One of the symbols of local conflicts, blaze after the collapse of the Soviet Union in many areas that were formerly part of it, was the installation of "Grad".Photos of the missile and artillery systems, published in the pages of newspapers and on Internet publications, often give proof of Russia's military presence, or are for illustrative paintings of fierce fighting.In any case, if the BM 21 is used, good enough.The effectiveness of this weapon is very high.
«Katyusha» and development NWD
In our country, the installation salvo appeared earlier than in the rest of the world.Jet Research Institute has patented a multilateral system of the launcher, shoot missiles, in 1938.Since then, work on improving the MRL were almost continuously in the USSR, received a special development in the Great Patriotic War."Katyusha" - the legendary Guards mortars - were fighting compounds regimental echelon, but their strike power can be compared with the divisions.Salvo principle, in contrast to the single-firing missiles, caught in the armed forces for a very simple reason.Since the late thirties to mid-fifties rockets were largely unmanageable, moved by the usual ballistic trajectory and accuracy hitting inferior artillery weapons.Fuel burns evenly enough, there were fluctuations in the impulse that leads to a larger dispersion.Offset this deficiency could only massive use, which resulted in the area amazed with all that they were at that moment.The Second World War was characterized by the collision of large amounts of manpower and equipment.Based on the experience gained from 1939 to 1945, it formulated the concept of multiple rocket launchers produced in the subsequent period in the Soviet Union.A vivid expression of it was the BM (fighting vehicle), having malovyrazitelnoe code "21", it is set to "Grad".The radius of destruction has become much larger than the "Katyusha", firepower has multiplied.
previous system
In the late thirties to the idea of rockets salvo attacks, and in general to rocketry, the Soviet military leadership treated with some suspicion.Impacted regular army conservatism combined with confidence in proven kinds of weapons.Nevertheless, many enthusiasts of a new type of ammunition was able to break the resistance, and soon after the German attack divisions "Katyusha" took to firing positions, making the ranks of the aggressors confusion and panic.Successful application of NWB in the fighting in Europe and then in Asia (against the Kwantung grouping of Japanese troops) finally strengthened the Stalinist leadership in thinking about the advisability of further development of this field of military equipment.In the first half of the 50s have been developed and introduced new models.BM-14 had a caliber of 140 mm and a PC could hit the area targets a ten distances.BM-24 shot even further, by 16 800 meters. It seemed that anything more perfect to create a hard, especially considering that the artillery general branch rather conservative with a technical background, is not dependent on scientific progress, such as aviation or navy.The guns and howitzers are used for decades without undergoing structural changes, and it does not surprise anyone.However, according to the great designer AN Gonicheva, you could still do a lot.In May 1960 it was he who received important government job.TTX installation "Grad", the creation of which he was assigned, were to significantly exceed the parameters of the BM-14 and BM-24, were already in service.
Tasks and allied
Nothing revolutionary new design at first did not plan to use.General principles already generally formed.It was assumed that the shell is solid fuel, it is dictated by the massive use of the troops and the special conditions of storage in warehouses and on the front line in the event of a military conflict.Accuracy install "Grad" could increase by applying the tubular rails more tightly specified by the vector of motion during start-up and initial flight.The torque imparted by a projectile of the same to reduce the dispersion, there is not only due to the stabilizers positioned at an angle to the line of flight, but also due to the special grooves, rails, cut inside the barrel, just as it is implemented in artillery guns.With other factors are affecting the parameters of the shooting, and should fight, not only by the head of the design organization, but also subcontractors.PU created SKB-203 for fuel cells meet the SRI number 6 and warheads been developing GSKB-47.The name "mailbox", and now few people about something said, and then, in 1960, and even more so.The secrecy created all armaments, including the installation of "Grad".Photos prototypes were stored in special folders to strict vultures.All personnel involved in the creation of the new NWB, gave the corresponding subscription nondisclosure.Over the years, none of the employees of defense enterprises could not travel abroad, even in socialist countries.
Tests
At the end of 1961 was ready for testing the first pre-installation of volley fire "Grad", then another.Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Soviet Army in the spring of cooked landfill area (Leningrad region) for the planned launches 650 missiles and running further tests on the route length of 10,000 kilometers.It is not known whether the fault was a rush, but the full path of the chassis broke down, she was able to pass only 3300 km, after which the broken frame.The chassis had to be replaced, but as it turned out, the problem was not random, but were systemic.Under the influence of dynamic loads caved two bridges and faulty driveshaft.However, these troubles do not prevent public acceptance.The test conditions were laid excess running distance.Settings "Castle" since 1964 began arriving in the military units.
mechanism aiming
course, central to this system salvo figures were confirmed by test firing, rather than driving performance.From Moscow to Vladivostok, the NWD under its own power to drive no one was going to deliver, there are other means, and trouble-free running more than three thousand kilometers spoke eloquently about what the chassis, in general, are made not so bad, though, and needin some strengthening.The main unit of the machine is the warhead consisting of forty (10 in number), the guide tubes and a length of 3 meters and an internal diameter of 122.4 mm.Firing range installations "Grad" depends on the inclination of the unit stems from the horizontal plane, the angle which is defined by a lifting device.Located in the center of the knot at the base and its principle is a mechanical gearbox, which includes two kinematic pairs: gear shaft and gear to set the direction, and the gear with which creates the desired elevation.Set in motion a mechanism aiming to electrically or manually.
production innovations
TTX installation "Grad" is directly related to the characteristics of the missiles, which it shoots.
as the main ammunition for the BM-21 was planned high-explosive missile 9M22.Its production was entrusted to the plant number 176, which in 1964 was to produce 10 thousand pieces.On the job, however, the company is not right, any unexpected difficulties and unforeseen difficulties.During the first quarter the plant had to release 650 missiles and 350 warheads for them.Justify the violation of the schedule could serve as an innovation that requires time to implement, but improving technology in the future.At the insistence of General Designer Alexander Ganicheva was introduced a method of manufacturing buildings by template drawing of sheet steel, similar to that used in the production of artillery shells.Earlier, a rocket cut into radial machined from solid billets, leading to high costs of metal and unnecessary labor costs.Another innovative approach was used in the method of fixing folding stabilizers projectile that shoots install "Grad".The radius of destruction 9M22 more than 20 km.Limiting the distance are not optimum in terms of accuracy.The expansion of the extreme points of the maximum.Actually, the minimum firing range installations "Grad", set in 5 km, is conditional, fire is possible and within a radius of fifteen kilometers, but with a greater risk please do not where you want, that the enormous destructive power of weapons can cause very unpleasant consequences.
«extraction" technology is justified.The missile body has indeed become easier.It reduces the cost of production, but that was the main achievement.Significantly increased firing range installations "Grad".At the same mass of the projectile-horizon she could hit the target.
The launch in the history of local conflicts have been episodes when the shells intended for the BM-21, launched from sheets of slate set on bricks to give the desired angle.In these cases, of course, hit accuracy was low.Utility funds can not be replaced install "Grad".Photos of Middle Eastern terrorists trying to harm the other party using improvised devices intended mainly for the provision of psychological pressure.
9M22 missile weighs 66 kg with a length of 2870 mm.Fighting compartment has a weight of 18.4 kg and contains 6.4 kg of TNT.The launch takes place at the electric pulse ignition fuse.The solid fuel consists of two sticks of the total mass of 20.4 kg.Undermining the head of the fuse provides MRI (MRI-U), which becomes cocked automatically after departure missiles at 200-400 meters.The trunk of the projectile leaves, having a speed of 50 m / c, and then accelerated to 700 m / s.Firing range installations "Grad" can be artificially limited by a brake ring (large or small).In 1963, experts NII-147 created a fragmentation projectile chemical variant, designated "Lake" (9M23), which has the same performance characteristics as the 9M22.
Neutral 9M22 and "Lake»
Tests have shown how powerful a weapon is the installation of "Grad".Area covered by the full salvo of 1,050 square meters.m impact on manpower, and 840 square meters.m for armored vehicles.
further development of the hardware of the projectile fuze touched."Lake" can be equipped by them in two versions (mechanical and radar).Any high explosive ordnance becomes much more effective if it is carried out blasting at optimum height, including a projectile that shoots install "Grad".Area splinter and toxic substances in the initiation of 30 meters from the surface increases dramatically, however, the use of radar fuze reduces maximum range 1,600 meters.
Different types of ammunition for "Castle»
During the period production of MB-21 were working constantly to improve existing and create new ammunition (special).They can be charged any placement "Grad".Shells 3M16 have submunitions, 9M42 illuminate and a half minutes of the area within a radius of 500 m from day brightness 9M28K scatters anti-personnel mines (3 each) self-destruct within 16-24 hours.PC 9M519 create sustainable local interference.
BM-21 mainly uses simple unguided munitions, but there are special types of ammunition, such as 9M217 provided with a device samopritselivaniya and shaped charge against tanks.
created and smoke-layers and increased ammunition capacity, and many other unpleasant surprises for the enemy that can be charged install "Grad".The radius of destruction is becoming more lethal force increases, the accuracy is improved.
Upgraded BM-21
so perfect and safe system used by the armies of dozens of countries and has received universal recognition for ease of maintenance and reliability, despite the impressive age, it can be used for a long time.From time to time, its performance improved due to recent technological advances, mainly informational.
in 1998 near Orenburg demonstrated held deep modernization of the installation "Grad".Photos and videos of the machine, this time not hidden from the public and published by all the leading news information channels.Unlike the basic model is the presence of fire control station, called "Skit-B2", created on the basis of high-speed computer "Baget-41."The complex also includes a fire control Meteosystems, navigation determinant newest equipment of coded communication, working in the automatic mode of data exchange.Sighting range setup "Grad" has doubled (to 40 km).Improved performance and ballistic missiles, with new stabilizers, a more perfect alignment.In the process of development are the new fuel mixture.
during the operation revealed new ways of upgrading to significantly reduce the time charging and other performance characteristics of "Grad".In recent decades, there were composite materials, the use of which can increase the degree of stealth technology to radar and to facilitate construction.Most likely, in the near future, the installation of volley fire "Grad" instead of the tubular shafts receive a disposable polymer monoblock that would reduce recharge time to 5 minutes.
Upgraded SLM, along with the latest systems "Prima" in the near future will have Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.There are mounting options not only in the automotive platform, but also on some ships.Salvo setting "Grad" can also be used as an element in the protection of coastal bases.
