The development of the "Coalition". Towed implement in addition to self-propelled
For the Russian army, various artillery systems of all main classes are being developed. In the future, a new model may be put into service, based on already known components. A few days ago it became known that the military department wanted to get not only self-propelled artillery installations 2С35 "Coalition-SV" with 2А88 guns, but also a unified towed system.
The first reports on the plans of the military department regarding the further development of the artillery complex “Coalition-SV” were published a few days ago - December 14. The Izvestia edition received interesting information from representatives of the Ministry of Defense. However, the exact data source was not named. An unnamed source in the ministry told about future plans for the development of barreled artillery, as well as the prerequisites for their appearance.
The Russian military continues to analyze the experience of the war in Syria, and on the basis of such an analysis one or other conclusions are made. Among other things, such conclusions affect the development of artillery. So, the Middle East conflict showed that in the category of 152-mm artillery systems, the army requires not only self-propelled installations. Such howitzers should be produced in towed version, which has its advantages in certain situations.
According to older plans, the perspective 152-mm 2-88 cannon was to be used only on self-propelled combat vehicles. First of all, was developed tracked SAU 2C35 "Coalition-SV". Also, work was carried out on a similar self-propelled on a wheeled car chassis. Now the plans have changed, and the family of artillery systems will be complemented with a towed weapon.
The new project involves the use of ready-made tools with new components, which should simplify and speed up the work. Thanks to this, test samples will be launched next year. However, the source of "Izvestia" has not yet become clear about the timing of the completion of tests and the adoption of new howitzers for service. Most of the technical details of the project remain secret.
Only one possible feature of the project is indicated. It is argued that the 2А88 can be obtained with a shorter barrel during processing for use on the new gun carriage. The reason for such refinement may be the requirements for mobility and restrictions associated with the transportation or landing of the gun.
"Izvestia" called the positive qualities of a promising towed gun, causing the very fact of the appearance of the project. The towed version of the "Coalition" must retain the main part of the firing characteristics and combat qualities of the self-propelled unit. The effectiveness of the fire and other parameters should remain at the same level. At the same time, a howitzer on a towed carriage will be easier to manufacture and cheaper. It is also expected a sharp reduction in size and weight, although the gun and need a tractor.
Reducing the mass will allow to throw a howitzer through the air. With the help of military transport helicopters of various types of weapons, it will be possible to quickly deliver them to remote or remote areas. The basic self-propelled version of the Coalition-SV system, for obvious reasons, does not have this capability.
***
Work on the project of ACS "Coalition-SV" has not yet been completed, but the promising model of equipment is already approaching its adoption. In the coming years, the military and industry plan to complete the refinement of this model and launch its full-scale mass production. At the same time, or with a minimum lag, a new weapon on the same base can go into the series. As the leadership of the Ministry of Defense decided, the new howitzers are needed by the army not only on self-propelled chassis, but also on towed carriages.
The technical details of the new project have not yet been published, but the available data on the “Coalition-SV” self-propelled gun allows us to present an approximate picture and try to understand what the new work will bring. From the latest reports it follows that the new project of the towed howitzer will use the maximum possible number of existing components. However, refinement of finished products to obtain the necessary characteristics and capabilities is not excluded.
The 2C35 ACS is completed with an 152-mm 2-88 rifled howitzer. This gun has a barrel with a length of 52 caliber, equipped with a developed muzzle brake and an ejection device. In the case of self-propelled guns, the barrel is mounted on developed recoil devices, hidden under the armor cover of a characteristic look. The design of the tower and the gun mount allow shooting in any direction with a wide range of angles of vertical guidance.
The 2А88 howitzer uses separate charging with a variable modular charge. A projectile of the required type and several propellant modules — compact cases with a specified amount of gunpowder — are sequentially loaded into the chamber. Self-propelled gun "Coalition-SV" received a fully automatic loading system. According to the crew’s commands, she independently retrieves a projectile of the required type from the packings and sends it to the barrel, after which it sends the required number of charge modules. Automatics of the gun turret is also capable of receiving shots from the ground or from a transport-loading vehicle.
You can imagine what the towed version of the 2А88 gun required by the Ministry of Defense will look like. Apparently, the barrel group and recoil devices can be borrowed from the existing project self-propelled guns. In this case, for the new version of the gun, you will need a carriage of the original design or a product based on existing components. The look of the mast has not yet been clarified.
Currently, Russian artillery units are armed with several samples of 152-mm guns in towed version. Such systems are built on the basis of traditional carriages. The carriages, consisting of two machines, equipped with a wheel course and a pair of sliding beds are used. Upper machine gun carriage is equipped with mounts for sighting devices. The security of the calculation is provided by shield cover. Such a carriage, for example, is used by the towed 2A65 Msta-B gun.
There is every reason to believe that the towed version of the 2А88 howitzer will not be equipped with automatic loader, as this will lead to an unacceptable increase in size and weight of the structure. Serve shells and charge modules to the gun will have to manually. However, it is possible to use the dropping mechanism, which significantly facilitates the work of the loaders. One way or another, in terms of its rate of fire, the towed weapon will lose to the self-propelled model.
The carriage of a new type, like other systems of this kind, is likely to have manual pick-up mechanisms brought to the gunner’s workplace. The latter will have to work with the "traditional" control and guidance systems inherent in existing towed guns. In this case, the towed howitzer 2А88 can retain some of the possibilities of self-propelled installation. "Coalition-SV" is equipped with tools to interact with the Unified Tactical Control System, which provides data transmission and target designation. Devices of similar purpose, but in a different version can be applied to towed guns.
According to open data, the maximum firing range of the "conventional" high-explosive fragmentation projectile for the 2-35 ACS is 40 km. The use of active-reactive ammunition, including managed, allows to increase the firing range to 70 km. Such firing characteristics are achieved through new modular propelling charges, as well as with the help of a relatively long barrel.
The 2А88 towed artillery system can show similar or smaller characteristics. According to the source "Izvestia", the trunk can be used in a new project of reduced length. Thus, a slight decrease in the muzzle energy of the projectile can be expected, resulting in a reduction in the maximum firing range. However, it should be noted that in this case the towed 2А88 howitzer will surpass most other artillery systems of its caliber in terms of its main characteristics.
***
At the moment, the newest domestic serial SAU with an 152 caliber mm gun is the MSTA-S 2C19 combat vehicle. Also in the troops there is a significant number of towed howitzers 2A65 "Msta-B". Further development of the domestic self-propelled howitzer artillery led to the appearance of the 2X35 “Coalition-SV” combat vehicle with the 152-mm 2X88 gun. Previously it was assumed that the latter will be used only on a self-propelled platform, but now the plans have changed, and the army wants to have both weapons.
Thus, it was decided to continue the development of artillery systems in accordance with previously tested and proven concepts. The command decided that both self-propelled and towed systems with standardized guns should still be present in the artillery units. This should provide some combat and operational advantages. First of all, the presence of different weapons with different capabilities will allow to solve a wider range of tasks.
Self-propelled artillery mounts have obvious advantages over towed guns. They have greater tactical mobility, and are also able to quickly deploy and leave a firing position. In addition, SAU can be equipped with automatic loader or even a full-fledged uninhabited fighting compartment. All this in a known manner facilitates the work of the crew and improves the basic characteristics and combat qualities.
At the same time, towed howitzers have advantages. First of all, it is a lower cost, simplifying the production of products in large quantities. Similar capabilities were used in the production of Msta howitzers: the industry manufactured over 1200 towed guns 2A65 and less than 750 self-propelled guns 2C19. Smaller and heavier towed howitzers turn out to be more convenient in terms of transporting military transport aviation. If necessary, they can be landed in a landing or parachute manner. Thus, towed guns can quickly arrive at positions inaccessible to self-propelled artillery.
***
The result of all this is actual requirements for artillery armament, which provide for the creation and operation of systems of different classes on various platforms. For the effective solution of a wide range of tasks, the army needs both self-propelled and towed systems. Such theses have been repeatedly confirmed by practice, and again became relevant as a result of the analysis of the Syrian war.
The development of howitzer artillery through the creation of self-propelled and towed systems continued until the appearance of the latest at the moment serial and front-line systems. In the recent past, such an approach was decided to be abandoned, and the 2А88 can only be used on self-propelled platforms. However, the experience of real armed conflicts has shown the fallacy of such a decision. The necessary measures have already been taken, and next year the newest domestic towed howitzer will be tested. In the distant future, it will be able to become a convenient and effective addition to the self-propelled unit "Coalition-SV".
On the materials of the sites:
https://iz.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://uralvagonzavod.ru/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
The first reports on the plans of the military department regarding the further development of the artillery complex “Coalition-SV” were published a few days ago - December 14. The Izvestia edition received interesting information from representatives of the Ministry of Defense. However, the exact data source was not named. An unnamed source in the ministry told about future plans for the development of barreled artillery, as well as the prerequisites for their appearance.
The Russian military continues to analyze the experience of the war in Syria, and on the basis of such an analysis one or other conclusions are made. Among other things, such conclusions affect the development of artillery. So, the Middle East conflict showed that in the category of 152-mm artillery systems, the army requires not only self-propelled installations. Such howitzers should be produced in towed version, which has its advantages in certain situations.
According to older plans, the perspective 152-mm 2-88 cannon was to be used only on self-propelled combat vehicles. First of all, was developed tracked SAU 2C35 "Coalition-SV". Also, work was carried out on a similar self-propelled on a wheeled car chassis. Now the plans have changed, and the family of artillery systems will be complemented with a towed weapon.
The new project involves the use of ready-made tools with new components, which should simplify and speed up the work. Thanks to this, test samples will be launched next year. However, the source of "Izvestia" has not yet become clear about the timing of the completion of tests and the adoption of new howitzers for service. Most of the technical details of the project remain secret.
Only one possible feature of the project is indicated. It is argued that the 2А88 can be obtained with a shorter barrel during processing for use on the new gun carriage. The reason for such refinement may be the requirements for mobility and restrictions associated with the transportation or landing of the gun.
"Izvestia" called the positive qualities of a promising towed gun, causing the very fact of the appearance of the project. The towed version of the "Coalition" must retain the main part of the firing characteristics and combat qualities of the self-propelled unit. The effectiveness of the fire and other parameters should remain at the same level. At the same time, a howitzer on a towed carriage will be easier to manufacture and cheaper. It is also expected a sharp reduction in size and weight, although the gun and need a tractor.
Reducing the mass will allow to throw a howitzer through the air. With the help of military transport helicopters of various types of weapons, it will be possible to quickly deliver them to remote or remote areas. The basic self-propelled version of the Coalition-SV system, for obvious reasons, does not have this capability.
***
Work on the project of ACS "Coalition-SV" has not yet been completed, but the promising model of equipment is already approaching its adoption. In the coming years, the military and industry plan to complete the refinement of this model and launch its full-scale mass production. At the same time, or with a minimum lag, a new weapon on the same base can go into the series. As the leadership of the Ministry of Defense decided, the new howitzers are needed by the army not only on self-propelled chassis, but also on towed carriages.
The technical details of the new project have not yet been published, but the available data on the “Coalition-SV” self-propelled gun allows us to present an approximate picture and try to understand what the new work will bring. From the latest reports it follows that the new project of the towed howitzer will use the maximum possible number of existing components. However, refinement of finished products to obtain the necessary characteristics and capabilities is not excluded.
The 2C35 ACS is completed with an 152-mm 2-88 rifled howitzer. This gun has a barrel with a length of 52 caliber, equipped with a developed muzzle brake and an ejection device. In the case of self-propelled guns, the barrel is mounted on developed recoil devices, hidden under the armor cover of a characteristic look. The design of the tower and the gun mount allow shooting in any direction with a wide range of angles of vertical guidance.
The 2А88 howitzer uses separate charging with a variable modular charge. A projectile of the required type and several propellant modules — compact cases with a specified amount of gunpowder — are sequentially loaded into the chamber. Self-propelled gun "Coalition-SV" received a fully automatic loading system. According to the crew’s commands, she independently retrieves a projectile of the required type from the packings and sends it to the barrel, after which it sends the required number of charge modules. Automatics of the gun turret is also capable of receiving shots from the ground or from a transport-loading vehicle.
You can imagine what the towed version of the 2А88 gun required by the Ministry of Defense will look like. Apparently, the barrel group and recoil devices can be borrowed from the existing project self-propelled guns. In this case, for the new version of the gun, you will need a carriage of the original design or a product based on existing components. The look of the mast has not yet been clarified.
Currently, Russian artillery units are armed with several samples of 152-mm guns in towed version. Such systems are built on the basis of traditional carriages. The carriages, consisting of two machines, equipped with a wheel course and a pair of sliding beds are used. Upper machine gun carriage is equipped with mounts for sighting devices. The security of the calculation is provided by shield cover. Such a carriage, for example, is used by the towed 2A65 Msta-B gun.
There is every reason to believe that the towed version of the 2А88 howitzer will not be equipped with automatic loader, as this will lead to an unacceptable increase in size and weight of the structure. Serve shells and charge modules to the gun will have to manually. However, it is possible to use the dropping mechanism, which significantly facilitates the work of the loaders. One way or another, in terms of its rate of fire, the towed weapon will lose to the self-propelled model.
The carriage of a new type, like other systems of this kind, is likely to have manual pick-up mechanisms brought to the gunner’s workplace. The latter will have to work with the "traditional" control and guidance systems inherent in existing towed guns. In this case, the towed howitzer 2А88 can retain some of the possibilities of self-propelled installation. "Coalition-SV" is equipped with tools to interact with the Unified Tactical Control System, which provides data transmission and target designation. Devices of similar purpose, but in a different version can be applied to towed guns.
According to open data, the maximum firing range of the "conventional" high-explosive fragmentation projectile for the 2-35 ACS is 40 km. The use of active-reactive ammunition, including managed, allows to increase the firing range to 70 km. Such firing characteristics are achieved through new modular propelling charges, as well as with the help of a relatively long barrel.
The 2А88 towed artillery system can show similar or smaller characteristics. According to the source "Izvestia", the trunk can be used in a new project of reduced length. Thus, a slight decrease in the muzzle energy of the projectile can be expected, resulting in a reduction in the maximum firing range. However, it should be noted that in this case the towed 2А88 howitzer will surpass most other artillery systems of its caliber in terms of its main characteristics.
***
At the moment, the newest domestic serial SAU with an 152 caliber mm gun is the MSTA-S 2C19 combat vehicle. Also in the troops there is a significant number of towed howitzers 2A65 "Msta-B". Further development of the domestic self-propelled howitzer artillery led to the appearance of the 2X35 “Coalition-SV” combat vehicle with the 152-mm 2X88 gun. Previously it was assumed that the latter will be used only on a self-propelled platform, but now the plans have changed, and the army wants to have both weapons.
Thus, it was decided to continue the development of artillery systems in accordance with previously tested and proven concepts. The command decided that both self-propelled and towed systems with standardized guns should still be present in the artillery units. This should provide some combat and operational advantages. First of all, the presence of different weapons with different capabilities will allow to solve a wider range of tasks.
Self-propelled artillery mounts have obvious advantages over towed guns. They have greater tactical mobility, and are also able to quickly deploy and leave a firing position. In addition, SAU can be equipped with automatic loader or even a full-fledged uninhabited fighting compartment. All this in a known manner facilitates the work of the crew and improves the basic characteristics and combat qualities.
At the same time, towed howitzers have advantages. First of all, it is a lower cost, simplifying the production of products in large quantities. Similar capabilities were used in the production of Msta howitzers: the industry manufactured over 1200 towed guns 2A65 and less than 750 self-propelled guns 2C19. Smaller and heavier towed howitzers turn out to be more convenient in terms of transporting military transport aviation. If necessary, they can be landed in a landing or parachute manner. Thus, towed guns can quickly arrive at positions inaccessible to self-propelled artillery.
***
The result of all this is actual requirements for artillery armament, which provide for the creation and operation of systems of different classes on various platforms. For the effective solution of a wide range of tasks, the army needs both self-propelled and towed systems. Such theses have been repeatedly confirmed by practice, and again became relevant as a result of the analysis of the Syrian war.
The development of howitzer artillery through the creation of self-propelled and towed systems continued until the appearance of the latest at the moment serial and front-line systems. In the recent past, such an approach was decided to be abandoned, and the 2А88 can only be used on self-propelled platforms. However, the experience of real armed conflicts has shown the fallacy of such a decision. The necessary measures have already been taken, and next year the newest domestic towed howitzer will be tested. In the distant future, it will be able to become a convenient and effective addition to the self-propelled unit "Coalition-SV".
On the materials of the sites:
https://iz.ru/
http://tass.ru/
http://ria.ru/
http://arms-expo.ru/
http://uralvagonzavod.ru/
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/
- Ryabov Kirill
- Kremlin.ru
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