A large number of 300-mm rockets for various purposes with different payloads have been developed for the 9K58 Smerch MLRS. With the help of such products, the system is capable of solving a wide range of combat missions, including remote mining of the terrain. Due to ammunition of two types, MLRS can create mine-explosive barriers in the path of infantry and armored vehicles.
Universal remedies
The launcher of the 9K58 combat vehicle is compatible with all existing missiles of the 9M55 family, and mining with the appropriate ammunition does not require any special preparation. It is enough for the calculation of the MLRS to enter the position and fire at a given area of the terrain.
Terrain mining rockets are maximally unified with other 300-mm products for "Smerch". It uses the same body with stabilizers, correction systems and a solid propellant engine. The differences lie in the equipment and filling of the head. All this makes it possible to simplify the production of ammunition, but at the same time to provide the necessary expansion of the range.
Antipersonnel mining projectile
For the remote setting of covering anti-personnel minefields, the 9M55K3 rocket has been developed. In terms of dimensions and weight, such a product does not differ from other serial missiles. The length is 7, 6 m, weight - 800 kg. The design uses unified elements.
The warhead of the 9M55K3 projectile has a length of 2.05 m and a mass of 243 kg. It holds 64 antipersonnel mines POM-2 "Edema". These ammunition are stacked in eight rows of eight each and are oriented along the axis of the projectile. In the final phase of the flight, the head of the rocket is dropped. With the help of a squib, mines are ejected from its body.
The 9M55K3 rocket can be used for firing at a range of 20 to 70 km. Depending on the trajectory, mines are scattered over an area of about 2x2 km. A volley of 12 shells provides the release of 768 mines, covering an area of tens of hectares.
Mine POM-2 is a product with a height of 180 mm and a weight of 1600 g with a cylindrical body and side legs for orientation in space. The target sensor is four threads 10 m long. Their tension leads to detonation of a 140-g warhead. The fuse is on the combat platoon within 50 seconds after falling to the ground. The self-liquidator works in the interval from 4 to 100 hours after mining.
In case of massive remote mining with the use of the "Smerch" and the 9M55K3 projectile, a high-density obstacle is created in the path of the enemy troops. A large number of mines in a salvo and a significant length of target sensors increase the likelihood of a successful hitting of manpower or unprotected equipment.
Anti-tank mining projectile
To organize obstacles on the path of armored vehicles, a 9M55K4 rocket was developed. Its architecture is similar to the 9M55K3 and other ammunition for the Smerch. The differences concern only the layout and equipment of the warhead. PTM-3 anti-tank mines are transported in a unified body of such a missile.
The PTM-3 product is notable for its significant dimensions, which is why it was possible to fit only 25 such mines into a 300-mm rocket projectile. They are placed in five tiers of five in each with an orientation along the longitudinal axis of the projectile. A squib is used to eject mines from the detachable warhead. From the point of view of the main features of combat use, the 9M55K4 projectile with PTM-3 mines hardly differs from the 9M55K3 rocket with POM-2 ammunition.
A full salvo of 9M55K4 missiles provides the installation of 300 mines at ranges from 20 to 70 km. Such a launch provides mining of a site with a size of about 2x2 km. The average density of mining reaches 7.5 minutes per hectare, which is enough to defeat the advancing armored vehicles. Several volleys in one area, respectively, increase the density of the installation of mines and the fighting qualities of the barrage.
Mine PTM-3 has a rectangular hull, most of which is given under the warhead. Product length - 330 mm, weight - 4, 9 kg with 1800-g charge. The mine is equipped with a VT-06 non-contact magnetic fuse that responds to field changes or ammunition movement. Transfer to the firing position after falling to the ground takes about a minute. Combat work lasts from 16 to 24 hours, after which the self-liquidator is triggered. The target is hit by a cumulative jet into the chassis or bottom. To form a jet, the lateral planes of the mines are designed in the form of cumulative funnels.
Positive traits
MLRS "Smerch" has a number of well-known advantages. The presence of two rockets for mining gives it characteristic capabilities and provides new advantages, including over existing engineering means of setting obstacles.
First of all, the advantage is the very fact of the presence of warheads with mines for 9M55 missiles. Such a rocket is capable of sending a load over a distance of 70 km, which is useful both when striking and preparing obstacles. One 9K58 launcher in one salvo is capable of sending 300 anti-tank or 768 anti-personnel mines to a given point and sowing a large area with them. The fighting qualities of a battery with such ammunition are obvious.
In projects 9M55K3 and 9M55K4, all the characteristic advantages of remote installation of mines are implemented. An explosive obstacle can be created at any moment in the path of a moving enemy. The large firing range of the available missiles, in turn, simplifies the conduct of such events.
The presence of mining shells for MLRS to some extent simplifies and speeds up the creation of obstacles. Thanks to them, the army gets the opportunity to solve such problems not only with the forces of engineering troops, but also with the involvement of rocket artillery. Thus, in the ranks there are two structures at once capable of using mines - moreover, one of them can deliver direct strikes to the enemy.
It is noteworthy that the 9M55K3 and 9M55K4 rockets are one of a kind. Foreign countries have repeatedly made attempts to combine MLRS and mines for various purposes, but the characteristics of the "Smerch" as a mining system could not be repeated. Moreover, in the armies of some developed countries, such as the United States, there are no mining rockets at all.
On the sidelines
However, for all their advantages, mining missiles for multiple launch rocket systems are not the main means of remote installation of obstacles. To install mines, throwing on the surface, other types of equipment are widely used, which are in service with engineering units.
In our country, there are mining complexes with the shooting of ammunition from cassettes using special launchers. The latter can be placed on wheeled and tracked chassis or helicopters. Passing through the terrain, such a minelayer shoots off ammunition of the required type and leaves behind a mining strip.
MLRS with mining shells and minelayers have different characteristics and features of work. However, both of them can be used to solve their problems in different conditions and thus complement each other. So, the main work on the installation of mines can be performed by sappers with land minelayers that shoot mines. For mining at a distance, you can use helicopter systems or rockets.
In practice, it is the "traditional" minelayers that turn out to be a more convenient means of mining, suitable for use in most cases. However, MLRS with special ammunition are of great importance. Remaining on the sidelines, such specialized weapons give the troops certain advantages over the enemy. Proper use of it allows you to decide the outcome of the battle.
