According to the press service of the Central Military District, a few days ago one of the artillery units replenished its fleet of equipment. The army handed over another batch of self-propelled guns of high power 2S7M "Malka". In the very near future, this superior technology will take part in its first live-fire exercises. After that, she will continue to serve, and will make a significant contribution to the combat effectiveness of the ground forces, providing them with the ability to destroy various objects at great depths.
The press service of the Central Military District announced the supply of new equipment on Monday 25 June. According to the official report, one of the artillery formations of the district, stationed in the Kemerovo region, received a divisional set of new equipment. As part of the state defense order, the army unit received a batch of 12 self-propelled guns. Also, the message provided some technical data directly related to obtaining high combat effectiveness.
According to official information, recently transferred self-propelled guns in the very near future will go to the range for shooting. In July, a field camp gathering of artillerymen of the Central Military District will take place at the Yurginsky training ground (Kemerovo region). As part of this event, the crews of "Malok" will have to go to the firing line and perform firing at training targets. However, the details of future exercises have not yet been specified.
The recent delivery of a divisional set of self-propelled guns could have a significant impact on the potential of Russian high-powered artillery. According to the available data, until recently, the artillery units of the Russian army had 60 combat vehicles of the 2S7M type. The supply of 12 units of such equipment is significant, both in terms of quantity and in terms of the potential received. In fact, now the army has even more tools for solving particularly complex and important tasks.
It should be recalled that the 2S7M Malka self-propelled gun is a modernized version of the older 2S7 Pion combat vehicle. The latter was created in the early seventies, and in 1975 entered service with individual divisions of artillery brigades of high power artillery of the reserve of the Supreme High Command. To solve special combat missions, "Pions" could use 203-mm shells of various types, including two types of products with nuclear warheads. Depending on the type of projectile used, the firing range reached 45-47 km.
Almost immediately after the adoption of the Pion, the development of its improved modification began. The result of these works was the order to start production and operation of self-propelled guns 2S7M "Malka", which appeared in 1986. Initially, the new self-propelled guns were supposed to complement the existing equipment, and then gradually replace it. From the point of view of the organizational structure, the service of the new "Malka" did not differ from the operation of the "Pion". At the same time, an interesting event took place. In the early nineties, fulfilling the terms of the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, Russia was forced to transfer all high-power self-propelled guns to the eastern regions, outside the European part of the country. The equipment remains there to this day and regularly participates in combat training events.
At the time of adoption, the 2S7 combat vehicle, in general, met the requirements of the time, but soon the military demanded its modernization, as a result of which the 2S7M ACS appeared. First of all, the new project provided for the replacement of the engine. The Malka uses a V-84B multi-fuel engine with a capacity of 840 hp. against 780 hp at the "Peony". The engine compartment and chassis have also been improved. The chassis was equipped with routine control equipment that monitors the state of all major systems and assemblies. All these changes have led to a significant increase in the resource of the motocross.
The artillery part of the combat vehicle has been significantly improved. The 2A44 cannon remained the same, but it was supplemented with several new devices and devices. So, by optimizing the internal volumes of the hull, it was possible to double the ammunition load. "Malka" carries 8 rounds of separate loading with a propelling charge in caps, although for long-term shooting, like "Pion", it needs ammunition supply by other transport. An improved loading mechanism has appeared, which ensures that the projectile and charge are sent into the chamber at any elevation angles of the gun. This made it possible to increase the rate of fire by 1, 6 times.
The most important innovation of the 2S7M "Malka" project is new communication, command and control devices. At the workplaces of the commander and gunner, devices appeared for receiving data from the senior officer of the battery. Digital information is received and processed automatically, and then the necessary data are displayed on the consoles. The presence of such devices simplifies and speeds up the process of deployment in position, and also allows you to quickly fold and leave after firing. To aim the gun, as in the base sample, sector-type mechanisms with a hydraulic and reserve manual drive are used.
Malka retained a 203-mm 2A44 rifled cannon with a 55.3 caliber barrel and a piston bolt. With the help of a hydraulic recoil brake and a pair of pneumatic knurlers, the barrel is fixed to a swinging cradle. There is a pneumatic balancing mechanism. Due to the high power of the implement and the corresponding recoil, the chassis is equipped with a folding coulter plate that transmits impulse to the ground.
The maximum rate of fire of the 2A44 cannon on the 2S7M self-propelled gun is determined at 2.5 rounds per minute. The rated rate of fire is 50 rounds per hour. Fire characteristics mainly depend on the type and parameters of the shot used. At the same time, regardless of the used projectile, "Malka" has significant advantages over other domestic self-propelled artillery installations.
For use with the 2A44 gun, three types of high-explosive fragmentation projectiles are offered. Product 3OF34 "Albatross" weighs 110 kg and carries 17, 8 kg of explosives. A 43-kg propellant charge of the 4-3-2 type is capable of sending it over a distance of over 37 km. There is also an active-rocket projectile 3OF44 "Burevesnik-2". With a mass of 102 kg, it carries 13.3 kg of explosives and is capable of flying 47.5 km. It is also possible to use two types of rounds with a ZO14 cluster projectile. Such products weighing 110 kg each carry 24 submunitions with 230-gram high-explosive fragmentation charges. The firing range is 30 and 13 km, respectively.
For training calculations, shots 3VOF34IN and 3VOF42IN with an inert projectile 3OF43IN and different charges are used. According to its characteristics, inert ammunition corresponds to the main combat ammunition. A blank shot 4X47 was developed.
Even at the stage of drafting the terms of reference, the Pion and Malka self-propelled guns were able to use artillery shells with a nuclear warhead. Later, 203-mm shells of the Kleshchevina, Sazhenets and Perforator types were developed. The first two products entered service and went into series, while the third did not leave the stage of development work. According to various sources, the shells for the "Pion" / "Malka" had a yield of no more than a few kilotons. At the same time, such tactical nuclear weapons could seriously affect the results of an artillery strike and affect the course of battles.
In terms of technical and combat characteristics, the 2S7M "Malka" self-propelled gun is currently one of the most advanced models of its class both in our country and in the world. If in terms of the characteristics of mobility and mobility, this machine hardly differs from other self-propelled guns of recent decades, then in terms of combat qualities only a few samples around the world can be compared with it.
Depending on the type of projectile used, the maximum firing range of the "Malka" reaches 45-47 km. At the same time, very heavy shells with a powerful explosive charge are delivered to the target. The use of a new loading mechanism led to a reduction in reload time and a significant increase in the rate of fire in comparison with the base "Pion".
According to the regulations, the calculation of the 6-man 2S7M self-propelled gun after arriving at the position must prepare for firing in 7 minutes. Self-propelled ammunition transportable consists of 8 rounds, 40 more shells and charges are transported on a separate vehicle. The prepared calculation is capable of making up to 50 shots per hour. The transition to the stowed position takes no more than 5 minutes.
It is easy to calculate that the deployment process, the use of available ammunition in the form of one load of transport and departure from the position in the case of "Malka" takes only 65-70 minutes. At the same time, most of the time is spent on shooting at designated targets, including those located at a considerable distance. Using shells of the 3OF43 "Albatross" type, during this time the combat vehicle is capable of bringing down more than 850 kg of explosives on the enemy's head, not counting several tons of metal fragments. Active-reactive ammunition 3OF44 carries a smaller charge, but in this case, a total of almost 640 kg of explosives will fall on the target.
Thus, in terms of firing range, the 2S7M "Malka" surpasses all existing domestic guns. In terms of power, only the 2S4 "Tulip" self-propelled 240-mm mortar can be compared to this machine, but it loses in the firing range in the most serious way. As a result, self-propelled guns 2S7 "Pion" and 2S7M "Malka" are the most powerful and effective examples of artillery weapons in the Russian army.
The Russian Armed Forces continue to operate several dozen high-power self-propelled guns, and are not yet going to abandon such systems. Moreover, from time to time, the army receives new combat vehicles, as was the case recently in one of the formations of the Central Military District. In the event of a real collision with the enemy, such artillery systems will have to complement other self-propelled and towed weapons. First of all, they must solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of other ACS.
Despite the limited number, self-propelled guns 2S7M "Malka" are of particular importance for the Russian ground forces. They are able to significantly increase the area of responsibility of cannon artillery, as well as unleash a particularly powerful blow on the enemy, including with the use of special ammunition. This technique has been in service for more than three decades and will serve in the near future. There is still no replacement for the existing self-propelled guns with 203-mm guns, and it is not completely clear whether it will appear at all. This means that the "Peonies" and "Malki" will remain in the ranks and will continue to contribute to the country's defense capability.
