It's time for the heavyweights. On the creation of high-power artillery brigades in the Russian army
We, as we once did during the Great Patriotic War, finally understood the importance of artillery of great and special power. Alas, the thesis that story repeats, works. Everything is happening approximately the same as it happened then. SVO is like a modern copy of that war. There are guns, there is a mortar, they are present on the LBS.
And only now, “taking into account the experience of the Northern Military District,” the idea reached our command that the army vitally needed units and formations of artillery of large and special power. And this despite the fact that our officers are well aware of the Berlin operation, the capture of Poznan, and the assault on Königsberg. These operations are still studied in military academies around the world.
But I perceive the message about the formation of teams with optimism. Such brigades are necessary primarily for the destruction of enemy defensive structures in fortified areas. This means, based on the purpose of the brigades, we will continue to carry out exactly such operations. The command is preparing units for just such work.
The artillerymen will tell you why we lost the Soviet-Finnish War. At the same time, shortly before this, the Japanese were defeated at Khalkin Gol. The famous Mannerheim Line, which was impregnable in 1940, lasted only 11 days in June 1944.
It was enough to use 305-mm howitzers, which had been gathering dust in arsenals since 1917 (!), and 280-mm Br-5 mortars. Only five divisions! Plus the fire of Baltic naval guns fleet. It was these divisions and naval guns that turned the Finnish defense into ruins.
All Finnish million-dollar bunkers turned into dust. And the heavy ones Tanks KV and Churchill completed the work of the artillerymen. The attack aircraft were already moving through the broken “windows” in the Finnish defense. I’ll tell you a little “open secret”. The Red Army then used (taking into account the lost ones) ... about 500 pieces of 305-mm shells!
To be fair, I note that high-power and high-power weapons are not always so effective. There is no absolute in the world weapons. So, during the assault on Königsberg that I already mentioned, Fort No. 5 was hit 73 times by 280-mm concrete-piercing shells (280-mm mortar Br-5). However, only two penetrations were recorded.
And Fort No. 4, after being hit by 120 203-mm shells from B-4 howitzers and 240 122-mm shells from F-19 cannons, was not damaged at all, except for potholes in the walls. Fort No. 8 received 78 hits from 305-mm shells - and only five through holes.
By the way, I cannot help but recall the heroism of the Soviet defenders of the fortifications. Somehow we forgot about the heroes of the defense of Leningrad. Meanwhile, the 305-mm Krasnaya Gorka turret installations operated flawlessly almost all days of defense! And the Germans bombarded them with heavy shells quite often. “Krasnaya Gorka” withstood more than a hundred such shells.
And the feat of Sevastopol batteries No. 30 and No. 35! Eight months under fire from everything the Nazis had. Eight months under bombs of various calibers. The towers were standing! If it were not for the two-ton shells of the 615-mm mortars... No walls would have withstood such attacks. Even the forts of Königsberg. But we didn’t have such weapons.
Now someone will write that the author is confusing artillery of special and high power, which is not stationary and fortress, which is not mobile. Or mobile and coastal artillery. You can also remember the railway art.
Yes, these are really different types of artillery units and formations. But I want to show the power and efficiency of such weapons. And I generally consider it necessary to mention our heroes. So that we do not forget them, busy solving our problems... I predict that now there will be an “expert” who will tell us about the superiority of German guns over Soviet ones. There was no superiority! The power was comparable.
There is for what, there is from what and there is for whom
So, the Russian army is creating several high-power artillery brigades at once. After going on the offensive, the need for such formations increased significantly. Of course, it is not worth comparing the fortifications that the “Germans” built in their cities and towns with the fortresses of Königsberg and even the fortifications of Berlin.
However, as the experience gained during the SVO during the assault on serious fortifications shows, even 152-mm shells are not always effective. Not to mention smaller calibers. To take such fortifications, we have to pay with the lives of our soldiers.
In its original purpose, a hundred years ago, the task of high-power artillery was not only to storm fortresses, but also to work on defensive structures in the tactical depth of defense. Today, such tasks remain, although, in my opinion, the priority is still the first, the main thing is the destruction of engineering structures.
It is no secret that in the Northern Military District zone there already exists a high-power artillery brigade, the formation of which is almost completed. I mean the 17th Brigade. The remaining brigades are still in the formation stage. Such formations will be part of the army corps. By the way, it is necessary to recall that such a brigade was in the Russian army before the war. This is the 45th brigade.
Readers are probably interested in the composition of the brigade. Naturally, we do not have such information, but we can speak with confidence about weapons. Nothing new. These are the long-known and well-proven heavy-duty “Peonies” (2S7) and “Malki” (2S7M). Heavy mortars "Tulip" (2S4) have not been forgotten either.
In addition, again based on the specifics of using such systems, the brigades will include powerful reconnaissance units, most likely equipped with modern reconnaissance equipment. drones, having constant communication with space reconnaissance, etc. Commanders of divisions and brigades will not “scatter” such powerful ammunition “wherever God sends.”
I am far from thinking that the brigades will appear at the LBS tomorrow. The systems are quite complex, and in order for the crews to work effectively, time is needed for combat coordination. Alas, so far we have not yet been able to fully unleash the potential of the above-mentioned artillery systems.
Why such an unusual composition of the teams?
Again, questions arise that require clear answers. And the first is the question of guns and mortars in one formation. After all, the purposes of these systems are different. Indeed, “Tulips” are intended, first of all, to destroy defenses that are well equipped from an engineering point of view. Destruction of concrete targets and other fortifications that are difficult to take without complete destruction.
At the same time, the work of all enemy artillery will be directed against the mortars. And this is where “Peonies” and “Malki” are needed. Counter-battery warfare and protection of our systems. At the same time, no one removes from such weapons the task of destroying objects in the tactical depth of defense. These systems are quite capable of solving the problem of destroying personnel and equipment in concentration areas.
The next question is about videoconferencing and UAVs. Why are Tulips needed if the Aerospace Forces have started using large-caliber bombs? Firstly, no one belittles the role of the Aerospace Forces in the destruction of engineering defense facilities. But what to do when some object is not destroyed or restored? Wait for the next raid to prepare? Artillery has the advantage of time! Brigade commanders can handle fire much more quickly than pilots can.
UAV. Unfortunately, drones do not yet have enough power to destroy serious structures. Even a massive drone raid does not ensure the destruction of a serious fortification. Even heavy armored vehicles, the hits of which are so often broadcast on Internet channels today, are not always destroyed. Yes, drones cause damage, but they are quickly eliminated in the field.
Well, one last thing. There are no unnecessary weapons. Especially “on the ground”. I'll write a banality. No matter how much the artillery works, no matter how much the VKS and everyone else work, until an ordinary motorized rifle fighter, paratrooper, marine, or any attack aircraft ultimately enters an enemy trench or dugout, the position is not taken. Where the infantry “Vasya” sits, that’s where our positions are.
Instead of a conclusion
I won’t reveal any secret if I say that “Peonies”, “Malki”, and “Tulips” have been used by the Russian army almost from the very beginning of the Northern Military District. Individual guns and divisions took part in the destruction of engineering structures at Azovstal in Mariupol, the Zarya plant in Rubezhnoye, and the Azot plant in Severodonetsk. They broke down defensive structures in Artyomovsk and Popasnaya...
The time has come when these systems need to be concentrated. It is brigades with high-power maneuverable artillery systems that are able to quickly solve problems that arise for corps during the offensive. It is doubtful that Kyiv has structures capable of withstanding the power that we will soon see executed by these brigades. Probably only Soviet buildings. But we built them - and we know how to take them.
Well, one last thing. I'm talking about a "Pandora's box" in the form of cluster munitions. "Malka" and "Pion" can fire not only high-explosive fragmentation or concrete-piercing shells. They also have cluster munitions in their arsenal. Imagine the reaction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the arrival of a dozen projectiles weighing 110 kg (a regular projectile) in a cassette design at a collection point located 40-50 kilometers before the LBS. I think such a “short greeting” from “Malka” will greatly increase the morale of the Armed Forces of Ukraine...
Information