German mortar mines"8cmwgr."

During excavations at the battlefields, German 8 cm mortar mines often come across. Used when firing from Gr. W. 34 (81-mm mortar sample 34) everywhere. There are several varieties of 8cm mortar mines:

• 81 mm fragmentation mine mod. 34 8 cm Wgr. 34
• 81 mm fragmentation mine mod. 38 8 cm Wgr. 38
• 81 mm fragmentation mine mod. 39 (bouncing) 8 cm Wgr. 39
• 81 mm smoke mine mod. 34 8 cm Wgr. 34 Nb.
• 81 mm mine for indicating targets mod. 38 8 cm Wgr. 38 Deut.
• 81-mm practical (training) mine mod. 34 8 cm Wgr. 34 Ub.

81 mm German mortar mine

arr.34 "8 cm Wgr. 34"

Equipped with cast TNT without a case or cast ammatol 40\60 without a case. BB weight - 460 grams. The body of the mine is painted red. Some mines do not have an ignition glass, such mines are marked with letters "o. B."
Mines weight 3.5 kg. Length: 33cm. Initial speed: 211m/s. Flight range: 0.8km to 3.1km.

Fuses and detonators:

With 8 cm fragmentation mine Wgr. 34 fuses were used: wgr. Z.38,wgr. Z.34,wgr. Z. 38 St.,wgr. Z.38 C,wgr. Z.38 T.

Disassembled plastic fuse Wgr.Z.T

Aluminum fuse Wgr.Z.38

Detonators : gr. Zdlg. c/98 Np.(ten) or gr. Zdlg. c/98H.(RDX) or gr. Zdlg. c/98 H.o.V

Disassembled detonator Gr.Zdlg. from 8cm mortar mine

Knockout charge:

Stabilizer and marking on the expelling (tail) cartridge

Main charge - tail cartridge " patrone des s. Gr. w 34 (8cm) 10g Ngl. Bl. P. 12.5-(0.1-0.1-0.2)"consists of 10 grams of nitroglycerin lamellar powder.

Pack of 100 expelling cartridges for 8cm mortars

Additional (variable) charges Teilkartuschen, Zusatzladung:

To increase the firing range, an additional charge was put on a mine between the hull and the stabilizer

Additional charge Teilkartuschen was delivered in a box with mines, packed in an aluminum or zinc round box. For each mine, as standard, two charges were supposed - ring-shaped beams of gunpowder.

Zusatzladung- additional charge (additional equipment, over the norm). It was supplied with a shortage of additional charges complete with mines.

.
Five combinations of charges were used for firing.

The first is the tail cartridge.

The second tail cartridge and one beam of additional charge.

The third is a tail cartridge and two bundles of additional charge.

The fourth charge is a tail cartridge and three beams.

The fifth charge is a tail cartridge and four bundles of an additional charge.

Beams of additional charges are attached to the tail of the mine and ignite from the tail cartridge through the "fire transfer" holes. When firing at night, flame arresters made of potassium sulfate weighing 10 grams are used.

Jar from under Zusatzladung with marking

Ring-shaped beam Zusatzladung

gunpowder rings without braid

Marking additional charge to mortar mine 8cm

Extra Charge Packing Teilkartuschen to a German mortar

A bakelite jar from a flash hider that was added to the charge to reduce the flash of a shot during night firing. The inscription on the bank is an abbreviation for Kart. Vorl. = Kartuschvorlage (charge flash suppressor

German mortar mine 8 cm WGr38

Fragmentation bouncing mine 8 cm Wgr. 39

Equipped with cast TNT without a case or cast ammatol 40\60 without a case and a powder charge in the head. The weight of explosives is 390 grams of explosives and gunpowder 16 grams. The body of the mine is painted red. Marked on both sides of the case "39" .
Mines weight 3.5 kg. Length: 33cm.

Expelling and additional charges similar to Wgr.34

Fuses and detonators:

With 8 cm fragmentation mine Wgr. 38 fuses were used: wgr. Z.38,wgr. Z.34,wgr. Z. 38 St.,wgr. Z.38C.

Smoke Mortar Mine 8cm Wgr. 34Nb

Mines weight 3.5kg, length 33cm, color: red or dark green, on the body there are white letters Nb (short for the word Nebel - smoke) on both sides. BB: picric acid in a paper case and smoke composition

With 8cm mine Wgr. 34 Nb. fuses used: wgr. Z.38,wgr. Z.34,wgr. Z. 38 St.,wgr. Z.38 C,wgr. Z.38 T.

Expelling and additional charges similar to Wgr.34

Unearthed German smoke mortar 8cm

German mortar mine 8cm

The 37 mm mortar-shovel is a hybrid of a small sapper shovel and a small-caliber mortar. The shovel handle was a mortar barrel 520 mm long, and the shovel blade played the role of a base plate and was made of armored steel. As a bipod, an additional support was used, attached to the top of the mortar barrel. The mortar was equipped with fragmentation mines, which are carried by the shooter in a special bandolier with shoulder straps. There were no sighting devices, so the shooting was carried out by eye. The mortar was used throughout 1939-1942. Captured mortars served in Germany under the designation "3.7-cm Spatengranatwerfer 161 (r)". By the beginning of the war, at least 16,000 mortars were in service. TTX mortar: caliber - 37 mm; weight - 2.4 kg; mortar mine mass - 500 g; maximum firing range - 250 m, minimum - 60 m; the initial speed of the mine - 70 m / s; rate of fire - up to 30 rounds per minute; calculation - 1 person.

50-mm company mortars mod. 1938, 1940 and 1941 represent a smooth-bore rigid system with an imaginary triangle scheme. The mortar was constantly improved in terms of weight reduction and firing safety, which was reflected in the change of years in its designation. The ammunition consisted of a fragmentation steel six-pronged mine and a fragmentation cast-iron four-pronged mine. The mortars captured by the Wehrmacht were used under the designation "5-cm Granatwerfer 205/1/2/3(r)". In total, 166.3 thousand mortars were fired. TTX mortar: caliber - 50 mm; weight - 9 - 12 kg, length - 780 mm; barrel length - 553 mm; mine weight - 850 g; initial speed - 95 m / s; rate of fire - 32 rounds per minute; firing range - 100 - 800 m; calculation - 2 people.

Mortar sample 1936/37/41/43 was developed on the basis of the Stokes-Brandt mortar and put into service in 1936. Its design was made according to a rigid scheme (without recoil devices) and consisted of a barrel, a two-legged carriage, a base plate and sights. To produce a shot, the mine was lowered by a stabilizer (tail) into the muzzle of the barrel. The mortar of the 1937 model differed from its predecessor in a more rigid round base plate with a side cut. In addition, the design of the bipedal carriage was changed, in particular, the shock absorber spring travel was increased and the sight mount was improved. The mortar of the 1941 model differed from previous models in a simplified manufacturing technology. The mortar of the 1943 model was a modernized version of the mod. 1941 and featured a redesigned bipedal, wheel and trailer mount. Mortars and ammunition were transported on horse-drawn carts or on vehicles available to the troops. In the mountain rifle and cavalry units, mortars and ammunition were transported on horseback packs. For short distances on the march (up to 10-15 km), as well as when changing the firing position, mortars and mines were carried by the calculation on special human packs. For firing from mortars of all types, fragmentation six-finned and ten-finned mines, as well as smoke and propaganda mines, were used. A total of 168.3 thousand mortars were fired. TTX mortar: caliber - 82 mm; weight in combat position - 56 - 62.7 kg; mine weight - 3.6 kg; the initial speed of the mine - 211 m / s; rate of fire - 25 rounds per minute; the minimum firing range is 100 m, the maximum is 3 km.

The mortar was put into service in 1939, but mass production of mines for it was launched only at the beginning of 1941. The mortar barrel consisted of a pipe and a screw breech. The shot was fired in two ways: by the action of the impact mechanism of the firing device, which was cocked after the mortar was loaded; hard self-piercing mines when lowering it into the bore. The biped is connected to the mortar barrel through a spring shock absorber. The base plate was a round stamped all-welded structure. The mortar had an unsprung wheel drive, consisting of a frame, two wheels and a box for spare parts. The mortar was transported in 13 packs. In total, 6.6 thousand mortars were fired. TTX mortar: caliber - 107 mm; barrel length - 1.7 m; clearance - 450 mm; weight in the stowed position - 850 kg, in the stowed position - 170 kg; projectile weight - 7.9 kg; rate of fire - 6-16 rounds per minute; the initial speed of the mine is 156 - 302 m / s, the minimum firing range is 700 m, the maximum is 6.3 km; the speed of transportation on the highway is 40 km / h.

The mortar was developed on the basis of the French "120-mm Mle1935" (Brandt) and was produced since 1939. It had an attached wheel drive for towing by horses or a truck at a speed not exceeding 18 km / h when driving on a cobblestone pavement, and at speeds up to 35 km/h when driving on the highway. The shot was fired by pricking the primer under the weight of the mine, or with the help of a trigger mechanism - for safety purposes when firing powerful charges. The charge was placed in the shank of the mine; to increase the range, there were additional charges in cloth caps, which were manually attached to the shank. After the start of the war, the 1941 model was mass-produced, simplified and without a wheel drive and front end. In 1943, the 1943 model mortar was put into service. The design of the barrel was simplified, which made it possible to replace a broken striker without disassembling the mortar. A double-loading fuse was installed on the muzzle. The mortar ammunition included: high-explosive fragmentation, high-explosive, incendiary, smoke and lighting mines. During the war, 44.3 thousand mortars were fired. TTX mortar: caliber - 120 mm; weight - 280 kg; clearance - 370 mm; barrel length - 1.8 m; mine weight - 16 kg; initial speed - 272 m / s; firing range - 6 km; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; transition time from traveling to combat position - 2 - 3 minutes; the speed of transportation on the highway is 35 km / h.

The MT-13 mortar was put into service in 1944 and was a smooth-bore rigid system on a rigid (without recoil devices) carriage with wheeled, sprung travel. Lifting and balancing mechanisms and sights were mounted on the carriage. The problem of transporting the mortar was solved in a new way: it was attached to the tractor with a barrel, on which a special pivot paw was fixed. Loading was carried out from the breech, for which a swinging barrel was used, which was brought to a horizontal position at the time of loading.

After opening the shutter, a tray was hung on the half-axis of the wedge of the barrel, on which the calculation laid the mine and manually sent it into the barrel bore. After the mine was sent to the barrel, under the influence of its weight, it returned to the firing position. It also automatically eliminated double loading. The main ammunition - 12-pernaya 160-mm high-explosive mine F-852 weighed 40.8 kg and contained 7.7 kg of explosives. The fundamental difference between the MT-13 mortar shot and all other domestic mortars was a short sleeve into which the mine stabilizer was inserted. The sleeve was introduced to obturate powder gases when fired. During the war, 798 mortars were fired. TTX mortar: caliber - 160 mm; barrel length - 3 m; weight - 1.2 t; initial speed - 140-245 m / s; mine weight - 41 kg; rate of fire - 10 rounds per minute; firing range: minimum - 630 m, maximum - 5 km; the speed of transportation on the highway is 50 km/h.

82 mm mortar BM-37

MP-37. A double-loading fuse was installed on the muzzle.

82 mm mortar BM-37- Soviet battalion 82-mm mortar model 1937.

This mortar was developed by a group of N. A. Dorovlev after studying by Soviet military specialists 81-mm Stokes-Brandt mortars, captured during a border incident on the border with China in 1929.

The choice of caliber was determined by the fact that 81-mm mortars of foreign armies could be used when firing from Soviet mortars, while 82-mm domestic mortars were not suitable for firing from mortars of foreign armies.

Field tests of mortars began on June 17, 1933. The weapon combined sufficient shot efficiency with the ability to be carried by infantrymen: the mortar weighed 61 kg and was disassembled for carrying into three parts - a barrel (weight in a pack - 19 kg), a bipedal (20 kg) and a base plate (22 kg). In addition to the mortar itself, the calculation carried ammunition for it - a tray with three mines weighed 12 kg, a pack with two trays - 26 kg. The firing range was 3.1 km at an initial mine velocity of 211 m/s. The rate of fire of the mortar was up to 25 rounds per minute, and the experimental crew could hit the target with 3-4 rounds. Comparative tests with an 81-mm Czechoslovak-made mortar showed the superiority of Soviet weapons.

Small-scale production of 82-mm mortars began in -1936, however, since the beginning of 1940 - in accordance with the Decree of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks "On increasing the production of mortars and mines" dated 01/30/1940 - their production volumes have been increasing. However, the army began to receive 82-mm mortars on the required scale only before the start of World War II.

During the production process in 1935-1943, it underwent some changes aimed at improving manufacturability and combat performance.

By the beginning of World War II, there were 14,200 units in the Red Army. 82 mm mortars

After the end of World War II, 82-mm mortars were in service with the armies of a number of socialist countries.

In the early 1970s, the mortar was decommissioned by the Soviet army and replaced with new lightweight mortars mod. 1981 2B14 "Tray". However, during the fighting in the Chechen war, mortars of this type were again taken from warehouses.

Ammunition

For firing from an 82-mm mortar, high-explosive fragmentation, fragmentation six-finned and ten-finned mines and six-finned smoke mines, as well as an agitation mine were used.

An 82 mm fragmentation mine weighed 3.31 kg (equipped with additional charges - 3.4 kg) and carried 400 grams of explosives. The explosion of a mine gave 400-600 fragments, which ensured the defeat of manpower within a radius of six meters from the place of the rupture.

In practice, during the Great Patriotic War, not only regular 82-mm Soviet, but also captured 81-mm German, as well as 81-mm American mines supplied under Lend-Lease were fired from a mortar (it was only necessary to compile tables adjusted for sight data ) .

Tactical and technical data

• Type: 82 mm mortar mod. 1936
• Caliber, mm: 82
• Weight in combat position, kg: 67.7
• Angle GN during the operation of the rotary mechanism, degrees: ±3
• Angle GN when carrying a biped, deg: ±30
• Angle HV, degrees: +45; +85
• Rate of fire, rds / min: up to 30
• Max. firing range, m: 3000
• Mine weight, kg: 3.31
• Pack weight with three trays (9 min), kg: 47
• Barrel weight with pack, kg: 19.0
• Bipedal weight with pack, kg: 24.5
• Base plate weight with pack, kg: 24.2

Options

• Egypt - 82-mm mortar "Helvan M-69" ( Helwan M-69)
• People's Republic of China - 82 mm "type 53" mortar ( Type 53)

Notes

Links

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See what the "82-mm mortar BM-37" is in other dictionaries:

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Mortars in the XX century have become an indispensable type of infantry weapons. According to their staffing, depending on the caliber, they are designed to equip units of the company, battalion, regimental and divisional levels. Vasilek, a mortar capable of firing in bursts and, if necessary, performing tasks that were previously characteristic only of artillery pieces, became a unique means of fire destruction.

What is a mortar

In the classical sense, a mortar is a type of weapon that uses a jet stream formed when a propelling charge is ignited. The barrel of this gun sets the direction and initial speed of the projectile, called a mine, and which is a feathered ammunition. The fuse, as a rule, is contact, located in its front part. The design of the mortar usually includes a removable base plate, bipod, guidance and aiming devices. Again, in the classical sense, loading is done immediately before the shot. The mine is fed from the muzzle of the barrel, the primer located on the back of the projectile ignites the detonator, leading to the activation of the expelling charge.

However, the guards Katyushas were also called mortars in the USSR. The Tyulpan 2S4 system, despite its clearly howitzer nature, also belongs to this class of weapons, although it is often called

In the USSR in 1970, the Vasilek mortar was adopted. The photo of this means of fire destruction of enemy manpower is more likely to be associated with a cannon. However, the type and structure of the projectile clearly indicates that it is a mine. The ammunition does not have a sleeve, it is feathered. So what is this symbiosis of guns and mortars? And what is it for? What are its merits?

Mortars and guns

There are several reasons why mortars have become widespread, and all of them are important. This type of weapon is characterized by relative lightness, simplicity, manifested both in manufacturability and maintenance, high destructive power and the ability to cover the target from above, directly from the sky, that is, from the direction of the least security. For firing along a hinged trajectory, a howitzer or mortar is used. at the same time, it weighs more, is more complicated and costs the defense budget a large amount. Guns, of course, have their advantages, consisting in increased range, caliber and accuracy, but under certain conditions that occur quite often in battle, these advantages are leveled. The line between two common large-caliber weapons is almost completely erased by the Vasilek mortar, the photo of which transparently hints at its “kinship” with guns. Depending on the position of the barrel, it becomes like a mortar, a howitzer, and a regular cannon that fires flat. If we add a high rate of fire to this interesting property, then the uniqueness of the weapon becomes obvious.

The history of the creation of "Cornflower"

The idea of ​​creating rapid-fire mortars originated in the post-war Soviet Union. In 1946, the designer V.K. Filippov proposed using the recoil energy to reload a gun loaded from the breech. In itself, this technical solution is not new, except for the important point that it was applied to a mortar, and not to a rapid-fire gun. Filippov's work was crowned with success, in 1955 the KAM product was adopted by the Soviet Army. It was intended for use in stationary conditions (casemates and long-term fortifications) and was a rapid-fire automatic mortar. Four years later, the field version of the KAM was ready and tested, which received the name F-82. For reasons that are unclear today, this sample was not put into production. In 1967, after some revision, he was nevertheless accepted by the state commission. According to the tradition that has developed among artillerymen, he received the delicate flower name "Cornflower". An 82 mm automatic mortar could fire at a rate of 100 rounds per minute. at a rate of fire of 170 rounds. The difference in these two numbers is due to the time it takes to reload the cassettes.

Modification "M"

Several years of operation in the army allowed the engineers to conclude that the water cooling of the barrel can be abolished. The massive casing, which protects against overheating at a high rate of fire, was removed, the wall thickness was increased in the central part, providing the surface with ribs that improve heat transfer conditions and act as an air cooling radiator. In all other respects, it was the same "Cornflower". The mortar began to be called 2B9M (modified), outwardly it is easy to distinguish it from the previous version by the ribbed barrel. As further practice of application showed, this technical solution was justified, especially for desert conditions in which troops lack water.

What can "Cornflower"

The classic mortar suffers from a serious design flaw. The recoil energy causes a displacement of the entire system due to soil deformations and mechanical effects on the barrel. After each shot, the calculation is forced to adjust the parameters and actually re-aiming. The Vasilek mortar device makes it possible to usefully use the recoil energy to feed a new projectile into the barrel. Hydraulic shock absorbers located around the barrel serve to absorb its excess. As a result, the accuracy of hits remains high when firing in bursts. The clip contains four mines.

Application versatility

One of the advantages of "Cornflower" is its versatility. It can be fired in different ways.

2B9 can be used as a conventional mortar, in which case it is loaded from the muzzle. But the main difference of the gun is its ability to shoot like a conventional gun with a minimum and even negative (up to 1 °) elevation angle. For firing in the "mortar" mode, three types of charges can be used, with the artillery method the ammunition is unified. There are two modes: automatic and single.

Ammunition

The fragmentation shot 3V01 serves as standard ammunition for which the 120-mm Vasilek mortar is designed. Its action is fragmentation, but in addition to it, other types of charges are provided, including cumulative ones, designed to destroy armored vehicles.

The composition of the charge includes, in addition to the six-feather mine O-832DU, the main powder charge Zh-832DU. With an initial speed of 272 m/s, it provides a range of destruction from 800 to 4270 m. The radius of continuous damage is 18 meters.

In addition to the main powder charge, designed to give the initial speed to the mine and fixed in its tail, additional ones are also used. The decision on their use is made by the crew commander, having determined the target at which the Vasilek mortar will fire. The firing range depends on the choice of additional propelling charges. They are long cloth cases containing an annular tail of the projectile in front of the stabilizer and fastened with a conventional button fastener. Their power is determined by a number - from 1 to 3.

Means of mobility

The Vasilek 82-mm mortar weighs 622 kg, so a special vehicle is used to transport it. As such, an adapted GAZ-66, designated 2F54, is usually used. The gun on the march is in the back, in special cases (in case of an urgent change of position or other sudden situations), towing is allowed. The calculation consists of four people (commander, gunner, loader and driver-carrier).

The success of the design has repeatedly prompted engineers in different countries to attempt to create an automatic self-propelled mortar. "Vasilek" was installed on the MT-LB tracked chassis in the USSR and Hungary, and some craftsmen still mount it on powerful American army Hummer jeeps today.

How to shoot from "Cornflower"

The regular carriage is as light as possible, it looks like a regular cannon, the design includes a pallet and a frame. The transfer to the combat state leads to the fact that the wheels rise above the ground, and the jack and the bed with divorced coulters serve as a support. Automatic mortar "Vasilek" can be raised or lowered, depending on the conditions of firing. The maximum height of the trunk in the lower position is 78°, in the upper position 85°. When mounted shooting with a steepness exceeding 40 °, in order to avoid damage to the mechanisms from hitting the ground, it is necessary to dig a recess under the butt plate. Low elevation angles serve to point the barrel at armored targets. In this position, the Vasilek 82-mm mortar is used as a light anti-tank gun with a short range, but at the same time very powerful.

For direct fire, a panoramic sight is provided, on which in this case the standard optics (PAM-1) is changed. The guidance equipment also includes the Luch-PM2M lighting device, designed for firing at night.

Combat use

The first serious combat test for 2B9 was the Afghan war. The features of operations carried out in mountain ranges have revealed the full potential of the weapons we are considering. Its versatility and ability to hit hidden targets, combined with mobility, earned the respect that Vasilek enjoyed among the troops. The mortar was often mounted on lightly armored MT-LB transporters, which made it possible to quickly leave positions after a couple of bursts without waiting for return fire. At the same time, some design flaws were also found out. In particular, the mine cassette did not always get into its regular place, and for it to be sent, a heavy blow with a hammer was required, which was always at hand for the loader.

In general, the automatic mortar performed well. It was also used in many armed conflicts that arose on the territory of the former USSR, in particular in both Chechen wars.

Characteristics

At present, information about how the Vasilek mortar is arranged is not a secret. Its characteristics also lost the secrecy stamp due to the wide distribution of this weapon throughout the world.

Guidance mechanisms are simplified as much as possible and built on screw nodes. Manual rotation of the gate provides horizontal guidance within 60° and vertical guidance from -1° to 85° (with the jack fully raised). The maximum radius of combat damage is 4.7 km. The barrel is smooth, the rotation of the mine is provided by six tail feathers, which have a slope relative to the longitudinal axis. The cassette holds four charges. Regular ammunition contains 226 minutes. The total weight of the equipped vehicle exceeds six tons. It moves along the highway at a speed of 60 km / h, on rough terrain - 20 km / h. The system is brought into combat position according to the standard in one and a half minutes.

Foreign "Cornflowers"

The design of the gun is simple, original and technologically advanced. It has no analogues in the world, although these samples are now produced in the People's Republic of China. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China acquired a license for the manufacture of "type 99 guns" - that's what they called "Vasilek" in the Celestial Empire. The mortar has been produced in a gigantic edition, and now it can be seen and heard in various regions of the planet engulfed in the flames of wars.

There is currently no data on whether the "Cornflowers" are composed. Most likely, they have already been replaced by more advanced samples.

Experience in the combat use of mortar weapons in local conflicts of the late XX - early XXI century.

Mortars, as a class of weapons, became widespread during the Second World War. It was then that these weapons became one of the main artillery fire support weapons for infantry tactical units (platoon-company-battalion).

On the eve of World War II, virtually all participating countries are adopting various mortars. So on August 1, 1940. The Red Army had 5543 82-mm mortars, in parts of the Wehrmacht by June 1941. there were 11,767 mortars (six 81-mm in the machine gun company of each infantry battalion). Light 50, 60 and 81 (82)-mm mortars become the standard artillery system of infantry companies and battalions - infantry artillery.

What is the reason for the choice of infantry mortars?

Firstly, the mortar has a fairly high accuracy and firing range, which ensures reliable destruction of enemy manpower, weapons and unarmored vehicles in battle. Secondly, it makes it possible to relatively covert firing (a closed firing position and low sound power during a shot make it difficult for the enemy to detect the calculation).

Calculation of 82-mm mortar arr. 1938 During the Great Patriotic

Thirdly, a high rate of fire - from ten to twenty rounds per minute provides a high density of fire in the critical minutes of the battle. Fourth, the relatively low weight of weapons and ammunition increases the maneuverability of infantry units and reduces their dependence on supporting artillery fire, which is not always effective due to the time spent on passing teams and the possibility of hitting friendly troops with a decrease in the radius of safe removal (SDR).

The average weight of an 81/82 mm mortar disassembled into three main parts (barrel, bipod and base plate) is about 50 kg. The mass of 81/82-mm high-explosive fragmentation mines ranges from 3.2 to 4.4 kg. The classification of 81/82-mm mortars by caliber deserves special attention. In fact, these are weapons of the same caliber, as will be discussed below.

The first episodes of the combat use of mortars

The first episodes of the combat use of mortars were noted during the defense of Port Arthur in 1904. (mortar designed by Lieutenant General of the Artillery of the Russian Army Leonid Nikolaevich Gobyato). During the Second World War, mortars were in service with the armies of all warring parties. The first Soviet 82-mm mortar was adopted by the Red Army under the name BM-36 in 1936. In Boris Ivanovich Shavyrin's SKB-4 (Leningrad), an 82-mm battalion mortar arr. 1937 (BM-37), which replaced its predecessor. Battalion mortars (this concept applies to all portable 81 and 82-mm systems) during the battle were directly subordinate to the commanders of infantry companies and battalions.

This made it possible to quickly and with high accuracy hit the infantry and machine-gun crews of the enemy directly in front of the battle formations of their troops, which is very problematic when using cannon artillery (guns and howitzers).

The first baptism of fire of the BM-37 took place in the area of ​​​​the Khalkhin-Gol River in battles with the Japanese invaders, providing infantry with indispensable assistance in destroying the enemy in the trenches and on the reverse slopes of the hills.

In 1941 and 1943. the Soviet battalion mortar was modernized. During the Great Patriotic War, battalion 82-mm mortars arr. 1937, 1941 and 1943 were in service with rifle battalions, serving as the main means of fire support for rifle companies. 82 mm battalion mortar mod. 1943 It was produced for a long time in the post-war period and is still in service with the Russian army and the armies of other states.

In favor of the domestic 82-mm mortar is the fact that during the Great Patriotic War, Soviet crews often used captured German 81-mm and lend-lease American 81-mm mines for firing. A unique example of the development of a domestic modern battalion mortar was shown to the world by the war in Afghanistan in 1979-1989. In the early 1970s the main 82-mm mortar of the Soviet army BM-43 model 1937/1943. was withdrawn from service with the Ground Forces. The leadership of the USSR Armed Forces until the end of the 1970s. did not find a place for 82-mm mortars in the "nuclear missile war". They remained in service only with the Airborne Forces, and in parts of the Ground Forces it was completely replaced by a 120-mm mortar, which was armed with mortar batteries of motorized rifle battalions. However, in the Design Bureau of the Gorky Machine-Building Plant, a new 82-mm mortar was being developed on its own initiative.

And not in vain ... With the outbreak of the war in Afghanistan, it became clear that only portable systems can provide effective direct fire support to infantry units operating autonomously at a considerable distance from towed and self-propelled artillery. Just by this time, factory tests of the 82-mm mortar 2B14 developed in Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) were carried out. An order was received from the military for the urgent production of a batch of 100 pieces, which passed field and military tests in Afghanistan.

In 1983 82-mm mortar 2B14 "Tray" was adopted by the Soviet army. Later, its modification was also created - 2B14-1, which had minor design changes. In Afghanistan, the 82-mm mortars BM-43 and 2B14 "Tray" were in service with mortar companies of motorized rifle, airborne and airborne assault battalions of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces.

From the beginning of the 80s. and Afghan rebels used 82mm mortars. Their main Type 53 mortar was essentially a Chinese version of the Soviet BM-43 mortar. In addition, the Afghan rebels used two identical 60-mm Type 63 and MB mortars of Chinese and Pakistani production, respectively, as well as an 82-mm Yugoslav M69 mortar coming to Afghanistan from Arab countries. In addition to 60 and 82-mm systems, Afghan rebels since 1987. began to receive Spanish 120-mm Esia mortars through the United States.

The 60-mm company mortar deserves special attention. The division of mortars into company (up to 60 mm), battalion (75 and 81/82 mm) and regimental (106.7 and 120 mm) mortars came into practice on the eve of World War II. 60-mm systems and similar in caliber domestic 50-mm mortars mod. 1941 armed infantry companies. However, the domestic 50-mm mortar was discontinued at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War. Nevertheless, company 60-mm mortars are in service with many modern armies of the world. Already in their very name it is indicated that these weapons belong to the company-level fire support weapons complex, i.e. weapons of direct fire support for platoons of infantry companies.

In modern combat operations, especially in the course of local wars and armed conflicts, there is a steady tendency to break up units and formations into smaller tactical units. Under such conditions, small infantry units need their own effective means of defeating the enemy.

The systems of assault weapons (reactive anti-tank and assault grenades, rocket-propelled anti-tank grenade launchers and flamethrowers) and fire support weapons (heavy machine guns and sniper rifles, underbarrel and automatic grenade launchers, portable anti-tank missile systems and recoilless rifles) created in recent decades cannot be replaced on the battlefield small caliber mortar. It is indispensable in close combat when destroying the enemy in the trenches and folds of the terrain, behind the reverse slopes of heights, houses and fences. These are the tasks facing company mortars in modern combat. At the same time, the presence of mortars directly in the combat formations of infantry units simplifies fire control for commanders and contributes to a prompt response to a rapidly changing combat situation.

Carrying mortar mines by Soviet infantrymen in Afghanistan. 80s

The absence of small-caliber mortars in the arsenal of the Russian army is justified by the presence in the armament system of infantry units in the platoon-company link of 40-mm grenade launchers and 30-mm automatic grenade launchers. However, the power factor of a 60-mm fragmentation mine is several times higher than that of a similar indicator

30 and 40 mm fragmentation grenades, which significantly affects the reliability of destroying enemy infantry and fire weapons in field-type shelters, destroying enemy equipment and fire weapons. A company mortar covers the range of an underbarrel grenade launcher by 3-5 times, and with the same range of fire with an automatic grenade launcher, it is several times superior in terms of weight and size. For example, the mass of a 30 mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher with a sight is 30.5 kg, and a 60 mm mortar is three times less.

Calculation of the "Tray" fires at the positions of the rebels. Afghanistan, 80s

Here is an example of the use of 60-mm mortar fire by a company tactical group of a paratrooper battalion of the Jordanian Armed Forces at one of the tactical exercises in 2003, where I managed to visit. The paratroopers were faced with the task of destroying the "terrorists" who had taken refuge in one of the camps.

With the support of fire from 20-mm cannons of the AN-1 Cobra fire support helicopters (USA) and the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle (South Africa), the Jordanian paratroopers dismounted from armored vehicles and blocked the "terrorists". When the fire of the helicopter and combat vehicles began to pose a danger to the paratroopers approaching the object of capture, fire was opened on the "terrorists" from a 60-mm Type 63 mortar, the firing position of which was located in the combat formations of a dismounted unit.

Under cover of mortar fire

Under the cover of mortar fire (combat rate of fire 10-12 rounds per minute), a pair of flamethrowers crawled towards the object and destroyed the "terrorists" with a volley of light infantry flamethrowers LPO-50 (USSR). By the way, for some reason, LPO-50 is ignored by domestic anti-terrorist units, although burning terrorism with fire is much more convenient than “soaking it in the toilet”.

There is no information about successful examples of the use of 60-mm mortars by the rebels in Afghanistan, this weapon was painfully rare among the Mujahideen. Far more problems for the Soviet and Afghan troops was the fire of the most common artillery system among the rebels - 82-mm mortars. Former dekhkans, artisans and students studied the development of mortar weapons in training centers and camps in Pakistan and Iran. By the way, at one time they were taught this art by the same Jordanian non-commissioned officer who skillfully laid 60-mm mines 20-30m ahead of the flamethrowers during the anti-terrorist exercise, covering their advance to the firing line.

Luckily, I didn't have to deal with his students in Afghanistan... But our garrison, two weeks after my departure from it, was less fortunate in this regard. November 27, 1987 the garrison of Soviet and Afghan troops in the city of Asadabad was subjected to a massive fire raid using all the artillery weapons systems available to the Mujahideen. It all started with the defeat of the Mi-8 helicopter by the fire of the Stinger MANPADS in the air. Then the rebels opened fire on the garrison and residential areas of the city with 107-mm rockets and, under their cover, dragged 82- and 120-mm mortars to the firing lines. It was in Asadabad that the fact of the delivery of the 120-mm Esia mortar to the Afghan rebels was confirmed. The servicemen of the Asadabad garrison learned about the use of 120-mm mortars by the enemy by the characteristic aluminum plumage of exploding mines.

Like the Stinger, the Esia 120-mm mortar was of American origin, although it was produced by Spain. The fact is that at that time the United States decided to adopt a 120-mm mortar system into service with the Marine Corps in order to ensure the supply of the expeditionary forces with NATO-standard 120-mm mortar ammunition (only 60-, 81- and 106.7 mm mortars). Their choice fell on the Spanish mortar. It was he who had to be tested in Afghanistan in order to make the final decision on adoption. Our intelligence learned in advance that the Afghan rebels were armed with a new powerful weapon system, and the first confirmation of this was given by the scouts of 334 ooSpN (separate special forces detachment), when the reconnaissance group of Lieutenant Igor Matveychuk in October 1987 destroyed from an ambush in the Surubi district field commander of the Mujahideen, capturing from him firing tables from the 120-mm Esia mortar and other documentation.

120-mm mortars were also used in Afghanistan by Soviet troops, but the battalion 82-mm Tray mortars earned great popularity among our troops. The Soviet infantry, leaving for the mountains, did not part with them. The "tray" was much lighter than the Chinese 82-mm mortar, which was in service with the Mujahideen, but that weapon maneuver in battle was not particularly required. Unlike the Soviet troops, they used defensive tactics.

The rebels equipped stationary positions of mortars in the highlands in the strongholds of fortified areas or in the greenery (irrigated valleys and gorges) near their bases. In the highlands and in winter, they often froze the base plate of the mortar into the ground. With this method of equipping the firing position, it was ensured that intense heap fire was carried out in series of several minutes without restoring the pickup. It is this method of firing, after preliminary zeroing and waiting for a convenient moment of opening fire, that provides the maximum effect of hitting an openly located manpower that does not have time to hide from fire. Subordinates of Major Solovyov from the airborne assault battalion of the 66th Motorized Rifle Brigade came under such mortar fire on December 2, 1986, during the capture of the Ogz and Shpolkai fortified areas in the south of Nangarhar province. Only the next day, the paratroopers managed to knock the enemy off the ridge and capture an 82-mm mortar with a base plate frozen into the ground, then the reason for the high accuracy of fire of the enemy calculation became clear.

In the foreground are captured 60- and 82-mm mortars captured by our troops in Afghanistan. Left - Advisor to the Central Committee of the CPSU in the operational zone "Vostok" S. Bekov

In addition to regular 82-mm battalion mortars, our troops also used captured mortars in Afghanistan. First of all, 60-mm systems, but such cases were episodic and were not widespread due to the small number of these weapons and mines for them in the Mujahideen weapons system. So the scouts of the 3rd company of the 154th ooSpN during the winter of 1985-1986. used a 60-mm Type 63 mortar captured from the enemy until they ran out of mines.

The experience gained in handling non-standard weapons was useful to scouts in the battle on March 29, 1986. on the Afghan-Pakistani border in the Krer Gorge (transshipment base for caravans "Shahid Abdul Latif" and "Fatha"). At a critical moment in the battle, the scouts deployed the 82-mm mortar they captured in battle. Type 53 towards the enemy. Thanks to the fire, from it they managed to stop the counterattack of the superior forces of the rebels and ensure the evacuation of the wounded. Scouts of the 22nd Special Forces used captured 82-mm mortars, installing them in the bodies of military vehicles (captured pickups and full-time Urals),

Armed forces of the USSR in the 80s. they did not dwell on the "Afghan war".

In 1984 For the supply of the Ground Forces, separate air assault brigades (ODSHBR) and battalions (ODSHB) receive the 2I27 product, which is a UAZ-469 vehicle with a kit for installing, laying and transporting two 82-mm mortars and portable ammunition. In the UAZ-469 car, in addition to two 2B14-1 mortars and spare parts for them, there were: in the first version - 116 mines (36 in 12 trays and 80 in 8 park boxes), calculation with a driver - 2 people; in the second option - transportable ammunition 76 minutes (36 in 12 trays and 40 in park boxes), calculation with a driver - 4 people. However, this weapon was not suitable for the conditions of Afghanistan, it was suitable for raid operations during a large-scale war.

Mortars were actively used in the 90s. last century during the Yugoslav war

In Afghanistan, another method, or rather a technique, of using mortars on a car chassis has been developed - the use of nomadic mortars. The rebels used this trick. The Afghan mujahideen, using the nomadic firepower (KOS) tactic, transported their 82-mm mortars in the back of pickup trucks, and sometimes on pack animals or tractor trailers. At the same time, they created the necessary stock of mines in advance near the intended firing position and delivered only a mortar to it at the appointed time.

Moreover, the creation of caches of ammunition near firing positions concerned not only mortars, but also other weapon systems. This was the reason for the high mobility of bandit formations, unencumbered by the carrying of ammunition. Even machine gunners had their hiding places in the area of ​​​​responsibility or in places of ambushes and other armed actions.

Whoever knew this was no longer surprised that when examining the killed or captured rebels, they only had a minimum supply of cartridges from 30 to 180 pieces for an assault rifle and a carbine (rifle) and a little more for machine gunners, and grenade launchers rarely carried more than 2- 3 grenades. This circumstance was always used by spetsnaz scouts, catching the enemy by surprise during an ambush or raid.

Calculation of the mortar "Tray" of the SPN GRU unit. Chechnya, 2005

The Afghan experience in using KOS was also in demand by the domestic army special forces, but in another war. It is for reconnaissance and sabotage groups armed with mortars that the tactics of nomadic fire weapons are best suited. Mortar fire behind enemy lines, like no other (with the exception of sniper fire), affects the morale of the personnel of the opposing side.

So in Tajikistan in the early 90s. the special forces reconnaissance group successfully applied the KOS tactics using the Yugoslav 81-mm M69 mortar (M081LC), captured from the Mujahideen by scouts of the 15th separate special forces brigade back in 1987. The design of this mortar made it possible to mount a domestic mortar sight on it. The Yugoslav mortar was 11 kg lighter than the domestic 82 mm BM-43 mortar, and the firing table on a metal nameplate was attached directly to the barrel. The mortar was transported on a UAZ-469 vehicle, and deployed at the firing position with a crew of three, not counting volunteers from the Popular Front of Tajikistan.

The tactics of nomadic fire weapons determine several stages of actions: the collection of intelligence information about the object of the raid; reconnaissance of the area and selection of firing positions; access to combat positions (firing, observer-spotter, subgroups of cover (support); fire defeat (target shelling); change of firing position or withdrawal.

The transportable ammunition of the 81-mm nomadic mortar consisted of ten to forty 82-mm mines of domestic production. Such a universal "omnivorous" 81- and 82-mm battalion mortars is explained by different approaches to determining the caliber. In domestic practice, the caliber of the barrel is indicated, and in the West - mines. The versatility of the 81 and 82mm caliber values ​​of the mortar allows the use of both mines in them. For example, the Mujahideen in Afghanistan successfully used Pakistani, British and American 81-mm mortars with 82-mm Chinese mortars.

In fact, the difference in the caliber of an 81/82 mm mine and an 81/82 mm mortar is the same and amounts to 0.7 mm. It is precisely the lack of contact between the mine and the walls of the barrel when fired, thanks to the annular grooves on the mine body that create an “air cushion”, that explains the high accuracy of the mortar. To ensure high accuracy of shooting, in the first place, in addition to the correct aiming of the weapon at the target, the mass of the mine and the same temperature of the propellant charge (main and additional) come out. Due to the technological features of their production (casting and turning), it is quite difficult to make mortar shells that are accurate in weight.

Domestic manufacturers mark mines of different weights with a cruciform core. Mines with one, two or three "crosses" are classified into three different weight groups. This should be taken into account when firing with a series of mines and, especially, when hitting the enemy near friendly troops. Strange as it may seem, many Russian army mortarmen do not know about this, which is confirmed by their actions during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. Looks like the old Soviet artillery school and the experience of the Great Patriotic War, in which Soviet artillery, including mortar, was recognized as the best, were forgotten.

The mortar crew of the intelligence unit of the Special Forces of the GRU is preparing its mortar for firing. Chechnya, 2005

During the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, 82-mm mortars 2B14 and BM-43 were widely used by both federal forces and gangs. The federal troops suffered especially significant losses from enemy mortar fire during the capture of Grozny in January 1995. Having an extensive network of informers and observers-spotters, illegal armed groups used the tactics of fire raids to concentrate Russian troops in courtyards and on the streets. In the "Second Chechen campaign", the militants, fortunately, "underestimated" mortars, but the federal forces used them quite widely.

So, during the destruction of R. Gelaev's bandit group in December 2003, thanks to the high professionalism of the mortar crew of the army special forces, the federal forces managed to completely block the enemy with fire. For two days, the calculation of the 82-mm mortar 2B14 "Tray" kept the surrounded enemy in a gorge on the northern slope of the Kusa ridge with harassing fire, and later provided direct fire support to the assault groups. At the same time, the mortars were in a closed firing position 1.7 km from the assault groups, and the mines were laid 30-50m from the attackers.

The 82mm mortar appeared in the early 2000s. in service with the domestic army special forces is not accidental. Here, the combat experience of using mortars in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the foreign experience of the Special Operations Forces, a number of publications in the domestic media and the enthusiasm of individual special forces officers affected.

Foreign experience Experience in the combat use of mortars

Foreign experience The experience of the combat use of mortars by special forces of the United States and Great Britain indicates that this type of weapon plays an important role in the course of special operations.

A typical example was the operation of the military personnel of the 22nd SAS Regiment (Special Airborne Service) of the British Armed Forces to destroy Argentine Air Force aircraft on Pebble Island during the Falklands conflict, which was carried out on May 14-15. The day before, on May 10, 1982, two patrols of four people each were landed from helicopters on the island of West Falklands with the task of conducting reconnaissance of the aircraft base.

Having crossed the strait in collapsible canoes, the patrols equipped two observation posts (OP) and established the presence of 11 Pukara attack aircraft at the reconnaissance airfield. On the morning of May 14, at the opposite end of Pebble Island, three Sea King helicopters landed a detachment of the 22nd SAS Regiment, armed with small arms, grenade launchers and two 81-mm mortars. Coming to the airfield, a detachment of 40 people divided into two groups and took up their original positions.

One group of 20 people was supposed to destroy the planes in the parking lots with mortar fire, and the other was to cover their actions and cut off reinforcements from the nearest Argentine garrison. The operation took place at night with the use of lighting mines and shells from the destroyer Glamorgan. During the special operation, all Argentine aircraft were destroyed. British losses were two wounded.

It is difficult to find a more effective weapon than a mortar of a reconnaissance and sabotage group when destroying enemy aircraft and helicopters at airfields and landing sites. A wealth of experience in this kind of combat against enemy aircraft has been accumulated by various rebel formations in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. From mortar fire, the protection of airfields with an extensive network of outposts and posts, minefields and engineering barriers is often powerless.

Armed with portable 60- or 82-mm mortars, small reconnaissance and sabotage groups, operating behind enemy lines at a considerable distance from the main forces, can always count on effective fire support from their own mortar. Even in Afghanistan, where there was an effective air support system for special forces, in the presence of a relatively primitive air defense of the rebels, the special forces could not always rely on the help of army and attack aircraft.

In addition to air defense, the work of aviation is also limited by weather conditions. Artillery support is devoid of such shortcomings, but its capabilities are limited by the firing range of cannon and rocket artillery of the Ground Forces. In such a situation, the issue of increasing the firepower of special forces is solved very simply - with their own mortars.

The main advantages of the 82-mm mortar as a special forces weapon are not only its high firing accuracy, but also the possibility of covert firing, as well as the high mobility of this artillery weapon system.

In the early 2000s By order of the GRU GSh, domestic designers developed an 82-mm silent mortar complex BSHMK 2B25. However, due to the short-sightedness of individual officials of the military department, the work was curtailed, and the adoption of a silent mortar into service with the Russian Armed Forces is not planned in the near future. But in vain. The mortar, which has no analogues in the world, has a mass of about 12 kg and a firing range

about 1200m. At the same time, its fragmentation mine is several times more effective than a conventional 82-mm high-explosive fragmentation mine, and the sound of a shot is no louder than a hammer hitting a tree ...

Alas, what kind of silent mortars for domestic special forces can we talk about if its very number is reduced, while the United States and our other "sworn friends" give paramount importance to the development of special operations forces.

The high mobility of 60- and 82-mm mortars is ensured by the possibility of carrying them by personnel, parachute landing (in cargo containers), delivery by helicopters, light vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The kit of the domestic 82-mm mortar 2B14 includes pack devices that allow it to be carried by three servicemen (barrel - pipe, base plate, bipod and sight). The fourth calculation number transfers the mines themselves, but if necessary, they can be transferred over short distances by other numbers. During the actions of a mortar crew in infantry combat formations or as part of a reconnaissance and sabotage group, other military personnel are involved in carrying mines.

In China, where the infantry is one of the largest military branches in the world, universal pack devices are used to carry 82-mm mortars and recoilless rifles, heavy machine guns and other fire support weapons. Our servicemen had the opportunity to get acquainted with them in Afghanistan. The versatility of the packs is achieved by the presence of a standard back cushion with mounting brackets, straps and shoulder straps with shoulder pads. With the help of such a pack, you can carry any types of heavy weapons in standard cases or fasten them to packs with belts, as well as other loads.

It is clear that the battalion mortar has not lost its importance in modern high-tech warfare. A portable 82-mm mortar in the Russian Armed Forces cannot be replaced by an automatic mortar of the same caliber 2B9 "Vasilek" or mortars of a larger caliber. Other infantry support weapons of the 21st century, including high-precision ones, cannot fully replace it.

Alexander MUSIENKO, Colonel of the Reserve