Firing range of 120 mm mortar. mortar firing range

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

At the dawn of the 20th century, it was time for change in the organization of military operations. While the belligerents dug in, dug multi-way trenches and fenced off with barbed wire, all the power from the use of firearms, from rifles to machine guns, and the powerful fire of guns could not do much damage to the fighters.

The barbed wire is demolished by artillery fire brought up by the enemy army. Fortifications are also being destroyed, but the infantry units of the enemy took cover behind deep trenches and for the most part did not suffer losses. What to do?The appearance of mortars on the battlefields has dramatically changed the balance of power. Also, the maximum firing range of the mortar was a decisive factor for changing tactics not only on the battlefield, but also in urban combat conditions.

The first Russian mortar

Historically, the first mention of the use of weapons for throwing shells on the principle of a mortar is mentioned during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 - 1905.

In the warehouses of Port Arthur there weremany sea pole mines. They were an iron projectile of a conical shape on a long 15-meter pole. The execution of the idea of firing such "shells" was entrusted to Captain L. N. Gobyato. For this, it was decided to use a 47 mm single-barreled Gochinks cannon, which for this was installed on a primitive carriage, which helped to increase the elevation angle from 45 ° to 65 °. Before firing, a pole with a mine was placed in the barrel (the pole was shortened) and a wad, which simultaneously served as a buffer when fired. A cartridge case with a charge was placed behind.

To stabilize the mine in flight, it was equipped with a four-leaf stabilizer. The firing range of the mortar was from 40 to 400 meters, and the mine produced significant damage during the explosion. And this is not at all surprising, since the ship mine and the warhead weighed 6.2 kg!

Mortar from World War II

In August 1941, the Defense Committee of the Soviet Union decided to increase the production of 120 mm mortars. It was a smooth-bore rigid system with an imaginary triangle scheme. The mortar was loaded from the side of the muzzle.

The firing range of the 120 mm mortar was at different firing angles from 460 m to 5700 m (firing angles from 45° to 80°).

Among other things, the mortars were equipped with twin shock absorbers and a swinging sight, which improved combat performance.

1955 mortars

The experience of combat use of the 120-mm gun of the 1943 model was taken into account when creating the regimental mortar in 1955. The development of mortars of this modification was carried out under the control of B. I. Shavyrin. With the same mass, the firing range of the 120 mm mortar was increased and amounted to 7.1 km.

Firing accuracy was:

• average lateral deviation 12.8m;
• average slope in range 28.4 m.

In combat position, the mortar could be deployed in 1.5 minutes.

Self-propelled mortar "Tunja"

The development of this self-propelled unit began in 1965. The MT-LB special gun tractor is used as a chassis. Mortar M-120 (2B11) was placed in the body of the machine. The deployment of the mortar in martial law was arranged in such a way that the base plate rested on the ground, while the barrel protruded beyond the dimensions of the vehicle.

16kg ammo, 120mm mine type:

• 0-843A;
• 3-843A;
• 0-843 and others

Mortar firing range 120 mm, m:

480-7100

Aiming angles:

• vertical 45°-80°;
• horizontal ± 5 ^26).

Rate of fire in combat conditions, rds/min:

until 10

Ammunition, min:

60

Sani mortar complex

In 1979, the 120 mm "Sani" complex was put into service. Includes:

• mortar 2Ф510;
• pneumowheel drive 2L81(detachable);
• transportcar 2F510 (base GAZ-66-05).

Precise firing range of 120mm mortar:

from 480 to 7100 m

Rate of fire:

15 rounds per minute

The mortar is equipped with sights:

• sight MPM-44M;
• gun collimator K2-1;
• lighting device LUCH-P2M.

Exact firing range of a mortar controlled by the KM-8 arsenal:

9, 0 kilometers

Installation "Nona-S"

The current trend in the development of mortar armaments is to merge 120 mm mortars and cannon breech-loading artillery howitzers. Self-propelled guns called 2S9 "NONA-S", put into service in 1976, has the ability to fire both rifled shells and mines with plumage, which affects the increased firing range of the 120 mm gun.

The capabilities of "NONA-S" are significantly expanded and allow it to be used not only to suppress the numerical strength of the enemy, but also to destroy defensive structures, to conduct a successful fight against tanks.

For use in mountain conditions, "NONA-S" is especially indispensable, since the barrel raised to the zenith solves the tasks of suppressing manpower, which are inaccessible to howitzers or guns.

An important feature is the extremely short firing range of the 120 mm mortar:

• for projectile - 1700 m;
• for mines – 400 m.

Therefore, the ammunition load includes 120mm mines:

• high explosive;
• lighting;
• smoke;
• incendiary.

Practical firing range reaches 7.1 km.

The rate of fire of the mode (7-8 shots) per minute is provided by an automatic breaker. After firing, the gun barrel is blown under pressure with compressed air to remove powder gases.

Vienna

In 1995, the self-propelled gun 2S31 "Vienna" was created, in which the firing range of a 120 mm mortar reaches up to 14,000 meters. The installation ammunition contains:

• high-explosive fragmentation projectile OF-49 and OF-54;
• active rockets OF50;
• HEAT rounds;
• all types of mortar ammunition of 120 mm caliber can be used, except for domestic ones, as well as foreign ones;
• Kitolov-2M guided missiles.

The pointing angle in the vertical plane is from -4° to +80°. Restoration of aiming is automatic after each shot.

The ammunition load of the gun is 70 rounds in the ammo racks, and besides, it is possible to supply ammunition from the ground through a special hatch on the starboard side with an armored cover. The firing range of modern mortars is constantly increasing and the use of such SAO type " Vienna" is becoming especially relevant.

Hosta

A thoroughly upgraded 120 mm howitzer with a firing range of up to 13 km, Khosta received a newtower of circular rotation. And also nodes and innovations from 2S31 "Vienna", 2S23 "NONA" SVK were installed. At the same time, the chassis is also a modernized BSh MT-DB.

The main difference is the improved 2A80-1 gun, which was equipped with a muzzle brake. This made it possible to increase the rate of fire by 2 times and fire absolutely all types of shells of 120 mm caliber:

• high-explosive fragmentation;
• mine;
• modern shells 3FOF112 Kitolov-2.

In the new 2S34 Khosta mortar system, firing can be carried out without preparing positions not only with direct fire, but is also capable of hitting targets on reverse slopes of heights.

Her targeted rate of fire has been increased from 4 to 9 rounds per minute.

Towed Mortar

Along with the Sani-type self-propelled guns, the Russian army also received towed ones:

• 2B16"Nona - K";
• 2B23"Nona M1".

At the same time, they have not lost their fighting qualities, like the CAO.

Such a need arose to supply airborne assault brigades with their own artillery. When developing "Nona K" mortar guns 2B16. the experience of combat operations in Afghanistan was taken into account. This type of mortar was put into service in 1986.

Already in 2007, the Russian army adopted the 120 mm 2B23 NONA-M1. The gun was accepted for destruction as personnelenemy and lightly armored vehicles.

Also, mortar batteries of the ground forces were equipped with the 2B23 mortar. For use in the Airborne Forces, there was the possibility of landing from an aircraft on specially equipped platforms. The ammunition of this mortar includes all types of 120 mm min.

These mortars have been combat tested in many local conflicts.

Modern weapons with a 120 mm mortar firing range of 400 to 7000 meters cannot always rely on the timely delivery of ammunition. Therefore, the trend of using such guns during hostilities involves the use of 120 mm mortar charges from the armies of other countries. The use of such a formula makes it possible to carry out fire support of one's own forces on enemy territory.