Many remember the old bearded anecdote about the would-be artillerymen who really wanted to shoot at Moscow from their grandfather's cannon? Only now the caliber of the projectile was slightly larger than the caliber of the barrel. So the godfathers decided to hammer the shell with a sledgehammer. The result is predictable.
Do you remember the end of this anecdote? "Well, godfather, if after the shot we have such destruction in the barn, then can you imagine what is happening in Moscow now?" And I remembered this anecdote because the statement about the share of a joke in every joke is valid here too. At least in the mortar family there really were such "electrical devices".
Those who are interested in the history of the development of mortars have already realized that today we will talk about the most powerful mortars ever produced. About "Condenser" and "Transformer", which is better known as "Oka". A weapon that even today amazes with its terrible power and size.
At the beginning of the article, it is necessary to explain the reasons why such weapons were generally needed. Moreover, from the height of today's knowledge, many readers do not quite understand the very desire for large calibers.
Probably, it will sound strange, but today they (readers), without even knowing about it, express the point of view, which served as the main reason for the closure of projects of super-powerful mortars. Why do we need large calibers, if there are lighter weapons - missiles? Nikita Khrushchev rubs his hands …
In fact, there is more than enough logic here. And even Khrushchev is not very busy. However - in order.
To begin with, let's go back to the time when the development of super-powerful weapons had just begun. That is, by the middle of the last century. Humanity has already in practice understood and realized the power of atomic weapons. Although, to be honest, the authors have not been able to find confirmation or refutation of the assertion that the "Capacitor" and "Transformer" were created specifically for firing "atomic mines".
It is possible that this idea appeared later. Already during the tests or a little later. In any case, work on these monsters (and we have no other word) began BEFORE atomic weapons moved from promising developments to the category of weapons.
So, atomic weapons became a weapon and quickly ceased to be a political factor, but passed into the category of strategic factors.
Yes, it had to be delivered to enemy territory with something. Given the size of the first atomic bombs, the only delivery method was aviation. Fortunately, heavy (strategic) bombers could lift such ammunition without difficulty.
However, the constant improvement of atomic weapons has led to a reduction in the size of such bombs. It became possible to create bombs of low power and relatively small dimensions. Can you imagine what opportunities opened up for the military leaders?
Take a situation that was typical of World War II. Two opposing groups of forces, equal in strength. But the enemy "dug in the ground", created powerful engineering structures, minefields and defense in depth. What to do?
And here the commander comes to the aid of low-power nuclear weapons. A bomb weighing 500-1000 kilograms will completely change the balance of power. It is doubtful that when such a bomb is used, for example, at the location of a brigade or division, this formation will retain its combat effectiveness. Of course it won't.
Yes, the striking factors of nuclear weapons then were not particularly interested in the military. Their study was just beginning. The main thing was to complete the combat mission. But as always.
Who was the first to come up with the idea to create a weapon capable of delivering a small atomic charge to the enemy's location is unknown even today. Therefore, we will proceed from the primacy in the creation of nuclear weapons.
Not that America is ahead of the rest of the world, after all, we were mostly in the role of catch-up in matters of murder. What personally, in our opinion, is more than a compliment to the Soviet Union.
In any case, the use of bombers against the positions of the rapid reaction forces was inappropriate and even dangerous. Fighters and air defense have not been canceled, and, accordingly, the landing of an atomic "present" on its territory, too.
American designers began to look for delivery options. Taking into account our own capabilities, industry capabilities and customer requirements. As is often the case, the Americans did not reinvent the wheel. They had at their disposal the documentation of several super-large-caliber guns at once.
In 1952, in the course of research and development in the United States, the atomic gun T-131 with a caliber of 280 mm was adopted.
The design of this cannon was started in 1949 on the basis of an experimental 280 mm cannon of special power. In 1950, a prototype was manufactured under the M65 index, which was adopted after testing. A total of 20 such guns were fired.
Here it is necessary to make a small digression concerning both American and Soviet weapons. We use both names on purpose. The fact is that during the Cold War, both we and the Americans kept secret their own developments in every possible way. M65 is known today as T131, "Transformer" as "Oka". The time was like that.
T131 cannons entered service with 6 formed artillery battalions. 3 guns per battalion and 2 guns were used for testing. 5 battalions were sent to Europe at the disposal of the command of the 7th American army. Until 1955, the T131 was the only ground-based weapon capable of firing nuclear weapons. The battalions were disbanded in 1963 after the closure of the program.
A little about the tactical and technical characteristics of the guns.
Caliber: 280 mm
Barrel length: 12, 74 m
Weight in the stowed position: 78 308 kg, in the firing position - 42 582 kg
Length in firing position: 11, 709 m
Width: 2, 743 m
HV angle: 0 / + 55 degrees
Angle GN: from -7.5 to +7.5 degrees.
Transportable weapon. Transportation speed up to 55 km / h on the highway. Ground clearance 914 mm.
So, on May 25, 1953, the semi-stationary Atomic Annie M65 fired its first shot in the Nevada desert. By the name you already understood that it was the first atomic shot from an artillery system. A shot, 25 seconds of waiting, an atomic "mushroom" …
Probably, it is worth recalling the ammunition. The first US nuclear missile was the T124. Weight - 364, 2 kg, caliber - 280 mm, muzzle velocity at a maximum charge of 628 m / s. Range 24 km, minimum range 15 km. KVO at a maximum range of 130 m. Nuclear charge W-9. Power 15 kt. During the year (from April 1952 to November 1953) 80 shells were manufactured. Removed from service in 1957.
The T124 was replaced by the T315 shell. Weight - 272 kg, caliber 280 mm, nuclear warhead W-19. Power 15-20 kt. Initial speed 722 m / s. Range up to 30.2 km. 80 shells fired.
And what about us? And we, as always: "catch up and overtake!"
In time it turns out that way. And this is due to a completely different approach to the very concept of design. We proceeded from the task of precisely destroying the enemy in a deeply echeloned and equipped defense. And in this case, the mortar is more effective. Although, from the height of today's knowledge, it is somewhat difficult to talk about efficiency when using nuclear weapons. But again, this was 60 years ago.
Our reconnaissance worked "excellently" and obtained data from American tests. The accomplishments of the Americans were scrutinized and the shortcomings of the system were identified. First of all, weight. Agree, under 80 tons for the system is too much. The Americans were "dragging" their gun with two powerful Peterbilt trucks.
Further, the gun was brought into a combat position for a long time. Depending on the coordination of the calculation, from 3 to 6 hours. This time included unloading, assembling, setting up and bringing the gun to battle.
But the complexity of the design, which is traditional for American weapons in general. Preparation of the calculation number takes a lot of time. In combat conditions, this time will simply not be.
Work on the creation of the largest mortar in the world began in the early 50s. It should be noted that the task was for two different mortars at once. 420-mm mortar 2B1 ("Transformer") and 406-mm self-propelled gun 2A3 ("Condenser-2P"). Several defense enterprises of the USSR took part in the development at once - Kolomenskoye SKB of mechanical engineering, KB of the Kirov plant, the Barrikady plant.
In 1957, the first prototype "Transformer" was released. And almost immediately there is the "Condenser".
Both cars had a unified chassis. Developed "Object 273" at the Kirov plant. The chassis was superior in strength to all analogues in the world. The engine was taken from the T-10 heavy tank, and the chassis developments were also taken from there. Diesel V-12-6B, 12-cylinder, 750 l / s, liquid-cooled. It allowed to reach speeds of up to 30 km / h and had a cruising range of 200-220 km.
A 420-mm mortar with a barrel length of 47.5 calibers, almost 20 meters, was installed on the Oka (Transformer)! The mine weighed 750 kg! Loading was carried out only with the help of a special crane. The Oka's firing range reached 45 km. By the way, the large weight of the mine did not allow the Oka to carry more than one ammunition.
In other matters, the calculation of 7 people also could not boast of trips on a self-propelled mortar. Except for the driver, of course. The crew had to move by truck, following the mortar. The mines were carried in a separate special vehicle. Plus, a normal thing at any time is security. That still cavalcade turned out …
It was also necessary to aim the gun with the help of the driver. Horizontal aiming was carried out by rotating the entire installation. But the precise aiming was carried out by an electric drive. Both cars are the same in this respect. It's just that a 406-mm SM-54 cannon was installed on the "Condenser".
Meanwhile, both vehicles, even without participating in hostilities, inflicted a "defeat" on a potential enemy by their very appearance. By 1957, 4 copies of the Oka mortar and the Condenser self-propelled gun were produced. And all the cars took part in the military parade on Red Square …
The reaction of the "friends" was predictable. Shock! The machines made a splash! The Americans not only lost their next advantage, but also lagged behind the USSR in some way. It was then that the "canard" appeared about the cardboard Soviet technology, which we hear today in relation to our "Armata", Su-57 and other revolutionary developments. Fear gave rise to lies! But more on that below.
Now about the performance characteristics.
Self-propelled unit 2A3 "Condenser-2P" with a 406-mm SM-54 cannon.
Weight: 64 tons
Length with gun: 20 m
Width: 3.08 m
Height: 5.75 m
Firing range: 25.6 km
Crew / crew: 7 people
The number of cars produced: 4 pieces.
Self-propelled mortar 420-mm 2B1 "Oka".
Combat weight: 55 tons
Length: 20.02 m
Width: 3.08 m
Height: 5.728 m
VN angle + 50 … + 75 degrees
Firing range: 1-45 km
Crew: 7 people
The number of cars produced is 4.
And now about the "cardboard duck", which even today can often be heard from fans of the West.
The Americans call "Condenser-2P" daddy mortar, "daddy mortar". What is called information war today has always existed. And the Western man in the street was able to instill the idea of "cardboard". But the experts understood that the weapon was valid.
Why did Americans, even experts, believe in fake? Yes, simply because if this is not done, then it will be necessary to recognize the superiority of Soviet engineers over Western ones. The "Condenser" uses components and assemblies, which at that time were not in the world models of armored vehicles.
Starting with the chassis. Above we wrote about the chassis of the heavy T-10M tank. The designers not only used the latest developments, but also "adjusted" them to the new weapon! And the eight-wheel chassis with hydraulic shock absorbers? They not only helped to smoothly move, but extinguished part of the recoil energy.
And the weapon? The huge mass of the 406-mm gun simply could not be mounted on the chassis. The weight of the ammunition for the gun reached a monstrous figure. The RDS-41, a Soviet atomic ammunition with a charge of 14 kt, weighed almost 600 kg! And this monster "flew" for 25, 5 kilometers! Can you imagine the effect of such a break. 14 kilotons on the front line …
But it’s impossible to talk about the SPG as an accomplished vehicle. To quote the historian of armored vehicles, artillery officer Anatoly Simonyan from his interview with "Zvezda":
The "capacitor" has become a weapon of intimidation. Paradoxically, this ACS could compete with the missile weapons that existed at that time. Strange, but it was enough to transport the SPG to some area - and that's it. The situation calmed down by itself.
The Oka had about the same effect. Again we will quote the specialist, military historian Nikolai Lapshin:
The "Oki" reactive-reactive mine, the 420-mm "Transformer" mine was really striking in its size. Human's height! More than 600 kg of weight. Range up to 50 kilometers! At the same time, enormous power!
And at the end of the article, I would like to return to the anecdote with which we began. What happens "at home" after the "Oka" shot. Well, first of all, the shot itself. The personnel, even with headphones, practically lost their hearing for quite a long time. And the nearest seismic stations recorded the earthquake. Lung.
Today, such systems can only be seen in museums. We abandoned their development in 1960. Americans in 1963. It's a pity. Imagine how international relations would change if there were a few modernized "Transformers" and "Capacitors" on the borders.
However, our story about huge mortars does not end there …
