The concept of an assault gun for the RF Armed Forces
Since the times of the Afghan and Caucasian wars, the need to expand the capabilities of armored vehicles to conduct combat operations in highly rugged, mountainous and urbanized terrain has become obvious.
The special operation in Ukraine confirmed this need.
To hit a significant number of targets, it was necessary to raise the bore of the gun, exceeding the technical capabilities of the main combat weapon. tank. Obviously, it became justified to involve cannon anti-aircraft weapons and self-propelled artillery systems with significant vertical guidance angles to work against these targets. However, this measure is still necessary.
The design of the ZSU - equipment, armor, etc. are optimized for work against air targets, and in a ground collision they are either redundant - such as sighting and navigation equipment, or insufficient - such as armor. At the same time, the high-explosive impact of 23–30 mm ammunition is not always sufficient. In addition, with modern trends in the expansion of air attack weapons, when any barmaley can use a drone of one or another complexity, anti-aircraft gunners have more than enough work and responsibility of their own.
The 122–152 mm shells used by self-propelled guns have an excellent high-explosive effect on the target, the elevation angle of the barrel of self-propelled howitzers is sufficient to hit most high-altitude targets, but self-propelled guns, like anti-aircraft gunners, have a similar situation - the armor of self-propelled guns does not contribute to confident direct fire work, and the main classic No one has canceled or will cancel the tasks of the artillerymen.
BMP-2 with Berezhok combat vehicle at the parade rehearsal. Photo by the author
BMP-2,3 with a maximum barrel elevation angle of 60 degrees was at one time put into operation, among other things, to expand the range of destruction at altitude compared to the same “penny”. 30-mm Tula masterpieces showed themselves with dignity in mountainous, wooded, and urban areas with industrial zones and waste heaps.
However, as mentioned above, you can’t always make a hole in the wall with a “thirty”, and you won’t bring down every rock. The low-impulse "hundredth" of the "troika" suggests cautious optimism - in terms of high-explosive impact on the target. And the level of protection of infantry fighting vehicles is far from that of a tank.
The Terminator BMPT in all versions has a good tank level of armor protection and mobility, literally winning its place in the ranks of domestic armored vehicles. Actually, the BMPT was initially created, among other things, as an addition to tanks for hitting targets on hills. Two 30-mm machine guns with an elevation angle of up to 45 degrees are convincing enough to neutralize the enemy’s militaristic intentions in the window openings of high-rise buildings and on mountain slopes.
But at the same time, if the enemy is behind a reliable wall or other obstacle, then nevertheless, for our enemy to change his militaristic intentions to the desire to work peacefully fruitfully, we will need an argument weighing at least 20 kg, leaving the bore at a speed of 600–800 m/ With. Which, as already mentioned, is impossible with small-caliber artillery.
BMPT "Terminator" at the parade rehearsal. Photo by the author
Let's try to formulate what requirements a piece of equipment should meet and what properties and design features should have, which will increase the effectiveness of combat operations in mountainous and urban areas.
Let's call this sample an assault weapon.
SG 2S3 during classes in mountainous areas. Photos from open sources
– Howitzer 2A61 with an initial speed of OFS 540 m/s. The howitzer was produced in a small series at the turn of the 80s and 90s and was planned for adoption. If the set of 2A61 production equipment remained unsold as scrap metal, this would serve as a good help for the use of this system for armament of the Shotgun.
Howitzer 2A61. Photos from open sources
Thus, a 125 mm tank gun and a 152 mm caliber gun were selected as the main armament of the assault gun.
In terms of its general layout - appearance - the assault gun will be a tank with an enlarged turret/self-propelled gun. An enlarged turret is not only a grenade launcher’s dream, it is also an expanded possibility of layout solutions for the placement of weapons, ammunition, reconnaissance and surveillance equipment (the same drone with control), sighting, communication and other equipment. This is an opportunity to provide better working conditions for the crew.
Of course, the increase in the dimensions of the tower should be minimal and be directly dependent on ensuring the maximum possible vertical guidance angle weapons - it’s better, of course, to have an angle of at least 60 degrees, but the final verdict on the angle and dimensions of the turret can be made by a careful design drawing of the layout of the assault gun.
The experienced Italian ZSU "Otomatic" with significant elevation angles of an automatic 76,2 mm cannon could serve as an example of the general layout of an assault gun. Of course, without radar. Photos from open sources
At the current stage, until unified modern platforms (Armata, etc.) have been put into operation, the use of the T-72/90 heavy tracked tank platform for an assault gun has every reason. The platform has been mastered by industry and the military; there is positive experience in using it as a base for self-propelled domestic and foreign howitzers, that is, adapting a tank chassis for firing from large-caliber guns at high sights.
Experienced Italian self-propelled gun "Otomatic" on the "Leorard-1" chassis. Photos from open sources
The appearance of both versions of the assault gun - with calibers of 125 mm and 152 mm - will differ slightly, however, the internal design of the fighting compartments may have significant differences. This is due to significant weight and size differences in the breech parts of guns, shells and charges of both calibers and, therefore, differences in systems for storing, loading and removing spent cartridges. In this case, one of the main problems will be the process of loading guns, including at high elevation angles.
For the 125 mm caliber, automatic/mechanized loading within the “tank” range of 13 degrees has been reliably worked out for quite a long time. It was not possible to find information in the open press about the possibility of using AZ/MZ at increased loading angles, but it is possible that research on this topic was carried out at one time.
In any case, these problems will have to be solved either by modifying existing automatic machines/mechanisms, or by creating fundamentally new units, or by using semi-automatic loading, following the example of howitzer systems. For the 152 mm caliber, the semi-automatic loading system used will need to, at a minimum, fit into the tank ring diameter of 2 mm, and it is better, of course, to be fully automated.
The combat operation of an assault weapon in mountainous and/or urban conditions provides for various conditions of use. In mountainous conditions, mobility will be a priority, in urban conditions - security. The greatest mobility with the least weight, all other combat characteristics being equal, should correspond to the basic level of armor for an assault gun.
Apparently, the basic level should provide at least all-round protection from small-caliber artillery with a reinforced front part of the turret and hull, as well as reliable fastening and functioning of reinforcement elements - overhead armor panels, dynamic protection units, grilles, etc.
Obviously, a model of an assault weapon for direct conduct of operations in urban conditions should have the greatest security using the maximum set of reinforcements for all armor surfaces, as well as additional attachments - blades, an overhead roof and other elements.
T-90M tank at the parade rehearsal. Additional protection is clearly visible. Photo by the author
Remote control with a 12,7 mm Kord machine gun on the roof of a T-90M. Photo by the author
Obviously, the basic set of additional weapons for an assault gun should be the “gentleman’s set” of domestic tanks that has been tested for decades - a twin 7,62 mm PKT and a mobile machine gun mount on the roof of the turret. In our case, a mobile machine gun mount must clearly meet all modern requirements and achievements - be remotely controlled and equipped with all observation and aiming devices.
The caliber of the mobile installation is traditional 12,7 or 7,62 mm, and the PKT remote control will be preferred due to better mobility, and the effectiveness of the propeller cartridge in suppressing tank-dangerous infantry at distances of tens to hundreds of meters will be no worse than 12,7 mm ammunition.
A remote control with a 7,62 mm PKT machine gun on the roof of a T-14. Photo by the author
Thus, the enlarged turret of the assault gun makes it possible to place traditional machine guns, hypothetically - an installation with an AGS, and also hypothetically use a coaxial 30-mm gun with the main one - by analogy with the Bakhcha BM.
The advantages of such a pairing are obvious; the question is the structural compatibility of the operation of large- and small-caliber guns, while the 125-mm tank gun has aоbetter chances compared to the 152-mm howitzer for bringing to life a workable twin installation.
From time to time, at various times, reports appear about renewed interest in medium and large caliber anti-aircraft barrel systems, made at the modern technical level. Hypothetically, the SHO with a 125-mm tank gun could perform the functions of an anti-aircraft gun with external target designation and, of course, a corresponding anti-aircraft projectile. This version of the assault gun could serve as the basis for creating a full-fledged anti-aircraft gun mount.
Options for the assault gun, both with a 125 mm cannon and with a 152 mm howitzer, have their advantages. For the 125 mm caliber, this is, first of all, better flatness, rate of fire and more ammunition with a lower weight of the entire installation; for the 152 mm caliber, this is, of course, firepower.
Surely, the quantitative and qualitative composition of the advantages and disadvantages will not be limited to those listed above, but can be identified during the actual work on creating a weapon model.
If all stages required by the standards are successfully completed, the weapon sample will go into service with the troops.
Let's try to determine the place in the army structure that an assault weapon could occupy - in combined arms, mountain and specialized assault formations.
Obviously, it is hardly necessary to make the established structure of motorized rifle, mechanized regiments, brigades, as well as light infantry heavier by introducing specialized assault armored vehicles.
Based on the example of recent urban battles, it seems advisable to include the tactical formation of assault guns in the structure of the corps - army and assign separate units to motorized infantry as needed.
For example, an infantry company for combat operations in an urban area could be supported by an assigned platoon consisting of one or two units of maximum security guns, one Terminator BMPT and one or two main battle tanks. Three such platoons are a company, 3–6 companies are a battalion (regiment) directly subordinate to the corps. This battalion could specialize in conducting combat warfare in urban environments, and outside the city provide general fire support for its infantry.
If we consider the mountain infantry, it makes sense to include assault guns in the mountain formations themselves. In this case, a platoon could consist of two SHOs with a 125-mm cannon and light base armor and two Terminators, a company could also consist of three platoons. A company or even a battalion of assault guns with BMPT could be included in the mountain brigade/division as its own unit.
If we talk about specialized assault units, the creation of which is being discussed, units with assault guns should be directly included in their composition. In this case, it is even possible to use both versions of the SHO - with 125 mm and 152 mm systems.
The proposed assault brigade may include a ShO battalion (1-2 ShO platoon with a 125 mm cannon, Terminator, 1-2 MBT), as well as a ShO battalion (division) with a 152 mm howitzer, representing the assault brigade’s own heavy artillery and, if necessary, also involved in direct fire work.
Of course, all of the above are theoretical assumptions, and the entire article can be called food for thought.
If the customer deems it necessary to equip the Armed Forces with a vehicle specialized for work in mountainous and urban areas, these thoughts can be transformed, say, into the technical task of the R&D “Production of a prototype armored combat vehicle for hitting protected targets in an extended vertical range.”
Prototype, testing, fine-tuning, putting the product into production, again testing and fine-tuning, development, until the prototype becomes a full-fledged mountain tank, or a protected howitzer, or an urban assault vehicle. Or all of the above in one person.
Time will tell whether the topic of creating and developing an assault weapon will be developed.
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