History of the Border Service. Spetsnaz weapon Automatic easel grenade launcher ags 17 flame

A story about the best automatic grenade launchers would be incomplete without mentioning Russian weapons. At one time, the Soviet automatic easel grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame" distributed all over the world in huge circulations. This model was in service with the armies of most countries of the post-Soviet space, as well as the DPRK, India, Serbia, Cuba, Iran, Finland and other states. The successor to the famous automatic grenade launcher is the second-generation Russian automatic grenade launcher AGS-30.

AGS-30- This is the development of specialists from the famous in our country and in the world Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) from Tula. It was created in the first half of the 90s of the last century. The grenade launcher was put into service in 1995.

Like its foreign "colleagues", this grenade launcher is designed for direct fire support of infantry, airborne units and parts army special forces directly on the battlefield. AGS-30 can easily cope with enemy manpower and various types of unarmored vehicles located in open positions, including in trenches and open trenches, and it can also be used to effectively hit the enemy hiding on the reverse slopes of heights or in terrain folds.

In the army Russian Federation AGS-30 replaced the Soviet automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame", which was created in the late 1960s and was officially adopted in 1971 Soviet army. Mass production new 30-mm automatic grenade launcher for a 30x29 mm grenade launcher was carried out in the Kirov region at the Vyatka-Polyansky machine-building plant "Molot".

The grenade launcher began to be developed after Soviet Union received a sufficient amount of intelligence information and data on the use of such weapons by the Americans in Vietnam. It was in the Vietnam War that the combat debut of the 40-mm easel automatic grenade launcher Mk.19 mod.0 fell. At the same time, the West, without much enthusiasm, perceived the information that the Soviet motorized rifle units in the 1970s began to massively receive automatic grenade launchers AGS-17. The full-fledged combat debut of this Soviet weapon novelty fell on Afghan war.

AGS-17 in Afghanistan

Despite the fact that the novelty from the Tula gunsmiths satisfied the needs of the military, the automatic grenade launcher had its obvious drawbacks. The main one was its weight, which limited the mobility of the calculation and the mobility of grenade launchers in combat conditions. It was the tasks of weight loss that were considered as priorities in the modernization of generally successful weapons. Work begun in the second half of the 1980s logically ended in 1995, when Russian army A new automatic mounted grenade launcher AGS-30 was adopted, which, according to the assurances of KBP representatives, stands out among competitors with a record low mass along with the machine.

Indeed, the second-generation AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher, together with the machine, weighs only 16.5 kg (without a sight and a box with shots), which makes it more mobile and more efficient in real combat conditions. By reducing the body weight of the grenade launcher and the machine, it became possible to transport it with just one calculation number. Small dimensions, light weight, specially designed tripod machine design - this is what provides the grenade launcher system with not only a high level of mobility and the ability to quickly change the firing position, but also the stealth placement of the grenade launcher on the ground.

If necessary, the shooter can easily independently move the grenade launcher in a combat position to a new position and immediately open fire, this is especially important when conducting maneuverable street battles to provide constant fire support for advanced units.

On the tripod machine itself, the designers placed the mechanisms responsible for the vertical and horizontal guidance of the weapon. Fire control from the AGS-30 is carried out using two horizontal handles and a trigger. The cocking of the grenade launcher is carried out using a lever mechanism and is provided at all elevation angles of the weapon without changing the position of the shooter.

With intensive firing, the shooter can fire up to 180 shots without any consequences, after which the rifled barrel of the grenade launcher needs to be cooled, or it is replaced with a spare barrel. Cooling of the barrel - air, if necessary, it is possible to cool the barrel by dousing it with water.

Standard sights AGS-30 optical and mechanical, it is the PAG-17 optical sight with a magnification of 2.7 that is most often used for firing. The field of view of the sight is 12 degrees, to improve work at night, the sight scale is illuminated. An optical sight, which is suitable for firing at long distances, is mounted on the receiver of the grenade launcher on its left side. In addition, for conducting aimed fire from weapons in the absence of optical visibility, as well as for monitoring the situation and the battlefield with the AGS-30, a radar sight can be used.

The second generation VOG-30 grenade was created by the specialists of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise FSPC "Pribor". The production technology of the body of the new ammunition, which uses the method of deformation in a cold state, makes it possible to form a grid of semi-finished rectangular-shaped striking elements on the inner surface of the grenade. According to the assurances of the developers, the use of a new design of the grenade body makes it possible to press explosives directly into the body of the ammunition, increasing the filling factor by 1.1 times. At the same time, in aggregate, the effective fragmentation area was increased by more than 1.5 times compared to first-generation ammunition, including the standard NATO fragmentation ammunition M384 caliber 40x53 mm. With a shot mass of 350 grams, the VOG-30 provides an effective area of destruction of 110 square meters.

Automatic mounted grenade launcher of the second generation AGS-30

The designers successfully solved the problem of increasing the area of fragmentation damage to enemy infantry, including in bulletproof vests, modern helmets and other personal protective equipment, in a comprehensive manner due to the optimization of the average mass of fragments formed during the explosion, increasing the angles and speed of their expansion, using explosives in ammunition in a larger volume and with a more pronounced high-explosive effect. At the same time, the drag coefficient of the grenade and its ballistic coefficient were significantly improved (reduced by 1.8 times). This made it possible to bring the maximum firing range to the required 2200 meters (for VOG-17 and VOG-30 shots - no more than 1700 meters). At the same time, it was also possible to achieve an increase in the accuracy of fire at once by 1.4 times both in range and in lateral deviation.

Both types of shots are equipped with reliable instantaneous head fuses. The fuses are responsible for the guaranteed operation of ammunition when they encounter any obstacles, including those on the water surface and on snow. For the safety of the shooter, all VOG grenades are cocked at a distance of 10-60 meters from the muzzle of the AGS-30.

This standardized grenade is produced today in at least 12 countries around the world. At the same time, the most advanced American-made automatic weighs 41 kg with a machine tool and an aiming system, it is at least twice as heavy as an AGS-30 with a machine tool, but at the same time it has great power (compared to VOG-17 and VOG-17M ammunition) and large a variety of shots, which additionally includes not only armor-piercing grenades, which allow hitting lightly armored targets, but also modern programmable ammunition with remote detonation in the air.

Advantages of the GPD-30 shot over the VOG-30

Of the positive aspects during the tests, the military singled out the fact that at a distance of 1100-1200 meters such a grenade provided coverage with fragments of two recumbent and six standing targets at once. At the same time, 2-3 lethal fragments hit each of the targets. On this, the positive moments from acquaintance with the miracle weapon ended. The automatic grenade launcher was crude, not reliable enough, gave very frequent misfires, which caused rejection by the leadership of the Red Army.

In fairness, it is worth noting that the level of Soviet industry of the late 1930s would hardly have allowed such weapons to be brought to mind and put into series. It is no coincidence that in the United States the first automatic grenade launchers appeared only 30 years later, while humanity has already flown into space and the level of development industrial production was on a completely different level.

At the same time, Russia has its own 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, which was developed by the specialists of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise GNPP "Pribor". The weapon has gone through a difficult and painful development path, work has been underway since the early 1990s. The model is produced in small batches, but was never officially adopted.

The use of new 40-mm caseless ammunition allowed the designers to achieve a maximum firing range of up to 2500 meters, while, according to the developers, the efficiency of hitting targets using the new grenade launcher system is twice as high as the existing AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30 systems.

If we talk about the weight of the new automatic grenade launcher, then it is comparable to foreign counterparts: the body of the grenade launcher with a sight and a tripod is 32 kg, a box for 20 shots is 14 kg. It remains only to hope that soon the line of Russian automatic grenade launchers in service will be replenished with the AGS-40 model. In the meantime, the military, apparently, is fully satisfied with the existing grenade launcher systems.

Automatic mounted grenade launcher of the second generation AGS-30

Tactical and technical characteristics of AGS-30:
Caliber - 30 mm.
Grenade - 30x29 mm.
Overall dimensions (with tripod machine) - 1165x735x490 mm.
Weight without cartridge box and sight - 16.5 kg.
The rate of fire is up to 400 rds / min.
starting speed grenades - 185 m / s.
Cartridge capacity - 30 shots.
Sighting range firing - up to 1700 m (shots VOG-17, VOG-17M and VOG-30), up to 2200 m (shots GPD-30).
Calculation - 2 people.

A story about the best automatic grenade launchers would be incomplete without mentioning the Russian one. At one time, the Soviet automatic easel grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame" was sold all over the planet in huge numbers. This model was in service with the armies of most countries of the post-Soviet space, as well as the DPRK, India, Serbia, Cuba, Iran, Finland and other states. The successor to the famous automatic grenade launcher is the second-generation Russian automatic grenade launcher AGS-30.

AGS-30 is the development of specialists of the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) from Tula, famous in our country and in the world. It was created in the first half of the 90s of the last century. The grenade launcher was put into service in 1995.

Like its foreign "colleagues", this grenade launcher is designed for direct fire support of infantry, airborne units and army special forces units directly on the battlefield. AGS-30 can easily cope with enemy manpower and various types of unarmored vehicles located in open positions, including in trenches and open trenches, and it can also be used to effectively hit the enemy hiding on the reverse slopes of heights or in terrain folds.

In the army of the Russian Federation, the AGS-30 replaced the Soviet automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame", which was created in the late 1960s and in 1971 was officially adopted by the Soviet Army. Serial production of a new 30-mm automatic grenade launcher for a 30x29 mm grenade launcher was carried out in the Kirov region at the Vyatka-Polyansky machine-building plant "Molot". The development of the grenade launcher began after the Soviet Union received a sufficient amount of intelligence information and data on the use of such weapons by the Americans in Vietnam. It was in the Vietnam War that the combat debut of the 40-mm easel automatic grenade launcher Mk.19 mod.0 fell. At the same time, the West, without much enthusiasm, perceived the information that the Soviet motorized rifle units in the 1970s began to massively receive automatic grenade launchers AGS-17. The full-fledged combat debut of this Soviet weapon novelty fell on the Afghan war.

AGS-17 in Afghanistan

Despite the fact that the novelty from the Tula gunsmiths satisfied the needs of the military, the automatic grenade launcher had its obvious drawbacks. The main one was its weight, which limited the mobility of the calculation and the mobility of grenade launchers in combat conditions. It was the tasks of weight loss that were considered as priorities in the modernization of generally successful weapons. The work that began in the second half of the 1980s logically ended in 1995, when the new AGS-30 automatic heavy grenade launcher was adopted by the Russian army, which, according to the assurances of KBP representatives, stands out among competitors with a record low mass along with the machine.

As the developers note, the reduction in the mass of the complex did not entail any deterioration in performance, the grenade launcher only became more convenient and easier to operate. The light tripod machine developed for it makes it possible to achieve good stability of the weapon when firing from any ground, which makes it possible to effectively use the grenade launcher when firing at the enemy, even from unprepared positions. On the tripod machine itself, the designers placed the mechanisms responsible for the vertical and horizontal guidance of the weapon. Fire control from the AGS-30 is carried out using two horizontal handles and a trigger. The cocking of the grenade launcher is carried out using a lever mechanism and is provided at all elevation angles of the weapon without changing the position of the shooter.

The key to the success of Russian weapons is often the simplicity of design. This statement is also true for the AGS-30 grenade launcher. The operation of its automation is based on the principle of using the recoil energy of a free shutter. The automatic grenade launcher is powered by a belt, 30x29 mm rounds are loaded into a cartridge belt, which is placed in a cartridge box, the latter is attached to the body of the grenade launcher on the right side of the receiver. With intensive firing, the shooter can fire up to 180 shots without any consequences, after which the rifled barrel of the grenade launcher needs to be cooled, or it is replaced with a spare barrel. Cooling of the barrel - air, if necessary, it is possible to cool the barrel by dousing it with water. The standard AGS-30 sights are optical and mechanical; for firing, it is the PAG-17 optical sight with a magnification of 2.7 that is most often used. The field of view of the sight is 12 degrees, to improve work at night, the sight scale is illuminated. An optical sight, which is suitable for firing at long distances, is mounted on the receiver of the grenade launcher on its left side. In addition, for conducting aimed fire from weapons in the absence of optical visibility, as well as for monitoring the situation and the battlefield with the AGS-30, a radar sight can be used.

For firing from the AGS-30 grenade launcher, the crew can use both ammunition from the previous grenade launcher - VOG-17 and VOG-17M, as well as new VOG-30 and GPD-30 grenades specially designed for it, which are distinguished by increased combat effectiveness. New shots are certainly an important feature of this grenade launcher system. The second generation VOG-30 grenade was created by the specialists of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise FSPC "Pribor". The production technology of the body of the new ammunition, which uses the method of deformation in a cold state, makes it possible to form a grid of semi-finished rectangular-shaped striking elements on the inner surface of the grenade. According to the assurances of the developers, the use of a new design of the grenade body makes it possible to press explosives directly into the body of the ammunition, increasing the filling factor by 1.1 times. At the same time, in aggregate, the effective fragmentation area was increased by more than 1.5 times compared to first-generation ammunition, including the standard NATO fragmentation ammunition M384 caliber 40x53 mm. With a shot mass of 350 grams, VOG-30 provides an effective area of destruction of 110 square meters.

Automatic mounted grenade launcher of the second generation AGS-30

Especially for the AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher, a high-explosive fragmentation round GPD-30 of increased efficiency was created, this grenade has a slightly lower mass - 340 grams, but at the same time, the area of fragmentation of targets was brought to 130.5 square meters. The designers successfully solved the problem of increasing the area of fragmentation damage to enemy infantry, including in bulletproof vests, modern helmets and other personal protective equipment, in a comprehensive manner due to the optimization of the average mass of fragments formed during the explosion, increasing the angles and speed of their expansion, using explosives in ammunition in a larger volume and with a more pronounced high-explosive effect. At the same time, the drag coefficient of the grenade and its ballistic coefficient were significantly improved (reduced by 1.8 times). This made it possible to bring the maximum firing range to the required 2200 meters (for VOG-17 and VOG-30 shots - no more than 1700 meters). At the same time, it was also possible to achieve an increase in the accuracy of fire at once by 1.4 times both in range and in lateral deviation. Both types of shots are equipped with reliable instantaneous head fuses. The fuses are responsible for the guaranteed operation of ammunition when they encounter any obstacles, including those on the water surface and on snow. For the safety of the shooter, all VOG grenades are cocked at a distance of 10-60 meters from the muzzle of the AGS-30.

Compared with the grenade launcher of the previous generation AGS-17, the new AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher has really built significantly. AGS-17, together with the machine, weighed almost twice as much - 30 kg. In this regard, the Russian easel automatic grenade launcher is really unique. But here we should not forget that all modern automatic grenade launchers in service with NATO countries are designed for more powerful ammunition - 40x53 mm. This standardized grenade is produced today in at least 12 countries around the world. At the same time, the most advanced American-made MK47 mod.0 automatic grenade launcher weighs 41 kg with a machine tool and an aiming system, it is at least twice as heavy as an AGS-30 with a machine tool, but at the same time it has great power (compared to VOG-17 and VOG ammunition -17M) and a wide variety of shots, which additionally include not only armor-piercing grenades, which allow hitting lightly armored targets, but also modern programmable ammunition with remote detonation in the air.

Advantages of the GPD-30 shot over the VOG-30

At the same time, the 40-mm automatic grenade launcher itself could have appeared in the USSR even before the start of World War II. Prototypes of a magazine-fed automatic grenade launcher (for 5 shots) designed by Yakov Grigoryevich Taubin were tested in the second half of the 1930s. For firing, grenades of 40.8 mm caliber were used, created on the basis of a regular rifle grenade of the Dyakonov system. Of the positive aspects during the tests, the military singled out the fact that at a distance of 1100-1200 meters such a grenade provided coverage with fragments of two recumbent and six standing targets at once. At the same time, 2-3 lethal fragments hit each of the targets. On this, the positive moments from acquaintance with the miracle weapon ended. The automatic grenade launcher was crude, not reliable enough, gave very frequent misfires, which caused rejection by the leadership of the Red Army. In fairness, it is worth noting that the level of Soviet industry of the late 1930s would hardly have allowed such weapons to be brought to mind and put into series. It is no coincidence that in the United States the first automatic grenade launchers appeared only 30 years later, while humanity was already flying into space and the level of development of industrial production was at a completely different level.

At the same time, Russia has its own 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, this is the AGS-40 "Balkan", the development of which was carried out by the specialists of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise GNPP "Pribor". The weapon has gone through a difficult and painful development path, work has been underway since the early 1990s. The model is produced in small batches, but was never officially adopted. The use of new 40-mm caseless ammunition allowed the designers to achieve a maximum firing range of up to 2500 meters, while, according to the developers, the efficiency of hitting targets using the new grenade launcher system is twice as high as the existing AGS-17 "Flame" and AGS-30 systems. If we talk about the weight of the new automatic grenade launcher, then it is comparable to foreign counterparts: the body of the grenade launcher with a sight and a tripod is 32 kg, a box for 20 shots is 14 kg. It remains only to hope that soon the line of Russian automatic grenade launchers in service will be replenished with the AGS-40 model. In the meantime, the military, apparently, is fully satisfied with the existing grenade launcher systems.

Automatic mounted grenade launcher of the second generation AGS-30

Tactical and technical characteristics of AGS-30:
Caliber - 30 mm.
Grenade - 30x29 mm.
Overall dimensions (with tripod machine) - 1165x735x490 mm.
Weight without cartridge box and sight - 16.5 kg.
The rate of fire is up to 400 rds / min.
The initial speed of the grenade is 185 m / s.
Cartridge capacity - 30 shots.
Sighting range - up to 1700 m (shots VOG-17, VOG-17M and VOG-30), up to 2200 m (shots GPD-30).
Calculation - two people.

Sources of information:
http://www.kbptula.ru
https://comp-pro.ru
http://www.army.lv
http://oruzheika.blogspot.com
http://huntsmanblog.ru
Materials from open sources

In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union developed and adopted the 30-mm AGS-17 heavy automatic grenade launcher. The grenade launcher was created as an anti-personnel weapon, striking enemy manpower located outside shelters, in open trenches (trenches) and behind natural terrain (in hollows, ravines, on reverse slopes of heights) with fragmentation ammunition (VOG-17, VOG-17M) with flat and overhead fire. The grenade launcher is fired in short (up to 5 shots), long (up to 10 shots) bursts and continuously. Automatic grenade launcher operates due to the impact of a massive free shutter. A relatively weak propellant charge, a low muzzle energy of a grenade, and a short barrel length made it possible to apply a simple automation scheme.

The machine consists of a base, a swivel, lower and upper cradles and a vertical aiming mechanism.

The sight consists of a body in which the goniometer and elevation angle mechanism are assembled, and a head with an optical system.

The grenade launcher kit includes: three boxes for shots with nine ribbons of 10 links each, a carrying case for the body of the grenade launcher, two straps for carrying the machine, a set of spare parts, tools and accessories, and a form. In addition, one cold firing tube is provided for six grenade launchers.

The rifled barrel of the grenade launcher is quick-detachable, in the receiver it is fastened with a lock with a pin. Closer to the breech breech, fins are made to increase the cooling surface.

The shutter of the grenade launcher is rectangular. A vertically moving rammer is mounted in its front part, on the upper plane there is a comb for actuating the mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case, a hook and a curved groove. Inside the shutter there is a hydraulic recoil brake, which slightly increases the duration of the automation cycle, which increases the accuracy of fire. The hydraulic brake consists of a cylinder into which kerosene is poured, a rod with a piston and a flange at the free end of the seal that prevents the working fluid from flowing out. The cylinder has four windows of variable section, the piston has four holes for non-flow of kerosene. The hydraulic brake is actuated by means of a rod flange: when the bolt is rolled back, it rests against the butt plate of the grenade launcher, and when moving forward, against the stops of the receiver. Two return springs are symmetrically placed in the shutter channel. The reloading mechanism is mounted in the cover of the receiver and includes a clip that catches the bolt hook and a cable with a T-handle thrown over the clip roller. When the cable is tightened by the handle, it pulls the clip, and with it the bolt, back. When firing, the reloading mechanism is stationary. The percussion mechanism is a hammer. When moving forward, the bolt uncoupler cocks a cylindrical, horizontally moving trigger (sometimes called a striker). When descending, the trigger moves back and with its front protrusion hits the striker lever located in the bolt. The descent is carried out by turning the sear through the trigger plate of the trigger lever, mounted in the form of a wide key on the butt plate of the grenade launcher. The safety lever locks the trigger sear. Inside the trigger is a mechanism for regulating the rate of fire of hydraulic mud. By adjusting the flow rate of kerosene from one part of the trigger cavity to another through the inclined holes of the fixed piston, it is possible to control the speed of the trigger. This changes the duration of the automation cycle. The rate of fire control knob has a flag that occupies two fixed positions. In the upper position, the maximum rate of 350-400 rounds per minute is provided, in the lower position - the minimum (50-100 rounds per minute). The trigger assembly is mounted on the left wall of the receiver. The AGS-17 is controlled by two folding horizontal handles. The trigger lever is located between them. AGS17 has a tape feed, the tape is metal, link, with an open link. The box with the tape is attached to the right wall of the receiver. The feed mechanism includes a feed lever with a roller and a spring-loaded feeder. When the shutter rolls back due to the interaction of the roller of the feed lever and the curvilinear groove of the shutter, the feed lever rotates, the feeder delivers the next shot to the receiver window, the wedges of the receiver puller separate the shot from the tape. When the bolt moves forward, the rammer rises with the receiver copiers and captures the shot at the bottom of the cartridge case. Then, descending, sends it into the chamber. When recoiling, the rammer releases the sleeve, the bolt with its crest turns the reflector mounted on the axis in the receiver housing, and the reflector throws the sleeve down from the receiver.

The grenade launcher uses a VOG-17 or VOG-17M shot with a fragmentation grenade.

VOG-17 shot. The grenade has a fragmentation jacket with semi-finished elements in the form of a notched wire spring, a bursting charge weighing 36 grams, and a percussion head fuse. The fuse is cocked at a distance of 10-30 m from the muzzle of the barrel. The radius of continuous destruction by shrapnel is 7 meters. Shot weight 350 g, grenades - 280 g.

The VOG-17M shot has a fuse with a self-liquidator set for 25 seconds, the weight of the shot is 348 grams, the grenade is 275 grams, the explosive charge is 34 grams.

AGS-17 aiming is carried out using optical sight PAG-17, which is mounted on a bracket on the left side. The sight grid allows direct fire at a distance of up to 700 m (on early release grenade launchers - up to 550 m). For firing at long ranges, the elevation angle mechanism and the side level are used. Horizontal aiming is carried out using a goniometer.

Tape for shots serves to place shots and feed them into the grenade launcher receiver. It consists of separate pieces of 10 links each. Pieces of the tape are connected to each other with a shot, links between each other in each piece - with the help of cotter pins. The link has front and rear grips, a shank, a connecting ring and a connecting lug.

The equipment of the tape with shots can be done manually or with a loading machine. The equipment machine consists of a body; upper tray for room-shots; lower (front and rear) tray for placing the tape; stars with a handle for moving the tape and equipment of the tape with shots; guide for the movement of the equipped tape; front and rear pullers to separate the shots from the tape.

The shot box is used to store a tape with 29 shots. It has a handle to carry the box; lid and sash closed with latches; shutter for closing the mouth of the box during transportation; a clip with a hook and a tooth for attaching the box to the grenade launcher; an intra-spiral guide (snail) to guide the tape, a ledge to hold the tape. An arrow on the curtain indicates the position of the head of the shots in the box.

To put the tape in the box, you need to open the lid with a shutter and the sash; place the tape through the neck into the box and push it through the open sash along the snail.

The fire is fired from a tripod folding machine SAG-17. The body of the grenade launcher is mounted in the cradle of the machine. It has sector mechanisms for horizontal and vertical guidance, a sleeve reflector, and a precise leveling mechanism. The legs end with coulters with a notch. In the stowed position, the machine is folded and carried by the second calculation number. In combat, the grenade launcher is carried on the machine by the legs and belts. AGS-17 "Flame" has proven to be an effective and reliable infantry support weapon. It is characterized by a relatively simple design, sufficient accuracy and accuracy of fire. The possibility of conducting mounted fire allows you to perform the functions of a mortar. A copy of the grenade launcher is produced in China.

Disassembly of the grenade launcher can be incomplete and complete: incomplete - for cleaning, lubricating and inspecting the grenade launcher; full - for cleaning when the grenade launcher is heavily contaminated, after being exposed to rain or snow, after degassing and decontamination of the grenade launcher, when placing the grenade launcher for long-term storage, when replacing parts, upon receipt from the warehouse, for disassembled inspection. Excessively frequent disassembly of the grenade launcher is harmful, as it accelerates the wear of parts and mechanisms. It is forbidden to dismantle the parts and mechanisms of the grenade launcher in the subdivision, which is not provided for by this Manual.

To disassemble and assemble the grenade launcher on a table or clean bedding, using the tool included in the spare parts kit; put parts and mechanisms in the order of disassembly, handle them carefully. When separating or attaching parts of the grenade launcher, do not use excessive force and sharp blows. When assembling the grenade launcher, compare the numbers on its parts with the number on the receiver. With the complete disassembly and assembly of the grenade launcher, the assistant gunner can assist the gunner.

Inspection of the grenade launcher and preparation for firing.

To check the serviceability of the grenade launcher, its cleanliness and in preparation for firing, the grenade launcher is inspected.

Simultaneously with the inspection of the grenade launcher, the serviceability of boxes with tapes, a cover, straps, accessories, spare parts and tools is checked.

Soldiers and sergeants inspect grenade launchers:

Daily;

- before going to class in a combat situation - periodically during the day and before performing a combat mission;

During cleaning.

Officers inspect grenade launchers periodically within the time limits established by the Charter of the internal service, as well as all grenade launchers before firing and before performing a combat mission.

Malfunctions of the grenade launcher, boxes. ^ for shots and accessories must

be eliminated immediately. If the malfunctions of the grenade launcher cannot be eliminated in the unit, the grenade launcher must be sent to a repair shop.

Inspection of shots

The shots are inspected before firing and by order of the commanders.

When inspecting the shots, check for external damage, rust, bruises on fuses, grenade heads, shells; whether the grenades are staggering in the barrels of the shells; whether there are green deposits and cracks on the primers, whether the primer protrudes above the surface of the bottom of the cartridge cases; Are there training shots among the combat shots?

Shots that have external damage, especially damage to the membranes, are not allowed to be used for shooting. Faulty shots are handed over to the warehouse.

If the shots are dusty and dirty, they must be wiped with a dry, clean rag.

Preparing a grenade launcher for firing

Preparation of a grenade launcher for firing is carried out in order to ensure trouble-free operation during firing.

Preparation of a grenade launcher for firing is carried out under the guidance of the squad leader.

To prepare a grenade launcher for firing, you must:

Clean the grenade launcher, inspect it disassembled and lubricate; assemble the grenade launcher and inspect it assembled;

- inspect the sight and, if necessary, align the sight;

Examine boxes with ribbons;

Immediately before shooting, wipe the bore of the barrel dry, inspect the shots and equip them with ribbons, put the ribbons with shots in boxes.

Member of the Armed Forces of Russia, CIS countries, China, Afghanistan, Angola, Chad, Cuba, Iran, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Poland, South Africa.

Caliber 30 mm

Shot VOG-17, VOG-17M

Weight of grenade launcher without machine 18 kg

Machine weight 12 kg

The mass of the grenade launcher with a tape on the machine 44.5 kg

Curb weight for 29 shots 14.5 kg

Machine weight 12 kg.

The mass of the box equipped with a tape for 29 shots is 14.5 kg

Shot weight 0.35 kg

Grenade weight 0.28 kg

Mass of explosive 0.036 kg

Sight weight 1 kg

The initial speed of the grenade 185 m / s

Muzzle energy 4791 J

Rate of fire adjustable from 50-100 to 400 rpm

Box capacity 29 shots

Minimum mounted firing range 1000 m

The highest height of the trajectory is 905 m

Sighting range 1700 m

Range of a direct shot at a growth figure 250 m

Calculation 2 people

In 1971, the arsenal of the Soviet Army was replenished with a new model related to "hand artillery" - the AGS-17 grenade launcher, called the "Flame". This type of weapon is compact, efficient, trouble-free and, in terms of its technical performance, has no equal among analogues developed in other countries. He shoots accurately, far, and his lethal effect is deadly. Versatility of use is provided by additional accessories that allow you to fire in conditions of poor visibility and install an automatic grenade launcher on different types technology, both ground and air. Targets to be hit may be in a direct line of fire or behind terrain folds; the flight path of the ammunition, depending on the elevation angle, is flat or mounted. In general, the AGS-17 is a weapon for a wide range of purposes.

Machine SAG-17

The first modification was a system mounted on a relatively low tripod supporting a box consisting of two parts (upper and lower). In addition to the main function, the machine also performs an additional one: it serves as a supporting structure for the backlight batteries used for shooting at night. In the upper part of the device there are two cradles, upper and lower. The first is designed for direct installation of a grenade launcher using trunnions and has the possibility of horizontal swing. There is also a latch connecting the cradle with the AGS-17 earring. The lower one provides horizontal guidance within the firing sector and supports the mechanism of the vertically swinging part. The entire tripod, together with the machine, consisting of two cradles, is unified and has the name SAG-17.

Aviation option

High efficiency of the product fire damage prompted the designers of the bureau. Nudelman to consider other options for its application. In 1980, the 213P-A helicopter complex was put into service, which is an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher placed in a hanging container (GUV, that is, a universal helicopter gondola) mounted on the external suspension units of assault helicopters. Aviation specifics required certain design changes. Ammunition consisting of three hundred shells is placed in the GUV. The activation of the weapon, unlike the infantry version, is carried out remotely by means of an electric drive. A sharp increase in the rate of fire (up to 500 against the usual 65 rounds per minute) caused, in turn, the need to cool the barrel, implemented by an air radiator. The barrel has also undergone a change in terms of the cutting step. The initial speed, increased due to the movement of the system, required a more intensive rotation of the grenade to ensure the desired accuracy of the hit.

Other installation options

Not only on aviation technology grenade launcher AGS-17 "Flame" can be mounted. It is a regular armament of motorized infantry armored vehicles (BMD-3, BTR-70). Its usual place of installation is the left course, but if necessary, the weapon can be easily removed and used separately. Its use is the same on armored boats - as additional weapons tower installation. In both cases, there is no need for additional trigger drives, firing is carried out in the same way as in the infantry version. New models of equipment are also equipped with stationary and removable AGSs. At its core, this grenade launcher is a compact artillery piece, capable of firing both direct fire and a canopy at a distance of up to 1.7 km. So it was used.

Application practice

For the first time, the AGS-17 grenade launcher was baptized by fire during the Chinese aggression against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1979. He showed himself well, was used for its intended purpose, that is, to defeat the living unprotected enemy force. In some cases, fire was directed at squares. The next episode, and rather lengthy, of the combat use of this type of weapons was the war in Afghanistan. Soldiers and officers of a limited contingent Soviet troops during the fighting, they repeatedly demonstrated ingenuity, making changes to the design and enriching practice tactical use different systems, including AGS-17. So, in particular, it was found that if the frame of an automatic grenade launcher is welded to the armor of an armored personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle, then its effectiveness increases significantly. Also during the fighting, the soldiers empirically determined the optimal burst length - from 3 to 5 grenades.

Shot

Unlike ordinary people, gunners call a shot not only the physical process of pushing a charge out of the barrel with powder gases, but also the totality of the items necessary for this. For firing from cannons and howitzers, shells with cartridge cases and caps are needed, sometimes (large-caliber guns) and bags of gunpowder. The standard shot for the AGS-17 grenade launcher is the VOG-17 grenade. In addition to it, additional ammunition has been developed (VOG-17M, VOG-30, differing in the mass of explosives). They consist of a cartridge case equipped with a propelling powder charge and a primer, as well as the grenade itself. In essence, these shots are no different from fragmentation artillery shells, with the exception of a rather small caliber (30 mm) and dimensions, rather corresponding to aircraft cannon ammunition, only with a rounded tip. Within a radius of seven meters, a grenade destroys all life with fragments.

Tape and calculation

Shooting from the AGS-17, as its name implies, is carried out mainly in automatic mode, although the design also provides for a single one (OV). Grenades are fed into the feeder by a tape consisting of links connected according to the “crab” system, which, in turn, is placed in a box in a snail-like fashion. The magazine capacity is 29 shots, although there are only 30 links. The fact is that there is no shank as such in the tape, its role is played by the last link that is inserted into the charge receiver tray. The capture of ammunition is carried out not by the sleeve, but by the grenade itself. The equipment of the tape can be done manually, but usually a special machine is used for this, which, if necessary, is also used for discharge. The calculation consists of two people: the shooter and the second number, also trained in firing and helping to reload the weapon, as well as carry it in case of foot movements. The weight of the grenade launcher is considerable - 18 kg (with a machine tool 52 kg), plus ammunition.

The performance characteristics of the AGS-17 Soviet and Yugoslav (licensed) production are slightly different, although not significantly. The caliber and ammunition are completely unified (30 x 29 B). The barrel of the grenade launcher produced in the SFRY is longer (305 versus 290 mm), which explains the high initial velocity of the projectile (185 and 120 m/s, respectively). The rate of fire of the "Yugoslav" is much higher (400 rds / min.), But this advantage does not always please the soldiers, especially in conditions when ammunition needs to be saved. The aiming range of both samples is the same and is 1700 m. The minimum distance to the target is 1000 m.

sights

The AGS-17 manual includes instructions for using, in addition to the main mechanical sight, also the prism optical PAG-17. In the case of direct fire at distances up to 700 meters, it is easier for the calculation to do without optics. PAG-17 is needed for firing from closed positions or at distant targets. Its design allows it to also be used as a range finder if the dimensions of the object are known. The lens is equipped with light filters, there are two of them. One has a neutral color and slightly reduces the light intensity in sunny weather, the other is designed for aiming at dusk and is made using a brightening orange optical layer. Aiming signs are applied in the form of corners and strokes, with a division value of 100 and 50 meters, respectively. On either side of the center crosshairs are lateral correction icons. Electric lighting for night mode is supplied with batteries.

Mark-19 and AGS

The first automatic grenade launcher was made by the Americans in 1967. In 1968, the first trial batch of Mark-19 (aka Mk-19) was sent to Vietnam for practical tests, mainly on riverine armored boats. Despite many technical advantages, it is inferior to the Soviet model, created three years later. The main advantage is the smaller caliber, thanks to which the AGS-17 grenade launcher has a higher rate of fire. However, Mark-19 has become a kind of standard for designers of rapid-fire "hand artillery" in Western countries, while soviet weapons has traditional adherents in China, where it is produced under license. The gloomy glory of AGSs is confirmed by their reliability and high efficiency, qualities that have been repeatedly tested during many wars and conflicts of recent decades.

Automatic grenade launchers are designed to destroy infantry concentrations both in open space and behind shelters. Well-trained crews are able not only to resist a serious offensive, but also to suppress enemy strongholds.

For more than forty years now, such a formidable weapon has been in service with a grenade launcher platoon in a motorized rifle battalion called AGS-17 "Flame".

The history of the creation of AGS-17

The idea of creating a grenade launcher appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. The first who decided to bring it to life were the British. In Russia, they "swayed" only by 1916. Staff Captain M. G. Dyakonov offered his own mortar for firing a rifle grenade.

The grenade was also created by this outstanding person. The mortar had a caliber of 40.5 mm and was attached to the . Adopted for service, it did not have time to start mass production before the revolution. Only in 1928, after the completion of mortars and grenades, they were accepted into service in the Red Army with the name "Dyakonov's rifle grenade launcher."

The barrel of the mortar received 3 grooves. Equipped with a protractor-quadrant for aiming and a bipod for convenience, the grenade launcher fired at 150 - 850 meters. The range depended on the grenade used. It was used by the Red Army until the 40s, and by the end of the war it reappeared in the troops with the VKG-40 cumulative grenade. But for a number of reasons it was almost never used.

In 1938, Ya.G. Taubin, decades ahead of his time, presented the first domestic automatic grenade launcher AG-TB, developed jointly with his deputy M.N. Baburin in OKB-16.

The caliber of the grenade launcher was 40.8 mm, it fired at a rate of 60 shots / min with magazine loading and 460 shots / min with belt loading.

From the initial 73 kg, it was possible to reduce the weight to 38 kg, and without compromising performance. Initially, it was planned to install the AG-TB on a tripod, but then they installed it on a wheeled machine, similar to the machine from the Maxim machine gun.

The grenade launcher could easily be disassembled for carrying and fired at 1200 meters. The tests revealed small easily eliminated flaws. But unfortunately the Red Army did not wait for this wonderful weapon. In the "undercover" struggle with the development group of 50-mm mortars, the mortars won.

Only a few samples were able to fight in the Finnish company on the Karelian front and receive only positive reviews.

In the future, Ya. G. Taubin was engaged in aircraft gun. The design was based on developments on an automatic grenade launcher. This greatly accelerated its creation.

For many years in the USSR, no one was engaged in automatic grenade launchers.

Put an end to stagnation Vietnam War 1964 - 1975 During the fighting, the single-shot 40 mm M-79 grenade launcher proved to be very good.

He could shoot at 350 - 400 meters. However, for a number of reasons, he did not fully suit the military, and in 1964, Honeywell Corporation patented the design of the Mk18 (Mark 18) grenade launcher.

Remembering, the company used the idea of a split shutter. Shooting was carried out by rotating the handle located on the right. The rate depended on the strength of the shooter and did not exceed 250 shots / min. Weighed a 40 × 46 caliber grenade launcher without ammunition 8.6 kg and could effectively shoot at 375 m.

The advantage of the Mk18 was the use of grenades, as in the M-79, as well as cheapness and simplicity. They released approximately 1200 pieces. This grenade launcher was the forerunner of the fully automatic Mk. 19.

In the Soviet Union, the military took into account the experience of the Americans and in 1967, in OKB-16, where A. E. Nudelman became the head instead of Ya. G. Taubin, they instructed Alexander Fedorovich Kornyakov to develop a new automatic grenade launcher. The designer did it in a year.

Copyright certificate No. 44547 was issued to A. F. Kornyakov and V. Ya. Nemenov. It took three years for preparatory work and organization of production at the Molot enterprise in Vyatskiye Polyany. Since 1971, the product 6G11, such a GRAU index was received by the AGS-17 "Flame", entered the troops.

Modifications AGS-17 "Flame"

Automatic grenade launcher has modifications:

AGS-17 "Flame" - On a tripod SAG-17 is supplied to motorized rifle units;
AP-30 "Plamya-A" - aviation, the second name is AG-17A, in 1968 it was developed for the Mi-24 helicopter. It is equipped with an electric trigger, a shot counter, with a rifling pitch reduced to 600 mm and a rate of fire increased to 500 rounds / minute;
AG-17D, designed for installation in the embrasures of armored vehicles, first used on BMD and BTR-D;
AG-17M - for installation in turrets and turrets of small ships and boats, also installed in BMP-3;
KBA-117 - created by the Ukrainian design bureau "Artillery weapons" for boats and armored personnel carriers.

Ammunition

The development of shots for the AGS-17 at the end of the 60s of the last century was carried out by Design Bureau "Pribor" in Sverdlovsk (now LLC "Design and Production Enterprise" Design Bureau "Pribor" in Yekaterinburg).

Shot VOG-17 (VOG-17A) with a fragmentation grenade 7P36 was very quickly upgraded. The new ammunition was named VOG-17M with a VMG-M fuse.

The fuse differs from the original version in its instantaneous action and the possibility of self-destruction.

The VOG-17M shot has an increased damage by fragments of a certain shape and mass, caused by corrugation inside corps.

The tightness of the charge packaging allows the shot not to be afraid of any climatic conditions.

	VOG-17A	VOG-17M
Shot mass	0.35 kg	0.348 kg
Grenade weight	0.28 kg	0.275 kg
Mass of explosives	0.036 kg	0.036kg
Muzzle velocity of the grenade	185 m/s	185 m/s
Average maximum gas pressure	no more than 123 MPa	no more than 123 MPa
Shot length	132 mm	132 mm
Sleeve length	28 mm	28 mm
Grenade length	113 mm	113 mm
Sleeve flange diameter	31.9 mm	31.9 mm
Raised flange diameter	32.6 mm	32.6 mm
Radius of solid damage with a probability of 0.9	7 m	7 m

Made for training special shots marked VUS-17 and a red stripe on the body (in the figure on the right). The location of the fall of the non-fragmentation grenade can be determined by the orange smoke. Two types of such grenades are produced: with two holes and without them.

In the mid-80s, Pribor State Research and Production Enterprise developed a special ammunition for the AP-30 caliber 30 mm - VOG-30. The method of volumetric cold deformation of the hull made it possible to make the fragmentation damage more powerful and to abandon the fragmentation jacket. The area affected by such a shot is 110 m².

Special attention deserves the 30-mm round of the latest generation GPD-30, created at the beginning of the century at Design and Production Enterprise KB Pribor LLC.

The increase in firing range to 2100 meters was helped by a decrease in drag. The area affected by the new grenade is 130.5 m².

Design

Grenades are served with a metal band folded into a box. Three pieces of tape of ten grenades are connected with a shot, but the first link is left free. It is necessary for loading.

When cocked, one link advances and the shot comes from the second. You can stuff the tape both manually and with a special machine, which is attached to the packing box.

For shooting, the box is inserted on the right. The grenade launcher itself is mounted on the SAG-17 machine tool (automatic grenade launcher machine). When moving, the machine carries the second number folded.

For aiming there is a rear sight and a front sight. It is possible to use the PAG-17 optical sight.

Without an optical sight, it is possible to fire up to 700 meters.

The AGS-17 is controlled by two handles and a trigger between them. Handles can be folded. The trigger mechanism is designed for firing at high (up to 400 rpm) and low (50 -100 rpm) rates. A single fire is also provided. Tempo translator on the left side of the case.

In the original version, an aluminum radiator was used to cool the barrel. In the early 90s, they began to produce a barrel without it, but with ribs in thickened walls.

TTX AGS-17

Combat use

1979 was the year of the first test of a grenade launcher in real combat. During the clash on the Vietnamese-Chinese border, he showed himself from the best side. The Vietnamese soldiers fired at large concentrations of manpower and squares, thereby inflicting enormous damage on the attackers.

The war in Afghanistan showed everything strengths grenade launcher. It was then that the most optimal burst length was determined by real shooting at real targets - 3-5 shots.

Having welded the AGS-17 machine to the armor of an armored personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle, the calculation sharply increased the efficiency of fire.

Also, the expediency of sharing a grenade launcher with a machine gun was revealed by soldiers and officers in that war. Some have applied this principle.

In the fifth decade of its existence, the grenade launcher has not lost its relevance, as evidenced by its active use by Syrian government forces against ISIS.

In the Armed Forces of Russia, the AGS-17 Plamya continues to be the main automatic grenade launcher in grenade launcher platoons of motorized rifle battalions.

Comparison of AGS-17 and Mark-19 (Mk-19)

Unlike the American Mark-19 (aka Mk-19), our grenade launcher has a 10 mm smaller caliber, an initial speed inferior to the American one (185 m / s and 240 m / s), a smaller number of different ammunition (fragmentation-armor-piercing M430, fragmentation M383 and M384, practical M385 and M385E4 against only fragmentation in our country).

However, this is all offset by a relatively low weight (31 kg with the machine we have - 55.3 kg with them). This greatly increases mobility.

The rate of fire of our grenade launcher is also higher (350-400 rounds / min for us, 325-375 for them), in addition, our AGS-17 can change the rate of fire. Another undoubted advantage of the "Flame" is its simplicity and unpretentiousness.

Continued development

Work on the creation of new automatic grenade launchers did not stop. Refusing to modernize existing ones, they immediately began to create absolutely new design.

Since 1980, VN Telesh has been developing the idea of a new automatic grenade launcher. By the beginning of the 90s, the scheme of the TKB-0134 grenade launcher complex with the funny name "Kozlik" was ready. It was not launched into the series, but began to be used as the basic design of the next model. The result was shown at IDEX-2013 in United Arab Emirates.

creative work V. N. Telesha, Yu. P. Galkin and Yu. V. Lebedev was named under the index GRAU 6G27. Caliber "Balkan" 40 mm. Weight with the machine - 32 kg, rate of fire - 400 shots / min. The initial speed of the grenade is 225 m / s.

The 7P39 caseless grenade can fly 2500 meters.

Such a grenade with a two-chamber ballistic engine is equipped with large quantity explosive and, accordingly, twice as effective.

A small batch of new Balkans sent to the troops is undergoing a comprehensive check. But it is already clear that this complex surpasses all foreign samples in all respects.