Soviet experienced self-propelled artillery installation 2A3 "Condenser"

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The most powerful self-propelled gun 2A3 "Condenser" began to be created in 1954. The weapon was intended to eliminate large military and industrial targets located on enemy territory. The work of the complex was calculated on the use of conventional and nuclear charges. The undercarriage of the gun with eight recoils was based on the T-10 M tank. The power plant was also borrowed from this technique, practically unchanged, with minimal modifications.

Design & Development

Guidance and charging devices, as well as swinging mechanisms of the ACS 2A3 "Condenser" was designed under the guidance of designer I. Ivanov. After testing, the system was assigned a working index CM-54. The aiming of the gun horizontally was carried out by turning the entire self-propelled unit, the accuracy of the sight was ensured by using a special electric motor through a rotary mechanism. Elevation was corrected using hydraulic lifting devices. At the same time, the mass of the projectile was 570 kg, and the range of the projectile was 25.6 km.

Interesting facts

Given that at that timethere was no suitable chassis for transporting such super-heavy weapons in the USSR, the designers designed and created an eight-roller chassis based on the T-10M heavy tank, using improved components and parts (object No. 271). The developers paid the main attention to the possibility of compensating for significant recoil when fired. The resulting chassis was equipped with lowering sloths and hydraulic shock absorbers. At the same time, they were focused on maximizing recoil leveling. The engine-power unit for the equipment in question was borrowed from the T-10, literally making only a couple of improvements to it.

Tests

In 1955, at the plant number 221, work on the creation of a combat vehicle 2A3 "Condenser" (406 mm) was officially completed. The experimental barrel of the ballistic type SM-E124 was tested for the endurance of the used charges. The artillery part of the gun was fully equipped at the end of the summer of the same year. Installation of the structure on a chassis from Kirov manufacturers was carried out until the end of December 1956.

Full-scale tests of the 2A3 self-propelled gun were carried out from 1957 to 1959. Testing was carried out at the Central military training ground, not far from Leningrad ("Rzhevsky training ground"). The exercises were carried out in conjunction with the testing of the Oka self-propelled mortar (420 mm). Many experts were not sure that the new gun would be able to survive a shot of such power without consequences. However, the Capacitor was relatively well tested in terms of run and shots.

Onthe initial stage of the ACS had numerous problems associated with a variety of breakdowns. For example, during a salvo from the SM-54 cannon, based on self-propelled guns, the equipment rolled back a few meters, despite the fact that it was “shod” in caterpillars. The first firings with the launch of charges with imitation of nuclear weapons led to the deformation of the sloths, who could not withstand the significant recoil of the gun. In addition, there were cases of failure of the installation equipment, accompanied by a break in the fasteners of the transmission box.

Features

After the activation of each shot from the 2A3 "Condenser" system, the designers carefully examined the material part, identifying the most weakened elements and nodes. They then developed solutions to address existing problems. As a result, the technique in question has undergone many improvements that increase the reliability and practicality of the tool. In addition to low combat capability, the self-propelled guns showed low rates of maneuverability and maneuverability. All attempts to level the disadvantages of technology did not give much result.

So it was not possible to fully compensate for the recoil of the gun, in which it rolled back a few meters. In terms of angular deviation, horizontal guidance was also not impressive. It is worth noting that the mass of more than 60 tons and the length of the gun 20 meters did not contribute to the operational preparation of the self-propelled unit in a combat position with the maximum required result. The given accuracy of firing required not only accurate aiming, but alsoextremely accurate preparation of used artillery positions. It was possible to charge the gun only in a horizontal position, using special devices.

Soviet experimental self-propelled artillery mount

In general, 4 samples of modification 2A3 "Condenser" were made. All copies were presented in 1957 during the parade procession on Red Square. Although the complex had a number of shortcomings, as well as skepticism regarding their use from a number of military journalists and specialists, the installation could well be used in a combat situation.

Due to the low parameters of maneuverability and mobility, as well as the not very high firing range, compared to the Luna kit, the new equipment was never put into service.

Analogue

The 2A3 “Condenser” armament during the demonstration did not make such a splash as its competitor, the self-propelled mortar of the “Oka 21B” (“Transformer”) type. This monster even managed to be noted on the pages of international magazines.

Work on the creation of such a super-killing mortar was carried out in parallel with the development of the "Compensator". B. Shavyrin became the main designer for the manufacture of the weapons in question. The development of a heavy-duty mortar crew began to be designed back in 1955, it was carried out by the most famous Soviet defense enterprises. For artillery equipment, for example, the Kolomna military bureau was responsible, and in terms of tracked self-propelledchassis - Kirov special plant in Leningrad. A powerful and lethal barrel was developed at the Barrikady plant. The length of the gun was almost 20 meters. The first "Transformer" was ready in 1957, work on its improvement continued until 1960, after which they were stopped (by decision of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union). In some cases, according to certain sources, this development was carried out as a disinformation about the true goals against a potential geopolitical adversary.

2A3 gun: design description

The main weapon on the complex under consideration is a smooth-bore mortar with a caliber of 420 millimeters and a length of 47.5 caliber units. Mines are loaded by inserting ammunition into the barrel using a crane, which significantly complicates the efficiency and mobility of the event.

The rate of fire of this mortar is one shot within five minutes. At the same time, the complex under consideration could be aggregated with one nuclear charge, which made it possible to make one tactical strike against any type of target. Destruction range - 47 km.

In vertical guidance, the angle of the sight is from 50 to 75 degrees, and in the vertical direction, the barrel can be moved by the hydraulic system in two stages: general setup of the installation and precise aiming at the target using an electric drive.

Result

In general, at the Kirov Combine in Leningrad there were4 self-propelled Oka mortars were assembled. They were presented at military parades, where many foreign experts and journalists said that the weapon being presented was more of an intimidating prototype than a real-life fire launch system.