Russia is a large country in contact with the whole world. As a result, at almost every moment in time, military operations are taking place in which the Russian military or at least Russian weapons and armored vehicles are participating. Having visited the Victory Parade in different cities, you can see how diverse the equipment is: artillery, tank, missile troops, trucks and cars for a variety of purposes.
The inventors give the names of their technique to unusual ones: the Swifts and Mig aircraft, the Grad, Tornado, and Peony installations and the whole deadly bunch of howitzers - Acacia, Hyacinth and Tulip. Howitzer "Tulip" - one of the beautiful artillery flowers, let's look at it in more detail.
History of creation
During the time of Khrushchev, artillery troops, in principle, were declared not meeting the requirements of the time. The development of rockets was required. At that time, several promising samples were in the pilot testing stage, which pierced the armor of any tank. But the order is customary to carry out, and the equipment was dismantled.
Something was saved somewhere, someone’s hand didn’t rise to disassemble their creation, and thanks to this, the SU-100P Taran anti-tank gun is now standing in the famous museum of armored vehicles in Kubinka.
The war in Vietnam clearly showed the lag of our artillery from the American. The United States used the installation M109, which hit the target at a distance of 14 km. They began urgently to recall old developments, to catch up with the West in the development of artillery. Then the creation of an armor-piercing bouquet was started in the Urals - “Acacia”, “Hyacinth” and “Tulip” - a howitzer, the photo of which is presented below. The deadlines were given shortly, and already in 1971 the machines passed field tests and were put into service. Since then, they remain there, of course, with some modifications and modifications.
Purpose of the Tulip installation
A 240-mm self-propelled mortar installation is designed to destroy buildings and fortifications, which the enemy uses as a shelter for his manpower, equipment, command and communications posts, artillery, etc., inaccessible to the artillery floor fire. There are no analogues in the world, howitzers and mortars of other countries have a smaller caliber and completely different characteristics.
In addition to conventional shells, the Tulip howitzer can fire nuclear charges, while itself remaining at a safe distance from the explosion. Before the Tulip, the towed 240-mm M-240 mortar, used since 1950, was in service with them. For 1971 they had similar characteristics in shooting and penetration, but the M-240 mortar is less mobile, has less maneuverability, it needs more time to put on alert, aiming and leaving the firing position.
Combat vehicle design
Tulip is a 240 mm self-propelled mortar. The design of the installation is original. The entire artillery unit is on the roof of the hull, the crew, ammunition and equipment are located in the chassis of the chassis. On the left is the commander’s turret.
The ammunition includes 10 active rocket and 20 high-explosive fragmentation mines. For all mortar processes produced for firing, a hydraulic system is provided. His ancestor M-240 did everything manually. The mechanized, drum-mounted ammunition depot is loaded from the breech side of the barrel. The option of manually loading using a crane is provided.
The standard high-explosive mine F-864 has a mass of 130.7 kg, it has five explosive charges that tell the mine the speed of movement. In the Western press there were reports that for the M-240, active-reactive mines with nuclear charges were developed and put into production.
The diesel engine of the Tulip V-59 installation allows to reach speeds of up to 60 km / h on asphalt and up to 30 km / h on the primer.
In accordance with the requirements of modern war, the Tulip howitzer is equipped with a defense system and can overcome and act on infected areas. The loading system and dimensions of the machine do not require special preparation of the position for firing.
The mortar chassis was used from object 305, which is very similar to the chassis of the Krug anti-aircraft complex. The Tulip armored plates withstand bullets of caliber 7-62 of type B-32 from a distance of 300 m. The 2B8 mortar itself cannot be used without a chassis, the Tulip howitzer is so arranged.
Specifications
The B-59 diesel engine has a capacity of 520 horses and allows you to reach a maximum speed of 62.8 km / h. It overcomes a vertical wall of 700 mm and has a range of 500 km. Also, a trench 3 m wide and a water barrier 1 m deep will not stop the Tulip.
The crew of 5 people serves such equipment. The Tulip self-propelled howitzer weighs 27,500 kg, length - about 6.5 m, width - 3 meters and a quarter, height - 3.2 m. In addition to the main gun of 240 mm, there is also an auxiliary weapon with a caliber of 7.62.
The installation can fire up to 1 round per minute, and with a pointing and elevation angle of 80-82 degrees, a declination angle of 50 degrees, a mortar can destroy enemy objects hiding behind obstacles, while remaining unattainable at that time. Whatever critics say , this is an effective weapon - the Tulip howitzer. The firing range of the main gun is 19 km.
Test
All military equipment before being put into service passes a series of tests. The artillery bouquet did not go around this lot. One of the chief designers told the case about the tests of "Acacia".
During the control check, an unexpected launch of a rocket occurred in the launcher when it was in the launch position. Fortunately, there were no warheads in the rocket. Due to the starting charge, she dragged the entire installation until she ran into the wall, then broke away and began to wag along the landfill, there were no casualties. Also, "Acacia" had a problem with the removal of powder gases, they accumulated in the crew compartment. I had to create a pressure difference so that the gases escaped after the projectile through the gun.
Howitzer "Tulip" has shown its best side. Concrete fortifications were used as a target, they were shot at for many years, but due to their strength, they demolished everything. After the “Tulip” volley, only a funnel 10 meters deep and the same width remained of them.
New howitzer shells
Mortars were modified, improved, and new shells were also produced for them. It is worth mentioning one of these, mine 1K113 "Daredevil". Developed it in the late 80s. Unlike a conventional mine, it has a limited time for opening the optics window for homing and turning on the laser for target designation.
Not far from the target, at a distance of 200 to 5000 m, a spotter with a target indicator is located. It highlights the target only when the mine is at a distance of 400-800 m. Even if the target is detected, the enemy does not have time to respond.
A shot with such a projectile hits a target with a radius of 2-3 m with a probability of 80-90%.
Tulip in Afghanistan
After field trials, it was necessary to test artillery in the conditions of hostilities. Afghanistan was the first such point. The Tulip was indispensable with its ability to hit the enemy in a shelter and on the other side of the mountain, to fill up the caves with one shell and to drop morale with impressive destruction. Especially the advantages of the Tulip were noticeable during the assault on the fortresses, 122 mm shells stuck in a clay wall, while a 240 mm shell destroyed everything. Thanks to the angle of fire, you can put the installation 20 meters from the wall of the house, give the maximum angle and hit the enemy, who took refuge on the other side of the building, so that he knows what a Tulip is. Mortar, howitzer or just a gun - the technical term does not matter when the shells whistle overhead.
With the use of the Smelchak mine, accuracy increased, they were beaten right into the entrances of the caves, where the enemy was hiding.
Artillery - god of war
In their memoirs, the military often regret that they had little artillery, because there never was much of it. The heavy hoot of guns instills confidence in their own and presses the enemy, literally and figuratively, into the ground.
Installation "Tulip" is still in service. None of the countries has a mortar of this caliber. In Europe and the USA, the caliber does not exceed 120 mm.