Most advanced self-propelled gun: Self-propelled howitzer PZH 2000
Country: Germany
developed: 1998
Caliber: 155 mm
Weight: 55, 73 t
Barrel length: 8, 06 m
Rate of fire: 10 rounds / min
Range: up to 56,000 m
The mysterious letters PZH in the name of a self-propelled howitzer, considered today the most advanced of the mass-produced self-propelled systems, are deciphered simply and businesslike: Panzerhaubitze (armored howitzer).
If you do not take into account exotic things like the "Paris Cannon" or the experimental US-Canadian HARP gun, which threw shells at a height of 180 km, then the PZH 2000 is the world record holder in firing range - 56 km. True, this result was achieved during test firing in South Africa, where a special V-LAP projectile was used, which uses not only the energy of the powder gases in the barrel, but also its own jet thrust. In "ordinary life" the firing range of the German self-propelled gun is within 30-50 km, which roughly corresponds to the parameters of the Soviet heavy 203-mm self-propelled howitzer 2S7 "Pion".
Of course, in terms of the rate of fire, the Pion is up to PZH 2000 like the moon - 2.5 rounds per minute versus 10. On the other hand, the "classmate" of the German howitzer, the modern Msta-S with 7-8 rounds per minute looks quite good, although it is inferior in firing range.
The gun was developed by the German company Krauss-Maffeu Wegmann in the framework of the so-called Joint Memorandum of Understanding in the field of ballistics, concluded between Italy, Great Britain and Germany. The self-propelled gun is equipped with a 155-mm L52 gun manufactured by the Rheinmetall corporation. The 8-meter (52 caliber) barrel is chrome-plated along its entire length and is equipped with a muzzle brake and an ejector. Electric guidance drive, automatic loading, which provides a high rate of fire. The vehicle uses a MTU-881 multi-fuel diesel engine with an HSWL hydromechanical transmission. Engine power - 986 hp. The PZH2000 has a range of 420 km and can travel with a maximum speed of 60 km / h on roads and 45 km / h on rough terrain.
Fortunately, big wars, where weapons like the PZH 2000 would find a worthy use, have not yet happened in the world, but there is experience in the combat use of self-propelled guns as part of the international peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan. This experience brought with it reasons for criticism - the Dutch did not like the fact that the protection system against radioactive, biological and chemical effects turned out to be defenseless against all-pervading dust. It was also necessary to equip the gun turret with additional armor to protect the crew from mortar attacks.
Heaviest self-propelled gun: self-propelled mortar Karl-Gerat
Country: Germany
start of production: 1940
Caliber: 600/540 mm
Weight: 126 t
Barrel length: 4, 2/6, 24 m
Rate of fire: 1 shot / 10 min
Range: up to 6700 m
A tracked vehicle with an absurdly large-caliber gun looks like a parody of armored vehicles, but this colossus has found itself in combat. The production of six self-propelled 600 mm Karl-class mortars was an important sign of the militaristic revival of Nazi Germany. The Germans were eager for revenge for the First World War and were preparing suitable equipment for the future Verduns. The tough nuts, however, had to be gnawed at a completely different end of Europe, and two of the "Karls" - "Torah" and "Odin" - were destined to disembark in the Crimea to help the Nazis take over Sevastopol. Having fired several dozen concrete-piercing and high-explosive shells at the heroic 30th battery, the mortars disabled its guns. The mortars were indeed self-propelled: they were equipped with tracks and a 12-cylinder Daimler-Benz 507 diesel engine with 750 hp. However, these hulks could move on their own only at a speed of 5 km / h, and then over short distances. Of course, there was no question of any maneuvering in battle.
The most modern Russian self-propelled gun: "Msta-S"
Country: USSR
put into service: 1989
Caliber: 152 mm
Weight: 43.56 t
Barrel length: 7, 144 m
Rate of fire: 7-8 rds / min
Range: up to 24,700 m
The Msta-S is a self-propelled howitzer (index 2S19) - the most advanced self-propelled gun in Russia, despite the fact that it entered service in 1989. "Msta-S" is designed to destroy tactical nuclear weapons, artillery and mortar batteries, tanks and other armored equipment, anti-tank weapons, manpower, air defense and missile defense systems, command posts, as well as to destroy field fortifications and impede maneuvers of enemy reserves in the depth of his defense. She can fire on observed and unobserved targets from closed positions and direct fire, including work in mountainous conditions. The reloading system allows you to fire at any aiming angles in the direction and elevation of the gun with the maximum rate of fire without returning the gun to the loading line. The mass of the projectile exceeds 42 kg, therefore, to facilitate the work of the loader from the ammunition rack, they are fed automatically. The mechanism for supplying charges is of a semi-automatic type. The presence of additional conveyors for supplying ammunition from the ground allows firing without consuming internal ammunition.
Largest naval weapon: battleship Yamato's main caliber
Country: Japan
entered service: 1940
Caliber: 460 mm
Weight: 147.3 t
Barrel length: 21, 13 m
Rate of fire: 2 rounds / min
Range: 42,000 m
One of the last dreadnoughts in history, the battleship Yamato, armed with nine guns of unprecedented caliber - 460 mm, was never able to effectively use its firepower. The main caliber was used only once - on October 25, 1944, off the island of Samar (Philippines). The damage done to the American navy was negligible. Vostalnoe time, the aircraft carriers simply did not allow the battleship to be within a shot range and, finally, destroyed it by carrier-based aviation on April 7, 1945.
The most massive cannon of the Second World War: 76, 2-mm field gun ZIS-3
Country: USSR
developed: 1941
Caliber: 76.2 mm
Weight: 1.2 t
Barrel length 3.048 m
Rate of fire: up to 25 rds / min
Range: 13,290 m
The weapon designed by V. G. Grabin was distinguished by its simplicity of design, it was not very demanding on the quality of materials and metalworking, that is, it was ideally suited for mass production. The gun was not a masterpiece of mechanics, which, of course, affected the accuracy of shooting, but quantity was then considered more important than quality.
Largest mortar: Little David
Country: USA
start of trials: 1944
Caliber: 914 mm
Weight: 36.3 t
Barrel length: 6, 7 m
Rate of fire: no data
Range: 9700 m
Already someone who, and the Americans during the Second World War were not noticed in the gigantomania of guns, but still one outstanding achievement belongs to them. The giant Little David mortar with a monstrous 914 mm caliber was the prototype of the heavy siege weapon with which America was going to storm the Japanese islands. A shell weighing 1678 kg, of course, "would have made a rustle", but "little David" suffered from the diseases of medieval mortars - it hit close and inaccurately. As a result, something more interesting was found to intimidate the Japanese, but the super-mortar never fought.
Largest railway gun: Dora
Country: Germany
trials: 1941
Caliber: 807 mm
Weight: 1350 t
Barrel length: 32, 48 m
Rate of fire: 14 rounds / day
Range: 39,000 m
"Dora" and "Heavy Gustav" - two super-monsters of the world artillery caliber 800 mm, which the Germans prepared to break through the Maginot Line. But, like the Thor and Odin self-propelled guns, the Doru was eventually driven to Sevastopol. The gun was directly serviced by a crew of 250 people, ten times more soldiers performed auxiliary functions. However, the firing accuracy of 5-7-ton shells was not very high, some of them fell without bursting. The main effect of the Dora shelling was psychological.
The heaviest Soviet weapon of WWII: Howitzer B-4
The 203, 4-mm howitzer is probably one of the most important contenders for the title of "weapon of Victory". While the Red Army was retreating, there was no need for such a weapon, but as soon as our troops went west, the howitzer was very useful in order to break through the walls of Polish and German cities, turned into "festungs". The gun received the nickname "Stalin's sledgehammer", although this nickname was given not by the Germans, but by the Finns, who got acquainted with the B-4 on the Mannerheim line.
Country: USSR
put into service: 1934
Caliber: 203.4 mm
Weight: 17.7 t
Barrel length: 5.087 m
Rate of fire: 1 shot / 2 min
Range: 17 890 m
Largest towed weapon: M-Gerat siege mortar
Country: Germany
put into service: 1913
Caliber: 420 mm
Weight: 42.6 t
Barrel length: 6, 72 m
Rate of fire: 1 shot / 8 min
Range: 12,300 m
The Big Bertha is the perfect compromise between power and portability. This is exactly what the designers of the Krupp company achieved, inspired by the successes of the Japanese who stormed Port Arthur with the help of large-caliber naval guns. Unlike its predecessor, the Gamma-GerKt mortar, which fired from a concrete cradle, the Big Bertha did not require a special installation, but was towed to the combat position by a tractor. Its 820-kg shells successfully crushed the concrete walls of the forts of Liege, but in Verdun, where reinforced concrete was used in the fortifications, they were not so effective.
Longest Range Gun: Kaiser Wilhelm Geschotz
Country: Germany
entered service: 1918
Caliber: 211-238 mm
Weight: 232 t
Barrel length: 28 m
Rate of fire: 6-7 rounds / day
Range: 130,000 m
The barrel of this cannon, also known as the Paris Cannon, Colossal or Kaiser Wilhelm Cannon, was a set of pipes inserted into the drilled muzzle of a naval weapon. This "whip", so as not to dangle much during the shot, was reinforced with a brace, like the one used to support the crane booms. And still, after the shot, the barrel was shaken by vibrations that did not die out for a long time. Nevertheless, in March 1918, the gun managed to stun the inhabitants of Paris, who thought that the front was far away. The 120-kg shells flying 130 km killed more than 250 Parisians in a month and a half of shelling.
