) began construction of the first prototype of the new RAK combat module. Like some foreign developments, the new Polish turret with weapons was supposed to combine the capabilities of a mortar and a cannon.

The first prototype of the RAK combat vehicle was assembled on the basis of Soviet self-propelled guns 2S1 "Carnation", which saved time on finalizing the chassis for a new combat module. Inside the armored volume of the RAK turret, a 120-mm breech-loading mortar and all the necessary units are placed. The declared rate of fire of the system is up to 10-12 rounds per minute, which is achieved using an automated loading system. Mortar pointing vertical angles - from -3 ° to + 85 °; horizontal - no restrictions.

For fire control, a system manufactured by WB Electronics is used. The maximum range of hitting a target with a standard mine, like other self-propelled mortars of 120 mm caliber, does not exceed 8-8.5 kilometers. When using mines with an additional jet engine, this figure increases to 12 km.

The first prototypes of the PAK self-propelled mortar were made on the basis of the chassis of the Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount, but later HSW chose a different base chassis. They became the Rosomak armored vehicle, which is a licensed version of the Finnish Patria AMV armored personnel carrier. According to reports, small-scale production of RAK self-propelled mortars is currently underway, but there is no information on the number of vehicles assembled.

Singapore

The SRAMS mortar mentioned above, used in the Agrab complex, was created by the Singaporean company STK (Singapore Technologies Kinetics) in the late nineties and was soon put into service. The SRAMS combat module was designed taking into account the requirements of the Singaporean military, which significantly influenced its appearance.

The SRAMS mortar itself is mounted on recoil devices, and is also equipped with an original muzzle brake. As a result of these measures, recoil is significantly reduced, which makes it possible to install the combat module on a relatively light chassis like cars, as is done in the Agrab complex. Horizontal guidance of the SRAMS mortar is possible only within a 90 ° wide sector. Vertical - from +40 to +80 degrees. In this case, shooting is carried out “through the roof” of the front conveyor module. Automated system AFCS fire control is located in the cockpit of a tracked vehicle and allows you to hit targets with a standard mine at ranges up to 6.5-6.7 km.

The SRAMS self-propelled mortar based on the STK Bronco tracked chassis was put into service in the first half of the 2000s and still remains the main such weapon in the Singaporean army. For possible export deliveries, STK carried out some modifications to the design of the combat module. In particular, there is a prototype based on the American HMMWV, equipped with a SRAMS mortar and a lowering base plate.

Finland and Sweden

In the late nineties, the Finnish company Patria, in collaboration with the Swedish BAE Systems Hagglunds, created an original combat module for self-propelled mortars called AMOS (Advanced Mortar System - “Advanced Mortar System”). He had characteristic difference from foreign developments of a similar purpose, namely two guns. After several years of design, testing and refinement, the new system entered service with the armies of Finland and Sweden.

It is worth noting that at a certain stage of testing it was possible to throw ammunition at 13 km, but a more powerful return had a bad effect on the units of the entire combat vehicle. In this regard, the maximum firing range was also limited. The fire control system makes it possible to calculate the aiming angles of the guns, taking into account external conditions. If necessary, it provides firing on the move at a speed of no more than 25-30 km / h, but in this case, the effective fire range is halved.

If you need to hit a target in motion at a distance close to the maximum possible, there is another algorithm for the operation of calculators. When it is used, all calculations are made on the move, followed by a short stop and a salvo. Further, the self-propelled mortar can leave the position and continue calculations for an attack from another place.

It is worth noting that the single-barrel version of the Finnish-Swedish mortar, in contrast to the original system, interested foreign buyers. Orders already in progress Saudi Arabia, UAE and Slovenia. Also the desire to buy combat modules NEMO was exhibited by Poland, but the contract has not yet been signed.

Switzerland

In the late nineties, the Swiss company RUAG Land Systems introduced its new development called Bighorn. This combat module is a turntable with a mortar and a set of electronic equipment, designed for installation on armored vehicles. various types. The Bighorn mortar was primarily proposed for installation on MOWAG Piranha armored personnel carriers, which determined its dimensions, weight and recoil force.

Loading is carried out by a semi-automatic system: the calculation delivers mines to a special tray and further loading of the ammunition into the barrel is carried out by a mechanical device. The declared maximum rate of fire is up to four shots in 20 seconds. The maximum range when using the most powerful powder charge does not exceed 10 kilometers. The location of the fire control devices is interesting. All electronics are arranged in a small console located next to the mortar. Guidance is controlled either by a joystick or manually, using the appropriate mechanisms.

The Bighorn combat module could become the basis for several types of self-propelled mortars based on different chassis. Variants based on MOWAG Piranha (Switzerland), FNSS Pars (Turkey), etc. were tested. In all cases, the advantages and disadvantages of the mortar and related systems were identified, but things did not go beyond fine-tuning. In the 15 years that have passed since the development of the Bighorn system, not a single country has become interested in it and has not even initiated contract negotiations. The development company continues to improve the mortar complex, but its prospects remain vague.

***
It is easy to see that in recent years the development of self-propelled mortars has been in accordance with two main ideas. The first of them involves the installation of platforms with weapons and electronics inside the body of existing vehicles (primarily armored personnel carriers). The result is a simple and easy-to-use mortar complex, suitable for all tasks assigned to it.

The second concept is noticeably more complicated, although it implies a tangible increase in combat qualities. The capabilities of such a self-propelled mortar are growing due to the use of a full-fledged gun turret with large vertical guidance angles. Despite the obvious advantages, self-propelled mortars of the second type are unlikely to completely replace combat vehicles made in accordance with the first idea.

Having great fire capabilities, "tower" mortars seriously lose in cost and design complexity. Therefore, over the next years, even in the most powerful and developed armies, self-propelled mortars of both types will be encountered.

student 29-12-2003 06:42

120 mm regimental mortars

Work on 120-mm regimental mortars was carried out by group D from 1931 in parallel with mortars of other calibers. According to the project (on January 1, 1933), the 120-mm regimental mortar had an imaginary triangle design scheme and a Stokes-Brandt ignition scheme. The weight of the mortar in combat position was 140 kg. The ammunition included a fragmentation-chemical mine weighing 12.08 kg, containing 2.18 kg of poisonous substance, and a high-explosive cast-iron mine weighing 9.3 kg, containing 2.56 kg of explosive. The firing range was supposed to be 3000-3500 m. The firing range was changed by changing the charges and the vertical guidance angle.
Tests of the 120 mm mortar dragged on from 1934 to 1939. Several dozen little different prototypes were tested.
Officially, the 120-mm mortar was adopted by the decision of the Defense Committee of February 26, 1939, along with the 82-mm battalion mortar mod. 1937 and 107-mm mountain pack mortar mod. 1938 The regimental mortar was named "120-mm mortar model 1938".
Serial production of 120 mm mortars began in 1939. During the year, 500 mortars were manufactured. For 1-111 quarters of 1940 to the plant? 7, 2100 120-mm mortars were ordered at a price of 29 thousand rubles. a piece. By August 1, 1940, 933 mortars had been manufactured.
The barrel of the mortar is smooth. Unlike battalion mortars, the shot was fired using a firing device located in the breech. To fire a shot, it was enough to pull the trigger cord. If necessary, the striker was transferred to a rigid position and the shooting was carried out by self-piercing, as in a battalion mortar.
The plate of the 120-mm mortar differed from the plate of the battalion mortar mod. 1937 and was an arched structure. In this slab, the top sheet was made by deep stamping and rested on stiffeners welded to it, which cut into the ground and ensured that the slab was supported on the ground by most of the lower surface of the sheet.
In the campaign, the mortar was transported on wheels by means of mechanical traction, and without wheels it could be transported in the back of a truck disassembled. Transfer time from traveling position in combat 2-3 minutes.
The most common unsprung wheel travel arr. 1938, consisting of a frame and two wheels from a GAZ-AA car.
Mortar arr. 1938 was supplied with a limber arr. 1938 The front end, being the front part of a general mortar cart on a campaign (although you can carry a mortar without it), was also intended to transport 20 minutes. The front end consisted of a frame, two wheels from a GAZ-AA car and a box. In addition to mines, two trays were placed in the box, and in each tray there were five pairs of boxes with additional charges and one spare tail cartridge (to replace the one that misfired). During the war years, the so-called "simplified" front end was produced.
A slightly modernized version of the mortar mod. 1938 received the name "120-mm mortar model 1941".
120 mm mortar mod. 1941, in contrast to the mortar mod. 1938 was equipped with a simplified shock absorber and did not have wheel travel. To reduce labor costs, a screw breech was used, but its reliable obturation in connection with the barrel was not provided.
In 1943, a new 120-mm mortar was adopted, which was a modernized version of mod. 1938. It was improved firing device, which was disassembled without screwing the breech. In addition, the mortar was supplied with shock absorbers with a longer spring stroke and a swinging sight. The introduction of a swinging sight simplified the leveling mechanism. In 1945, an improved sprung course was given to the mortar for towing by a car. In general, this mortar turned out to be a very successful model and was produced by industry until last days war.
The carriage of a 120-mm mortar was carried out by horse or mechanical traction. horse traction It was produced with a limber by four horses.

Regimental mortar data
arr. 1938 arr. 1943
Caliber, mm 120 120
Angle VN, deg +45?; +80? +45?;+80?
Angle GN, deg, 6? eight?
Barrel weight with breech, kg 105 100
Weight of a two-legged carriage, kg 75 80
Base plate weight, kg 95 95
Sight weight, kg 1.4 1.4
Mortar weight in combat position, kg 275 275
Wheel travel width, mm 1300 1300
Clearance, mm 370 370
Maximum carriage speed, km/h:
along the cobblestone pavement 18 18
by highway 35 35
Rate of fire, rds / min:
without pickup correction 15 15
with pickup correction b b

student 29-12-2003 06:56

By ammunition
Ammunition and ballistics of 120-mm mortars
During the Great Patriotic War, the ammunition load of 120-mm mortars included:
The 120-mm TR incendiary mine with combined thermite-phosphorus equipment was put into service in early 1943. This mine was equipped with yellow phosphorus, 36 thermite incendiary elements in metal cups and a small bursting charge. When a mine exploded, burning incendiary elements scattered within a radius of up to 40 m from the place of the explosion and created 36 fire centers with a temperature of more than 2000 ° C and a burning time of about 15 s. After the combustion of the incendiary elements, hot slag remained, capable of melting thin sheet iron. 120-mm TR incendiary mines ensured reliable ignition of wooden structures.
Also in 1942, a small batch of 120 mm BNP and BTN incendiary mines was fired.
The BNP 120-mm incendiary mine was equipped with a viscous fire mixture of A.P. Ionov with the addition of a fibrous filler - tow, which reduced the crushing of the viscous fire mixture during a mine explosion. Mines of the BNP type reliably set fire to wooden log cabins, worked satisfactorily when they hit the tank. BTP mines were equipped with a viscous fire mixture, thermite composition and tow.
At the end of 1939 at the factory? 7, a 120 mm "large capacity" mine was created. The weight of such a mine was 27 kg, and the weight of the explosive (8 kg) was twice the weight of the explosive in a conventional 120 mm mine. In medium-density soil, such a mine made a funnel 1.5 m deep and 4.0 m in diameter.
In January 1940, at the location of the 85th regiment, such mines were fired at Finnish anti-tank concrete gouges, but the power of "large-capacity" mines was not enough to destroy the gouges.
Was the production of 120 mm chemical mines with POW substance started at the plant? 67 in 1937 (the first batch was delivered - 200 pieces). In 1939, the production of chemical mines with the substance NOV (both mustard gas and "volatile substances") began.
The 1941 plan included the production of 20,000 120-mm mines of the NOV type (with three types of toxic substances) and 5,000 mines of the SOV type.

student 29-12-2003 07:09

And again:

120-mm mortar complex 2S12 "Sani"
The 120-mm mortar complex 2S12 "Sani" was put into service in 1979.
The complex includes: 120-mm mortar 2B11, wheel sprung travel 2L81 and transport vehicle 2F510. The transport vehicle was created on the basis of the GAZ-66-05 car.
The mortar is designed to destroy manpower, fire weapons and equipment located openly or in field-type structures.
The mortar is made according to the scheme of an imaginary triangle. Loading is done from the muzzle. There is a safety lock from double loading.
The 2B11 mortar can fire all domestically produced 120 mm mortars.

Mortar data 2B11
Caliber, mm 120
Mortar weight in combat position, kg 210
The weight of the mortar in the stowed position
on wheels, kg 300
Angle of vertical guidance, hail +45?; +80?
Angle of horizontal guidance, hail 10?
Maximum firing range, km:
with a long-range charge 7.2
with full variable charge 5.9
Minimum firing range, km 0.48
Rate of fire, rds / min 10-15
Calculation, pers. 5
Carried ammunition, rds. 80
Transition time from stowed position
in combat, min
Firing range of a mine weighing 16 kg, m
Mortar towing speed behind a car
by highway, km/h 60
Transportation speed in a car body, km/h 90

Laborant 26-03-2004 11:27

I giggled for a long time when I saw it, but the wheels of this mortar are from M-cha 412.
Now I understand why my Izhevsk "heel" was required to be registered with the military registration and enlistment office.
Z.Y. And well bang...

extractor 02-04-2004 20:50

Laborant! Conduct an educational program with the battery commander. recommendations in the section about 82 mm BM.

student 03-04-2004 12:05

Yes, the slab is creeping, judging by the katinka below, seriously. Already the earth is cracking and rammed to the state of stone. God forbid, create a position in the garden and bang like that - the hostess will kill

Laborant 03-04-2004 05:15

quote: Originally posted by extractor:
On what charge was the shoe? Probably on the smallest one? I look at the plate is all in the ice and strictly horizontally. At the maximum charge, it would probably go back.
Laborant! Conduct an educational program with the battery commander. recommendations in the section about 82 mm BM.

They fired for 2 days in total. In the photo, the first day, they did not shoot from this particular mortar, on that day they fired 8 mines from one barrel with a change of calculations on different charges. On the second day, at RTU, another 30 minutes, from all guns on 2 and 3 charges.
I regret not taking a picture of the salvo. From my place, all three barrels were perfectly visible and the simultaneously flying cigar mines, muzzle flash and clouds of smoke around the barrels looked very spectacular. But alas, there was no time

extractor 03-04-2004 18:42

Laborant_y: They fired... Did they even hit?
I just saw the photo of Student_a:
on a plowed field, the slab has climbed very deep, even boxes placed under the edge of the slab do not help! But the calculation is also wrong! The biped has left, God knows where, the reach of the worm is almost full, the worm has already bent and may break, and then the lift will not work.
In this particular case, in a combat situation, that’s right, you can throw boards from boxes under the plate, the edges of the plate will grind everything, in extreme cases, if the plate cracks, it can be welded. to the mortar so that it stands at about 60 degrees and the worm's reach is minimal.
Gotta get somewhere laboratory works, at least half-time.

Laborant 04-04-2004 05:22

2 extractors. 1st day - 2 calculations - excellent, one calculation - good. 2nd day, battery rating excellent

extractor 04-04-2004 07:06

It is immediately clear that the main signalman of the battery enters Artillery on Guns.ru!

Slonyar 07-07-2004 22:41

Here is such a piece.

ORDER OF THE FIRST DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER OF DEFENSE ON THE REASONS FOR EXPLOSIONS OF MORTAR

Despite periodic instructions and reminders to the troops from the Main Artillery Directorate on the proper use of mortars during firing, a number of cases have recently been noted again gross violation rules for the operation of mortars in the troops. As a result, during 1944, 64 cases of explosions of 120-mm mortars with human casualties were registered only on the Leningrad Front, in parts of the 4th Ukrainian Front - 25 cases, formerly. Separate Primorsky Army - 17, Karelian Front - 6, 3rd Belorussian - 5, etc. In addition, part of the mortar explosions were attributed to losses from enemy fire and reports on them, as about emergency cases, were not presented on command.

Special investigations into the causes of accidents have established that the majority (85%) of accidents with 120-mm mortars occur as a result of loading mortars with two mines (when the firing mechanism is set to "descent") or attempts to put a second mine into the mortar before the previous one takes off (when installed on hard bump).

Loading with two mines is carried out solely due to negligence, indiscipline and ignorance by the mortar men of their weapons, namely:

a) during breaks in firing, some mortars are left loaded, which, after a break at the command "load", entails reloading;

b) in case of misfires and stuck mines in the bore (lack of hit to the striker) as a result of poor care of the mortar;

c) in an effort to show the "class" of rapid fire and lowering the second mine into the barrel, when the first one had not yet left it.

During verification, it turned out that a number of officers of mortar units, including regimental commanders, do not know their equipment well, do not seek to improve their knowledge and study the mortars and ammunition they have, and, in turn, do not teach mortar crews the correct firing and care for the material part.

It has been established that accidents occur mainly in those mortar regiments where they do not provide technical training to personnel.

Despite a significant number of cases of mortar explosions due to rough

* See doc. ? 243. 316

violations of the rules for their operation (double loading), as a rule, entailing unnecessary, senseless losses in personnel, no one true reasons does not deal with incidents and does not take measures to prevent the death of people and mortars. I order:

1. The commanders of the front troops should pay special attention to the training of mortar units and the selection of commanders of these units.

Carry out a verification of the official compliance of the commanders of units and subdivisions who had cases of mortar explosions.

2. Require the commanders of mortar units to organize special training sessions for preparing mortars for firing, installing mortars, inspecting and preparing mines, and conducting demonstration firing.

3. In all cases of mortar explosions, immediately (on the day of the incident), by order of the unit commander, appoint a commission for investigation, which will draw up a detailed act on the spot listing the firing conditions, indicating production data on materiel and ammunition and the causes of the incident.

5. This order is to be announced to all officers of mortar units, schools and colleges.

First Deputy People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR Marshal Soviet Union G. ZHUKOV

F. 4, op. 11, d. 78, l. 287-289. Script.

student 08-07-2004 12:05

Particularly liked:
4. From now on, do not leave without punishment any accident caused due to improper operation.

Punish an accident? Or shreds, which were the calculation in the morning?
With rapid fire, such options are more than possible, but the double-loading safety is excellent at preventing double loading. Gouging is gouging, but high-speed shooting was sometimes justified. Of course, during the war, calculations had to be prepared at a fast pace, not everyone was a sufficient level of specialists.

It was a difficult time, of course, but we like to blame the extreme for everything. Although the share of the blame for the ignorance of the mortar equipment lies with those. who trained them in the rear, and those who developed a system of training and control that allows commanders of crews and batteries who are ignorant of weapons and TB to command.
Sincerely, Student

Skeptic-2 08-07-2004 02:31

- Find the culprit? What problems?

Yes, anyone, starting with the platoon commander, and up the ladder - depending on how many goals the authorities require!

Slonyar 08-07-2004 15:49

Student

"Loading with two mines is carried out solely due to negligence, indiscipline and ignorance by the mortar men of their weapons" - debatable. Especially since it's exceptional. All the same high-speed shooting, "hurricane fire" that infantry demanded in both world wars. What is negligence? Then the crew of the Shumov brothers are not masters of their craft, but exceptional pests and gouging, who must be urgently sent to the penal battalion. And although they fired from an 82 mm mortar, what was said about the 120 mm mortar can, I think, even to a greater extent, be attributed to 82 mm.

IMHO If we exclude the version of suicide, then loading a mortar with two mines is really a consequence of negligence, indiscipline and ignorance by the mortar man of his weapon. It is doubtful that the mortarmen did not understand the consequences of such an act or were not explained to them.
And the immediate supervisor is just responsible for the knowledge of the equipment and shooting rules by subordinates. And in such cases, the direct culprit went to court and to the penal company (if he remained alive), the commander to the penal battalion, or appointment with a demotion in rank and position, or only positions. The rest are up the chain by pronunciation.

It was a difficult time, of course, but we like to blame the extreme for everything. Although the share of the blame for the ignorance of the mortar equipment lies with those. who trained them in the rear, and those who developed a system of training and control that allows commanders of crews and batteries who are ignorant of weapons and TB to command.

Before changing anything and everything, it is necessary to ensure that existing requirements are met. And if it doesn't work then:

Skeptic-2
"Accident to punish? Or shreds, the former calculation in the morning?"
- Find the culprit? What are the problems? Yes, anyone, starting with the platoon commander, and up the ladder - depending on how many heads the authorities require!

Wah! What heads! So at the front. Shuffle for a couple of months.

Slonyar 08-07-2004 16:04

156
ORDER OF THE DEPUTY PEOPLE'S COMMISSIONER OF DEFENSE
ON ORDERING THE SERVICE OF CONTROL AND VERIFICATION
POINTS ON THE ROADS OF THE SUPREME HIGH COMMAND
AND THE MAIN HIGHWAY FRONTS
? 0411/0322 And August 1943
The service squads of the checkpoint of the NKVD troops and the road commandant sections of the AD, carrying out control and inspection services on the roads of the Supreme High Command and the main highways of the fronts, armies, detain a large number of enemy agents, deserters and other hostile elements trying to penetrate the rear of the fronts. Often these criminals disguise themselves as members of the Red Army.
Individual undisciplined fighters and commanders of the Red Army, apparently not having understood the responsible tasks performed by the NKVD troops and the road commandant's sections of the VAD to establish a solid military
192
order in the front line, they do not comply with the legal requirements of the checkpoint duty squads to check documents, and there is even resistance to these squads, which makes it easier for hostile elements to penetrate into the rear of the fronts. For example:
On February 4, 1943, the chief of staff of the 5th mechanized corps (South-Western Front), Colonel Shaposhnikov, beat the senior checkpoint of the 287th joint venture of the NKVD, junior sergeant Zotov, who was trying to check his documents.
A disciplinary sanction was imposed on Colonel Shaposhnikov.
On March 25, 1943, Colonel Sivitsky, Chief of Staff of the 203rd Rifle Division (South-Western Front), shot the senior officer of the 24th Border Regiment, Petty Officer Gurkin, who detained the division engineer Captain Kotov, as if he did not have a passport for a car.
Sivitsky was sentenced by a military tribunal to five years in prison.
On April 17, 1943, the commander of the mortar company of the 2nd joint venture of the 186th rifle division (Bryansk Front), captain Geguadze, when the service squad of the 88th border regiment tried to check his documents, opened fire on the outfit, killing the Red Army soldier Karpov.
Geguadze was sentenced by a military tribunal to five years in prison.
On June 9, 1943, near the village of Novoselki (Moscow-Kharkov road), the head of the control post, junior sergeant Vshivtsev, was killed by a passing car, trying to stop the car with a signal. The driver with the car fled.
On June 10, 1943, at the fork in the road, Efremov - Novosil was hit by a car of the 3rd Guards Kotelnikovsky Corps (driver Fedin), the traffic controller of the 5th Highway Road, Comrade Garanina E.N., who tried to stop the car, as unknown civilians were transported in it.
Garanina passed away.
On June 18, 1943, the checkpoint of the 87th Border Regiment (Western Front) detained servicemen of the Department of Artillery Commander of the 16th Guards Army, Major Usikov, and technician Lieutenant Baranov, who did not have travel orders. Guard Major Usikov, insulting the outfit, tried to escape and did not stop after four warning shots.
The outfit fired a weapon at Usikov and wounded him in the right shoulder.
At the same time, it is noted that on the roads of the Supreme High Command and the main highways of the fronts and armies, in addition to the NKVD troops and the road commandant sections of the VAD, a large number of checkpoints are set up by units and institutions of the Red Army that have nothing to do with the protection of rear roads, which affects the normal operation of the last:::::::::::.

Deputy People's Commissar Deputy People's Commissar
defense of internal affairs of the USSR
Marshal of the Soviet Union Commissar of State Security 2nd rank
VASILEVSKY SEROV

student 08-07-2004 17:23

Suicide calculation, group? Original.
Yes, negligence is also possible. But the loader, trying to shoot at the maximum rate, especially from 82 mm. a mortar with "light" mines, could, after a misfire, purely automatically, with a practiced movement, throw a mine into the barrel. This was called the "rapid fire class". When "class" for the sake of "class" - then criminal negligence. If the error is when shooting at a fast pace, then most likely not. Yes, and the loader stopped hearing something quickly - on the side of the barrel, a shot beats fairly in the ears. In the heat of battle, again ... That's why he said that it is doubtful that it was 100% negligence.
As for the implementation of existing instructions, I agree. Need to get it done. But "... in parts of the 4th Ukrainian Front - 25 cases, the former Separate Primorsky Army - 17, the Karelian Front - 6, the 3rd Belorussian - 5, etc." - this is such a strong trend. It means that something is wrong in the Danish kingdom - either they taught it wrong, or SO they controlled it.
Wines for:
1. The one who taught
2. The one who is obliged to monitor the implementation of all the rules of shooting (i.e., the commander, firstly, of the calculation, then - of the platoon. If a "half-educated" was allowed to shoot)
And how they instruct us in safety (I mean classes in the classroom, long, long), I know myself. Who woke up a couple of minutes before the end caught a lot. Probably, the order on the ground was read the same way.
Therefore, I think, and justifiably, that the foundation of TB should be laid during training, and not "pulled up" by separate lectures.
Each case, as rightly noted, must be analyzed individually, deciding what took place - criminal negligence or a mistake.
The above applies only to breaks during high-speed shooting. If a second mine is thrown into a previously loaded mortar at the “load” command, then there is 100% criminal negligence. And no errors due to misfires and fever.

Soft sentences, really.
Perhaps some convicts believed that the NKVD officer was not who he claims to be - spy mania in the frontline zone is not uncommon. And when they reached Western Ukraine, even more so ...
This could be taken into account when sentencing.
In the bulk, however, it is a typical crime (malicious disobedience, insult, infliction of bodily harm on a person in connection with the performance of his official duties), the reaction is indeed mild. To the point of complete inadequacy.
The attitude towards the "rear" and the NKVD in the army has never been warm, but this is already clean water crime.
By the way, be beaten by the chief of staff of the 5th mechanized corps, Colonel Shaposhnikov ml. s-t Zotov "army", the matter did not come to consideration (well, he gave the sergeant in the face, so what?). But in the NKVD, the army, too, apparently, decided to put it in its place.
Sincerely, Student

Slonyar 09-07-2004 17:06

Student

This was called the "rapid fire class". When "class" for the sake of "class" - then criminal negligence. If the error is when shooting at a fast pace, then most likely not.

What's the difference? In any case, he must first make sure that the mine has flown. And shoot at such a pace that there is enough time for this.

Wines for:
1. The one who taught

The future mortar man fired 10 models of mines with live ammunition. I wonder how much they train in the army now?

By the way, be beaten by the chief of staff of the 5th mechanized corps, Colonel Shaposhnikov ml. s-t Zotov "army", the matter did not come to consideration (well, he gave the sergeant in the face, so what?).

Yes, it was different, including when they went to the tribunal for assault.

student 10-07-2004 01:00

In 1943, pre-conscripts who were to be called up at the end of 1943, in the specialty "mortarman" "Vseobuch" taught according to the program at the rate of 110 hours, 9 hours a week on the job (free day)
The future mortar man fired 10 models of mines with live ammunition.

From which everything logically follows. Time did not wait, and therefore failures were inevitable in the preparation and control of knowledge. Like a puppy in the water - you can, then swim, but no, either in the first battle or so stupidly, from your own hands.

quote: Originally posted by Slonyar:

I wonder how much they train in the army now?

In the army? Don't know. Few. Or rather, very few. It can be seen that burning ammunition in warehouses like Novobogdanovka or Artemovsk is more enchanting than little by little at the training ground.
At the military department, our "gunners" fire 2 (TWO!) shots for the entire platoon (D-30)! That is, they only look and charge - there is no question of managing real shooting.

about assault as when and how where. My grandfather, who went through the Finnish, the Second World War and fought with the Japanese in the 45th, told a lot. Including about scuffle as the norm for individual parts. I emphasize - individual.
Slonyara, and you are an excellent conversationalist, right! It's nice to talk to such a knowledgeable person.
We deviated from the "mortar" topic

Sincerely, Student

Slonyar 13-07-2004 22:51

Completely offtopic
? 88
ORDER IN CONNECTION WITH CASES OF PERVERTING THE DISCIPLINARY REGULATION IN THE 10th CONSTRUCTION BATTALION OF THE ZABVO
? 0357 December 18, 1940
According to a report by a member of the Military Council of the Trans-Baikal Military District, in the 10th construction battalion, an unacceptable fact of perversion of the Disciplinary Regulations took place, expressed in assault on the part of certain officers.
While cleaning the premises of the battalion, when two Red Army soldiers met at the door with things, one Red Army soldier pushed the other out of the way. The company commander, Senior Lieutenant Shichkin, instead of examining this case and drawing the correct conclusion, called a Red Army soldier who had pushed another when carrying things, grabbed him by the chest before the formation and hit him twice in the face.
In the same company, the foreman of the company, after giving the command “Become,” demanded that one Red Army soldier throw a cigarette. The latter, following the order, expressed dissatisfaction. Instead of making a resolute and firm suggestion to the Red Army soldier, the foreman called him out of action and hit him in the face in front of the formation.
The indicated facts of perversion of the Disciplinary Regulations, unacceptable in the Red Army, occurred because the head of the political department special troops At a meeting of unit commanders and their deputies for political affairs, senior battalion commissar Grachev, without reading the new Disciplinary Regulations himself, gave a provocative explanation that when applying the new Disciplinary Regulations, commanders have the right to beat the Red Army. Based on this explanation, the commanders and deputies for political affairs, also without reading the charter of the disciplinary service, instructed their subordinate commanders that they had the right to use a crowbar, an ax and everything that came to hand.
All these facts of perversion of discipline became possible due to the lack of leadership in the propaganda work and the lack of explanation of the essence of the Disciplinary Regulations on the part of the District Political Propaganda Department.
I order:
1. Senior battalion commissar Grachev for a provocative explanation of the new Disciplinary Regulations, be removed from his post and transferred to the court of the Military Tribunal.
2. Senior Lieutenant Shichkin, who allowed the perversion of the Disciplinary Regulations, by order of the commander of the district troops to be transferred to another unit with a reduction.
3. Member of the Military Council of the ZabVO Corps Commissar Comrade Gaponovich and Head of the Political Propaganda Department of the Trans-Baikal Military
196

I am reprimanding the divisional commissar comrade Shmanenko of the district for their failure to provide a correct explanation of the Disciplinary Regulations.
4. An order to announce to all the commanding staff of the Red Army, up to and including the platoon commander.
People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR Marshal of the Soviet Union S. Timoshenko
F. 4, op. 15, d. 27, l. 556. Printing copy.

ErmiAk 28-07-2004 04:19

I heard that the Germans used 12 cm captured mortars under the name sGrWr42. The mortar was left without alteration? Or the story repeated with the F-22 and rocket launchers? And the sense of alteration to improve the basic qualities?

Slonyar 28-07-2004 09:34

As far as I know, no.
In 12 cm Gr.W.42, in fact, they only increased the angles of the horizontal (by 3?) and vertical (by 5?) degrees.
Rocket mortars have only PU, for shells with wing stabilizers it was torn off from the Soviet one.

Due to the simplicity of design and combat qualities, mortars have long and firmly taken their place in the structure of artillery of modern ground forces. Soon after its appearance, this type began to be installed on various self-propelled chassis, which made it possible to significantly improve their mobility and survivability. The idea of a self-propelled mortar has survived to this day and is unlikely to be abandoned in the near future. An armored wheeled or tracked chassis gives the combat vehicle the ability to quickly enter and leave a position, and new, more advanced mortars are able to effectively hit targets in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum consumption of ammunition.

General trends

One of the most modern howitzers in the world is considered the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 (in an abbreviated version - PzH 2000, where the digital index indicates the new millennium). Experts unanimously attribute it to the perfect example of field artillery in the world, which has a serial production.

Another interesting trend observed in this area concerns the architecture of combat vehicles. New self-propelled mortars appear regularly, the armament of which is not located inside the armored hull, but in a rotating turret. Such a “hybrid” of a classic self-propelled gun and a mortar has the advantages of both classes of equipment and is therefore capable of solving a wide range of tasks. Self-propelled mortars of recent times are almost always equipped with an advanced automated fire control system and a number of other electronic equipment. In addition, mortars also master those firing techniques that were previously characteristic only of howitzers - for example, MRSI or “flurry of fire”, when the gun fires several shots at a maximum rate and different elevation of the barrel, due to which several mines fly up to the target almost simultaneously.

In the field of ammunition for self-propelled mortars, exactly the same trends are observed as in other areas of weapons. Along with high-explosive fragmentation mines, new types of corrected mines are being created. In addition, attempts are being made to create cluster munitions. Gunsmiths are trying to increase the accuracy and power of the new mines, and are also trying to increase their range. The latter is achieved mainly by creating active-reactive mines with their own jet engine. The PERM (Precision Extended Range Munition) program is currently underway in the United States, the goal of which is to create an adjustable mine with a range of up to 16-17 kilometers, which is about twice that of conventional ammunition.

Consider some foreign self-propelled mortars created in recent years.

Germany

In the late nineties, the German company Rheinmetall, on its own initiative, upgraded the Wiesel 1 tracked chassis. The resulting Wiesel 2 machine with improved performance attracted the attention of the military and as a result became the basis for several developments, including a self-propelled mortar. In 2004, tests began on two 120-mm mortars based on the Wiesel-2. The new Advanced Mortar System complex included three vehicles: the mortar itself, a command post with communication and control systems, and a reconnaissance vehicle.

Due to the small dimensions of the Wiesel-2 base vehicle, a 120-mm mortar in a combat position is placed outside its armored hull. When transferred to a marching one, it is placed on special holding devices by turning forward and fixed. The mortar is mounted on recoil devices, which, in turn, are mounted on a rotary carriage. Horizontal guidance is carried out within 30 ° from the axis of the machine to the right and left, vertical - in the sector from + 35 ° to + 85 °. The combat vehicle is equipped with an automated digital fire control system. For guidance, manual mechanisms or drives controlled by the SLA are used. The maximum firing range when using new ammunition created by Rheinmetall exceeds 8 kilometers. Up to 30 min. The crew of the combat vehicle consists of only three people, one of which is a driver mechanic. After the modernization of the armored chassis, the Wiesel-2 has a combat weight of about 4.2 tons, which makes it suitable for air transport and landing.

Israel

At the beginning of the 2000s, Soltam Systems created the CARDOM (Computerized Autonomous Recoil rapid Deployed Outrange Mortar) system, designed for installation on various chassis. The CARDOM system is a set of technical tools that allow you to mount the desired mortar of the appropriate caliber on an existing chassis. A turntable with a horizontal and vertical guidance system is installed on the base vehicle or armored personnel carrier. To expand the list of usable chassis, Soltam Systems engineers have provided recoil devices that are unusual for mortars.

China

In its concept, the PLL-05 strongly resembles the Soviet / Russian project 2S9 "Nona-S": a turret with a universal gun is installed on the base chassis, combining the best qualities of a mortar and a cannon. The combat module PLL-05 rotates in a horizontal plane by 360°, and the mortar mounting system allows you to fire with elevation from -4° to +80°. The 120mm mortar is capable of using a wide range of ammunition. When using standard high-explosive fragmentation mines, the maximum firing range does not exceed 8.5 kilometers. When firing active-reactive mines, this figure increases to 13-13.5 km. There is also information about the existence of a cluster mine carrying 30 armor-piercing sub-elements. Claimed penetration - up to 90 mm. Also, a cumulative ammunition was created for the PLL-05 mortar, which allows hitting armored targets at ranges up to 1100-1200 meters. The maximum rate of fire, regardless of the type of ammunition, is 7-8 rounds per minute.

The PLL-05 combat module with a 120 mm universal mortar can also be mounted on other chassis. In particular, at exhibitions of weapons and military equipment, a variant based on the Type 07P eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier was demonstrated. However, equipment for the army is made on the basis of a six-wheeled armored vehicle. Probably, the weight indicators of both options affected this: the PLL-05 available in the PLA is about five tons lighter than the self-propelled mortar based on the Type 07P. Thus, combat vehicles with a weight of about 16.5 tons can be transported by Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft.

United Arab Emirates

An original approach to the design of self-propelled mortars was used by IGG (International Golden Group) when creating the Agrab ("Scorpion") combat vehicle. This self-propelled mortar, unlike similar foreign-made vehicles, was made on the basis of an army off-road vehicle. As a chassis for a promising combat vehicle, IGG engineers chose the South African-made RG31 Mk 6 MPV armored car. This choice was justified by the peculiarities of the landscape of the Emirates and nearby regions. The authors of the Agrab project considered that the patency of a four-wheeled armored car would be sufficient to complete the assigned tasks, and the protection complex, made in accordance with the MRAP concept, would ensure the safety of the crew and weapons.

A combat module with high armored sides was placed in the rear of the armored car. Before firing, the tailgate folds back and, with the help of a special truss, brings into combat position a 120-mm Singapore-made mortar SRAMS (Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System - “Super-speed Advanced Mortar System”). The exact angles of pointing weapons are unknown, but based on the available data, we can conclude a horizontal sector with a width of about 50-60 degrees and an elevation of up to 75-80. Inside the combat module there are stacks for 58 minutes. The Arachnida fire control system is responsible for firing in the SRAMS combat module. Electronics allows you to calculate the data for firing and transmit them to the guidance mechanisms. If necessary, the calculation of the mortar can use manual mechanisms. When using standard high-explosive fragmentation mines, the Agrab combat vehicle is capable of firing at targets at distances up to 8-8.5 kilometers. The maximum firing range of lighting mines does not exceed 7-7.5 km. Nothing has yet been said about the existence of other ammunition, but the caliber and characteristics of the mortar probably allow expanding the range of mines used.

The Agrab self-propelled mortar was created by IGG on its own initiative. In 2007, testing of the first prototype began. Further tests and refinement of the promising combat vehicle continued until 2010, after which the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates expressed a desire to purchase a batch of new equipment. In 2011, the UAE Ministry of Defense ordered 72 self-propelled mortars from IGG with a total value of about 215 million US dollars.

Poland

The first prototype of the RAK combat vehicle was assembled on the basis of the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled gun, which saved time for finalizing the chassis for a new combat module. Inside the armored volume of the RAK turret, a 120-mm breech-loading mortar and all the necessary units are placed. The declared rate of fire of the system is up to 10-12 rounds per minute, which is achieved using an automated loading system. Mortar pointing vertical angles - from -3 ° to + 85 °; horizontal - no restrictions. For fire control, a system manufactured by WB Electronics is used. The maximum range of hitting a target with a standard mine, like other self-propelled mortars of 120 mm caliber, does not exceed 8-8.5 kilometers. When using mines with an additional jet engine, this figure increases to 12 kilometers.

Singapore

So, the combat vehicle, which entered service with the Singaporean army, was made on the basis of the STK Bronco articulated tracked transporter. All mortar units are located on the rear link of the machine, which made it possible to competently smash weapons and equipment. The mortar is equipped with an original loading system: units located next to the barrel raise the mine to the level of the muzzle and lower it into the barrel. The supply of mines to the loading mechanism is carried out manually. In such an original and at the same time complex way, the problem of high-speed loading of a muzzle-loading mortar was solved: it can fire up to ten rounds per minute. The SRAMS mortar itself is mounted on recoil devices, and is also equipped with an original muzzle brake. As a result of these measures, recoil is significantly reduced, which makes it possible to install the combat module on a relatively light chassis like cars, as is done in the Agrab complex. Horizontal guidance of the SRAMS mortar is possible only within a 90 ° wide sector. Vertical - from +40 to +80 degrees. In this case, shooting is carried out “through the roof” of the front conveyor module. The AFCS automated fire control system is located in the cockpit of the tracked vehicle and allows you to hit targets with a standard mine at ranges up to 6.5-6.7 kilometers.

Finland and Sweden

In the late nineties, the Finnish company Patria, in collaboration with the Swedish BAE Systems Hagglunds, created an original combat module for self-propelled mortars called AMOS (Advanced Mortar System - “Advanced Mortar System”). It had a characteristic difference from foreign developments of a similar purpose, namely two guns. After several years of design, testing and refinement, the new system entered service with the armies of Finland and Sweden.

The towers of serial Finnish and Swedish AMOS self-propelled mortars are mounted on a CV90 tracked chassis. The turret itself houses two 120-mm guns, automatic loading and auxiliary equipment. The advertisement for the AMOS complex specifically noted that it was capable of firing ten shots in four seconds. However, the practical rate of fire of two mortars is limited to 26 rounds per minute. The rotating tower does not leave dead zones, and the inclination of the barrel block from -5 to +85 degrees allows you to shoot standard mines at a distance of up to ten kilometers. It is worth noting that at a certain stage of testing it was possible to throw ammunition at 13 kilometers, but a more powerful return had a bad effect on the units of the entire combat vehicle. In this regard, the maximum firing range was also limited. The fire control system makes it possible to calculate the aiming angles of guns taking into account external conditions. If necessary, it provides firing on the move at a speed of no more than 25-30 km / h, but in this case, the effective fire range is halved. If you need to hit a target in motion at a distance close to the maximum possible, there is another algorithm for the operation of calculators. When it is used, all calculations are made on the move, followed by a short stop and a salvo. Further, the self-propelled mortar can leave the position and continue calculations for an attack from another place.

The Finnish and Swedish armed forces have ordered several dozen AMOS self-propelled mortars and are actively using them in exercises. For export deliveries, it was necessary to create a special modification of the combat module with one mortar. Such a tower was called NEMO (NEw MOrtar - "New Mortar"). The NEMO differs from the basic design in only a few details directly related to the number of weapons. It is worth noting that the single-barrel version of the Finnish-Swedish mortar, in contrast to the original system, interested foreign buyers. Orders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Slovenia are already being fulfilled. Poland also expressed a desire to purchase NEMO combat modules, but the contract has not yet been signed.

Switzerland

In the late nineties, the Swiss company RUAG Land Systems introduced its new development called Bighorn. This combat module is a turntable with a mortar and a set of electronic equipment, designed for installation on various types of armored vehicles. The Bighorn mortar was primarily proposed for installation on MOWAG Piranha armored personnel carriers, which determined its dimensions, weight and recoil force.

The 120-mm mortar is mounted on a turntable with a lifting mechanism and recoil devices. The latter, according to official data, can reduce recoil by 50-70% compared to mortars that do not use such mechanisms. The Bighorn module is designed for installation in the troop compartment of any suitable armored vehicle. Shooting in this case is carried out through an open hatch in the roof. Because of this, horizontal guidance of the mortar is possible only within a sector with a width of 90 °. Elevation angles - from +40 to +85 degrees. Loading is carried out by a semi-automatic system: the calculation delivers mines to a special tray and further loading of the ammunition into the barrel is carried out by a mechanical device. The declared maximum rate of fire is up to four shots in 20 seconds. The maximum range when using the most powerful powder charge does not exceed 10 kilometers. The location of the fire control devices is interesting. All electronics are arranged in a small console located next to the mortar. Guidance is controlled either by a joystick or manually, using the appropriate mechanisms.

The Bighorn combat module could become the basis for several types of self-propelled mortars based on different chassis. Variants based on MOWAG Piranha (Switzerland), FNSS Pars (Turkey), etc. were tested. In all cases, the advantages and disadvantages of the mortar and related systems were identified, but things did not go beyond fine-tuning. In the fifteen years that have passed since the development of the Bighorn system, not a single country has become interested in it and has not even initiated contract negotiations. The development company continues to improve the mortar complex, but its prospects remain vague.

It is easy to see that in recent years the development of self-propelled mortars has been in accordance with two main ideas. The first of them involves the installation of platforms with weapons and electronics inside the body of existing vehicles (primarily armored personnel carriers). The result is a simple and easy-to-use mortar complex, suitable for all tasks assigned to it. The second concept is noticeably more complicated, although it implies a tangible increase in combat qualities. The capabilities of such a self-propelled mortar are growing due to the use of a full-fledged gun turret with large vertical guidance angles. Despite the obvious advantages, self-propelled mortars of the second type are unlikely to completely replace combat vehicles made in accordance with the first idea. Having great fire capabilities, "tower" mortars seriously lose in cost and design complexity. Therefore, over the next years, even in the most powerful and developed armies, self-propelled mortars of both types will be encountered.

According to the websites:
http://army-guide.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://army-technology.com/
http://armyrecognition.com/
http://strategypage.com/
http://military-today.com/
http://ruag.com/

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, each rifle regiment of the Red Army had a mortar battery armed with four 120-mm mortars mod. 1938 The same mortars were in service with separate mortar battalions (48 mortars in each battalion).

The 120-mm mortar was widely used to destroy enemy manpower and fire weapons. The large steepness of the mine flight path made it possible to destroy closed targets that were not hit by small arms fire and artillery flat fire.

This mortar was developed in design office under the direction of B.I. Shavyrin and was a smooth-bore rigid system (without recoil devices) with an imaginary triangle scheme.

The main elements of its design are a table, a two-legged carriage, a base plate and sights.

The mortar barrel consists of a pipe, a breech with a firing device, an obturator ring that prevents the breakthrough of powder gases at the junction of the pipe with the breech, as well as a clamp with supports for laying and fastening the legs of a biped in a marching manner. The pipe channel is smooth and polished. In the muzzle, the channel has a tapered chamfer to ensure ease of loading (the direction of the mine stabilizer when lowering it into the barrel).

The bipedal carriage supports the barrel, gives it the necessary angles of vertical and horizontal aiming. It contains lifting, swivel, leveling mechanisms and sights. So that a biped with sights does not receive sharp blows when fired, the mortar has a shock absorber, the spring of which softens hard shocks on the biped.

The elevation angles of the mortar (vertical guidance) are provided by a certain installation of a two-legged carriage and a lifting mechanism.

Horizontal aiming is carried out with the help of a rotary mechanism and a rearrangement of a two-legged gun carriage.

Unlike the 82 mm mortar, the base plate of the 120 mm mortar is an arched structure. Its top sheet is made by deep stamping and rests on stiffening ribs welded to it.

120 mm mortars mod. 1938 completed collimator sights MP-41 or MP-42 and racks used in the construction of a parallel fan.

Firing from a mortar can be carried out both by self-piercing the tail cartridge primer on the firing pin, and with the help of a firing mechanism. When shooting self-piercing, a maximum rate of fire of up to 15 rounds per minute is provided, shooting with a shooting device is usually used to ensure the safety of the crew when handling a powerful shot.

A combat shot of a 120-mm mortar consists of a mine, a fuse, a tail cartridge and additional charges.

The main charge is in the tail cartridge. Additional charges serve to communicate additional mine speeds depending on the required range and are equilibrium beams of gunpowder in cloth caps rectangular shape. They are put on the mine stabilizer tube and attached to it with a loop.

The mortar ammunition includes the following mines:

high-explosive fragmentation steel mine OF-843;
high-explosive fragmentation iron mine OF-843A;
high-explosive steel mine F-843;
cast-iron smoke mine D-843A;
incendiary cast-iron mine "TR" 3-843A.

In addition, captured German mines “12 cm. Wgr. 42".

The maximum firing range of the OF-843A high-explosive fragmentation mine weighing 15.9 kg is 5700 m.

To transport the mortar, a wheel drive was developed, which was attached to the limber with ammunition. The wheels of this move have split metal rims and tires filled with sponge rubber. Transportation was carried out by a four-horse harness.

A wheeled mortar could also be transported in a trailer behind a car at a speed not exceeding 18 km / h when driving on a cobblestone pavement, and at a speed of up to 35 km / h when driving on an asphalt highway. Transportation behind a motor vehicle at a higher speed was not allowed, since due to the lack of suspension during the course, breakdowns of the course were possible.

In addition, a wheeled mortar without a limber could be loaded into a car body. At the same time, he was transported at the speed allowed by the car. The same vehicle was used to transport crews and mines packed in park crates.

On the close quarters a mortar on a wheeled course can also be moved manually - by the efforts of the calculation.

On June 1, 1941, the Red Army had about three thousand 120-mm mortars of the 1938 model. After the start of the war, the production of this mortar, as well as its simplified version, was deployed in unusually large volumes. Some factories handed over 500 mortars per month to military acceptance.

Technical data 120-mm mortar arr. 1938:

Caliber - 120 mm
The initial speed of the mine - 272 m / s
Weight in combat position - 275 kg
Combat rate of fire - 15 rds / min.
Firing range - 5700 m
Mine weight - 15.90 kg

The 120-mm regimental mortar was developed at SKB-4 at the plant number 7 "Arsenal" named after. Frunze under the direction of B.I. Shavyrin in 1938. It was a smooth-bore rigid system (without recoil devices), designed according to the “imaginary triangle” scheme. Officially, the 120-mm regimental mortar was adopted by the Red Army in February 1939, and its mass production began on September 1, after testing during the Soviet-Japanese armed conflict near the Khalkhin Gol River.

The main structural elements of the regimental mortar were: a barrel, a two-legged carriage, a base plate and sights. The mortar barrel consisted of a pipe, a breech with a firing device, an obturator ring to prevent the breakthrough of powder gases at the junction of the pipe with the breech, and a clamp with supports for laying and fastening the legs of a biped in a marching manner. In the muzzle of the channel there was a conical chamfer to ensure ease of loading (to guide the stabilizer of the mine when lowering it into the barrel). The two-legged carriage gave the barrel the necessary vertical and horizontal aiming angles. Lifting, swivel, leveling mechanisms and sights were mounted on it. The sharp impacts of the recoil force during a shot at a biped with sights were extinguished by a shock absorber spring. She softened the hard thrusts on the biped. The elevation angles of the mortar (vertical guidance) were provided by the installation of a two-legged carriage and a lifting mechanism. Horizontal aiming was carried out using a rotary mechanism and a rearrangement of a two-legged gun carriage.

Unlike the 82 mm mortar, the base plate of the 120 mm mortar was an arched structure. Its top sheet was made by deep stamping. Stiffening ribs were welded to it from below, providing support for the plate on soft ground. 120-mm mortars of the 1938 model were equipped with collimator sights MP-41, MP-42, MPM-44 and racks used in the construction of a parallel fan. Firing from a mortar could be carried out both by self-piercing a mortar shell on a striker, and with the help of a firing mechanism that made it possible to fire from cover using a trigger cord. When firing self-inflicted, a maximum rate of fire of up to 15 rounds per minute was ensured; firing with a firing device, as a rule, was used to ensure the safety of the crew when handling a powerful shot.

The mortar ammunition included 120-mm mortar mines: high-explosive fragmentation steel; high-explosive fragmentation cast iron; high-explosive steel; smoke cast iron; incendiary cast iron; lighting. The maximum firing range of a high-explosive fragmentation mine with a mass of 15.9 kg was 5900 m. Live shots for a 120-mm mortar consisted of a mine, a fuse, a tail cartridge and 5 additional charges. The main charge was in the tail cartridge. Additional charges were put on the mine stabilizer tube and attached to it with a loop. For the transport of the mortar, a wheel drive was developed with a suspension mechanism, which was attached to the limber with ammunition. The mortar was transported by a four-horse harness. A wheeled mortar could also be transported in a trailer behind a car at a speed of up to 35 km / h. The mechanical traction of the regimental mortar on wheels could be carried out by the Komsomolets tracked tractor, the GAZ-AAA off-road truck and the GAZ-AA or GAZ-MM onboard vehicle. The mortar could fire at vertical aiming angles of 45° and 80°. The mine left craters up to 1.5 m deep. The initial flight speed of the mine reached 272 m / s. The mortar calculation consisted of 6 people: commander, gunner, loader, installer (he checked the mortar rack and set the position of the fuse on the mine) and 2 carriers (when transported on horseback, they were also riding).

By 1941 rifle divisions were composed of 12 120-mm regimental mortars (one mortar battery of 4 mortars in each rifle regiment). Separate mortar battalions had 48 120-mm mortars each. By June 22, 1941, more than 3,000 regimental mortars were already in service with the Red Army.

Since 1942, the regimental mortar was in service not only with rifle regiments and divisions, but also with tank, motorized rifle and motorized brigades, mechanized and rifle corps. The brigades and regiments had separate batteries of 120-mm mortars (4 each, and since 1943 - 6 mortars each), and the corps and armies had separate mortar regiments (2-3 mortar divisions of three batteries, 36 mortars in total). Since 1944, these regiments became part of the mortar brigades of artillery divisions.

The 120-mm regimental mortar was intended to destroy enemy manpower and fire weapons, as well as to make passages in barbed wire and minefields. The large steepness of the mine flight path made it possible to destroy closed targets that were not hit by small arms fire and artillery flat fire. The regimental mortar proved to be excellent during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. Already the first battles showed that the 120-mm mortar is not only a “melee weapon”, but also the most powerful infantry fire weapon, especially when there is a shortage of artillery. “There is no need to look for a better“ janitor ”for clearing the trenches from a closely located enemy than a mortar,” the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper wrote in 1943, calling mortars the backbone of infantry in close combat.

Big loss material part Soviet artillery in the first months of World War II, the issue of the need for a sharp increase in the production of 120-mm mortars was extremely acutely raised, since with a comparable mass of ammunition, the regimental mortar of the 1938 model was nine times lighter and about the same time cheaper than the 122-mm mortar close to it in caliber howitzers of the 1938 model.

Along with connecting a number of enterprises to the production of 120-mm mortars, an increase in their output could also be achieved by simplifying the design and reducing labor intensity and metal consumption. Therefore, B.I. Shavyrin receives the task to develop a simplified mortar, which, while maintaining the combat characteristics of the 120-mm mortar of the 1938 model, would have more simple design, lower labor intensity and high manufacturability.

A group of designers led by B.I. Shavyrin, in a short time, developed a new design of a 120-mm regimental mortar, which, unlike the mortar of the 1938 model, had a simplified barrel with a screw-on breech, a simpler shock absorber with increased travel, as well as a modified design of the bipedal, swivel and lifting mechanisms. The simplified mortar was not equipped with a wheel drive and a limber, so it could be transported in the back of a car along with crew and ammunition. The simplified mortar of the 1941 model was not inferior to the regular one in terms of combat characteristics, and in some respects even surpassed it. Its production was mastered already at the end of 1941, which made it possible to increase the production of mortars by 1.8 times using the same equipment. The labor intensity of production was reduced by almost half, and the consumption of materials - by 26%. In 1943, the 120-mm regimental mortar underwent another upgrade, which was carried out by a design team led by A.A. Kotov. Its goal was, while maintaining and increasing combat and performance characteristics make the design of the mortar even more technologically advanced and less laborious.

First of all, the mortar barrel underwent improvement. The firing mechanism built into the breech was again simplified. In addition, if earlier, to replace a broken drummer, it was necessary to disassemble the mortar and screw the breech from the barrel, now the new design of the firing mechanism made it possible to replace the drummer without disassembling the mortar, which was especially important in a combat situation. Another important innovation was the original double-loading fuse designed by N.M. Afanasiev. Combat operation muzzle-loading mortars revealed their one of the most significant shortcomings - the possibility of double or re-loading the mortar from the muzzle, which happened during intensive firing in combat conditions - due to the inattention of the combat crew (mainly when firing at quick fire or when firing resumed after a long break), when the loader could not notice a shot from his mortar and send a second mine into the barrel after the first one. This could also happen in a misfire; weak pricked primer of the first mine; a prolonged shot or a mine not reaching the striker due to contamination of the bore, mine body or foreign objects entering the bore. A shot fired from a mortar loaded with two mines inevitably led to the death of the crew, if it was not in cover, and the mortar was disabled. Therefore, the mortars were equipped with very reliable automatic double-loading fuses, worn on the muzzle of the barrel. Now the fuse blade prevented the second mine from being sent into the barrel after the first one.

Fuses from double loading worked flawlessly when firing mines of any type; on all charges provided for this mortar; at any angles of elevation and horizontal guidance; at different rates of fire; from firing positions on any ground. Since 1943, the 120-mm regimental mortar was produced only with such a fuse. In addition, the mortar was equipped with shock absorbers with a longer spring travel and a swinging sight, which simplified the leveling mechanism. A new suspension wheel drive was also developed.

The Model 1943 mortar was produced until the end of the war and, along with the 120-mm mortars of the Model 1938 and Model 1941, proved to be an extremely effective and mobile weapon. If at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War mortars were considered as a means of direct support for infantry, then by the end of it they turned into one of the main types of artillery. The combat work of the 120-mm regimental mortar is well illustrated by the example of the calculation of the Shumov brothers, whose fame thundered throughout the Leningrad front. Since 1942, six brothers fought in one 120-mm mortar crew. They fired so that eighteen mines were in the air at the same time, i.e. when the first mine exploded at the enemy positions, the twentieth mine fell into the barrel, and eighteen were already flying at the enemy. Repulsing the fierce attacks of the enemy, clearing the way for the infantry, they fired 13,986 shots from their mortar, destroying over 400 enemy soldiers and officers, destroying 29 pillboxes and dugouts, suppressing the fire of 13 machine guns and 11 mortars. The mortar crew of the Shumovs traveled over 800 km along the roads of the war. He participated in the summer battles of 1943 in the Sinyavino region, in the defeat of the enemy near Leningrad in January 1944, and in the liberation of the Baltic states. In the battles for the Motherland, Vasily, Semyon and Ivan, Alexander, Luka and Auxenty Shumov died a heroic death and returned home.

120-mm regimental mortars were produced during the Great Patriotic War at factories: No. 4 im. Voroshilov (Krasnoyarsk), No. 7 "Arsenal" them. Frunze (Leningrad), No. 221 "Barricades" (Stalingrad), "Engine of the Revolution" (Gorky) and a number of others.

In 1940-1945, the Red Army received 50,751 120-mm regimental mortars of all modifications.

Years of release - 1940 - 1945

Total released - 50 751 units.

Caliber - 120 mm

Weight in combat position - 275 kg

Barrel length - 1860 mm

Calculation - 6 people

Movement speed - up to 35 km / h

Rate of fire - up to 15 rds / min

The greatest firing range - 5900 m

Range direct shot– 450 m

Shooting angles:

horizontal 6°

vertical +45° +80°