The "Tulip" system. 2С4 "Tulip" (240 mm) - self-propelled mortar installation

During full-scale combat operations and front-line operations, various missile and artillery weapons are used to deliver powerful fire strikes against the enemy. Particularly important is the possibility of causing maximum damage in the event of an attack on well-trained, echeloned defense lines. Shooting from the guns intended to destroy the ground above the plane, with the trajectory of the projectile, as a rule, is ineffective. Hidden beneath the ground fortifications are reliably protected to destroy them, a precise upper impact is required. Sometimes it turns out to be useless, despite the large area of damage and the thermal factor, even the system of volley fire.

"Tulip"

Photo of this self-propelled mortar flew on the websites and pages of printed publications in connection with the tragic events in the East of Ukraine. Minister of Defense Valery Gelethey, visiting Poland, said there that this "newest" weapon was placed at the disposal of the militia because of the eastern border for testing in conditions of real battles. It should be noted right away that this self-propelled mortar is by no means the last word of Russian military technological achievements, it was withdrawn from production for a quarter of a century ago. Where did the "Tulip" system come from armed formations? The military assistance of the "northern neighbor" has nothing to do with it. According to the headquarters of the People's Democratic Republic, both (and only two) installations were captured during the hostilities, the APU, one under the Great Krynka, the other in the Iloiskaya boiler. But the confusion intensified when we mentioned the mysterious chemical and even nuclear munitions that this self-propelled mortar could allegedly shoot. The further development of events did not confirm the worst fears of the Ukrainian headquarters of the ATU. However, there remains the question of whether there were reasons to assume the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction by militiamen , and what does the "Tulip" system have to do with it? Is she really so terrible? What are its parameters? For what purposes was it created and when? What kind of destruction can it actually produce, in other words, what are its tactical and technical data? In connection with the frequent mention in the press of this type of weapons, it is necessary to remove the veil of mystery behind which the artillery system "Tulip" is hidden.

Party line fluctuations

The history of the post-war development of Soviet artillery self-propelled systems is full of drama, and therefore very interesting. After an impressive breakthrough of Soviet missile technology, the creation of intercontinental ballistic carriers and the launch of the first Earth satellite, the leadership of the country, represented by the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, N.S. Khrushchev came to the conclusion that guns firing shells - the personification of yesterday, the "Stone Age." The environment of the party leader tried to protest, but, given his steep temper, did it rather timidly, which led to the almost complete destruction of the Soviet artillery shield without the participation of enemy armies. "Under the knife" hit all the large-caliber guns, and even the battleships on which they were installed. But there were developments ... For example, even during the war B. Shavyrin Design Bureau was designed by the M-240, a 240-mm mortar, which in 1951 went into the series. He could fire at a distance of up to 8 kilometers, but with a special charge and up to 9.7 kilometers. Mina (projectile with feathers) weighed 130 kg, it was fed into the trunk from the breech part, like a cannon. His imaginary irrelevance led to the closure of production in 1958.

After the removal of the post of the General Secretary, the new leadership returned to the idea of creating large-caliber military artillery. The legacy that has survived in the form of war years is depressing. In the conditions of the modern war, the Su-100 and Su-152 could demonstrate only complete uselessness and inevitability of moral obsolescence.

Meanwhile, the US Army in Vietnam used the M-109, a field howitzer, causing serious damage to the troops of the Viet Cong. The shot cost the US treasury cheaper than an air raid or a missile salvo, and the result was not inferior.

Design Bureau, dealing with artillery, was urgently given the task at the level of the resolution of the Central Committee and the Council of Ministers on the development of new self-propelled artillery systems. At the end of the sixties, the Kharkov Tractor and Tank Plant was to launch a 122-mm "Gvozdiku" production in the shortest possible time, a 122-millimeter Fialka was engaged in Volgograd and two samples were taken in the Urals. They were "Acacia" (self-propelled 152-mm howitzer) and mortar system "Tulip". Such flowers are here.

Difficulty with the chassis

Taking over the development of a unique sample for those times, the KB team, headed by Yuri Tomashov, could not imagine how many problems he would face. However, at the Perm Machine Building Plant named after V.I. Lenin (now Motovilikhinskiye Zavody) was not afraid of difficulties, and consistently solved all the difficult tasks, but there were many of them. Eloquent about the ingenuity and ingenuity of Soviet engineers say dozens of copyright certificates obtained during the work on the project 2C4 "Tulip".

The main problematic issues were two: the weight of the system and the unprecedented returns to the mortar. The caterpillar, which was supposed to be used initially, proved to be inadequate in carrying capacity, it could drive 21.4 tons (which is also very much). The "Tulip" system, however, weighed more than twenty-seven. The nation-wide cooperation of the defense complex helped solve this problem. CB "Transmash" already had a vehicle for launcher RK "Krug", which they decided to use, having made the necessary constructive changes. Replacing the 400-horsepower engine with a more powerful (520-hp) engine has solved the problem of increasing the speed and running the resource from 3000 to 5000 km), because the Tulip fire systems had to move more frequently and faster than rocket launchers in real war conditions . It can not be said that the chassis was purchased by Y. Tomashov Design Bureau, it had to be adapted substantially, replacing up to 80% of the components of the caterpillar base, but the benefits of cooperation with subcontractors are unquestionable.

Here's the recoil!

During the testing of the first experimental sample, the "Rzhevka" test site was announced by two loud shots. The third did not follow. The reason is a super-powerful dynamic wave created by the "Tulip" system. Military super-reliable and super-strong technology could not withstand recoil and air strikes. The base plate, located on the body, gave a crack, and the fuel tanks crumpled, like paper. The blow was too strong, it was estimated at 450 tons. It was only the land that could take it upon itself, so the thought of focusing on the frame had to be abandoned. A special lifting and lowering unit with a hydraulic drive was set up, placing the trunk in the combat position.

Such great efforts have justified themselves. During the tests at the Kaliningrad test site, the most powerful 152-mm caliber howitzer could not cause significant damage to concrete bunkers, while they were destroyed by the Tulip system from the first hit. The weapon, having proven its effectiveness and reliability, went into series. In 1969, three copies were built, and two years later the model was officially adopted.

Trunk

Continuity is a good quality for any weapon. The proven technology and proven technical data give the model reliability, eliminating unnecessary surprises during operation. Ballistics and characteristics of the trunk of the fire system "Tulip" fully correspond to the characteristics of the M-240, developed in the penultimate year of the war under the leadership of Yu. N. Kalachnikov and SN Dernov, adopted in 1958. Perm Machine Building Design Bureau created a towed "mortar gain", which could not move independently (a tractor was required), but had a high level of firepower. He was charging from the breech, for which the shutter, which was folding up, served. When the "Tulip" system began to be designed in 1967, the weapon received its own running gear and many other nodes, which gave it greater perfection, but its value also increased (up to 200,000 Soviet rubles).

The prototype was in Russian simple, but very reliable and accurate, which also corresponds to national traditions. There were no anti-roll devices in the structure, the machine was equipped with a screw-pointing mechanism, arrows for moving to the combat position, a hinged paw, compensators, a base plate (to which, in the end, and had to return), and a sight. Even then, the fire could be conducted for eight kilometers, and in 1953 this distance was brought to 9.7 km due to a special long-range fired missile.

The trunk from this heavy mortar and inherited the system "Tulip", the armament of which the Soviet Army began in 1971.

Special ammunition "Smelchak"

Due to its destructive power, this weapon has no analogues among mortars. A special mechanism is required for loading. The funnel, which is created by the explosion of the 2C4 "Tulip" projectile, weighing 130 kg with the explosion, has a diameter of 10 meters. The usual charge consists of two tons of TNT. This is a very large capacity, but in addition to it, accuracy is required to successfully defeat the target. To increase it requires a special guidance system, which provides for the possibility of correction in flight. In 1982, a particularly accurate "Smelchak" (1K113) with a lower charge weight (69 kg), but equipped with eight side reactive solid-propellant shunting engines, was adopted in service in 1982. This special ammunition, which is a hybrid of an artillery shell and a missile, has its own control unit, a target designator and a range finder. The correction of guidance is carried out by illumination with a laser beam. The operating time of the equipment does not exceed three seconds, which leaves no chance of salvation to the enemy, who possesses even the most technologically advanced equipment capable of electronic countermeasures and the setting of electromagnetic interference.

Other types of mines

"Smelchak" for its original purpose was a projectile designed to destroy armored vehicles. This did not prevent its use in other tasks, for example, assault, which became particularly relevant during the war in Afghanistan. The appearance of the gun was not known to the general public, what to do, the "Tulip" system is a military one. A photo in which soldiers and officers of a limited contingent of the Soviet Army wanted to capture themselves against the backdrop of a huge mortar, caused objections to field censorship for reasons of secrecy. There was nothing surprising in this. The use of this type of weapon was not advertised. Arsenal of ammunition, which can be loaded with a mortar 2C4 "Tulip" is diverse. Brisant charges are represented by cluster "Nerpas", in the explosion of which fragmentation-fragmentation elements ZOF16, as well as incendiary "Sidami", capable of burning napalm all living things on an area of almost 8 thousand square meters. M.

But in addition to conventional charges, special ones can be used. For example, a tactical nuclear mine with a capacity of two kilotons (3BB4) or neutron ("Fata" or "Resin"). There is nothing known about chemical munitions, but the radius of combat use with an active-reactive delivery vehicle of up to ten thousand kilometers suggests that there is such an opportunity.

Which is better: "Tulip" or MLRS?

In order to inflict massive strikes on the enemy during international conflicts in recent years, in most countries the Grad-BMZ-21 MLRS was most often used. This installation has a large number of advantages, including relatively low cost, simplicity, reliability and great damaging power. One disadvantage, but serious. It can not be used to strike a point strike. His shells are uncontrollable, there are no devices for correction of their design does not contain, but in general, and not for this purpose, the system was created. If you need to hit the headquarters, a communication center or another small object, then the Tulip mortar will do its best. The system of volley fire operates over areas, its shells are "blind". To compare the two approaches to one and the same function of fire suppression, one can imagine a sword and a dagger. Any of these types of cold weapons may be needed, but each of them has its own time.

At the same time, the "Tulip" rate for a gun with such a large mass of ammunition is not so small, one shot per minute, which is five times faster than the prototype M-240. This is due to the unique rotating charging mechanism invented by Yu. Tomashov.

In cases where massive rocket and artillery preparation is required, it is difficult to use such sophisticated weapons as "Tulip". The system of volley fire "Hurricane" (or "Grad") will be more effective, both in range (up to 40 km), and in the number of projectiles released per unit time.

Afghanistan

After the introduction of troops into the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the military leadership did not immediately appreciate the potential of these weapons. Among the objective reasons, one can mention the lack of practice and skills of shooting in mountainous conditions, when the levels of the point of fire and the targets differ significantly. I had to learn during the fighting. In addition, there was an opinion that as such there would be no large-scale war, and the troops would soon return to the USSR after a brief and effective aid. There were also problems with transporting such a heavy machine in the conditions of bad stony roads, like the "Tulip" system. The mortar, however, proved to be in demand over time. Of the 588 guns produced before 1988, 120 units of this equipment were involved in the Afghan war. The main use was conventional explosive-fragmentation projectiles, but in some cases, with the required high accuracy of the defeat, the artillery used "Brave" with laser correction, the probability of direct hit in a three-meter target reaches 90%. The "Tulip" system acquired special significance during the storming of fortified areas equipped in fortresses or the destruction of mountain camps in caves. Local specialty was important. The basic material used by the anti-government troops for the construction of fortifications in Afghanistan was clay rock, soft enough to contain 122 mm howitzer shells that did not tear and, accordingly, did not cause the defenders special harm. Art. The system "Tulip" produced very strong destructions with its 240-mm 130-kilogram mines. And if we take into account the fact that high power is combined with high firing precision, then the expediency of using this weapon is quite justified. In Afghanistan, there was the first case of his combat use. But, unfortunately, not the last.

Chechnya and other military campaigns

Among the many regional conflicts that erupted on the territory of the former USSR shortly after its disintegration, the Chechen war was the most dangerous for the Russian statehood and its prospects . It began extremely unsuccessfully, and was conducted with the use of almost all types of weapons, without observing any proportionality. The propaganda battle was also conducted. After the destruction of his residence, Dzhokhar Dudayev accused the federal troops of using nuclear weapons. In fact, of course, the Russian Army did not drop any atomic bombs. The "Tulip" system shot through the palace. Photo of the ruins, however, could serve, with some stretch, as a propaganda illustration of such an event scenario. Mina broke through the roof, floors of all floors and exploded in the basement, producing a terrible roar.

During the second Chechen campaign this high-precision weapon was used more widely. 2С4 "Tulip" for the first two months released over the enemy more than a half thousand mines, including 60 laser-corrected and 40 cassette.

The artillery and mortar system "Tulip" is unique, it has no analogues in the world practice of military affairs. Something similar was attempted by the Americans at the end of the Second World War, but the project immediately "stalled" after the engineers encountered a number of difficulties, and after the German surrender, the Pentagon lost interest in further developing the class of self-propelled heavy mortars.

The "Tulip" has, of course, drawbacks. The car is heavy, booking it is very conditional, since the mass of the gun is very high. The crew, consisting of five men, in the event of a collision with a well-trained and armed anti-tank means, an enemy sabotage group, will find itself in a quandary. Experts also note a relatively short range (less than 10 km for conventional shells and up to twenty for active-reactive missiles), which worsens the conditions for the use of special charges (which in reality has not happened yet).

Well, without the disadvantages of technology does not happen. And besides, since 1988 "Tulip" is not produced.