Vasilek 2b9 Automatic Self-Propelled Mortar 82 Mm Caliber, Shooting and Technical Characteristics TTX, Combat Use and Firing Range

Modifications[ | code]

2B9
- basic modification with water-cooled barrel (casing with water)
2B9M
- modification with air-cooled barrel - no casing, the barrel walls in the middle part are thickened and have ribs
The 2K21 system
is a mobile mortar complex, which includes a transport vehicle (can also be used to tow a mortar when changing firing positions and in emergency situations) 2F54 (a modified army medium off-road truck GAZ-66-05) and the mortar itself
2B9M on the MT-LB chassis (USSR)
- military modification of the 2B9M into a self-propelled mortar
2B9M on the MT-LB chassis (VNR)
- a slightly modified factory modification of the 2B9M into a self-propelled mortar on the same chassis
Type 99
(export designation for modification of the 81.2 mm caliber -
W99
) - the 2B9M version made in China, adopted by the PLA in 1999.
The 82-mm self-propelled mortar 2B9M based on the BMP-1
is a Kazakh development; one demonstration copy was presented in May 2014 at the KADEX-2014 arms exhibition. The mortar is openly installed in the middle part of the BMP-1 hull

Photo 2B9M Cornflower

Mortar 2B9M "Cornflower" based on the MT-LB transporter

Mortar 2B9M "Cornflower" based on the Hummer vehicle

Mortar 2B9M "Cornflower" installed on GAZ-66

Mortar 2B9M "Cornflower" mounted on BMP-1

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Combat use

The M-240 towed mortar received its baptism of fire in combat operations in Afghanistan this year.
The D-30 howitzer battery of the 1074th artillery regiment of the 108th motorized rifle division was rearmed with 4 M-240 mortars in the second half of 1984. The mortars were towed by MT-LB tractors. The entire battery personnel were urgently sent for retraining to the territory of the USSR to a special center, where they were trained in the use of the 3F5 “Daredevil” mine. Upon returning to Afghanistan, the first successful test of the Daredevil mine in combat conditions was carried out in the Charikar Valley area. From that moment on, the M-240 battery actively participated in almost all army operations. In 1985, during the operation to destroy the Ahmad Shah Massoud group in the Panjshir gorge, the battery was tasked with destroying the Mujahideen fortifications that were impeding the advance of our units. Having turned around from the march and fired one sighting shot with a conventional high-explosive fragmentation mine, the battery then used the 3F5 “Daredevil” round. With an accurate hit, the target was completely destroyed. Due to the fact that the mortar has a slight rotation to the left and right, it was necessary to point all four guns in different directions. The target could appear from any direction, so the task was carried out by the weapon that was directed towards the target. With such firepower, one mortar was enough. Often, due to lack of time, preparation for firing was carried out according to topographic data, without taking into account weather conditions, nevertheless, targets were hit, as a rule, with one or two shots. Mortar in the Technical Museum, Tolyatti

Subsequently, there were many other operations, and towed mortars everywhere proved themselves only from the best side. Later they were replaced by 2S4 Tulip self-propelled mortars.

M-240s were actively used against terrorists during Operation Damascus Steel, in the spring of 2022 in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta, by artillerymen of the strike unit of the Syrian armed Tiger Force.

"Nomads" hit with heavy fire

Russian mortarmen are constantly improving their combat skills and training at training grounds in all military districts. Thus, servicemen of the artillery unit of the Southern Military District stationed in Adygea immediately began a “field check” of the modernized “Sani” mortars received under the State Defense Order at the end of May.

According to the combat training plan for the new training period, exercises were held on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.

In early June, according to the combat training plan for the new training period, exercises were held on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Artillery units from the army corps of the Eastern Military District successfully hit all targets of the mock enemy at the Uspenovsky training ground. Unmanned aerial vehicles were used during the exercise to effectively use artillery, detect targets and adjust fire. The mortarmen also practiced operations as part of observation and reconnaissance posts, practiced bringing weapons into battle, and met standards for changing firing positions and destroying manpower of a mock enemy.

On the same days, mortarmen from the Russian military base in Armenia, as part of practical training at the Alagyaz training ground, destroyed ground targets and military equipment of a mock enemy using the tactics of “roaming” mortars. Using guns installed in the back of KamAZ vehicles, the crews carried out training shooting at hidden targets located behind the mountain slopes. The servicemen also practiced changing firing positions as quickly as possible when conducting counter-battery warfare.

A tactical exercise at the Lyaur training ground with motorized rifle units of the Russian military base in Tajikistan ended with large-scale night firing of mortars. According to the plan of the maneuvers, a conditional illegal armed group attempted to break through to one of the populated areas in order to take hostages and destabilize the situation. Motorized riflemen on BTR-82A armored personnel carriers advanced to the indicated area, organized a maneuverable defense and lured the “enemy” into the so-called “cauldron”. The complete defeat of the group of mock terrorists was completed by the artillerymen with heavy fire from 120-mm Sani mortars.

Almost a cannon

A mortar is an infantry weapon, including an eighty-two-millimeter one. But “Vasilyok” is still closer to artillery weapons. A high combat rate of fire, the ability to conduct flat fire and fight armored targets, providing fire support - all this speaks to the artillery affiliation of the “Vasilka”. Typically, the 2B9 mortar is mounted on a light wheeled carriage, like a light field gun. The carriage is equipped with a pallet and frames. In its middle is a rotating barrel.

This mortar also has a similar way of firing to a cannon. Firstly, it can be mounted - like a mortar, along a steep trajectory, and secondly - automatic along a flat trajectory (this is how a light anti-tank gun fires). There is also a direct fire sight. It is loaded from the muzzle with three different types of projectiles, and from the breech only with a unified charge. So, the design of the “Vasilka” is for the most part similar to an artillery gun, in any case, much is made according to the same schemes.

Mortar 2B9M Vasilek 82 mm Rate of fire. Firing range. Weight

Although 82 mm mortars are usually considered infantry weapons, the 82 mm 2B9 Vasilek automatic mortar should be classified as artillery weapons. This is primarily due to the combat rate of fire of the 2B9, which has a very high value - up to 100 rounds per minute (the rate of fire is 120 rounds per minute), as well as its ability to conduct flat fire and, thus, perform fire support tasks and combat armored targets.

How to shoot from the "Cornflower"

The standard carriage is as lightweight as possible; it looks like a regular cannon carriage; the design includes a pallet and a frame. Putting it into combat mode leads to the fact that the wheels are raised above the ground, and the jack and the frame with the openers are used as support. The automatic mortar "Cornflower" can be raised or lowered, depending on the firing conditions. The maximum elevation of the trunk in the lower position is 78°, in the upper position 85°. When mounted shooting with a slope exceeding 40°, in order to avoid damage to the mechanisms from impacts on the ground, it is necessary to dig a recess under the butt plate. Small elevation angles are used to point the barrel at armored targets. In this position, the 82mm Cornflower mortar is used as a light anti-tank weapon with a short range, but at the same time very powerful.

For direct fire, a panoramic sight is provided, on which in this case the standard optics (PAM-1) are changed. The guidance equipment also includes a Luch-PM2M lighting device, designed for firing at night.

Notes

. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
Shirokorad A. B.
Domestic mortars and rocket artillery. - Minsk: Harvest, M.: AST, 2000. - P. 167. - ISBN 985-13-0039-X (Harvest), 5-17-001748-0 (AST).
Shirokorad A. B.
Domestic mortars and rocket artillery. - Minsk: Harvest, M.: AST, 2000. - P. 160-161, 163. - ISBN 985-13-0039-X (Harvest), 5-17-001748-0 (AST).
↑ O'Malley T. J.
Modern artillery: guns, MLRS, mortars. - M.: EKSMO-Press, 2000 (translated from English; original edition - 1994). - P. 146. - ISBN 5-04-005631-1.
Evteev I.M.
The flames were still rising... Essays. - M.: Inter-Libra, 1997. - P. 221 - 264 p. — Circulation 1000 copies. — ISBN 5-86490-060-5.
Shirokorad A. B.
Domestic mortars and rocket artillery. - Minsk: Harvest, M.: AST, 2000. - P. 87, 163, 166-167. — ISBN 985-13-0039-X (Harvest), 5-17-001748-0 (AST).
Depending on the type of fuse, the weight and, accordingly, the firing range of fragmentation and smoke mines changed; mines with M-1 and M-4 fuses weighed 0.21 kg more than mines with MP-82 and M-6 fuses.
Min and Max firing ranges are given for the following conditions: sea level; pressure 760 mmHg; air temperature, weapon barrel and powder charge +20 °C; dry air without a significant amount of solid particles (snow, sand) in it; calm; in practice, the listed factors can significantly influence the firing range in both one and the other direction.
↑
Konstantin Chuprin
Military power of the Celestial Empire. The armed forces of the People's Republic of China today and tomorrow. - Minsk: Harvest, 2007. - P. 744. - ISBN 978-985-16-0226-7.
↑ (inaccessible link). Retrieved February 8, 2015.
Major General Yu. P. Prishchepo.
About licenses and around them // “Equipment and weapons”. - 2007. - No. 2. - P. 2-9.
. Press service of the Western Military District
. Mil.ru (October 20, 2015). Retrieved December 19, 2016.
The Military Balance 2022. - P. 407.

Description

This mortar has the same purpose as its counterparts: to hit enemy infantry both in open space and in field shelters. The operation of the automation is based on the recoil, as already mentioned, of the bolt being free after firing. The mortar consists of a barrel, bolt box and bolt, recoil mechanism and two machines - lower and upper. The lower one connects to the chassis. “Vasilyok” weighs a little over six hundred kilograms, so it is quite mobile, even with its own crew it can move short distances.

The barrel and receiver are connected by thread. The recoil device has three spring rods: two of them are below and one is above the bolt box. The receiver has a fire mode switch lever and a reloading flywheel at the bottom and a trigger lever on the top surface. The clip receiver is on the right. And on the left are the handles for the lifting and turning mechanisms. The rate of fire of the “Vasilok” is simply amazing - it can send four mines more than one hundred and seventy times per minute. But the loading speed plays a role here, so in the end the rate rarely exceeds one hundred and twenty rounds per minute.

Mortar "monster" and "Tray" for 24 mines per minute

The most powerful mortar in the world, the Russian 2S4 “Tulpan”, cannot be called “trench artillery”. With mines weighing more than 200 kg, it demolishes any trenches, pillboxes and other fortifications.

Capable of firing a variety of ammunition at a range of up to 20 km, this self-propelled mortar is primarily intended for assaulting enemy fortified areas.

Designed to destroy and suppress manpower and fire weapons, the 82-mm mortar 2B14-1 “Tray”, due to its dimensions and weight, can be transported disassembled by a crew of four military personnel. The maximum firing range of all available 82 mm mines is 6 km.

82-mm mortar 2B14-1 “Tray”.

After a recent modernization, the Tray can now fire at a rate of fire of 24 rounds per minute: to avoid deformation of the barrel, “ribs” have appeared on its breech - a radiator. The new joint between the barrel and the base plate allows you to fire at targets in any direction. This requires minimal effort from the crew - to turn the barrel and rearrange the carriage supports.

The portable mortar can be disassembled into three units. One soldier carries the barrel, the second carries the base plate, and the third carries the two-legged carriage and sight. The fourth number of the crew carries ammunition in a backpack-pack. Also, the “Tray” can be installed on armored vehicles, turning from a portable one into a self-propelled mortar.

The 2B14-1 “Tray” mortar of 82 mm caliber can be transported disassembled by a crew of four military personnel.

No matter what they do, things don’t work...
The Ukrainian-made M120-15 “Hammer” mortar of 120 mm caliber was designed in 2015 on the basis of the Soviet 2B11 mortar. On June 2, 2022, the People's Militia Department of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are constantly losing personnel “through self-destruction due to the unsuccessful use of Hammer mortars.” “The products of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine continue to cause damage to the life and health of Ukrainian military personnel,” the statement said. “According to our intelligence, during the fighting, more than 150 people were killed or injured from explosions of Molot mortars produced by Ukroboronprom.”
On January 3, 2022, the command of the Ukrainian army deployed a platoon with Hammer mortars to the borders of the DPR. The next day, two soldiers of the 57th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces died after a mortar barrel exploded when fired, and two more were wounded. On January 22, near Gorlovka, two Ukrainian servicemen died for the same reason. On March 18, the Molot explosion claimed the lives of three soldiers of the 80th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Mortars and guns

There are several reasons why mortars became widespread, and all of them are important. This type of weapon is characterized by relative lightness, simplicity, manifested both in manufacturability and maintenance, high destructive power and the ability to cover a target from above, directly from the sky, that is, from the direction of least protection. A howitzer or mortar is used to fire along an overhead trajectory. An artillery gun weighs more, is more complex and costs the defense budget a larger sum. Guns, of course, have their advantages, such as increased range, caliber and accuracy, but under certain conditions, which arise quite often in battle, these advantages are offset. The line between two common large-caliber weapons is almost completely erased by the Cornflower mortar, the photo of which transparently hints at its “kinship” with guns. Depending on the position of the barrel, it becomes similar to a mortar, a howitzer and a regular cannon firing flatly. If we add a high rate of fire to this interesting property, then the uniqueness of the weapon becomes obvious.

Specifications

The chassis of the mortar is equipped with suspension, and when it goes into the combat position, the “Vasilyok” rests on the bipod of the frame and on the jack, while the wheels are suspended. The sight on the mortar is PAM-1. The shot includes an eighty-two-millimeter mine and a propellant charge of gunpowder. The mass of each mine is 3100 grams, the maximum “Cornflower” reaches the enemy at a distance of more than four kilometers, and the minimum firing range is eight hundred meters. When a mine explodes, it produces about six hundred fragments, providing damage with a radius of eighteen meters.

The mortar crew consists of four people: commander, loader, gunner and ammunition carrier (he is also the driver). The mortar and ammunition are transported by the GAZ-66, a vehicle that has proven itself excellent both in the national economy and in everyday life in the army. This is an all-terrain vehicle, indispensable in off-road conditions, it doesn’t care about snow, mud, swamps, and, in principle, the road itself doesn’t need it either. Throughout the eighties, they tried to equip the Vasilek with self-propelled power using an MTLB tractor, installing a mortar on the stern of this tracked “monster”.

Modifications

2B8

Mortar 2B8

— the artillery part of the 2S4 “Tulpan” self-propelled mortar, developed on the basis of the
M-240
in the late 1960s. Tests were carried out at GNIIAP (Rzhevsky Test Site, St. Petersburg) in the period 1969-1974. It has identical ballistic characteristics to the M-240. Unlike the M-240 mortar, where all operations are performed manually, a hydraulic system has been introduced in the artillery part of the 2B8 self-propelled mortar, which performs the following functions:

transferring the mortar from the traveling position to the combat position and back,
aiming the mortar according to the elevation angle,
bringing the 2B8 barrel to the mine ramming line and opening the bolt,
supplying the mine from the mechanized ammunition rack to the rammer guides located on the base chassis body (top),
loading the mortar, closing the bolt and lowering the barrel into the breech.

In the stowed position, the mortar barrel is mounted on the roof of the hull, and in the combat position it rests on a plate installed on the ground.

F-864 steel high-explosive mines are used to fire the 2B8 mortar

M-240 mortar (length 6.4 klb, weight 130 kg, explosive mass 31.95 kg, shell thickness 0.062 klb, filling factor 23.3%).
3F2
active-reactive high-explosive mine has been developed for firing at a range of up to 19 km
the 3F5

the 1K113 “Daredevil”
guided artillery weapon system can be used to destroy protected small-sized observable targets .

These "Sleighs" drive themselves

Already during the Great Patriotic War, to increase the mobility of artillery units, mortars were installed on trucks and in motorcycle sidecars. Currently, our army is armed with 120-mm modernized transportable mortar systems 2S12A “Sani”.

Designed to destroy enemy personnel and firepower in engineering structures and in hard-to-reach terrain, these mortars can be extremely quickly deployed in battle to any direction. The “Sleigh” is carried by a specialized transport vehicle based on the Ural-43206 off-road vehicle.

Transportation of a wheeled mortar can be carried out either by simple towing or in the back. For loading, the vehicle is equipped with a quick-release ramp and a winch. The equipment of the complex ensures quick transfer of the mortar from traveling to combat mode and vice versa. This is important when the enemy is conducting a counter-battery fight: the “Sleigh” fired, quickly “rolled away” from the “exposed” position and is again ready to fire in a new place.

With conventional mines, this mortar can fire accurately and accurately at a distance of up to 7,100 meters. When using KM-8 "Gran" guided mines with a laser homing head, the range of hitting targets increases to 9 kilometers.

The “Sleigh” is carried by a specialized transport vehicle based on the Ural-43206 off-road vehicle.

Numbers
14.200 There were 82-mm battalion mortars in the Red Army at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War;
351.800 mortars for arming the Active Army were produced by the USSR defense industry between July 1941 and April 1945;
3.000.000 military personnel, according to some historians, amounted to losses of the Wehrmacht and fascist satellite troops killed and wounded from Soviet mortar fire.

Characteristics of the 2K21 system with the 2B9M mortar and its ammunition[7]

Caliber, mm: 82
Vertical guidance angles, degrees: from −1° to +78° (firing line height 670 mm) or from +7° to +85° (firing line height 970 mm)
Horizontal guidance angles: ±30°
Weight in firing position, kg: 632
Weight of transport vehicle 2F54, kg: 3930
Weight of the entire system in stowed position (with ammunition and crew), kg: 6060
Transfer time from combat to traveling position and back, min.: 1.5
Transportable ammunition, min, pcs.: 226
Transportation speed by transport vehicle, km/h:
on the highway: up to 60
off-road: up to 20
Calculation, people: 4
Maximum technical rate of fire, rds/min: 170
Maximum practical rate of fire, rds/min: 100—120
Maximum continuous rate of fire, rds/min. (with continuous fire time, min.):
1 min: up to 60
3 min.: up to 33-34
30 min: up to 10
Types of mines: 82-mm fragmentation (O-832 (fuzes M-1, M-4, MP-82), O-832D (fuzes M-1, M-4, MP-82), O-832DU, cumulative, smoke (D-832 - fuses M-1, M-4, MP-82), lighting, propaganda / filled with leaflets (A-832 - fuse OM-82)
Weight of a typical fragmentation mine (O-832DU, shot 3VO1), kg: 3.1
Maximum weight of the mine used, kg: 4.6 (mine A-832)
Maximum initial mine speed, m/s: 272
Minimum mounted firing range of the O-832DU mine, m: 800
Maximum firing range of the O-832DU mine, m: 4270
Number of lethal fragments weighing more than 1 g when used fragmentation mines rupture, pcs.: 400—600
Radius of continuous damage, m (mine O-832DU): 6
Radius of actual damage, m (mine O-832DU): 18

Mobile 82-mm mortar based on the RM-500 6x4 all-terrain vehicle

At the First International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2015”, held in June 2015 in Kubinka near Moscow, the 82-mm 2B24 mortar mounted on the chassis of an RM-500 6x4 all-terrain vehicle was demonstrated to the general public. A new transportation method was proposed by the Russian military Central Research Institute "Burevestnik", part of the Uralvagonzavod corporation. Until this moment, the 82-mm 2B24 mortar was carried exclusively in disassembled form, with the distribution of individual parts of the mortar and ammunition among the five numbers of its crew. The general director of the enterprise, Georgy Zakamennykh, in an interview with RIA Novosti journalists, noted that installing a mortar on a new chassis can dramatically increase the mobility of a fire weapon by increasing the speed of movement over terrain up to 80 km/h, as well as reducing the time it takes to deploy a mortar at a firing position behind account for transporting the mortar already assembled. In addition, this modernization makes it possible to reduce the crew servicing the mortar to two people. Another advantage of the presented development based on an ATV chassis is that the transported ammunition increases more than 6 times - from 6 minutes to 40 minutes.

At one time, the 82-mm 2B24 mortar, part of the Russian self-propelled complex 2K32 “Deva” on the MT-LB chassis, was created to arm the mountain and air assault brigades of the Russian army, as well as naval and airborne marine units. Compared to its predecessor (the Tray mortar), the new mortar has a circular firing base plate, a 1.5 times greater firing range and the ability to use more powerful ammunition.

The 82-mm 2B24 mortar based on the chassis of the RM-500 6x4 all-terrain vehicle is designed to destroy manpower (including those wearing personal armor protection), fire weapons, as well as unarmored enemy vehicles located openly or located in uncovered field-type shelters, including those located on the reverse slopes of heights and deep gorges, in close proximity to the defense line. The mortar can also be used to create smoke and blind enemy fire weapons, place smoke screens on the battlefield and illuminate the area at night. Transportation of a mortar using an all-terrain vehicle ensures a quick response during local combat operations with the ability to quickly change the firing position and transfer the mortar crew or battery to a new location.

All-terrain vehicle RM-500 6x4

The RM-500 6x4 all-terrain vehicle is a model of the Russian Mechanics enterprise. The history of the enterprise is inextricably linked with the development of snowmobile manufacturing in our country. In 1971, on the basis of the Rybinsk Motor Manufacturing Association, production of the first domestic snowmobile, Buran, began. More than 40 years have passed, but the production of this legendary snowmobile continues. Today, Russian Mechanics is not only the production of snowmobiles, but also the production of a wide range of all-season motorized vehicles.

The presentation of the RM-500 all-terrain vehicle took place within the framework of the international salon “Integrated Safety 2011”. It is worth noting that this is the first all-terrain vehicle that was designed and produced in the Russian Federation. The all-terrain vehicle received the necessary certificate of conformity. The border service department of the FSB of Russia, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and other buyers were interested in the supply of the RM-500 all-terrain vehicle.

The RM-500 all-terrain vehicle combines the best qualities of tourist and utilitarian models. Its extended wheelbase provides the car with stability at high speeds, as well as safety when driving with a passenger. The presence of a 25-liter fuel tank and moderate fuel consumption provide the ATV with a power reserve of up to 200 km. Over time, on the basis of the first Russian all-terrain vehicle, a cargo version was created, designated RM-500 4x6. This version is distinguished by the presence of a spacious cargo platform with a volume of 500 liters. The cargo all-terrain vehicle allows you to transport up to 400 kg of various cargo. It was this vehicle that was chosen to transport the 82-mm 2B24 mortar. The civilian version of the six-wheeled ATV can be appreciated by rural residents, farmers, owners of suburban areas and summer cottages, as well as emergency and public service workers.

Technical characteristics of RM-500 4x6:

Dimensions: length - 3300 mm, width - 1245 mm, height - 1290 mm. Wheelbase - 2240 mm. Ground clearance - 290 mm. Dry weight - 528 kg. Load capacity - 590 kg. The power plant is a four-stroke single-cylinder engine with a volume of 503 cm3. Maximum engine power is 40.8 hp. Transmission: CVT. The front and building brakes are hydraulic. Suspension: independent 2-link with adjustable stiffness. The fuel tank capacity is 25 liters. Power reserve - 200 km. Fuel - AI-92.

82 mm mortar 2B24

You could get acquainted with the main purpose of the 2B24 mortar at the beginning of this article. Also, this mortar can be used to solve the following tactical tasks: - destruction of trenches, trenches, communication passages, as well as light wood-earth structures of the enemy; — making passages in wire fences; — fire support and escort of infantry units; — target designation and shooting using smoke and lighting mines; - smoke protection of command and observation posts, as well as enemy firing points, formation of a smoke screen for infantry leading an attack on the enemy’s defensive lines; - illumination of the enemy’s front line of defense and firing points, his command and observation posts.

To fire from the 82-mm 2B24 mortar, the Russian army uses the following range of ammunition: fragmentation mines 3-O-26, O-832 D, O-832 DU and Z-O-12. To solve individual fire and tactical tasks, special-purpose mines can be used: illumination mines S-832 C, smoke mines D-832DU and D-832 A and propaganda mines A-832 A. At the request of the customer, in order to increase the mobility and security of the mortar and its design can be installed on a variety of tracked and wheeled chassis.

Structurally, the 82-mm mortar 2B24 is a muzzle-loading smoothbore system, which consists of a barrel, a biped carriage, a base plate, a sighting device and a safety device against double loading. The barrel of the 2B24 mortar is designed to generate ballistic pressure in the mine volume and give the mine direction of movement and initial speed. To load a mortar, mines with charges corresponding to the task, crew numbers, are lowered with stabilizers into the barrel from its muzzle. In the breech of the mortar barrel there is a firing-safety mechanism, which ensures the piercing of the mine primer when it is loaded and the safe discharge of the mortar in the event of a misfire. A double-loading fuse installed on the muzzle of the mortar barrel eliminates the possibility of placing another mine in the barrel of a loaded mortar if the previous one is still in the barrel.

The biped carriage acts as a support for the mortar barrel in the combat position and ensures that it is given horizontal and vertical aiming angles at the target. The sighting device is used to accurately aim the mortar when firing at both visible and invisible targets. The base plate transmits the recoil force of the mortar to the ground at the moment of firing and ensures its stable position. Transportation of the mortar is carried out in standard packaging in any type of transport, or disassembled in special devices - packs - by a crew consisting of 5 people.

Thanks to the rate of fire, increased firing range compared to the 2B14-1, the use of a mine of increased power (3-O-26), and the ability to quickly disassemble into component parts, the new 82-mm mortar 2B24 allows units to achieve a high level of maneuverability in combat conditions, successfully and timely solving assigned combat missions in modern combat conditions.

Like the other domestic mortar 2S12A, the mortar 2B24 is equipped with a new joint for connecting the barrel to the base plate, which allows you to fire at targets in any direction, only by turning the barrel and rearranging the carriage supports. The permissible rate of fire of the mortar is up to 20 rounds per minute. At the same time, to ensure an acceptable temperature regime for the mortar barrel and to avoid its deformation, a radiator fin was located on the breech.

Originally a portable mortar, it can be disassembled into three main parts, which are placed in special packs for carrying. In this case, one of the crew members carries the barrel, another carries the base plate, the third carries a two-legged carriage, and the fourth crew carries a special backpack-pack for ammunition. Without making any significant changes, the 2B24 mortar can be converted from man-portable to self-propelled. To do this, using a special mounting kit, it can be installed in the troop compartment of an MT-LB armored tractor. This complex was named 2K32 “Virgin”. It is noteworthy that the 2F510-2 mounting kit used for this allows you to quite easily and quickly remove the mortar from a combat vehicle and use it in a portable version.

Main technical characteristics of the 82-mm 2B24 mortar:

The maximum firing range (using the 3-O-26 mine) is no less than 6000 m. The minimum firing range is 100 m. The maximum initial speed of the mine is 320 m/s. The vertical guidance angles of the mortar are 45-85 degrees. Horizontal guidance angles with rearrangement of the biped are 360 degrees, without rearrangement ±4 degrees. The maximum rate of fire (without aiming correction) is at least 20 rds/min. The time it takes to transfer a mortar from a combat position to a traveling position (and vice versa) is no more than 30 seconds. The mass of the mortar in firing position with a double-loading safety device and a sight is 45 kg. Mortar crew - 5 people.

Sources of information: https://www.burevestnik.com/products/2b24.html https://www.russnegohod.ru/rm500_6x4.html https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150715/1129913885.html https:// vpk.name/news/75728_novyie_otechestvennyie_minometyi.html

What is a mortar

In the classical sense, a mortar is a type of weapon that uses a jet stream formed when a propellant charge is ignited. The barrel of this weapon sets the direction and initial speed of the projectile, called a mine, which is a feathered ammunition. The fuse, usually a contact fuse, is located in its front part. The design of the mortar usually includes a removable base plate, bipod, guidance and aiming devices. Again, in the classical sense, loading is carried out immediately before the shot. The mine is fed from the muzzle of the barrel, the primer located at the rear of the projectile ignites the detonator, resulting in activation of the ejector charge.

However, the Guards Katyushas were also called mortars in the USSR. The Tulip 2S4 system, despite its clearly howitzer nature, also belongs to this class of weapons, although it is often called a self-propelled artillery mount.

In the USSR in 1970, the Cornflower mortar was adopted. The photo of this means of fire destruction of enemy personnel evokes rather associations with a cannon. However, the appearance and structure of the projectile clearly indicates that it is a mine. The ammunition does not have a casing, it is feathered. So what is this symbiosis of a gun and a mortar? And what is it for? What are its advantages?

History of creation

The history of the creation of the 2B9 “Cornflower” automatic mortar began in the 40s of the last century, shortly after the end of the war. In 1946, an automatic 82-mm mortar was developed, which used the recoil energy of the barrel to operate the automation. This technical solution could not be called innovative in artillery, but it was first used for mortars. The product received the name KAM and was put into service.

Initially, KAM was planned to be installed in casemates and other long-term fortifications. A few years later, a field version of the automatic 82-mm mortar was created, but for unknown reasons it was never accepted for service.

Only in 1967 they returned to this project again. It took three years to refine the weapon, and already in 1970 the new 82-mm mortar was put into service. It received its name in honor of one of the most beautiful wildflowers - cornflower.

Initially, the 2B9 "Vasilek" mortar had a water-cooled barrel, but after a few years the designers came to the conclusion that air cooling would be more convenient. The casing into which the barrel was placed and water was poured was removed, the walls of the barrel were made thicker and its surface was equipped with ribs that acted as a radiator.

The new modification of the “Vasilka” received the name 2B9M; it can be easily distinguished from its predecessor by its characteristic ribbed barrel. Subsequently, the modernization fully justified itself: the mortar became simpler, lighter, and better suited for desert conditions, where water is in great short supply. It was put into service in 1982 and put into mass production.

The classic mortar has one serious drawback: each shot moves it slightly, causing deformation of the ground under the base plate. Therefore, the mortar crew has to constantly retarget their weapons.

The 2B9 "Vasilek" mortar has partially solved this problem: the recoil energy from the shot is spent on reloading, in addition, it is damped by hydraulic shock absorbers located around the barrel. That is why this 82 mm mortar has high firing accuracy even when firing automatically.

"Cornflower" can be loaded both from the muzzle (in this case single shooting is carried out) and from the breech. At the same time, clips of four mines each are loaded into the mortar, and automatic fire is conducted. A special feature of the 2B9 “Vasilka” is that it can fire along a flat trajectory, with a minimum elevation angle (from −1° to 85°).

Performance characteristics of 2S1 Gvozdika

– Layout scheme: front-engine – Developer: KhTZ Plant No. 9 – Years of production: from 1969 to 1991 – Years of operation: since 1971 – Number of produced, pcs.: more than 10,000

– Crew, people: 4

Dimensions 2С1 Carnation

– Hull length, mm: 7260- Length with gun forward, mm: 7260- Width, mm: 2850- Height, mm: 2725- Base, mm: 4445- Track, mm: 2500- Ground clearance, mm: 400

Weight 2S1 Carnation

– Combat weight, t: 15.7

Reservation 2S1 Gvozdika

– Type of armor: rolled steel, bulletproof - Hull forehead, mm/deg.: 15 - Turret forehead, mm/deg.: 20

Armament 2S1 Gvozdika

– Caliber and brand of gun: 122 mm 2A31 – Gun type: rifled howitzer – Barrel length, calibers: 35.0 – Gun ammunition: 40 – VN angles, degrees: −3…+70° – GN angles, degrees: 360°

Firing range of 2S1 Gvozdika

– up to 15.2 km

– Sights: PG-2, OP5-37, TKN-3B

Engine 2S1 Gvozdika

– Engine type: YaMZ-238N- Engine power, l. pp.: 300

Speed 2S1 Gvozdika

– Highway speed, km/h: 60; Cross-country speed, km/h: 26–32, 4.5 afloat

– Cruising range on the highway, km: 500- Fuel tank capacity, l: 550- Specific power, l. s./t: 19.1 - Suspension type: individual torsion bar, with hydraulic shock absorbers - Specific ground pressure, kg/cm²: 0.492

– Overcome ascent, degree: 35°- Overcome wall, m: 0.7- Overcome ditch, m: 3.0- Overcome ford, m: floats.

What can “Cornflower”

The classic mortar suffers from a serious design flaw. The recoil energy causes a displacement of the entire system due to soil deformations and mechanical effects on the trunk. After each shot, the crew is forced to adjust the parameters and actually aim again. The design of the Cornflower mortar makes it possible to usefully use recoil energy to feed a new projectile into the barrel. Hydraulic shock absorbers located around the barrel serve to absorb its excess. As a result, the accuracy of hits remains high when firing in bursts. The clip contains four mines.

Characteristics

At present, information about how the Cornflower mortar works is no secret. Its characteristics have also lost the classification of secrecy due to the widespread distribution of this weapon throughout the world.

The guidance mechanisms are simplified as much as possible and are built on screw units. Manual rotation of the gate provides horizontal guidance within 60° and vertical guidance from -1° to 85° (with the jack fully raised). The maximum combat radius is 4.7 km. The barrel is smooth, the rotation of the mine is provided by six tail feathers, which have a slope relative to the longitudinal axis. The cassette is designed for four charges. Standard ammunition contains 226 min. The total weight of the equipped vehicle exceeds six tons. It moves on the highway at a speed of 60 km/h, on rough terrain - 20 km/h. The system is brought into combat position according to the standard in one and a half minutes.

Combat use

The first serious combat test for the 2B9 was the Afghan War. The peculiarities of operations carried out in mountain ranges revealed the full potential of the weapons we are considering. Its versatility and ability to hit hidden targets, combined with mobility, earned the respect that the Cornflower enjoyed among the troops. The mortar was often mounted on lightly armored MT-LB transporters, which made it possible to quickly leave positions after a couple of bursts without waiting for return fire. At the same time, some design flaws became clear. In particular, the mine cassette was not always placed in its normal place, and its delivery required a heavy blow with a hammer, which the loader always had at hand.

In general, the automatic mortar performed well. It was also used in many armed conflicts that arose on the territory of the former USSR, in particular in both Chechen wars.

Combat use

2B9M "Vasilyok" mortar mounted on the MT-LB multi-purpose armored personnel carrier. A crew of the 70th Guards Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is in a combat position.

Widely used during the combat operations of the Soviet Armed Forces in Afghanistan in 1979-1989. 2B9M mortars were used to equip the second mortar platoons (three mortar squads in each - a total of 3 mortars per platoon) of mortar companies (the first mortar platoons of mortar companies each had 6 mortars of the BM or "Tray" family), motorized rifle units and all parachute and air assault units battalions of the “Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops” in this country. The 2F54 transport vehicle and the MT-LB multi-purpose armored personnel carrier were used to transport the mortar. A feature of the use of the 2B9M mortar in the Afghan war should be considered the widespread independent installation of the mortar by military repair and restoration units and units directly on the MT-LB hull - which ran counter to the requirements of the manual for the use of the mortar, service instructions and was not provided for by the design of the MT-LB

But this solution sharply increased the tactical mobility of the mortar on a battlefield that was usually characterized by a heavily rugged landscape, and also somewhat reduced the time to prepare for opening fire (which is very important in conditions of sudden fire contact).

Essentially, the servicemen of the 40th Combined Arms Army in the DRA, on their own initiative, designed, launched virtually serial production and put into service a new class of self-propelled artillery units, distinguished by high mobility on the battlefield and a rate of fire that was absolutely exceptional by the standards of field artillery systems.

The Cornflower mortar was also used during the First and Second Chechen Wars - by both warring parties, and since 2014 it has been used in Ukraine during the War in Donbass.

Stalin's destruction is stronger than heavy fire

After the Winter War with the Finns, Joseph Stalin gave a formal reprimand to the Soviet military leaders. Combat operations against an enemy that was obviously inferior in strength cost the Soviet Union dearly. Large human losses, material resources spent disproportionate to the result, and, most importantly, a clear demonstration of the military weakness of a great country - all this could not but arouse the wrath of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. At a meeting in the Kremlin in the spring of 1940, Stalin harshly discussed both the tactics of the Soviet troops and their weapons. Among the main shortcomings, the “leader of the peoples” named the neglect of the combat advantages of mortars.

Indeed, there were few of them and they were used poorly. But 82-mm mortar shells, which are twice as heavy as a 76-mm shell from a regimental gun, were not inferior to it in terms of the destructive effect of fragments. The battalion mortar was several times lighter and much cheaper to produce. The fire performance of mortars is the highest for field artillery systems of the corresponding calibers, because due to the simplicity and convenience of manual loading and firing a mortar round, it has a high rate of fire.

The Soviet generals, after Stalin’s menacing reproaches, took the cake, and the defense industry began supplying mortars en masse to the Red Army. By June 1941, they did not have time to fully provide the troops with the necessary mortar weapons, but “trench artillery” played its role in the war: both in defensive battles and, from 1943, in offensive operations. Simple and reliable weapons were constantly modernized throughout the war years and delivered to the front in tens of thousands.

The crew of the 82-mm BM-37 mortar fires. 1941

Quote
“Why are there no mortars? This is not a new thing. During the era of the imperialist war in 1915, the Germans escaped from Western and Eastern troops - ours and French, mainly by mines. Few people - many mines. 24 years have passed, why do you still not have mortars? No answer, no hello...
...there is no modern war without mortars, mass mortars. All corps, all companies, battalions, regiments must have 6-inch and 8-inch mortars. This is terribly necessary for modern warfare. These are very effective mortars and very cheap artillery. A wonderful thing - a mortar. Do not spare the mines! Here's the slogan. Feel sorry for your people. If you spare bombs and shells, but do not spare people, there will be fewer people. If you want us to have a war with little bloodshed, do not spare mines.”
Joseph Stalin, Moscow, Kremlin, April 17, 1940. From a speech at a meeting of the commanding staff of the Red Army to collect experience in combat operations against Finland.

Modernized 120-mm mortar system 2S12A "Sani".