Despite the fact that in recent years military equipment has been significantly modernized, mortar weapons are still the main weapon for any military unit. In general, this is due to the fact that when developing these weapons, the developers managed to combine high fire efficiency with low cost. This weapon is best suited for providing fire support to infantry, especially when fighting takes place in difficult terrain with difficult terrain.
Types of mortars
The most popular in the military industry was the 120 mm mortar of the 1943 model called PM-43, on the basis of which a large number of modern modifications were developed:
- 2B11 - standard;
- 2B24 - domestic modification significantly superior in fire performance to all imported analogues;2В11 - modification licensed in Bulgaria;
- 2С12 -is a mortar complex, called "Sled". Its design is represented by the 2F510 machine (GAZ-66 car), on which the installation is transported, and the 2L81 wheel drive, designed for use with the standard version of the 2B11 mortar;
- 2K32 - class 2B24 mortar is located on an armored caterpillar base;
- 2B25 - used by special units. It has a number of advantages that allow it to carry out attacks in which the enemy cannot determine the location of the installation and, as a result, eliminate it. It is also produced in the "Commando" version with a firing range of up to 3 km with a total weight of the structure not exceeding 12 kg.
Application 2B11
In the event that it is required to destroy or suppress the movement of infantry or enemy combat forces with mounted fire, the 120 mm mortar, the characteristics of which fully meet the stated requirements, will become an indispensable weapon. At the same time, its scope is very diverse. It can be used for shooting on steep slopes, mountains, gorges, forests. It is successfully used to destroy enemy trenches, trenches and various military installations of light construction. If necessary, it can be used to make holes in barbed wire or repel enemy attacks at any time of the day.
Main varieties of 120 mm mines used in 2B11
The performance achieved by the 120 mm mortar, the characteristics of which are indicated for 5 people, forin recent years has been significantly improved at the Central Research Institute "Burevestnik". Now the structure is transported on URAL-43206 vehicles and armored tracked MT-LB, allowing the accompanying crew to be guaranteed the maximum degree of protection.
Main mines used:
- high-explosive fragmentation with a weight of up to 15, 9 kg;
- incendiary;
- smoke;
- lighting;
- campaign.
At the same time, the time it takes to take up a firing position, if necessary, is 8 minutes, and in order to leave it, it will take about 6 minutes.
Begin production of modern mortars
Standard mortar 120 mm, the performance characteristics of which are completely based on the original model of the Second World War, was published in 1979 at the Burevesnik Central Research Institute (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). It received the name 2B11 and, having entered service in 1981, began to be mass-produced at the Motovilikha Plant, during which about 1500 mortar guns of this type were produced.
2B11 mortar device
In fact, the 120 mm mortar is a device with a recoilless design, installed using a bipedal and a breech with a supporting heel on a rigid plate. It acts as a support, which should be placed directly on the ground. Since charging is carried out only through the muzzle, and in combat conditions it is possible to lay a double charge, the first ofwhich will serve as a fuse for the second, provoking an explosion directly in the muzzle of the mortar, most modifications of the 2B11 received a special mechanism on the muzzle that prevents such an action and, as a result, significant injuries to those around.
Compared to the 1943 model, the 120 mm mortar, the characteristics of which have received significant changes, is cast from modern materials that greatly facilitate its construction and transportation. The design was equipped with a model MPM-44M sight, providing maximum accuracy at a distance of 480 to 7100 m. If necessary, the MPM-44 can be increased by more than 2 °, providing a field of view of more than 9 °.
It was also important that the 120 mm mortar, the photo of which is shown below, into combat position in less than 2 minutes turned out to be important, which significantly saves time for firing a shot in the face of an unexpected enemy attack.
In the event that the use of 2B11 is carried out in an area where the 2F510 vehicle cannot pass, the mortar is mounted directly on the tracked chassis, greatly facilitating the transportation of the gun.
Mortar 120 mm TTX
Mortar 2B11 can use for firing all kinds of mines with a caliber of 120 mm. This category even includes guided mines of the KM-8 "Gran" category, already by this fact one can properly judge the combat characteristics that the 120 mm mortar shows. Reviews of military personnel about this weapon allow us to judge the maximumrange indicators, which is about 7500 m when charged with conventional ones.
The total weight for all modifications, including the 2B11 itself, is 210 kg, allowing more than 15 shots per minute with an initial charge speed of at least 325 m / s. The design of the barrel with a length of 1740 mm provides a vertical pointing angle ranging from +45° to +80°. At the same time, horizontal indicators fluctuate within ±5 °, while maintaining sight indicators of 360 ° with a horizontal firing angle from 5 ° to 26 °.
Basic data
The 120 mm mortar, with a range of up to 9000 m when fired with guided mines, is by far the most effective weapon for suppressing enemy firepower and covering the movement of infantry units.
Shooting is carried out by mortar rounds with GVMZ-7 fuses and a variable charge. It is noteworthy that the 2F510 car (GAZ-66 car) with a V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, in which the 2B11 is transported, can only carry with it a strictly defined supply of charges placed in 24 boxes. The ammunition load is designed to produce 48 shots that a 120 mm mortar can fire. The characteristics of the device allow loading and unloading 2B11 into a car body without the use of heavy equipment.
In the event that for some reason there are not enough people to complete this procedure, the mortar is transported in tow. At the same time, the 2F510 engine is gasoline and belongs toclass ZMZ-66-06, the power of which reaches 120 liters. with. At the same time, the maximum allowable speed on the highway is 90 km/h.
If a car with a mortar mount has to ford a river, it will be necessary to perform preliminary measurements for the normal passage of the car. At the deepest point, the maximum allowable water level should not exceed 1 m.
The brake system is equipped with a hydraulic drive with several circuits and hydraulic vacuum boosters on each of them. These factors make it possible to ensure the reliability of 2B11 transportation even in difficult combat conditions. The only weakness of the 2F510 is the dependent suspension on polyelliptical springs with shock absorbers.
Outlook for 2B11
Currently, the developers are busy creating a new look for a unified set of 120 mm 2B11 mortars in order to provide the design with the maximum firing range with full automation of the preparation and firing of high-precision ammunition.
The configuration of the mortar will directly depend on what its carrying capacity and dimensions will be. At the same time, a simplified system, created on a hydropneumatic support, is planned to be placed on the chassis of the Tiger and IVECO class, which will have a significant impact not only on transportation, but also on ease of use. It is planned to improve the existing version so much that the fire attack will be carried out without the noise, flame and smoke that accompanies the shot.
The continuous development of new models and the improvement of existing mortar installations supports Russia's consistently high rating in the military industry and provides the state with one of the first places on the world stage.
