What is good self-propelled mortar 2C41 "gorse"
Several years ago, the Petrel Research Institute for the first time presented a model of a promising self-propelled mortar 2C41 "Drok". At the recent exhibition "Army-2019" for the first time openly showed a full-fledged sample of such a combat vehicle. In the near future, Drok must pass all the necessary tests and enter the troops. It is expected that this combat vehicle will give the army some new opportunities directly related to the specifics of modern conflicts.
"Gorse" at the site
Recall, the project 2C41 "Drok" provides for the construction of a self-propelled combat vehicle based on the wheel armored vehicle K-4386 "Typhoon Airborne." A two-axle armored car must carry combat modules with a mortar and a machine gun, ammunition and crew. "Gorse" has a fighting mass of 14 t and is operated by a crew of four.
The base armored vehicle has anti-bullet and anti-mine protection. It is also equipped with optical-electronic countermeasures to enemy weapons. The main weapon of Drok is the 82-mm smooth-bore mortar, which is a modified product of the 2B14 Tray. Auxiliary - 7,62-mm PKTM machine gun on the UAB.
The 2C41 is currently undergoing testing. Completion of all checks is scheduled for next year. At the same time, it is expected to be officially accepted for service and series production. The airborne troops will be the operator of the new mortars.
The concept of a self-propelled mortar on a serial chassis is not new, but under current conditions its importance is increasing. The development of artillery systems and reconnaissance equipment increases the risks for mortar gunners. A wearable or towed mortar with traction and settlement may be the victim of a retaliatory strike, and therefore mortar gunners need a mobile and secure platform.
The armored car K-4386 shows high mobility characteristics on highways and off-road, which simplifies access to the position and departure from it. In addition, it was designed to meet the requirements of the Airborne Forces and it can be dropped with the use of a parachute system.
In addition, the car initially carries anti-bullet and fragmentation booking. The safety level of the crew has been increased due to the refusal to shoot through the open top hatch: the mortar is in the armored turret on the Drock. The system of the EIA and the joint-action department with a machine gun will allow you to fight off the enemy in a direct collision.
The mortar barrel is mounted on recoil devices in a turret with mechanized guidance drives. Also 2C41 is equipped with a modern fire control system that provides the calculation of data for firing. All operations to prepare for the shot are carried out from the fighting compartment, with some of the tasks assumed by automation. The maximum rate of fire reaches 12 rds / min. In the fighting compartment transported ammunition in 40 min.
And on "Army-2019"
An important feature of "Drok", which gives advantages in certain situations, is the possibility of dismantling the trunk. For this armored car carries the base plate and biped. However, the main mode of operation involves the use of the trunk on the installations of the tower.
In terms of missions performed, 2C41 does not differ from other domestic mortars of the 82 caliber mm. It is capable of hitting various targets and objects at distances from 100 m to 6 km in open areas or under building conditions. Perhaps the use of all existing mines of its caliber. At the same time, “Drok” differs from a number of other systems of its class by the increased efficiency of fire provided by a developed SLA.
Prospective self-propelled mortars will go into service with the Airborne Forces. Operation in these troops provides landing and parachute landing. Down on the ground, combat vehicles will be able to immediately be involved in the work and provide fire support for the landing. Self-propelled mortar on the basis of a modern armored car will be a good and necessary replacement for wearable or towed systems with similar characteristics.
However, the Drok project does not always receive only positive reviews. Already after the first demonstration of self-propelled mortar models, the first criticism sounded. Indeed, some features of the sample presented raise questions.
First of all, the criticism is related to the relative complexity of the project and the high cost of the combat vehicle. An armored car with a special turret and mortar is much more expensive than wearable and portable 82-mm systems with a different carrier - a truck or an unarmored car. However, in this case, the higher price is directly related to increasing survivability and combat qualities, simplifying the landing, etc.
You can complain about the selected chassis. Armored car K-4386 "Typhoon Airborne" has not yet passed all the necessary tests and has not yet entered the troops. However, the tests of this machine have already advanced far enough, and besides, it is considered as one of the foundations for the re-equipment of the airborne forces. On the basis of such a chassis, several new combat and auxiliary vehicles with various weapons were created, including self-propelled mortars. In the coming years, the landing part will receive a whole range of unified technology, which is still at the stage of development work.
A significant part of self-propelled mortars, including domestic ones, is equipped with barrels with a caliber 120 mm. As a result, they surpass the promising 2C41 in fire performance, and this could be considered as a disadvantage of the latter. However, it is necessary to take into account that the Airborne Forces need systems of different calibers, and the niche of the 120-mm artillery system in future re-equipment will be given to the 2-42 “Lotus” self-propelled gun with a universal weapon.
Mortar 2B14 "Tray"
Thus, the main visible shortcomings of the new domestic development only seem so. All the main provisions of the technical specifications for the "Drok" were developed to meet the requirements of the airborne troops and the specifics of their service.
Prospective self-propelled mortar 2C41 "Drok" was developed in the framework of a large experimental design work "Sketch", and with it were created several other samples of self-propelled artillery. To date, all representatives of this ROC have come to the test, and in the near future they are expected to be put into service.
According to the latest data, “Gorod” can complete the checks and enter service as early as next year. The desired volume of purchases of such equipment and plans to re-equip specific parts have not yet been announced.
The appearance of serial machines 2С41 will have a positive effect on the combat capability of airborne mortar units. The arming of the landing forces consists of only one mortar of the caliber 82 mm - the product 2B14 in the original version. Such weapon, showing the required characteristics, has known disadvantages. Even a partial replacement of wearable mortars with self-propelled will give positive results.
Airborne troops will receive a modern means of fire support with the required combat performance, increased mobility and survivability. Deliveries of the serial "Drokov" will ensure the transfer of most of the landing artillery to the self-propelled chassis with known positive consequences. Perhaps in the future even be able to completely abandon wearable mortars that do not provide adequate protection for the fighters.
Thus, in the near future, our airborne troops expect new valuable acquisitions. It is important that we are talking not only about the 2C41 "Grock" self-propelled mortar. Other modern models of different classes and types will also have to be put into service.
"Gorse" at the site
Technical appearance
Recall, the project 2C41 "Drok" provides for the construction of a self-propelled combat vehicle based on the wheel armored vehicle K-4386 "Typhoon Airborne." A two-axle armored car must carry combat modules with a mortar and a machine gun, ammunition and crew. "Gorse" has a fighting mass of 14 t and is operated by a crew of four.
The base armored vehicle has anti-bullet and anti-mine protection. It is also equipped with optical-electronic countermeasures to enemy weapons. The main weapon of Drok is the 82-mm smooth-bore mortar, which is a modified product of the 2B14 Tray. Auxiliary - 7,62-mm PKTM machine gun on the UAB.
The 2C41 is currently undergoing testing. Completion of all checks is scheduled for next year. At the same time, it is expected to be officially accepted for service and series production. The airborne troops will be the operator of the new mortars.
Positive features
The concept of a self-propelled mortar on a serial chassis is not new, but under current conditions its importance is increasing. The development of artillery systems and reconnaissance equipment increases the risks for mortar gunners. A wearable or towed mortar with traction and settlement may be the victim of a retaliatory strike, and therefore mortar gunners need a mobile and secure platform.
The armored car K-4386 shows high mobility characteristics on highways and off-road, which simplifies access to the position and departure from it. In addition, it was designed to meet the requirements of the Airborne Forces and it can be dropped with the use of a parachute system.
In addition, the car initially carries anti-bullet and fragmentation booking. The safety level of the crew has been increased due to the refusal to shoot through the open top hatch: the mortar is in the armored turret on the Drock. The system of the EIA and the joint-action department with a machine gun will allow you to fight off the enemy in a direct collision.
The mortar barrel is mounted on recoil devices in a turret with mechanized guidance drives. Also 2C41 is equipped with a modern fire control system that provides the calculation of data for firing. All operations to prepare for the shot are carried out from the fighting compartment, with some of the tasks assumed by automation. The maximum rate of fire reaches 12 rds / min. In the fighting compartment transported ammunition in 40 min.
And on "Army-2019"
An important feature of "Drok", which gives advantages in certain situations, is the possibility of dismantling the trunk. For this armored car carries the base plate and biped. However, the main mode of operation involves the use of the trunk on the installations of the tower.
In terms of missions performed, 2C41 does not differ from other domestic mortars of the 82 caliber mm. It is capable of hitting various targets and objects at distances from 100 m to 6 km in open areas or under building conditions. Perhaps the use of all existing mines of its caliber. At the same time, “Drok” differs from a number of other systems of its class by the increased efficiency of fire provided by a developed SLA.
Prospective self-propelled mortars will go into service with the Airborne Forces. Operation in these troops provides landing and parachute landing. Down on the ground, combat vehicles will be able to immediately be involved in the work and provide fire support for the landing. Self-propelled mortar on the basis of a modern armored car will be a good and necessary replacement for wearable or towed systems with similar characteristics.
Visible imperfections
However, the Drok project does not always receive only positive reviews. Already after the first demonstration of self-propelled mortar models, the first criticism sounded. Indeed, some features of the sample presented raise questions.
First of all, the criticism is related to the relative complexity of the project and the high cost of the combat vehicle. An armored car with a special turret and mortar is much more expensive than wearable and portable 82-mm systems with a different carrier - a truck or an unarmored car. However, in this case, the higher price is directly related to increasing survivability and combat qualities, simplifying the landing, etc.
You can complain about the selected chassis. Armored car K-4386 "Typhoon Airborne" has not yet passed all the necessary tests and has not yet entered the troops. However, the tests of this machine have already advanced far enough, and besides, it is considered as one of the foundations for the re-equipment of the airborne forces. On the basis of such a chassis, several new combat and auxiliary vehicles with various weapons were created, including self-propelled mortars. In the coming years, the landing part will receive a whole range of unified technology, which is still at the stage of development work.
A significant part of self-propelled mortars, including domestic ones, is equipped with barrels with a caliber 120 mm. As a result, they surpass the promising 2C41 in fire performance, and this could be considered as a disadvantage of the latter. However, it is necessary to take into account that the Airborne Forces need systems of different calibers, and the niche of the 120-mm artillery system in future re-equipment will be given to the 2-42 “Lotus” self-propelled gun with a universal weapon.
Mortar 2B14 "Tray"
Thus, the main visible shortcomings of the new domestic development only seem so. All the main provisions of the technical specifications for the "Drok" were developed to meet the requirements of the airborne troops and the specifics of their service.
Expected results
Prospective self-propelled mortar 2C41 "Drok" was developed in the framework of a large experimental design work "Sketch", and with it were created several other samples of self-propelled artillery. To date, all representatives of this ROC have come to the test, and in the near future they are expected to be put into service.
According to the latest data, “Gorod” can complete the checks and enter service as early as next year. The desired volume of purchases of such equipment and plans to re-equip specific parts have not yet been announced.
The appearance of serial machines 2С41 will have a positive effect on the combat capability of airborne mortar units. The arming of the landing forces consists of only one mortar of the caliber 82 mm - the product 2B14 in the original version. Such weapon, showing the required characteristics, has known disadvantages. Even a partial replacement of wearable mortars with self-propelled will give positive results.
Airborne troops will receive a modern means of fire support with the required combat performance, increased mobility and survivability. Deliveries of the serial "Drokov" will ensure the transfer of most of the landing artillery to the self-propelled chassis with known positive consequences. Perhaps in the future even be able to completely abandon wearable mortars that do not provide adequate protection for the fighters.
Thus, in the near future, our airborne troops expect new valuable acquisitions. It is important that we are talking not only about the 2C41 "Grock" self-propelled mortar. Other modern models of different classes and types will also have to be put into service.
Information