Since the appearance of artillery in the arsenals of the armies of different countries, it has become necessary to specialize various types of guns according to their purpose. The constant improvement of defensive fortifications, offensive equipment and combat tactics has led to the division of powerful weapons into classes.
Ancient Stone Throwers
Actually, siege devices - the distant ancestors of artillery pieces - helped attacking warriors capture castles and fortresses long before the mass use of gunpowder. In catapults and ballistas, to communicate the initial speed of the projectiles (and these were usually stones, containers with boiling tar, large steles or logs), the elastic properties of tensile ropes were used, into which metal wire was woven during manufacture. The momentum accumulated during twisting was released at the moment the special lock was released. Then the word "howitzer" appeared. The technical characteristics of the "stone-throwing machine" (as the word Haubitz is translated from German) werevery modest, they shot at a couple of tens of meters and produced more psychological impact, although under certain conditions and good calculation skills they could well cause a fire (if the projectile was incendiary). Progress in the field of lethal devices has led to an increase in the role of remote weapons.
Artillery classes
Starting in the fourteenth century, European armies began to use artillery. Mortars at that time became the most powerful class of guns. Even their ominous name itself (derived from the Dutch mortier, which in turn borrowed the Latin root mort - “death”) indicated a high lethal efficiency. Further downward was the howitzer, the technical characteristics of which (projectile weight and range) were somewhat inferior to those of the mortar. The cannon (canon) was considered the most common and mobile class. The calibers were different, but it was not only about them. The main feature of the class of guns was the design of the barrel, which determines their purpose. According to the structure of the artillery of the army of a particular state, even then it was possible to draw conclusions about the strategic plans and military doctrine of its government.
Evolution of mortars and howitzers
During the First World War, the positional nature of hostilities prompted the belligerents to use heavy siege weapons. The word "mortar" fell into disuse shortly after the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Short-barreled fat freaks gave way to lighter large-caliber mortars andattack bomber aircraft. After the inclusion of missiles, including ballistic missiles, in the arsenals of almost all countries, the need to use heavy, difficult to transport and clumsy guns was completely exhausted. The last attempts to use them were the attempts of German designers to create some terrifying monsters in their size like the "Karl", which had a caliber of 600 mm. The main difference of this obsolete class was a short barrel with thick walls. The large elevation angle roughly corresponded to the modern mortar indicator. The cartridge loading method, which remains today mainly with powerful ship and coastal guns, also did not contribute to the popularity of mortars. Explosives have a large specific surface area, they are hygroscopic, and it is almost impossible to ensure storage conditions at a fixed humidity in a real front. But the mass of the projectile and the firing range of the howitzer became such that it became quite possible to assign the functions that the mortar used to perform to this class of artillery.
Parabolic trajectories, or why do we need howitzers?
To answer this question, we should first consider the ballistic trajectories of different classes of guns. Everyone knows that a physical body released with an initial linear speed, be it an ordinary pebble or a bullet, does not fly in a straight line, but along a parabola. The parameters of this figure may be different, but with the same starting impulse, an increase in the elevation angle will lead to a decrease in the horizontal distance,on which the object will fly. The height will be maximum at a right angle to the horizontal, but in this case there is a risk that the launched projectile (or the same pebble) will fall directly on the thrower's head. The steepness of the trajectory is what distinguishes a howitzer from a cannon. It also determines the purpose of the tool.
When and what to shoot from
If we assume that the enemy seeks to capture the positions of any army, then we should expect an attack from him. Tanks and infantry, supported by assault aircraft, will rush to the previously shelled fortified area. In response, the defending side will use countermeasures, fire from its own artillery and small arms. But if an attack is expected, then appropriate field fortifications will be preliminarily erected, trenches of a full profile will be dug, bunkers and bunkers will be built, the firing sectors of which will make it difficult to clear the defense zone. In general, each of the parties will do everything to complicate the actions of the enemy. In this situation, fire on the defending subunits deep into the ground can only be fired along a trajectory called a hinged one. Flat (that is, almost parallel to the horizon) shooting will be ineffective: enemy soldiers are securely hidden behind parapets and other defensive structures. An ordinary gun will be almost useless. The howitzer, the characteristic of which is mounted, will help to “smoke out” the defenders from the trenches and dugouts, bringing down shells on their heads directly from the sky. Cannons are fired by those who defend themselves. They need to destroy as many enemy tanks and soldiers as possible, running towardspositions. They seek to repel the attack.
Howitzer Caliber
The tasks of modern howitzer artillery have gone far beyond the previously outlined circle. The hinged projectile trajectory is good not only for defeating manpower hidden in trenches and dugouts, but also for other purposes. Fortified areas are often protected by a thick layer of reinforced concrete and dug deep into the ground. The frontal armor of tanks and other armored vehicles is capable of withstanding the impact of many armor-piercing weapons, while at the same time it has more vulnerabilities from above. If a conventional gun achieves high accuracy due to the high initial velocity of the projectile, then one of the conditions for achieving the latter parameter is the relatively small weight of this very projectile. A large caliber is the difference between a howitzer and a cannon. For this class of guns, 100 mm shells are needed, and larger ones are also available.
B-4
A howitzer is a heavy weapon, and this property, combined with its offensive purpose, creates certain difficulties. An example of its rather successful use is the famous B-4 (52-G-625), created in the thirties and lasted through the entire war. The mass of the gun, including the carriage, the barrel with recoil parts and the swinging part, exceeds 17 (!) tons. In order to move it, you need a tractor-tractor. In order to reduce the specific load on the ground, a caterpillar chassis was used. The caliber of this gun is 203 mm, or 8 inches. The projectile is difficult to lift, it weighs from a centner to 145 kilograms (concrete-piercing version), so the supply of ammunition is carried out by a special roller table. Calculationconsists of fifteen people. With a relatively low initial velocity of the projectile (from 300 to 600 m/s), the firing range of the B-4 howitzer exceeds 17 km. The maximum rate of fire is one shot per two minutes. The gun had enormous destructive power, which was demonstrated during the assault on the Mannerheim Line during the Winter War with Finland. However, after a few years it became clear that the future belongs to self-propelled artillery systems.
SU-152
The next step taken by Soviet designers in the direction of creating the most advanced self-propelled guns was the SU-152. It served as a kind of response to the appearance of powerfully armored German tanks equipped with long-barreled guns, which made it possible to fire at our vehicles from long distances (a kilometer or more). The surest way to destroy a well-protected target was to cover it with a heavy projectile flying along a hinged parabolic trajectory. A 152 mm howitzer of ML-20 caliber, mounted on a tank (KV) undercarriage with a fixed cabin and equipped with turning mechanisms, turned out to be a tool capable of solving this problem.
Carnation
The post-war period in the military-technical aspect is characterized as a time of rapid growth in technological capabilities. Reciprocating aircraft engines are being replaced by jet propulsion. Part of the tasks traditionally entrusted to artillerymen are beginning to be solved by rocketmen. However, at the same time, there is also a reassessment of the ratioefficiency and price. The Cold War, in a certain sense, also became a competition between economic systems. The times when “they didn’t stand behind the price” have passed. It turned out that the cost of one artillery shot is much lower than the launch of a tactical missile with approximately equal efficiency, expressed in destructive power. In the USSR, this was not immediately understood: the Khrushchev leadership fell into a certain euphoria after the appearance of missile delivery vehicles in the arsenal of the Soviet Army. In 1967, the Kharkov Tractor Plant (of course) developed the "Carnation" - the first Soviet "flower" self-propelled howitzer. Technical characteristics significantly exceeded the parameters of all artillery pieces produced by the military-industrial complex of the USSR earlier. The use of active rocket projectiles (a kind of hybrid of artillery ammunition with a rocket) was envisaged, in this case the firing range increased from 15.3 kilometers to 21.9. other, including special (chemical). A large distance to the end point of the trajectory made it possible to use weapons of mass destruction. The lightly armored hull housed forty rounds of ammunition.
Acacia
Howitzer, developed in the mid - late sixties, entered service in 1970. It can shoot at a distance of 20-30 km (depending on modification). The vehicle itself is quite light, weighing much less than a medium tank, which has been achievedreduction in armor weight. Direct fire is also possible, but the main purpose remains the same - remote target engagement. The chassis is made according to the front-engine scheme, which justified itself in the war years. The design took into account the experience of creating the SAU-100, and the motivation for the reminiscence was the presence of the M-109 gun in the Americans, capable of firing a low-power tactical nuclear charge (TNT equivalent of 100 tons). The answer was "Acacia" - a howitzer with no worse characteristics.
Czech "Dana"
Most often, the armies of the socialist countries were armed with Soviet models of military equipment, but there were exceptions. Obviously, remembering the past glory (and before the Second World War, Czechoslovakia was one of the leading arms manufacturers in Europe and the world), engineers from Czechoslovakia in the mid-seventies designed and manufactured a new artillery gun, which has a number of tactical and technical data outstanding for that time. The self-propelled howitzer "Dana" was distinguished by a high rate of fire (one shot per minute), had a relatively small crew (6 people), but its main advantage was the wonderful Tatra chassis, with high cross-country ability, maneuverability and speed. The country's leadership even considered the possibility of acquiring this Czech miracle for the needs of the Soviet Army, but, knowing that in our country work is underway to create our own, even more advanced howitzer guns, they abandoned this idea, limiting themselves to purchasing several copies to study the "fraternalexperience." The Dana self-propelled howitzer is still in service with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Libya and several other countries, where this gun was supplied after the collapse of the USSR. During the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, the Russian Army captured three Danes as trophies.
D-30: artillery classics
With all the abundance of self-propelled artillery systems, the cheapest option is the usual wheeled howitzer. The Soviet-made 152 mm gun is known throughout the world for its distinctive silhouette. In the combat position, the carriage, unfolding, completely rests with three beds on the ground, so that the wheels do not touch the ground, which provides - on the one hand - a reliable stop, and on the other - allows for circular firing. The main characteristic of the D-30 howitzer is a firing distance of up to 5.3 km, which in most cases is quite enough. Transportation of the gun is not a problem: it weighs 3.2 tons, which makes it possible to transport it over almost all bridges, and you can use the usual Ural as a tractor. Simplicity, reliability and high efficiency are the characteristic features of Russian weapons. D-30 and D-30A are willingly purchased for defense needs by different countries, and some of them (China, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Iraq) found it necessary to purchase documentation for their production. And this howitzer performs another important function. The photo, in which the traditional noon volley is fired in the Peter and Paul Fortress, certainly adorns this gun.
Shield and sword
Russian howitzers are an indispensable component of artillerymissile shield of the country. Their offensive purpose does not speak of the aggressiveness of military doctrine, but after all, not a single army in the world excludes the possibility of attacking or delivering preemptive strikes, right? In addition, few types of artillery have undergone such significant changes and universalization of functionality as a howitzer. The technical characteristics of this weapon make it possible to use it for firing along a flat trajectory, that is, to use it for defense, including anti-tank.
And gunpowder should always be kept dry.
