Self-propelled guns 2S23 "Nona-SVK" in the Special Operation
Fighting vehicles on the way to the position
In the current Special Operation, the Russian army uses a variety of artillery systems with various qualities and capabilities. The other day it became known that self-propelled guns 2S23 "Nona-SVK" appeared in the combat zone. Equipment of this type has special combat capabilities that are used to solve assigned tasks and destroy various ground targets.
Self-propelled guns in battle
In the first days of August, photos of the Nona-SVK SAO involved in the Special Operation appeared on social networks and specialized resources. They depicted a combat vehicle from the “O” group with the personal name “Shu-Oshu”. It was reported that the self-propelled gun serves as part of the 55th separate motorized rifle brigade of the ground forces, stationed in the Republic of Tyva.
A few days later, the Ministry of Defense published an official video dedicated to the combat work of the Nona-SVK crews. His heroes have already become two combat vehicles from the "O" group. This is the already known "Shu-Oshu" and another self-propelled gun called "OmMani", as well as their combat crews.
The video shows the exit of two SAOs to a combat position along a dirt road in a forest. Arriving at the place, the crews are preparing for firing: specifying the coordinates and data for firing. It is curious that the unit commander gives orders and transmits information in the Tuvan language, which provides additional protection against radio interception. After the necessary preparation, loading and firing is carried out. This time, the universal guns of self-propelled guns use standard 120-mm mortar mines.
Target reconnaissance and fire adjustment is carried out using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The same UAV showed the results of the shooting. So, in a forest plantation, near a dirt road, there are camouflaged positions and enemy materiel. However, in their place there is a bright flash, after which a column of smoke and dust rises. Successive shots successfully hit two targets at once in the same area.
Ready to shoot
It is very likely that the SAO 2S23 "Nona-SVK" was used in the Special Operation earlier, before the beginning of August - however, these episodes of combat work did not fall into the frame. In addition, it is clear that the recent shootings will not be the last. In Ukraine, there are still enough targets for demilitarization, and the artillerymen of the 55th brigade and other formations will have to continue their work. It can be expected that "Nony-SVK" and their crews will again become the heroes of the reports of the Ministry of Defense and the press in the future.
For ground forces
At the end of the seventies, a new self-propelled gun 2S9 "Nona-S" was created specifically for the airborne troops. The main armament of this armored vehicle was a 120-mm rifled gun-howitzer-mortar 2A51 with wide combat capabilities. Soon it was decided to develop a similar self-propelled gun for the battalion artillery of the ground forces.
In the early eighties, several options were developed for adapting the existing fighting compartment with the 2A51 gun to the needs of the ground forces. Some of these projects even went as far as building and testing experimental equipment. Based on the results of these works, the optimal shape of the future CAO was chosen. It was proposed to perform it on the wheeled chassis of an armored personnel carrier and equip it with a modified fighting compartment.
The unit commander clarifies the data for firing
In 1984, the Perm Machine-Building Plant (now Motovilikhinsky Plants) began developing a new combat vehicle, which received the 2S23 index and the name Nona-SVK. The use of ready-made developments and solutions made it possible to build and submit a prototype for testing in the same year. Testing and fine-tuning took several years and ended in success.
By the beginning of the nineties, mass production of the new CAO was mastered in Perm. Then, in April 1991, a decision was issued on its adoption. For well-known reasons, production did not pick up high rates. In total, only a few dozen combat vehicles were built and transferred to the troops. They were supplied to artillery units of motorized rifle battalions from the ground and coastal forces. Self-propelled guns replaced the 2S12 Sani mortar complex.
Technical features
Product 2S23 "Nona-SVK" is built on the basis of a modified wheeled chassis of the armored personnel carrier BTR-80. Saved bulletproof / anti-fragmentation armor, power plant and chassis. At the same time, the internal equipment of the hull was changed for the installation of a new fighting compartment, and some systems and assemblies were also improved.
One of the ammunition stacks and a driver
Based on the results of such refinement and installation of the fighting compartment, the armored vehicle retained its previous dimensions, although its height increased. The combat weight increased to 14,5 tons. At the same time, the running characteristics remained the same. The possibility of swimming is also preserved, incl. with water shooting.
The main armament of the 2S23 self-propelled gun is a 120-mm rifled “universal” 2A60 gun, made on the basis of the 2A51 product for Nona-S. It has a barrel length of 24,2 klb and is equipped with a vertical wedge gate. For the use of mortar mines, a movable obturator-rammer is used, which is placed in the chamber along with ammunition.
The gun is installed in the turret on hydropneumatic recoil devices. The design of the SAO allows horizontal guidance within 35 ° to the right and left of the neutral position. Elevation angles - from -4° to +80°, which allows you to conduct effective fire with different ammunition.
Driver at work
Product 2A60 can use the widest range of ammunition. New 120-mm projectiles for various purposes have been developed; mortar mines of existing types are also used. It is possible to use guided munitions such as Gran or Kitolov-2. The selected caliber also allows the use of foreign mortar mines. In the fighting compartment of "Nona-SVK" 30 shots of any type are transported.
Using compatible ammunition, "Nona-SVK" can fire direct fire or overhead trajectories. Fire characteristics depend on the type of shot used. So, conventional shells and mines are sent to a distance of no more than 9 km. When using active-reactive, this parameter increases to 12-17 km. Ammunition of various types carry up to 4-5 kg of explosive.
The crew of four has all the means of fire control corresponding to the tasks being solved. The commander uses the TKN-3A combined sight to monitor and search for targets. The gunner has a direct fire sight 1P30 and a panoramic sight 1P8. Communication and data transmission is provided by the R-173 VHF radio station.
Mina goes to the barrel
Known Benefits
The Nona-S and Nona-SVK projects were based on original ideas aimed at expanding the range of tasks to be solved and improving the main characteristics. This concept was implemented, and the resulting combat vehicles have a number of important features and advantages. All of them are well known and have been repeatedly demonstrated in practice, both during exercises and in real operations.
SAO 2S23 "Nona-SVK" is built on the BTR-80 wheeled chassis. It provides a sufficient level of protection, as well as high driving performance and mobility. Under its own power and without the use of a tanker, the self-propelled gun is capable of covering long distances without wasting valuable motor resources. At the same time, high cross-country ability on the ground is also ensured, which allows you to quickly get to a given position. Finally, the SAO 2S23 chassis is maximally unified with one of the main armored vehicles of the ground forces, which simplifies its operation and supply.
However, the main advantages of Nona-SVK are associated with the weapons used. The 2A60 gun, due to its special design, is capable of using ammunition of different classes and solving the problems of various artillery systems. In fact, it is a replacement for the 120-mm mortar and an addition to howitzer artillery. In this case, it is possible to fire direct fire.
Target hit
Due to such weapons, the 2S23 self-propelled gun is capable of solving a wide range of combat missions and hitting a variety of targets, small and area, both directly on the battlefield and in the depths of the enemy’s defense. It is possible to work in reconnaissance and strike circuits, incl. built using modern means of detection and correction. With all this, "Nona-SVK" is used at the battalion level, which has a positive effect on the overall fire capabilities of the ground forces.
Today and tomorrow
SAO 2S23 "Nona-SVK" has repeatedly participated in various exercises, and now they have the opportunity to show their capabilities during a full-fledged military operation. In general, such equipment and its calculations cope with the assigned combat missions and help to carry out the forced demilitarization of Ukraine.
It should be noted that the self-propelled guns of the Nona series are quite old, and this imposes certain restrictions. However, their modern functional counterparts have already been developed - the Lotos and Magnolia SAO with universal tools. And it can be assumed that the experience of the Nona-S and Nona-SVK machines in the current Special Operation will positively affect the course of promising projects and the subsequent rearmament of the army.
- Ryabov Kirill
- Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Information