The first domestic tactical missile systems based on self-propelled chassis received unguided missiles of various types. Such a weapon made it possible to solve the assigned tasks, but did not differ in high accuracy characteristics. Experience has shown that the only way to increase the probability of hitting targets is to use missile guidance systems. Already in the mid-fifties, work began on the creation of new guided weapons, which soon led to the emergence of several projects. One of the first variants of a tactical missile system with a guided missile was the 2K10 Ladoga system.
In 1956-58, the Perm SKB-172 was engaged in the development of the appearance of promising ballistic missiles suitable for use as part of tactical missile systems. In the course of these works, various design options for new products were considered, which differed from each other in general architecture, composition of units, type of power plant, etc. In addition, completely new ideas were worked out and original designs were created. For example, it was at this time in our country that the design of the engine body was first proposed and developed, which was subsequently developed and found widespread use. Such a body was a product made of high-strength steel 1 mm thick with external winding made of composite materials.
By 1958, the work of SKB-172 made it possible to start translating existing ideas and solutions into a finished project of a promising missile system. On February 13, 1958, the USSR Council of Ministers issued a decree on the beginning of the development of two jet complexes of the ground forces with guided solid-propellant missiles. One of the projects was named "Ladoga", the second - "Onega". Subsequently, the Ladoga project was assigned an additional 2Q10 index. In the third quarter of 1960, the complexes were required to be submitted for credit tests.
Complex 2K10 "Ladoga" on a wheeled chassis. Photo Militaryrussia.ru
In accordance with the original requirements, the Ladoga complex was supposed to include a self-propelled launcher based on one of the existing chassis, a set of auxiliary equipment and a guided missile with the specified characteristics. The rocket of the 2K10 complex, designated 3M2, was to be built according to a two-stage scheme and be equipped with solid-propellant engines.
Such requirements for the project led to the need to involve several different organizations in the work. So, the development of the 3M2 rocket and the general management of the project was entrusted to SKB-172. It was planned to entrust the assembly of experimental equipment for testing to the Petropavlovsk Machine-Building Plant, and several other enterprises were to supply the necessary components and products, primarily the necessary chassis, which should be used as the basis for self-propelled launchers.
Initially, two versions of launchers were developed based on different chassis. It was proposed to build and test two versions of such equipment, wheeled and tracked. Perhaps, based on the results of comparing the two prototypes, it was planned to make a choice and determine the type of machine, which in the future was to be built in series. Interestingly, during the development of the Ladoga project, it was decided to develop a third version of the launcher based on another wheeled chassis.
Since 1959, SKB-1 of the Minsk Automobile Plant has been developing a wheeled self-propelled launcher. Especially for this project, a new modification of the existing special chassis was developed, which received the designation MAZ-535B. In the course of this project, it was proposed to use the components and assemblies of the base machine as widely as possible, which should have been supplemented with a set of new special equipment.
The MAZ-535 car was a special four-axle chassis, originally intended for use as a tractor. A diesel engine D12A-375 with a capacity of 375 hp was mounted on the chassis. A mechanical transmission was used, distributing torque to all eight driving wheels. The suspension of the wheel chassis included wishbones and longitudinal torsion bars, as well as hydraulic shock absorbers on the front and rear axles. The possibility of transporting a load weighing 7 tons or towing a 15-ton trailer was provided.
Within the framework of the MAZ-535B project, the basic design has undergone some changes. In connection with the new purposes, the design of individual components and assemblies has undergone improvements. In particular, the shape of the cockpit and the engine compartment cover, placed behind it, has changed slightly. In addition, when rearranging the units, the need to install a long launch guide with a rocket along the vehicle was taken into account, which entailed the appearance of a corresponding niche reaching the engine compartment. To stabilize the chassis during preparation for firing and when launching the rocket, outrigger supports appeared on the rear of the vehicle.
Launcher system "Ladoga", mounted on a wheeled chassis, was a device with the possibility of vertical and horizontal guidance within certain angles. An artillery unit with an oscillating guide equipped with its own drives was envisaged. The latter had attachments for installing the rocket, as well as for bringing it to the required trajectory at launch. An interesting feature of the launcher was the relatively small length of the guide, due to the design of the base chassis. In the transport position, the guide did not rise above the roof of the engine compartment and the cockpit, while the head of the rocket was located directly above them.
Like other self-propelled launchers, the combat vehicle for the 2K10 Ladoga complex was supposed to receive a set of navigation equipment for topographic reference, equipment for launch control and programming of onboard missile systems, etc. Having reached the firing position, the self-propelled launcher could independently perform all the main operations in preparation for firing.
An alternative to the wheeled launcher based on the MAZ-535B was supposed to be a tracked vehicle of a similar purpose. The GM-123 multipurpose chassis was chosen as the basis for it. After some notable improvements, such a machine could receive a launcher and other necessary devices. First of all, the authors of the project had to redesign the existing hull. In its original form, the GM-123 was not long enough, because of which the hull had to be extended and compensated for the increase in its length with an additional pair of road wheels.
The GM-123 chassis was created for use in various armored vehicles projects, which affected its main features. So, the layout of the machine was determined taking into account the need to free the aft part of the hull for the installation of special equipment. Because of this, the power plant in the form of a B-54 diesel engine was located in the central part of the hull. With the help of a mechanical transmission, the torque was transmitted to the front drive wheels. The undercarriage included seven small-diameter road wheels on each side. An individual torsion bar suspension was used.
3M2 rocket scheme. Figure Militaryrussia.ru
In front of the hull of the modified chassis, there was a superstructure that covered the manned and engine compartments. On the aft side of the vehicle, a platform was released, on which a turntable with a launcher similar to that used on a wheeled vehicle was installed. In the stowed position, the installation with the rocket was lowered to a horizontal position and additionally fixed with an emphasis in the front of the machine. To launch the rocket, the rail was raised to the desired angle. The transport stop in the front of the hull was connected to a lattice structure designed to protect the head of the rocket on the march.
At a certain stage in the development of the Ladoga project, it was decided to develop a third version of the self-propelled launcher, which could go into series. The wheeled combat vehicle received approval, however, it was proposed to use not the MAZ-535B, but the ZIL-135L as a basis for it. The machine of the latter type had a four-axle all-wheel drive chassis. The diesel engine ZIL-375Ya with a capacity of 360 hp was used. and mechanical transmission. The carrying capacity of the chassis reached 9 tons.
On the cargo area of such a chassis, it was proposed to mount the entire set of new equipment, including the launcher. From the point of view of the composition of additional equipment, the launcher based on the ZIL-135L should not differ from the previously developed machine based on the MAZ-535B chassis. At the same time, there were some advantages in the main characteristics.
Trucks and tractors ZIL-157V, as well as a 2U663 semi-trailer for transporting one guided missile, were initially proposed as auxiliary equipment for the Ladoga complex. To reload the rocket from the semi-trailer to the launcher, it was planned to use existing models of truck cranes.
In accordance with the original terms of reference, SKB-172 developed a 3M2 two-stage rocket with the required characteristics. In 1960, this product was released for testing, which, however, ended in failure. Four test launches were carried out, which ended in accidents. All four times the rocket was destroyed before the second stage engine shut down. Until the end of 1960, the authors of the project were analyzing the collected data and looking for ways to correct the existing shortcomings.
Based on the results of these works, it was concluded that it was impossible to continue creating a two-stage rocket. To achieve these goals, the 3M2 product should have been built according to a one-stage scheme. This decision was approved at the end of 1960, after which the specialists of SKB-172 began to create a new version of the project. In some sources, the single-stage missile for the Ladoga complex is designated as 3M3, but there is reason to believe that it retained the index of the two-stage predecessor product.
The rocket of the second version received a cylindrical body of high aspect ratio, divided into several compartments and equipped with a tapered head fairing. In the central and tail parts of the hull, two sets of X-shaped planes were provided. The central fins were trapezoidal, the tail fins with rudders were more complex, consisting of two main parts. The head compartment of the rocket was given under the warhead, behind which was located the so-called. finishing engine. A compartment for control equipment was also provided, and all other volumes were allocated for the main engine.
The 3M2 product received two solid fuel engines. In the tail section, the main engine was placed, which was responsible for accelerating the rocket in the active phase of the flight. To improve the main characteristics, a finishing engine was used. It was placed behind the warhead, and its nozzles were located on a small annular ledge placed behind its tail end. At this point, the rocket body had a recess formed by a nozzle assembly and a conical fairing. The task of the finishing engine was to help the cruiser during the initial acceleration of the rocket. Some sources mention that after running out of fuel, the finishing engine should have been reset, but the possibility of this raises certain doubts.
It was proposed to equip the rocket with an inertial control system operating on the active phase of the flight. During the operation of the main engine, the automation, using a set of gyroscopes, was supposed to track the movements of the rocket and generate commands for the steering machines. Pitch and yaw control was provided. After the development of solid fuel, the rocket turned off the control systems, continuing the uncontrolled flight along the established ballistic trajectory.
The project 2K10 "Ladoga" provided for the use of two types of warheads. The 3M2 rocket could carry a high-explosive cumulative warhead or a special low-power warhead. Such combat equipment could be used to attack area targets of various types, including stationary enemy targets or troops in places of concentration.
The rocket had a total length of 9.5 m with a hull diameter of 580 mm and a stabilizer span of 1.416 m. The launch weight of the product was 3150 kg. There is no information about the weight of the warhead.
Tracked launcher of the complex. Photo Russianarms.ru
In April 1961, the first throw tests of a single-stage version of the 3M2 rocket took place. These checks, which took place at the Kapustin Yar test site, showed the correctness of the selected modifications and made it possible to continue testing. In the middle of summer, flight tests of missiles with operating control systems began. Three runs of this stage of checks ended in accidents. On the active part of the trajectory, the nozzle of the main engine was destroyed, followed by loss of stability and destruction of the product. The tests were suspended due to the need to improve the design of the engine.
A new version of the engine with a reinforced nozzle was developed towards the end of 1961. At the beginning of the next year, plant # 172 assembled a second experimental batch of missiles, equipped with an improved power plant. The appearance of such prototypes made it possible to continue testing, bringing them to the stage of shelling conventional targets. Such checks made it possible to determine the main characteristics of the rocket, as well as draw conclusions. It was found that the existing control system does not provide high accuracy of hitting the target. The gain in accuracy compared to existing types of unguided rockets was negligible.
Based on the results of the second stage of testing, which lasted until the early spring of 1962, conclusions were drawn about the further prospects of the project. The tactical missile system 2K10 "Ladoga" was considered unsuitable for adoption, serial production and operation. Despite the use of control systems, the accuracy of hitting the target left much to be desired. In addition, the low accuracy could not be compensated for by the relatively low power of the warheads. The operation of such a missile system could not give the troops the required firepower.
On March 3, 1962, a resolution of the Council of Ministers was issued, according to which the development of the 2K10 Ladoga project was terminated due to the lack of prospects. By this time, two launchers were built on the basis of MAZ-535B and GM-123, and several dozen missiles of various architectures and various modifications were assembled and used. All these products were used in tests at the Kapustin Yar test site, during which they did not show high performance. After the termination of work, the existing equipment was written off as unnecessary. Her further fate is unknown. Probably, the chassis lost their special equipment and were later used in new projects.
The project of the tactical missile system 2K10 "Ladoga" ended in failure. Due to the insufficient characteristics of the control system, the complex did not meet the requirements for firing accuracy and could not be used by the troops. Nevertheless, the development of the project allowed the accumulation of theoretical and practical experience in the creation of guided ballistic missiles, which was later used to create new systems of a similar class.
