Ever since the Second World War, the importance of rocket-propelled mortar systems has only increased. True, today their place has been taken by multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), but the meaning of this type of weapon has remained unchanged: to “plow” the areas occupied by the enemy, leaving no chance for infantry or even heavy equipment to take root. And the BM-30 "Smerch" can cope with these tasks perfectly.
Basic information
Designed for long-range destruction of enemy group targets. Suitable targets for this system are covered and uncovered enemy manpower, armored and unarmored vehicles (including the heaviest types of tanks), military and civilian airfields, and missile system launch silos. Can be used for targeted destruction of industrial infrastructure, destruction of command centers and other important communications centers.
Development
In the period from 1969 to 1976, intensive work was carried out in Tula inthe field of finding new ways to develop multiple launch rocket systems that, in the event of a large-scale war, could be used as a reserve weapon of special power. The decree, which ordered the start of the creation of the BM-30 "Smerch", was issued in December 1976.
The main role in the development lay first on A. N. Ganichev, and then passed to G. A. Denezhkin. Already at the beginning of 1982, the new MLRS successfully passed all stages of state tests. However, it was put into service only in 1987, after the team of designers eliminated some fundamental shortcomings. But they were not connected with some inaccuracies and flaws in the design of a new type of weapon, but with the need to create new types of ammunition, since the existing samples simply could not match the increased combat power of the Smerch.
New generation rocket system
The work at the same time was done so huge that the BM-30 "Smerch" can be safely attributed to a new generation of this type of weapon. This is largely due to the creation of completely new types of ammunition. Here we should make a small digression. When the Americans created the MLRS MLRS, they came to an unequivocal conclusion: a range of 30-40 km for such systems is the maximum, beyond which the monstrous dispersion value makes their use meaningless.
But the developers of "Smerch" fundamentally disagreed with this approach. They were able to create truly unique projectiles: they not only fly to the limitdistances, but at the same time they differ in such small dispersion indicators, which are two to three times better than those of foreign systems. Finally, the main achievement of the Tula people was that for the first time the shells of our cannon artillery began to be adjusted after launch.
Projectile Features
The fact is that a special inertial guidance system was included in their design. It provides high-quality stabilization in the initial part of the trajectory, and also makes adjustments to the movement of the rocket. Moreover, the indicators are calculated based on dozens of factors, including the “outboard” temperature, wind speed and direction, air humidity, etc.
Missiles or MLRS
It's no secret that while N. S. Khrushchev, who suffered from "rocket mania", was in power, many promising examples of howitzers and other types of cannon artillery went under the knife, which slowed down the development of this industry in our country for many years. In order to “push through” the creation of their BM-30 “Smerch” under such conditions, the developers from Tula had to put in it such characteristics that would make it possible to convince top management of the uniqueness of the system. Only in this case, she would have had a chance to be adopted.
But why do we touch upon the personality of Nikita Sergeevich in this matter, if he left power in 1964? The fact is that work on the creation of fundamentally new multiple launch rocket systems has been carried out since the end of the 50s, but this had to be done, practically without puttingguide to the notice. However, in 1964 Khrushchev left, and L. I. Brezhnev did not interfere with the creation of new technology. But the developments gave their effect, which turned out to be extremely positive.
MLRS BM-30 "Smerch" has such a range and "lethality" that it is somewhere in the middle between classic rocket launchers and missile systems. Actually, for the first time, the Smerchs took up combat duty precisely in the missile unit, which confirms the respect that the highest military officials of the USSR had for them.
The current state of affairs
In 1989, the latest upgraded version of the BM-30 Smerch MLRS was released. Now this technique has been adopted not only in our country. These samples are available from Ukraine, Belarus, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Traditionally, representatives of India and China have repeatedly shown interest in the car, but there is no official data on the sale of equipment or technologies for its creation. Which, however, does not exclude the fact that modern samples of the PRC MLRS, very reminiscent of the Smerch, are almost certainly built in the image and likeness of those machines that the Chinese intensively bought from the same Ukrainians in the 90s.
Composition of the system
Many for some reason believe that the BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket systems include only vehicles with containers for launching shells, which most often appear in the official chronicle and in photographs. But this is far from the case:
- Actually the 9K58 combat vehicle itself.
- Machine for transporting and feeding shells 9T234-2.
- A set of ammunition, which, depending on the task, can vary greatly.
- Visual aids and training aids.
- Kit 9Ф819, which includes both specialized repair tools and tools for setting high-precision equipment.
- Slepok-1 automatic fire control system.
- Machine for carrying out topographic survey of the area, the results of which are used to reference the relief and especially prominent parts of the relief.
- Radio direction finding installation 1B44. It allows you to timely detect the advance of the enemy, fixing the ongoing radio exchange, including the encrypted one.
The launcher itself consists of a chassis with tubular rails and an off-road vehicle MAZ-543. The artillery complex is mounted in the stern, and in front is the driver's cabin and crew seats, equipped, among other things, with means for aiming and firing. MLRS can be successfully used in a variety of climatic and meteorological conditions, at an ambient temperature of +50 to -50 degrees Celsius.
Combat performance of the system
What is the effectiveness of the BM-30 "Smerch", the firing range when using it? Everything is known in comparison, and the amazing characteristics of this system - especially. So, if the legendary "Grad" can cover an area of 4 hectares from a distance of 20 km, "Hurricane" strikes an area of 29 hectares at a distance of up to 35 km, the American MLRS burns up to 33 hectaresarea for 33 km of distance … Then the BM-30 "Smerch", whose performance characteristics are simply fantastic, can immediately cover 67 hectares, and the launch range reaches 70 kilometers!
It is reported that the latest upgrades can increase this distance immediately up to one hundred kilometers. In addition, unlike the classic "Grad", the shells of this system are capable of not only incapacitating enemy armored vehicles, stunning and inflicting shell shock to its crew. They simply break even heavy tanks with a close hit due to their huge lethal force. So the BM-30 Smerch multiple launch rocket system is a fearsome weapon of enormous destructive power.
Characteristics of used projectiles
At first glance, their caliber is striking to the core - just 300 mm! The layout is a standard aerodynamic, solid propellant sustainer engine that runs on a mixture of several components at once. As we have already said, their distinguishing feature is the presence of a flight control system that corrects the pitch and "goat" on the course. This innovation increases the accuracy of firing at least twice at the farthest distances, and the dispersion value, even in the most adverse conditions, does not exceed 0.21% of the firing range.
To put it simply, even when firing at a distance of 70 km, the shells fall with a deviation of no more than 150 meters from the intended target. These indicators make the BM 30 9K58 Smerch related to modern cannon artillery systems!
Flight course correction
Correction in progressgas-dynamic rudders driven by high-pressure gas from an onboard gas generator. In addition, the stabilization of the projectile in flight occurs due to its rotation around the longitudinal axis, provided by preliminary spin-up while moving along the tubular guide and supported in flight by installing the blades of the drop-down stabilizer at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
Composition of standard ammunition
The following types of shells can be included in the ammunition load:
- 9M55F, the most common type. The warhead is a detachable monoblock with a high-explosive fragmentation type of action.
- 9M55K. It features a cluster warhead, which contains 72 fragmentation submunitions.
- 9M55K1. It also has a cluster warhead, but in this case it contains five smaller self-guided projectiles.
- 9M55K4. The cassette warhead contains four anti-tank mines, intended for remote mining of the area.
- 9M55K5. with cluster warhead with cumulative fragmentation warheads;
- 9M55C with thermobaric warhead;
- 9M528 with high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
Firing
You can shoot single shots or volleys. All projectiles can be fired in 38 seconds. The launch can be controlled either from the cab or using a remote control. The power of the installation is evidenced at least by the fact that three such installations are not inferior to two Tochka-U missiles in terms of combat effectiveness. One full salvoshells with a cluster warhead can cover up to 400,000 square meters at once. In a word, the BM-30 "Smerch", the photo of which is in the article, is a really powerful weapon, the capabilities of which inspire sincere respect.
The total weight of each projectile, regardless of its type, is 800 kilograms, with the warhead itself accounting for 280 kilograms. The standard angle of approach to the target is from 30 to 60 degrees, but some types of projectiles can be set to dive at an angle of 90 degrees. Such "meteorites" make holes in heavy armored vehicles through and through.
Even if there is no penetration, an explosion of 280 kg of explosive in the immediate vicinity of the tank is certain death from severe concussion for its crew, and the vehicle will receive such damage that it will not even move without repair. Due to this, the BM-30 "Smerch" or MLRS "Tornado" (modern replica) can be used as a means of stopping tank columns on the march. Something similar happened in Georgia in 2008, when Grads covered a group of Georgian tanks breaking through to the positions of our troops.
Upgrade Details
As we have already said, in 1989 the system was upgraded. During it, almost all electronic and radio navigation "stuffing" of the entire complex was replaced:
- Added the possibility of high-speed exchange of tactical data with headquarters and other divisions of the Tornadoes, and the information is encrypted and tightly protected from outside interference.
- Autonomous system for referencing topographical characteristics of the area and displaying thisinformation on electronic displays in real time.
- Automatic flight task calculation and input.
- The ability to fully prepare the installation for firing, including deployment and aiming, without the need for personnel to leave the cockpit.
Due to the latest innovation, the BM-30 Smerch, whose characteristics we have analyzed, has become an even more autonomous and formidable system. From now on, artillerymen could fire a volley and immediately retreat to their original positions, which significantly reduced the likelihood of detection and elimination of the installation by the enemy.
