Indeed, "Sprut-B" is a very peculiar phenomenon in the history of our artillery. Currently, the 2A45M Sprut-B is considered the most powerful anti-tank gun in the world.
Meanwhile, this is a story with a kind of continuation, and, I would say, the continuation turned out to be very successful. And it all started far from rosy.
It all started back in 1968 as a continuation of the development of the idea of self-propelled guns. An assignment was issued to develop an anti-tank gun with ballistics and ammunition for a 125-mm smooth-bore tank gun D-81 (2A46).
The work on the assignment was started so many times by the already mentioned OKB-9 of FF Petrov. V. A. Golubev became the chief designer of the project.
At the same time, two options were designed: a towed D-13 cannon and a self-propelled SD-13.
2A45 SD-13 ("Sprut-A") turned out, but the 2A45M "Sprut-B" cannon also went into production.
The Sprut-B cannon was obtained by superimposing the D-81 tank cannon on the carriage of the D-30 122-mm howitzer towed, plus movement assemblies.
The barrel of the gun has a length of about 51 caliber and consists of a tube with a muzzle brake, fastened with a casing in the chamber part, and a breech. The barrel does not have a thread, which ensured a higher pressure of powder gases in the barrel bore and a message to the projectile with a very high initial velocity, which increases its armor penetration. For example, the Sprut-B subcaliber armor-piercing projectile has an initial velocity of 1,700 m / s, compared to 1,040 m / s for the 85-mm D-48 anti-tank gun.
Recoil devices (hydraulic recoil brake and pneumatic knurler) are located above the barrel in the cradle box.
The gun is equipped with a breechblock with a vertically positioned wedge and mechanical (copy) semiautomatic devices. The safety mechanism located at the bottom of the bolt does not allow a shot to be fired when it is not fully closed. Before the first shot, the shutter opens manually, and later, due to the recoil energy, automatically. In this case, the drummer is cocked and the spent cartridge case is thrown out. In order to prevent the appearance of a reverse flame after a shot, there is a special mechanism for blowing out the barrel.
Sprut-B has several sighting devices. In the daytime, when firing direct fire, the OP4M-48A optical sight is used, and at night - the 1PN53-1 night sight. The gun has a 2TSZZ mechanical sight, which is used in conjunction with the PG-1M panorama for firing from closed positions.
On the upper machine of the carriage, the wheels of the chassis are mounted, which, when the gun is transferred to the firing position, are hung above the ground.
The transfer of the gun from the traveling position to the combat position is carried out using a mechanized system, which includes a hydraulic motor, a hydraulic jack and hydraulic cylinders.
The jack provides lifting of the carriage to the height necessary for mixing and spreading the beds, and for lowering it to the ground. Hydraulic cylinders raise the gun to maximum ground clearance, as well as raise and lower the wheels. The hydraulic motor can be operated from a hand pump, but the main source of energy for it is an auxiliary power unit, located on the frame of the upper machine in front of the shield cover (to the right of the barrel).
The auxiliary installation is made on the basis of the MeMZ-967A engine and is used both to mechanize the processes of transferring the gun from the combat position to the stowed position and vice versa, and to ensure the self-propulsion of the gun on the battlefield.
Yes, dear ones, "tse won". The legendary "thirty" of the Melitopol plant, the heart of thousands of "Zaporozhtsev" and "Volyn". Unpretentious, repaired with a minimum set of both tools and technical knowledge, but capable of producing 30 (okay, 27) "horses" in the field.
The controls and the driver's seat are located on the frame of the upper machine to the left of the trunk. When using an auxiliary power unit, the maximum speed of the gun on dry dirt roads reaches 10 km / h. The fuel range is 50 km.
Yes, for comfort - not even a LuAZ. How to go - I do not know, to sit … No, this is no longer SD-44, but still not very good.
When making a march, it is preferable, of course, to tow the gun with any available tractor, "Ural", "KamAZ", MT-LB.
Shooting from the Sprut-B cannon is carried out by single-case loading shots of the D-81 tank cannon. Cumulative, anti-tank, sub-caliber and high-explosive fragmentation shells are used.
The gun has a fairly high rate of fire: 6-8 rounds per minute. The permissible mode of continuous fire for one hour is 100 shots.
Since the barrel of the gun has no grooves, when installing the 9S53 guidance system, it becomes possible to shoot ZUBK14 shots (a 9M119 anti-tank missile guided by a laser beam).
A total of 24 guns were produced. There is no data on the combat use of the Sprut-B.
On this, in principle, the history of self-propelled guns ends.
With all the seemingly advantageous mobility, self-propelled guns did not have the proper range and protection for the crew when moving from one firing position to another in battle. And they still required tractors to move over longer distances than 5-10 km.
Everyone understood that the output was a very successful Sprut-B cannon. She, more precisely, her characteristics, are relevant today, despite the rather long service life. On the other hand, what more could you want if it still penetrates the armor of potential tanks?
It is clear that there should be a next step. And it was made when an armored frame was erected around the same cannon, a more powerful engine and tracked chassis were given.
Everyone has already understood that we are talking about "Sprut-SD". Everything is the same, but a self-propelled and airborne weapon. True, this is another story, but, nevertheless, it is the best ending of all that self-propelled guns could have.
