The self-propelled mortar itself is not new. For the first time, self-propelled mortars on the chassis of tanks and armored personnel carriers found combat use in World War II in the armies of Germany and the United States. However, the vast majority of foreign self-propelled mortars were conventional muzzle-loading field mortars with manual loading. Similar developments were carried out in the USSR since 1942. These are self-propelled mortars on a tank chassis designed by V. G. Grabin: the 107-mm ZIS-26 mortar (1942) and the 50-mm S-11 mortar (1943). However, all domestic self-propelled mortars of the 1940-1950s did not leave the stage of development work.
One of the reasons for the resumption of work on the 120-mm self-propelled mortar in the mid-1960s was the expansion of the range of tasks facing the Airborne Forces. Thus, plans were developed for the preemptive landing of our airborne group in the "Palatinate Triangle" (the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany at the junction of the borders with France and the Netherlands). It was in this area that the weapons of all American divisions deployed in the European theater of operations during the "threatened period" were stored.
But in this case, our airborne forces could face the opposition of two or even three divisions of the Bundeswehr "second order". Therefore, it became obvious that the ground striking force of the airborne division on the BMD should be of the same order of magnitude as the striking force of the motorized rifle division on the BMP.
The Soviet Airborne Forces had a self-propelled 85-mm ASU-85, as well as towed guns - an 85-mm D-48 cannon and a 122-mm D-30 howitzer. But the firepower of the ASU-85 was already insufficient, and the speed of the towed artillery column was almost 1.5 times less than the tracked self-propelled guns columns.
Therefore, in 1965, VNII-100 developed two options for installing a 120-mm mortar with ballistics and ammunition for the M-120 mortar.
In the first version, the mortar was installed in a combat vehicle on the chassis of the MT-LB tractor ("object 6"). M-120 mortar on a standard carriage was placed in the rear of the combat vehicle. The mortar was loaded from the muzzle. The angle of vertical guidance of the mortar from + 45 ° to + 80 °; horizontal guidance angle 40 °. Ammunition - 64 mines. Rate of fire up to 10 shots / min. Additional armament: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. Crew of 5 people.
In the second version, a 120-mm breech-loading mortar with a revolving mine feed was used (drum capacity - 6 minutes). The mortar was located in the turret and turret compartment of the BMP-1 ("object 765"). The combat weight of the mortar was to be 12, 34 tons. The vertical guidance angle of the mortar was from + 35 ° to + 80 °; horizontal guidance angle 360 °. Ammunition - 80 min. Additional armament: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. Crew of 5 people.
Both versions of VNII-100 remained on paper.
120-mm self-propelled mortar based on "Object 765"
On September 13, 1969, the Commission on Military-Industrial Issues (VPV) under the USSR Council of Ministers instructed the TChM Design Bureau of the Minoshemash (G-4882 enterprise) to develop a project for two self-propelled 120-mm mortars with M-120 ballistics.
The swinging part of both mortars is designed according to the barrel rollback scheme, with anti-recoil devices and with a longitudinally sliding piston bolt. The mortar had a hydropneumatic rammer of mines, powered by the energy of a hydropneumatic accumulator, which was charged when reeling. Mortars could fire all standard 120-mm mines, as well as a new active-reactive mine (AWP).
The first version of the 120-mm self-propelled mortar was named "Astra" and index 2 C8; the second is the name "Lily of the Valley". "Astra" was intended for ground forces, and "Lily of the valley" - for airborne troops.
The Astra mortar was created on the chassis of the serial 122-mm self-propelled howitzer 2 C1 "Gvozdika". The mortar was located in the tower and had a circular fire. The swinging part of the mortar is installed in the trunnion sockets from the 2 A31 howitzer. To reduce the gas content of the fighting compartment, the mortar is equipped with a channel blowing system (ejector).
The 120-mm self-propelled mortar "Lily of the valley" was created on the chassis of the experienced 122-mm self-propelled howitzer 2 С2 "Violet" ("object 924"). The mortar is located in the wheelhouse of the self-propelled unit. The swinging part of the mortar is installed in the trunnion sockets from the 2 A32 howitzer. In the project, in comparison with the tactical and technical requirements for the "Lily of the Valley", the horizontal guidance angle was reduced from 30 ° to 20 °, and there was no 12, 7-mm Utes machine gun.
On its own initiative, the CTHM Design Bureau presented an option for installing a standard 120-mm M-120 mortar on the chassis of the MT-LB tractor. The standard M-120 mortar was retrofitted with a damper device and installed on a pedestal with a ball shoulder strap. If necessary, the mortar could be easily removed from the pedestal and installed on a plate (standard from M-120) for firing from the ground. In the usual position, the plate was hung on the rear of the chassis.
In 1964, in France, the Thomson-Brandt company began mass production of the 120-mm RT-61 rifled mortar. The mortar was created according to the classic scheme of an imaginary triangle and differed from other 120-mm mortars only in its greater weight. The highlight of the RT-61 mortar was a mine, and in fact - an artillery shell with ready-made protrusions on the leading belts. In a way, it was a return to the systems of the 50-60s of the 19th century. The French advertised this mortar, claiming that its mine was as effective as the standard 155-mm high-explosive projectile. A very large screening of rifled mines was noted (at a distance of 60 m and more, and a sidewall - about 20 m). Nevertheless, French propaganda played a role, and by the early 1980s, the RT-61 120-mm mortar was in service with thirteen countries around the world.
The Soviet military leadership also took an interest in them, and the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITOCHMASH) was instructed to create 120-mm rifled mortars. This institute was located in the city of Klimovsk near Moscow, and there in the late 1960s a department was created under the leadership of V. A. Bulavsky, dealing with artillery systems. Work on the 120-mm rifled mortar began in the field artillery department under the leadership of A. G. Novozhilov.
In TSNIITOCHMASH and GSKBP (later NPO "Basalt") they delivered a 120-mm French mortar RT-61 and several tens of mines to it. There were detonations of ammunition without firing (in armor and sectors). The results of these tests confirmed that the "rifled" projectile for a mortar is 2–2.5 times superior to an ordinary feathered mine in the affected area.
In 1976, the Perm Machine-Building Plant named after V. I. Lenin. The special design bureau of the plant under the general supervision of R. Ya. Shvarov and the direct one - A. Yu. Piotrovsky designed the 120-mm gun, which later received the index GRAU 2 A51. In 1981, the developers of the system, Shvarev and Piotrovsky, became laureates of the State Prize.
The system was unique, unparalleled. A ground artillery gun is understood as a mortar, howitzer, mortar, anti-tank gun. The same tool performs the functions of all the listed systems. And therefore, without coming up with a new name, in the service manuals and technical descriptions, 2 A51 is called a weapon. 2 A51 can fire cumulative anti-tank shells, rotating high-explosive fragmentation shells and all types of 120-mm domestic mines. In addition, the gun can fire 120-mm mines of Western production, for example, mines from the French mortar RT-61.
The tool has a wedge breechblock with semiautomatic copying type. The barrel of the 2 A51 is similar to a conventional artillery piece. It consists of a pipe and a breech. A wedge gate with semiautomatic copying type is placed in the breech. The pipe has 40 grooves of constant slope. The ramming of the shot is made using pneumatic devices. Compressed air is also blown through the barrel to remove the remnants of powder gases when the bolt is opened after a shot. For this, two cylinders are installed on the front wall of the tower. Their automatic charging comes from the standard air compressor of the engine starting system. The recoil devices are also similar to a conventional cannon - a hydraulic spindle-type recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler.
The sector lifting mechanism is attached to the left ankle of the turret, and the horizontal aiming of the gun is made by turning the turret.
ACS 2 S9 "Nona" can be parachuted by airborne jet from An-12, Il-76 and An-22 aircraft from altitudes of 300-1500 m to sites located at an altitude of 2.5 km above sea level with a wind near the ground up to 15 m / s.
Firing from self-propelled guns is conducted only from the spot, but without preliminary preparation of the firing position.
The shots for 2 A51 were handled by the State Scientific and Production Association “Basalt”, and the chassis was handled by the Volgograd Tractor Plant.
By the way, where did the proper name “Nona”, so atypical for the Soviet army, come from? There are many legends here. Some argue that this is the name of the wife of one of the designers, according to others - an abbreviation for the name "New ground artillery weapon".
For the first time, CAO 2 C9 "Nona-S" in action was shown at the training camp of the Airborne Forces in the training center "Kazlu Ruda" on the territory of the Lithuanian SSR.
For all tests, a six-gun battery of the "Nona-S" CJSC was formed. The formation of the battery took place at the expense of the personnel of the mortar battery of the 104th paratrooper regiment, headed by the battery commander, Captain Morozyuk. The training took place under the guidance of representatives of TsNIITOCHMASH, headed by A. G. Novozhilov and the Design Bureau of the Machine-Building Plant named after V. I. Lenin under the leadership of A. Yu. Piotrovsky.
After the completion of the tests, the self-propelled artillery division SAO 2 C9 "Nona-S" of the 104th paratrooper regiment was formed on the basis of this battery.
120-mm mortar "Nona-S" at the parade in Moscow.
The production of "Nona-S" was carried out by the plant. Lenin from 1979 to 1989 inclusive. A total of 1432 guns were produced.
In 1981, the artillery system was put into service under the name "self-propelled artillery gun 2 C9"
At the end of 1981, it was decided to form the CAO 2 C9 battery with its subsequent sending to Afghanistan. It was formed in the city of Fergana, where six guns were delivered in advance, accompanied by two officers of the CAO 2 C9 division of the 104th paratrooper regiment. The personnel is the 3rd battery of the artillery battalion of the 345th separate parachute regiment, which arrived from Afghanistan.
The training of the battery personnel lasted 20 days and ended with live firing at the training center. Used ammunition - 120mm mines. The training instructors were two officers of the CAO 2 C9 division of the 104th paratrooper regiment, who acquired good practical knowledge during all tests and training of personnel. Subsequently, they became part of the battery staff. At the end of October, the battery went to Afghanistan.
Since 1982, the formation of the CAO 2 C9 divisions in artillery regiments began.
On the basis of "Nona-S", the 2 С9-1 "Waxworm" gun was developed especially for the marines. It differed from "Nona-S" by the absence of mooring knots and by the ammunition load increased to 40 rounds.
Since 1981, the 2 C9 units have been successfully used in Afghanistan. The effectiveness of the combat use of the system attracted the attention of the command of the ground forces, which wished to have the "Nona" in both towed and self-propelled versions.
At first, the designers decided to name the towed version "Nona-B" by analogy with other artillery systems - the self-propelled "Hyacinth-S" and the towed "Hyacinth-B". But the name of the flower and the woman's name are not the same, and the customer categorically rejected the name "Nona-B". As a result, the letter "B" was replaced by "K", and the towed version was named 2 B16 "Nona-K".
A few words about the device 2 B16. The barrel of the towed gun is equipped with a powerful muzzle brake that absorbs up to 30% of the recoil energy. In the firing position, the wheels are hung out, and the tool rests on a pallet. On the battlefield, the gun can be rolled by the crew using small rollers at the ends of the beds. According to the state, "Nonu-K" tows a GAZ-66 car, but if necessary, you can use the UAZ-469. On the march, the barrel is folded together with the beds, and the weapon takes on a very compact appearance.
120-mm rifled mortar "Nona-K". Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology
Since 1985, the Design Bureau of the Perm Machine-Building Plant has been working on the 120-mm self-propelled gun 2 С23 "Nona-SVK". The gun itself has undergone modernization and received a new index 2 A60, although its ballistics and ammunition remained unchanged.
One of the features of the shutter locking mechanism is a cylinder with a frame, which together act as a rammer. Thanks to this design, the loader does not need to spend significant effort to send an artillery shot into the barrel, especially at high elevation angles when the gun barrel was raised vertically. The gun is equipped with a device that controls the temperature of the barrel (heating indicator), which is directly related to the accuracy of shooting. The turret with the 2 A60 gun was installed on the chassis of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier.
On the roof of the commander's cupola 2 С23 there is a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The machine gun is connected by a thrust to the TKN-3 A device, which allows for targeted firing, remotely controlling fire from the tower. Inside 2 С23 there are two portable Igla-1 anti-aircraft complexes. On the right and left of the tower there is a 902 V smoke screen system with six 3 D6 grenades.
The question arises, why it was necessary to create a new self-propelled gun, why was it impossible to adopt the "Nonu-S" into service with the ground forces? There were many reasons. First, the Nona-SVK wheeled drive provides greater mobility and reliability, especially when transporting equipment under its own power over long distances.
In Afghanistan, 70 installations 2 С9 "Nona-S" were in operation. In the course of hostilities, their 2 C9 undercarriage was often clogged with stones, which made the vehicle motionless.
The wheel system is free from this drawback. The 2 C23 has more ammunition and power reserve than the 2 C9. 2 С23 is intended for the ground forces, where there is no BTR-D, but the BTR-80 is widely used, which facilitates the repair of vehicles and training of personnel. Finally, 2 C23 is 1.5–2 times cheaper than 2 C9.
The first series of thirty 2 C23s was manufactured by the Perm Machine-Building Plant. Lenin in 1990. In the same year, the gun was put into service.
All three "Nona" have the same ammunition and ballistics. No other artillery system in the world has had such a combination of ammunition like the "Nona".
First, the Nona fires all conventional 120mm Soviet mines, including pre-war mines. Among them are high-explosive
OF843 B, OF34, OF36, smoke 3 D5, lighting S-843 and 2 S9, incendiary 3-З-2. The weight of the mines ranges from 16 to 16.3 kg, so their ballistic data are approximately the same - the firing range is from 430 to 7150 m, and the initial speed is from 119 to 331 m / s. In flight, the mine is aerodynamically stabilized by feathers (wings).
Forcing the Volga. JSC "Nona"
Shrapnel and high-explosive mines affect an area of over 2,700 m2. An incendiary mine 3-Z-2 creates six fires, its components burn for at least a minute. A smoke mine creates a curtain over 10 m high and over 200 m long, which smokes for at least 3.5 minutes.
Secondly, "Nona" can fire conventional artillery shells, the only difference of which is the ready-made rifling on the hull. The OF49 and OF51 shells have the same structure, only the OF49 has a steel body and contains 4.9 kg of A-IX-2 explosive, while the OF51 has a cast-iron body and 3.8 kg of A-IX-2 explosive. In terms of effectiveness, these shells are close to 152-mm howitzer grenades. The firing range of OF49 and OF51 is from 850 to 8850 m with initial speeds from 109 to 367 m / s. In flight, the projectiles are stabilized by rotation and their dispersion is 1.5 times less than that of mines.
In addition to conventional shells, the OF50 active-rocket projectile is included in the ammunition load. This projectile has a miniature jet engine, which turns on 10-13 seconds after the projectile is fired from the barrel. The firing range of an active-rocket projectile is 13 km.
Thirdly, "Nona" can fire guided ("corrected") shells of the "Kitolov-2" type, which are used to destroy lightly armored and other small targets with a probability of 0.8-0.9. The 25 kg shell is equipped with powder engines that create corrective impulses during flight. The projectile is guided using a laser designator. The firing range of "Kitolov-2" is up to 12 km. Explosive weight - 5.5 kg.
Fourth, "Nona" can successfully fight against main battle tanks at a distance of up to 1000 m. For this, its ammunition load includes a cumulative projectile weighing 13, 2 kg, which penetrates normally over 650 mm thick armor.
Thus, weapons of the "Nona" type have no equal in the world and can solve a wide range of tasks. These weapons took part in a number of local conflicts and proved to be excellent.
A few words should also be said about the use of "Nona-S" during the first Chechen war.
An eyewitness, a correspondent for the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper V. Pyatkov, described a typical episode of the combat use of self-propelled artillery of the Airborne Forces in Chechnya: “In the winter of 1996, a paratrooper convoy was ambushed in the Shatoi Gorge. The militants chose the place for its organization very competently. Mountain road. To the left is a sheer wall, to the right is an abyss. After waiting, when part of the convoy stretched out because of the turn of the mountain range, the militants knocked out the first car. Trapped on a narrow thread of the road, the paratroopers, deprived of maneuver, were doomed by all the canons of ambush actions.
In this situation, the head of the column decided to use the Nona-S self-propelled artillery mounts. Their ability to fire along an almost vertical trajectory, the competent actions of the artillery spotter Senior Lieutenant Andrei Kuzmenov, who was seriously wounded in that battle, made it possible to support the defenders with fire in the shortest possible time. This decided the outcome of the battle in favor of the paratroopers. Losses in that battle could not be avoided. But they could have been much worse if the gunners hadn't thwarted the militants' plans to completely destroy the cut off part of the column.”
Major General A. Grekhnev, who was chief of artillery of the Airborne Forces from 1991 to 2002, spoke well about Nona's participation in the second Chechen war: artillery battalion of the Ryazan regiment of the 106th airborne division of captain Alexander Silin. In the course of fierce battles for the city center, when, acting on foot, a battalion of Ryazan paratroopers for several days in a row, being completely surrounded by militants, fought off furious enemy attacks, the outcome of the battle was largely predetermined by the actions of the artillery corrected by Captain Silin. Competently organizing and skillfully adjusting the fire of the regimental artillery along the lines and directions, Silin did not allow large enemy forces to approach the buildings held by the paratroopers. For courage, heroism and professional actions during street battles in Grozny, Captain Alexander Silin was awarded the title of Hero of Russia …
The pause in the course of hostilities that appeared after the defeat of the militants in Dagestan was fruitfully used by the Airborne Forces command to prepare the Airborne Forces grouping for a new large-scale campaign. One of the main measures of this preparation was precisely the increase in the artillery component. And when the troops crossed the border of the rebellious republic, in each regimental tactical group there was already an artillery division, which had from 12 to 18 self-propelled artillery installations or D-30 guns …
In addition to successful actions and good preparation of the Airborne Forces artillery (this is evidenced by the fact that, going to the mountains, the GRU and FSB scouts tried at all costs to take with them an airborne artillery spotter), it is worth emphasizing the courage and courage of our artillerymen …
In conclusion, it is worth telling about the 120-mm self-propelled gun 2 С31 "Vienna", the prototype of which was first demonstrated at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 1997.
120-mm self-propelled gun 2S31 "Vienna"
The self-propelled gun 2 С31 was created on the chassis of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle and is intended primarily for fire support of motorized rifle battalions operating on the BMP-3.
The machine is made according to the layout with the aft location of the engine compartment. The control compartment is located in front of the body along its longitudinal axis. The fighting compartment with an armored turret with weapons installed in it occupies the middle part of the hull. The crew consists of four people, of whom the driver is in the control compartment, and the unit commander, gunner and loader are in the fighting compartment.
The hull and turret of the machine are of a welded structure. The armor protects the crew from small arms bullets and shrapnel from artillery shells and mines.
The 2 C31 self-propelled gun is equipped with a 120-mm 2 A80 rifled gun, the design of which is a development of the design of the 2 A51 gun of the 2 C9 self-propelled gun. It also consists of a rifled barrel with a combined semi-automatic bolt, a cradle with a guard, recoil devices and a sector lifting mechanism. A feature of the 2 C31 gun mount is the increased barrel length, which made it possible to significantly increase the firing range when using the 2 A51 ammunition load. The gun is equipped with a pneumatic rammer and a system for forced blowing of the barrel bore after the shot. The aiming of the gun in the vertical plane is carried out in the range of angles from –4 ° to + 80 °, while a follower drive is used, which automatically restores the aiming after each shot. In the horizontal plane, the gun is guided by turning the turret.
Self-propelled unit 2 С31 has a modern fire control system. The gunner has a periscopic sight and a separate sight for direct fire. Placed in the commander's cupola to the right of the gun, the unit commander has an autonomous target designation system using his own surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. The commander's cupola can be rotated 90 ° and provides the commander with a good view forward. The fire control system also includes navigation and topographic reference systems.
The complete transportable ammunition load of the installation consists of 70 rounds, placed in mechanized ammunition racks in the fighting compartment. Shooting with submission of shots from the ground is also possible. For this purpose, there is a hatch with an armored cover on the starboard side of the vehicle.
The auxiliary armament of the SPG consists of a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun mounted on the roof of the commander's cupola.
To set up smoke screens on the frontal armor of the tower, two blocks of twelve 81-mm grenade launchers of the 902 A type are mounted. Smoke grenades can be fired automatically at the command of the TShU-2 Shtora-1 laser radiation detector.
In 2005, a prototype of the self-propelled gun 2 С31 "Vienna" was sent for state tests, which were successfully completed in 2007. And in 2010, JSC "Motovilikhinskiye Zavody" handed over the first batch of 2 С31 "Vienna" to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
