Howitzer - artillery gun, which is designed for hinged fire.The purpose may be clusters of enemy personnel, located behind the artificial or natural barriers.
must say that the mounted shooting can be used to destroy bunkers, tank obstacles, bunkers and other types of fortifications.Due to the high weight and power of this type of weapon is very effective, even in mountainous terrain.Normally, shooting howitzers conducted exclusively from the closed position, because their relocation takes considerable time.
today we will be described in the famous howitzer D-30, which entered service of the Soviet Army in the early 60-ies.
Background
known that the most widely used on the battlefield howitzer received during the First World War.The fact is that while widely practiced tactics of positional battle for which were characterized by well-equipped and fortified positions of the warring parties.
So, in the tsarist army were armed with howitzers caliber 152 mm (caliber for classic Soviet and Russian army, by the way).By the way speaking, these weapons subsequently used for the defense of Moscow in 1941!
in the Soviet Army howitzers were many.Gauges were also different.What is particularly interesting.Large-caliber guns were used only selective parts Guards.So, howitzer B-4, the caliber of which was just 203 mm, were part of the special howitzer artillery regiments.They reported directly to the chief command.Their task was a quantitative and qualitative strengthening of artillery units in all major offensive and defensive lines.
corps artillery was content to stand on its armed howitzers caliber 152 mm.Division also relied guns caliber 122 mm.The fact that such weapons have been much easier, but because there has been an impressive mobility.In many ways, it has provided the popularity of the same D-30.Howitzer, and range that exceed a dozen kilometers, could be served by a relatively small calculation, and for its transportation did not require any special equipment.
World War II
At this difficult time, the main divisional howitzer, which was in service with the Red Army, was the famous M-30.Its designer was the famous engineer FF Petrov.These weapons are widely used in almost all active fronts of the era.Altogether during the war managed to produce more than 17,500 of these guns, the caliber of which is 122 mm.Why, then, it was not used by the caliber of 152 mm?Howitzer D-30, like its predecessor, the most developed mobile and easy.This imposes severe limitations on the weight of ammunition.
M-30 was so successful from a technical point of view, it remained in service with the Soviet troops until the 60-ies of the last century.In general, to replace it, and we are discussing was designed howitzer D-30.
It was created in the design bureau of the plant number 9, and led the development of already known Fyodor Petrov.The peculiarity of this weapon consists in the fact that it was taken into service in the midst of "missile boom" when the efforts of Khrushchev at the standard cannon artillery general was almost put bold cross.In general, the fact that howitzer D-30 was adopted by it at the time, it proves the highest specifications.
Table
| name characteristics | Significance |
| muzzle velocity | 740 mm / second |
| maximum anglelifting the barrel (elevation) | 70 degrees |
| rotation angle in the horizontal plane | 360 |
| combat weight | 3,2 tons |
| The maximum rate | At least eight rounds per minute |
| maximum range of defeats the purpose | 16 kilometers |
| weight standard (high-explosive) missile | 21 kilograms |
What else could use gunfire howitzer D-30?Shells and armor-piercing incendiary type.Above are the main technical characteristics of the instruments.As you can see, howitzer D-30 to its times was quite perfect device.
design
particularly interesting carriage having a rather curious and original design.The fact that the majority of weapons in this class, there are two bed, while the 122 mm howitzer D-30 has just three.In the unfolded state, they form an excellent platform on which a tool can easily be rotated by the only three to four people and the goals to fire at 360 degrees.Of course, such an advanced design of the mast and the predetermined way to transport guns.Unlike all the others, the 122 mm howitzer D-30 towed the barrel forward.Especially for pulling directly on the trunk of the fixing device are provided.This is the pivot beams.
Moving
It beams a tool engages the tractor hitch for their subsequent transport.Incidentally, as the thrust can be used as a wheel or tracked vehicles.The operating instructions state that on good roads weapon can be transported at a speed of 80 km / h, which is one of the hallmarks of the D-30.Howitzer, which has repeatedly found the photo in the article is in the deployed position by raising the wheel above the ground level.
To combat this calculation is required to separate the two guides of the frame at an angle of 120 degrees.It should be noted that at this point a weapon must be raised by the use of a special jack.Then, a third frame and is put aside, and the howitzer is gently lowered to the ground.
To ensure immobility guns not too stable surface, use special coulters of hardened steel, which are hammered into the ground through the eyelet in the base.Note that the term transfer from traveling to combat and vice versa is only two or three minutes.
shutter mechanism and barrel
What a gate equipped with D-30?Howitzer, a photo which you can see above, the gate has a standard semi-automatic type (v).Barrel rifled just done 36 rifling.To raise or lower it, use flywheels lifting and rotating mechanism.To protect
calculation from bullets and shrapnel gun mounted on a special panel devices.In addition, the shield is a barrier powerful muzzle that appears when the product shot, and can also cause serious injury calculation, which serves a weapon.In 1978, the howitzer was subjected to modernization, in which the design of the shield device and the carriage was somewhat simplified and improved.
Then the plan was rejected by the translation tools in the caliber of 152 mm.Howitzer D-30 has retained its basic characteristics.
About device chock mechanism
often hears the question of what a strange build-up directly on the trunk howitzers before guard.This recoil device, which greatly facilitates the operation of the gun battle, whose weight is 3.2 tons.It is covered with a protective cover, structurally it consists of two metal cylinders.The first of them - a hydraulic brake that slows down the time of the rollback, the second - a hydropneumatic recuperator.
As you can see from the title of this mechanism, immediately after the shot, it returns the barrel to the starting position.This arrangement not only provides resistance during firing guns, but also greatly extends the life of the entire mast to which a result have a much smaller mechanical stress.
normal movement in the recuperator - from 46 to 48 atmospheres.To make it clearer, we can give an example of a conventional car tires, in which a similar figure - just two of the atmosphere.As regards hydraulics, the working fluid as it is used STIOL-M.Note that this is an extremely toxic substance that requires accuracy in the service mechanism.
Muzzle Brake
If you look at any photo in the article, it will immediately notice the element, which is equipped with a gun.Howitzer D-30 has a slit-shaped muzzle brake.It is possible to reduce the impact force of about twice.Muzzle brake - removable, if necessary, its dismantling is performed by the calculation of a relatively short time.By the way speaking, in the territory of the fortress mounted howitzers without these devices.Of these, 12 pm daily produced a blank shot.
Shooting characteristics shots
shooting itself is carried out or by clicking directly on the lever of the trigger mechanism, or by a cable, for which the device is engaged.
The ammunition includes shots of separate loading.Before making volley into the trunk shall be sent to the shell.After it is sent to the same propellant charge in a separate sleeve.Varying the powder weighed, you can flexibly change the required firing range.As we have noted, the main projectile ammunition in a high-explosive shot.
To most effectively act against concentrations of enemy personnel, it is set for fragmentation action.Make it simple: to fuse, which is located at the very end of the projectile, twisted the cap.If you do not, then the projectile before the explosion a little deeper into the ground.This is especially useful in cases where you want to destroy the fortified enemy targets or destroy the entrenched infantry on the ground.
In addition, there are flares, smoke, propaganda and other types of shots.As for the campaign of shells, in their warhead it is not explosive, and a pack of leaflets.Such an explosion occurs in the air, and a rain of leaflets falls on the enemy positions.
sights
If you want to hit the enemy armored vehicles, used cumulative projectiles.Of course, in this case, it is required to fire point-blank range.To do this as efficiently as possible, the designers have provided a special opportunity to mount an optical sight.On target two meters shooting is possible at a distance of 860 meters.Power 122-mm shell in this case, enough to defeat a confident almost all modern MBT (main battle tanks).
for firing from concealed positions with panoramic sight type.I must say that in the artillery shooting prowess this is the most difficult, since it requires training calculation.It should be noted that the firing in this case is appropriate only after a preliminary reference to the topographical landmark.
the highest degree of skill recognizes shooting conditions in the mountainous terrain, where performance is often required binding orientation of the sun.It is important to note that when shooting from the closed position is extremely important and timely work right intelligence services, which have been responsible, including the visual tracking efficiency volleys.In this case, the firing range howitzer D-30 served as a scout in good stead, as they can operate covertly, without revealing their location to the enemy.
Airborne Troops
especially for paratroopers developed a method of dropping by parachute howitzers.It should be noted that this gun does not have to deal with - the packaging is simple, can be done by the platoon in a few minutes.
should know that howitzer D-30 performance characteristics which have been considered by us in the article has been used to create a self-propelled SAU "Carnation".Cannon got slightly modified, non-removable muzzle brake.Until now, an old howitzer is in the armies of more than 50 countries.It has been used in almost all major military conflicts in recent years.It marks this instrument in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and so on. D.
