All stages of human development are associated with continuous hostility and the seizure of foreign territories. The ancient cities were fortresses, the garrison of which was reliably protected by high walls. Often the capture of such a fortification meant a complete victory in the war. However, the long siege of cities was accompanied by very heavy losses on both sides.
It was necessary to create technical devices designed to destroy "serious" protection. Since the time of Alexander the Great, the first mention of "ballistae" appeared - tools capable of throwing stones along a hinged trajectory. This feature allowed devices, which were a kind of catapult, to inflict damage on an enemy hidden behind a fortress wall.
At the end of the seventeenth century, the principle of the ballista was applied to the design of the mortar, a cannon that fired at an angle of 45 degrees. The successor to such a weapon was the mortar. A photo of the device, its types, combat qualities and technical characteristics are presented in the review. It also describes the history of creation and stages of development of this type of weapon.
Definition
Mortar is an artillery weapon that is designed to fire at a high elevation angle, with the aim ofdefeat of sheltered manpower and destruction of fortified field communications. Being a type of mortar, it is distinguished by the absence of a carriage and a recoil device - these parts are replaced by a plate that is installed on the ground or armored vehicles. The mortar is fired with feathered ammunition, in the shank of which a propellant charge is attached.
Historical background
For the first time, a weapon that fired a projectile-mine, firing along a steep trajectory, was used by the Russian army in the war with Japan in 1904-1905, during the defense of the city of Port Arthur. The creator of the "apparatus for firing at close range" was the officer and engineer Leonid Nikolaevich Gobyato.
The basis of the gun was a 75-mm howitzer with a truncated barrel, adapted for firing ship mines. Subsequently, the new "miracle gun", which in fact proved its excellent combat qualities, was called the "mortar". The firing range of the gun depended on the change in the angle of the barrel, as well as the magnitude of the charge, and ranged from 50 to 400 meters.
Russian experience in the use of mortars has been carefully studied by foreign experts. The device was widely used during the World War of 1914–1918. In 1915, mortars with a caliber of 47 and 58 mm were put into service with the army of Tsarist Russia, with a firing range of 400 and 520 meters, respectively. The creator of these devices was the captain of artillery E. A. Likhonin.
Mortar device
To understand how a mortar fires, you need to consider itconstruction. The gun has three main components:
- Barrel. The element in the form of a pipe sets the direction of the projectile. The top of the part is equipped with a bell (a) designed for easy loading. The bottom of the barrel is a breech with a firing pin pressed into it (c), which pierces the primer of the projectile (mine).
- Base plate. The item has a hinged connection with the barrel. Serves as a stop for the gun when fired, transferring the recoil force to the surface (ground, chassis, etc.).
- Fry. An element that supports the barrel when firing. It folds into the stowed position with the help of a spring lyre (c).
The principle of action and the range of the mortar
The impact mechanism of the mortar provides for the presence of a striker mounted in the lower part of the barrel. The gun charge - mine - is fed from the muzzle. The ammunition slides on a smooth surface, and its primer, located in the tail section, "pierces" on the sting of the striker, which is why the shot occurs. This type of striker is called hard, it is extremely simple in design and can provide a high rate of fire.
The gun's ammunition - a mine - has a drop-shaped body, equipped with an explosive warhead, with a stabilizing tail unit. It contains a fuse, as well as the main (propellant) and additional charges, due to the use of which the initial speed and range of the projectile are regulated.
Special tables created byindividually for each type of gun. Consider a typical example of such calculations.
Firing table. Mortar 120mm SAO 2S9
| Charge type | Mass of charge (g) |
Initial airspeed mines (m/sec) |
Firing range (m) elevation angle 450 |
Firing range (m) elevation angle 850 |
| 1main | 100 | 120 | 1350 | 450 |
| 2 main+1 extra | 170 | 160 | 2300 | 800 |
| 3 main+2 sub | 240 | 190 | 3300 | 1150 |
| 4 main+3 extra | 310 | 220 | 4200 | 1400 |
| 5 main+4 extra | 380 | 250 | 4950 | 1650 |
| 6 main+5 extra | 450 | 275 | 5750 | 1900 |
Thus, we can conclude: the range of the projectile depends not only on the value of the propellant charge, but also on the elevation angle of the gun. Note that the initial velocity of the ammunition and the distance it can travel are also related to the length of the mortar barrel.
Mortars. Characteristics of guns, their goals and objectives
In combat, great importance is attached to the mobility of weapons, the possibility of their use in forward positions, the striking effect of weapons and their ability todisguise. The mortar fully meets these requirements. As a weapon with a mounted trajectory of fire, it provides:
- Destruction of enemy manpower, which is located in open areas of the terrain, as well as in trenches, trenches, gorges and ravines, behind vertical walls and heights.
- Installing smoke screens to facilitate covert redeployment of their units.
- Illumination of the area with the aim of "blinding" the enemy.
Tactical and technical parameters possessed by the mortar
- Firing range. It is determined by the minimum and maximum flight distance of the projectile fired by the gun. For example, the maximum firing range of the Russian 420-mm self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka" is 45,000 meters.
- Angle pointing barrel. This parameter is adjusted by rearranging the support bipod (two-legged) of the gun. The vertical guidance angle of the mortar varies from 45 to 85 degrees, and the horizontal one - 360.
- Time to bring to combat position. A characteristic that determines the speed of preparation of the gun for firing. For example, the domestic mortar 2B14-1 "Tray" is brought to full combat readiness in 30 seconds.
- Maximum rate of fire. It is determined by the number of shots that the gun fires per minute. The maximum possible rate of fire for light mortars can be about 30 rds / min.
- Mass of ammunition. Specifies the weight of the projectile that the mortar can fire. 120-French-made RT61 (F1) mm gun, for example, is capable of firing 15 kg ammunition.
- Mass of the gun in firing position. Includes the weight of all parts (stem tube, bipod and base plate) in assembled form. For self-propelled guns, this parameter also includes the mass of the chassis. For example, the heavy regular mortar of the American army M-30, in combat position, weighs 305 kg, and the self-propelled rocket launcher BM-21 Grad, produced in the Soviet Union, has a mass of 13700 kg.
Combat qualities of the mortar
- High rate of fire. The devices are easy to reload, which allows you to fire guns with great intensity. The rate of fire of some types of modern mortars is up to 170-190 rounds per minute.
- High power multi-purpose ammunition. Fragmentation, high-explosive, cluster, incendiary, smoke and light - these are just some of the types of projectiles that a mortar can fire. The firing range of the gun is regulated by changing the power of the charge that pushes the mine out of the barrel.
- A simple device. The convenience of the design of most mortars, the possibility of their disassembly and ease of transportation make it possible to move the guns over rough terrain, continuously supporting their units with fire. Some models can be used to fire from the car body.
- Constant combat readiness. Mortars are distinguished by a high speed of bringing to a "working" state, due to the ease of assembly.
- Steep projectile trajectory. The gun is capable of hitting a closed target,protected from flat artillery and machine-gun fire. Thanks to this feature, the mortar is able to fire "on top" of its units.
Classification
Let's take a quick look at the types of guns, taking Russian mortars as a basis. Since the days of the USSR, this type of weapon has been classified as follows:
- Company guns (caliber 55–65 mm).
- Batallion (80–85 mm).
- Regimental (105-125mm).
- Divisional (large-caliber and jet).
Mortars are distinguished by the device of the barrel as smooth-bore guns and rifled ones. There are two ways to charge them - from the muzzle and breech. The degree of automation of reloading also differs. There are automatic guns, for example, 2B9M "Vasilek" - a mortar, the photo of which is presented below.
There are self-propelled mortars - mounted on a wheeled or tracked chassis.
Development of tools
The most important stage in the development of mortars was the Second World War 1939-1945. Only the industry of the USSR produced over 345,000 such guns! Naturally, it is necessary to recall the famous "Katyusha" BM-13 - the first Guards jet mortar. The firing range of this gun was from 4350 to 5500 m.
The main characteristics of the mortars of that time, which were in service with the countries participating in the war, are combined in this table.
| Types of mortars | Caliber of guns (mm) | Mass in firing position(kg) | Mine weight (kg) | Cannon firing range (m) |
| Company troops | 50-65 | 9-20 | 0, 8-1, 5 | 420-1800 |
| Battalion | 80-85 | 50-65 | 3, 0-4, 5 | 2400-3700 |
| Regimental | 105-120 | 170-280 | 9-17 | 3700-6200 |
| Divisional | 160 | 1170 | 40, 5 | 5500 |
Modern guns
Today's mortars, thanks to the rapid development of military-industrial technologies, have become ultra-modern rifle complexes. We will not describe in detail all the advantages of artillery pieces of the XXI century, but consider only one model. And by her example we will see how far progress has stepped forward.
At the military-technical exhibition MILEX-2011, held in Minsk, Russian engineers presented a silent mortar 2B25, called "Gall". The peculiarity of this product is that it has the most covert combat use. When the mortar is fired, the powder gases are "locked" in the ammunition, and the gun does not emit smoke, sound or shock wave.
"Gall" strikes targets at a distance of 1000-1300 m with a rate of fire of 15 rds / min. The weight of the mortar does not exceed 15 kg, and the mass of the projectile is only 1.9 kg. 2B25 is designed to support the work of special forces and has no analogues in the world.
Conclusion
Development of navigation systems and computerization of controlfire turned the mortar into a precision weapon. Nevertheless, he retained his main properties - simplicity and convenience, inexpensive ammunition, a hinged firing trajectory and no need for long-term training of "maintenance personnel". The mortar is still one of the most reliable types of weapons that do not require special resources and numerous artillery crews.
