Self-propelled artillery began to be massively used by the Red Army relatively late - only at the end of 1942. However, the machines produced by Soviet designers made a great contribution to the overall victory. Without exception, all Soviet self-propelled guns of the war period can be attributed to formidable vehicles that were useful in various ways on the battlefield. From a small, but no less effective SU-76, to such a monster as the ISU-152, which could easily hit a pillbox or destroy a house in which the Nazis settled.

Light self-propelled guns SU-76


This self-propelled gun was developed in 1942 by the design bureaus of plant No. 38 in the city of Kirov, the machine was created on the basis of a well-mastered by industry light tank T-70. In total, from 1942 until the end of the war, more than 14 thousand machines of this type were manufactured. Thanks to this, the SU-76 is the most massive Soviet self-propelled artillery installation during the Great Patriotic War, and the volume of its release was second only to the release of the T-34 tank. The popularity and prevalence of the machine is due to its simplicity and versatility.

A huge role was played by the fact that a very good ZIS-3 divisional gun of 76.2 mm caliber was chosen as a weapon for arming this self-propelled guns. The gun proved to be excellent during the war years and was distinguished by its high versatility of use. It was difficult to think of a better weapon to support the infantry. When using sub-caliber shells, the gun also revealed its anti-tank properties, however, tanks such as the Tiger and Panther were still recommended to be destroyed by firing at their sides. Against most samples of German armored vehicles, the armor penetration of the ZIS-3 gun remained adequate until the end of the war, although 100-mm armor remained an insurmountable obstacle for the gun.

The advantage, and in some cases the disadvantage of the machine, was its open felling. On the one hand, she helped the crew of the self-propelled guns to interact more closely with their infantry, especially in street combat, and also provided better visibility on the battlefield. On the other hand, the SPG crew was vulnerable to enemy fire and could be hit by shrapnel. In general, the self-propelled guns were distinguished by a minimum level of booking, which was bulletproof. However, the SU-76 was still very popular in units. Possessing the mobility of a light tank, the self-propelled gun had a much more serious weapon.

Not the most powerful weapons, thin armor, a fighting compartment open from above - all this, paradoxically, did not make the self-propelled gun unsuccessful. With its immediate task on the battlefield, the SU-76 coped perfectly. It was used for infantry fire support, acting as a light assault gun and anti-tank self-propelled guns. She was able to largely replace the light tanks of direct infantry support. Almost 25 years after the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky noted: “Our soldiers especially fell in love with the SU-76 self-propelled gun. These mobile, light vehicles had time everywhere to rescue and support the infantry units with their fire and caterpillars, and the infantrymen, in turn, did everything to protect these vehicles.

Anti-tank self-propelled guns SU-85 and SU-100

A separate place among all Soviet self-propelled guns occupied the SU-85 and SU-100, which were created on the basis of the mass tank during the war - the medium tank T-34. As you can easily guess, they differed primarily in the caliber of their guns and, accordingly, in their anti-tank capabilities. It is noteworthy that both self-propelled guns remained in service with various countries after the end of World War II.

The SU-85 was a medium-weight Soviet self-propelled artillery mount belonging to the tank destroyer class. Its main task on the battlefield was to fight enemy armored vehicles. The combat vehicle was developed at the Design Bureau of UZTM (Ural Heavy Engineering Plant, Uralmash) in May-July 1943. Serial production of new anti-tank self-propelled guns was launched in July-August 1943. The 85-mm D-5S-85 cannon, which had good anti-tank capabilities, was chosen as the main gun for the new self-propelled gun. In fact, it was the SU-85 that became the first Soviet self-propelled guns that could fight German tanks on equal terms. From a distance of more than a kilometer, the crew of the SU-85 could easily disable any enemy medium tank. The frontal armor of the "Tiger" using armor-piercing shells could be penetrated from a distance of up to 500 meters, the use of sub-caliber ammunition made this task even easier.

Along with good firepower, the SU-85 was able to maintain the speed and maneuverability of its "progenitor" - the medium tank T-34 and these good performance mobility was saved more than once by the crews of this anti-tank self-propelled gun in battle. And under enemy fire, the SU-85 self-propelled guns felt much more confident than the SU-76 with its open cabin. In addition, her frontal armor, located at rational angles of inclination, was no longer bulletproof and could take a hit.

In total, 2329 such machines were produced in 1943-1944. Despite the relatively small number, it was the SU-85 self-propelled guns, from 1943 until the end of hostilities in Europe, that was the basis of Soviet self-propelled artillery units armed with medium-sized vehicles. The SU-100, which replaced it, was able to show up in battles only in January 1945. Therefore, it was the SU-85 self-propelled guns and their crews that carried on their shoulders almost the entire burden of anti-tank and assault work of medium self-propelled artillery during the war.

With the advent of new types of armored vehicles among the Germans, such as the heavy tank "King Tiger" and self-propelled guns "Ferdinand", the question of increasing anti-tank capabilities became acute Soviet self-propelled guns. The designers of Uralmash responded to a new challenge and in the middle of 1944 presented best fighter tanks of the Second World War - self-propelled guns SU-100. The self-propelled gun used the base of the T-34-85 tank and went into serial production in August 1944. In total, for the period from 1944 to 1956, 4976 such self-propelled artillery installations were produced, while in the USSR production was stopped in 1948, but continued under license in Czechoslovakia.

The main difference and the main highlight of the self-propelled guns was its cannon - a 100-mm D-10S gun, which could confidently fight even the heaviest and well-armored German tanks. It is no coincidence that the finest hour of the SU-100 struck during the Balaton defensive operation, when the German large-scale tank offensive, codenamed "Winter Awakening", ended in huge losses of armored vehicles and became, in fact, the cemetery of the Panzerwaffe. Also, the self-propelled gun was distinguished by the best booking. The thickness of its sloping frontal armor reached 75 mm. The self-propelled gun felt confident not only in the fight against enemy tanks, but also in urban battles. Often, one shot with a high-explosive projectile from a 100-mm gun was enough to literally "blow off" the detected enemy firing point.

The uniqueness and exceptional combat capabilities of the SU-100 are confirmed by the fact that it was in service with the Soviet Army for several decades after the war, periodically being upgraded. In addition, the self-propelled guns were supplied to the allies of the Soviet Union, actively participated in the post-war local conflicts, including in the Arab-Israeli wars. The self-propelled gun remained in service with the armies of some countries until the end of the 20th century, and in some countries, such as Algeria, Morocco and Cuba, they remained in service as of 2012.

Heavy self-propelled guns SU-152 and ISU-152

Heavy Soviet self-propelled artillery mounts SU-152 and ISU-152 also made a significant contribution to the victory. The effectiveness of these machines is best indicated by their nicknames - "Deerslayer" and "Can Opener", which were given to these mighty twins in the army. The SU-152 was created on the basis of the KV-1S heavy tank and armed with a 152 mm ML-20S howitzer gun. The self-propelled gun was developed by the designers of ChKZ (Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant), the construction of the first prototype was completed on January 24, 1943, and with next month mass production of the machine began. It is worth noting that only 670 of these self-propelled guns were assembled, since the KV-1S tank, on the basis of which it was built, was discontinued. In December 1943, this vehicle was replaced on the assembly line with the ISU-152, which was equivalent in terms of armament, but better armored self-propelled guns based on the IS heavy tank.

The SU-152 self-propelled gun made its combat debut in the famous battle of the Kursk Bulge, where it was immediately able to show itself as worthy opponent new German tanks. The capabilities of self-propelled guns were enough to deal with the new brood of German "cats". The use of the 152-mm howitzer-gun ML-20S assumed the use of all the shells developed for it. But in reality, the crews of the vehicles managed with only two - high-explosive fragmentation and concrete-piercing shells. Direct hit on enemy tank concrete-piercing shells were enough to inflict heavy damage on him and disable him. In some cases, the shells simply broke through the armor of the tanks, tore off the turret from the shoulder strap, and killed the crew. And sometimes direct hit A 152-mm projectile led to the detonation of ammunition, which turned enemy tanks into burning torches.

High-explosive fragmentation shells were also effective against German armored vehicles. Even without breaking through the armor, they damaged the sights and observation devices, the gun, the undercarriage of the vehicle. Moreover, in order to put an enemy tank out of action, sometimes it was enough just to close the gap of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile. The crew of Major Sankovsky, commander of one of the SU-152 batteries in Battle of Kursk, in one day disabled 10 enemy tanks (according to other sources, this was the success of the entire battery), for which the major was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Of course, in the role of tank destroyers, the SU-152 was not used from a good life, but in this capacity, the self-propelled gun proved to be a wonderful machine. In general, the SU-152 was an excellent example of versatility. It could be used as an assault gun, tank destroyer and self-propelled howitzer. True, the use of the vehicle as a tank destroyer was complicated by the low rate of fire, but the effect of hitting the target could easily cross out this shortcoming. The monstrous power of the 152-mm howitzer-cannon was indispensable in suppressing pillboxes and firing points of the Germans. Even if the concrete wall or ceilings withstood the impact of the projectile, the people inside received a serious concussion, they were torn eardrums.

The ISU-152 heavy self-propelled artillery mount replaced the SU-152; it was created by the design bureau of Pilot Plant No. 100 in June-October 1943 and was put into service on November 6 of the same year. The release of the new self-propelled guns was launched at ChKZ, where it simply replaced the SU-152. The production of self-propelled guns continued until 1946, during which time 3242 vehicles of this type were built. The self-propelled gun was widely used in the final stage of the war and, like its predecessor, the SU-152, could be used in all aspects of the use of self-propelled artillery. These vehicles were withdrawn from the armament of the Soviet Army only in the 1970s, which also indicates their great combat potential.

The ISU-152 self-propelled guns became indispensable during urban battles, literally leveling enemy buildings and firing points with the ground. She showed herself very well during the assaults on Budapest, Konigsberg and Berlin. Good armor allowed the self-propelled guns to advance to a direct shot distance and hit German firing points with direct fire. For conventional towed artillery, this was a mortal danger due to the massive machine-gun and aimed sniper fire.

Sources of information:
http://rg.ru/2015/04/24/samohodka-site.html
http://armor.kiev.ua
http://pro-tank.ru
http://www.opoccuu.com

Here is the news today:

Artillery units of the Eastern Military District (VVO) received a batch of 203-mm Pion self-propelled artillery mounts.

This was reported to Interfax-AVN on Thursday by the head of the press service of the district, Colonel Alexander Gordeev. »Today, the Pion self-propelled gun is considered the most powerful self-propelled artillery mount in the world. Its main armament is a 203-mm cannon, weighing more than 14 tons. It is located in the aft part of the installation. The gun is equipped with a semi-automatic hydraulic loading system, which allows this process to be carried out at any elevation angles of the barrel,” A. Gordeev said.

He noted that in the development of the undercarriage of the installation, components and assemblies of the T-80 tank were used. “The self-propelled gun has an individual torsion bar suspension,” the officer specified.

Learn more about this weapon:

On August 29, 1949, the first Soviet atomic bomb was tested: both opposing groups began to possess nuclear weapons. With the build-up of strategic nuclear weapons by both sides of the conflict, it became clear that an all-out nuclear war was unlikely and pointless. The theory of "limited nuclear war» with limited use of tactical nuclear weapons. In the early 1950s, before the leaders opposing sides there was a problem with the delivery of these weapons. The main means of delivery were B-29 strategic bombers, on the one hand, and Tu-4, on the other; they could not effectively strike at the advanced positions of enemy troops. Hull and divisional artillery systems, tactical missile systems and recoilless guns were considered as the most suitable means.

The first Soviet artillery systems armed with nuclear weapons were the 2B1 self-propelled mortar and the 2A3 self-propelled gun, however, these systems were bulky and could not meet the requirements for high mobility. With the beginning of the rapid development of rocket technology in the USSR, work on most of the samples of classical artillery was stopped at the direction of N. S. Khrushchev.

Photo 3.

After Khrushchev was removed from the post of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, work on artillery topics was resumed. By the spring of 1967, a preliminary design of a new heavy-duty self-propelled artillery mount (ACS) based on the Object 434 tank and a full-size wooden model were completed. The project was a self-propelled gun of a closed type with a cutting installation of a tool designed by OKB-2. The layout received negative feedback from representatives of the Ministry of Defense, however, the Ministry of Defense of the USSR became interested in the proposal to create an ACS of special power, and on December 16, 1967, by order No. 801 of the Ministry of Defense Industry, research work was started to determine the appearance and basic characteristics of the new ACS. The main requirement put forward for the new self-propelled guns was the maximum firing range - at least 25 km. The choice of the optimal caliber of the gun, at the direction of the GRAU, was carried out by the M. I. Kalinin Artillery Academy. In the course of the work, various existing and developed artillery systems were considered. The main ones were the 210 mm S-72 gun, the 180 mm S-23 gun and the 180 mm MU-1 coastal gun. According to the conclusion of the Leningrad Artillery Academy, the ballistic solution of the 210-mm S-72 gun was recognized as the most suitable. However, despite this, the Barrikady plant, in order to ensure the continuity of manufacturing technologies for the already developed B-4 and B-4M guns, proposed reducing the caliber from 210 to 203 mm. This proposal was approved by the GRAU.

Simultaneously with the choice of caliber, work was carried out on the choice of chassis and layout for the future self-propelled guns. One of the options was the chassis of the MT-T multi-purpose tractor, made on the basis of the T-64A tank. This option received the designation "Object 429A". A variant based on the T-10 heavy tank was also worked out, which received the designation "216.sp1". According to the results of the work, it turned out that an open installation of the gun would be optimal, while none of the existing types of chassis is suitable for placing a new gun, due to the high recoil resistance force of 135 tf during firing. Therefore, it was decided to develop a new undercarriage with the maximum possible unification of the nodes with the tanks in service with the USSR. The resulting studies formed the basis of the R&D under the name "Peony" (GRAU index - 2C7). "Peony" was supposed to enter service with reserve artillery battalions Supreme High Command to replace the 203 mm B-4 and B-4M towed howitzers.

Photo 4.

Officially, work on the new self-propelled guns of special power was approved on July 8, 1970 by the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 427-161. The Kirov Plant was appointed the lead developer of the 2S7, the 2A44 gun was designed in OKB-3 of the Volgograd plant "Barricades". March 1, 1971 were issued, and by 1973 approved tactical and technical requirements for a new self-propelled guns. According to the assignment, the 2S7 self-propelled gun was supposed to provide a ricochet-free firing range from 8.5 to 35 km with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 110 kg, while it should have been possible to fire a 3VB2 nuclear round intended for the 203 mm B-4M howitzer. The speed on the highway had to be at least 50 km / h.

The new chassis with a stern gun mount received the designation "216.sp2". In the period from 1973 to 1974, two prototypes of the 2S7 self-propelled guns were manufactured and sent for testing. The first sample passed sea trials at the Strugi Krasnye training ground. The second sample was tested by firing, but could not fulfill the requirements for the firing range. The problem was solved by selecting the optimal composition of the powder charge and the type of shot. In 1975, the Pion system was adopted by the Soviet army. In 1977, at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics, nuclear weapons were developed and put into service for the 2S7 self-propelled guns.

Photo 5.

Serial production of self-propelled guns 2S7 was launched in 1975 at the Leningrad plant named after Kirov. The 2A44 gun was produced by the Volgograd plant "Barricades". 2S7 production continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1990 in Soviet troops the last batch of 66 2S7M vehicles was transferred. In 1990, the cost of one 2S7 self-propelled artillery mount was 521,527 rubles. Over 16 years of production, more than 500 2C7 units of various modifications were produced.

In the 1980s, there was a need to modernize the ACS 2S7. Therefore, development work was started under the code "Malka" (GRAU index - 2S7M). First of all, the question was raised about replacing the power plant, since the B-46-1 engine did not have sufficient power and reliability. For the Malka, the V-84B engine was created, which differed from the one used in the T-72 tank by the features of the engine layout in the engine compartment. With the new engine, the self-propelled guns could be refueled not only with diesel fuel, but also with kerosene and gasoline.

Photo 6.

The undercarriage of the car was also upgraded. In February 1985, the self-propelled guns with a new power plant and upgraded undercarriage were tested. As a result of the modernization, the ACS motocross resource was increased to 8,000-10,000 km. To receive and display information from the vehicle of the senior battery officer, the gunner's and commander's positions were equipped with digital indicators with automatic data reception, which made it possible to reduce the time it took to transfer the vehicle from traveling to combat position and back. Thanks to the modified design of the stowage, the ammunition load was increased to 8 rounds. The new loading mechanism made it possible to load the gun at any angle of vertical pumping. Thus, the rate of fire was increased by 1.6 times (up to 2.5 rounds per minute), and the mode of fire - by 1.25 times. To monitor important subsystems, routine control equipment was installed in the car, which carried out continuous monitoring of weapons, engines, hydraulic systems and power units. Serial production of self-propelled guns 2S7M began in 1986. In addition, the crew of the car was reduced to 6 people.

In the late 1970s, on the basis of the 2A44 gun, a project was developed for a shipborne artillery mount under the Pion-M code. The theoretical weight of the artillery mount without ammunition was 65-70 tons. The ammunition load was to be 75 rounds, and the rate of fire was up to 1.5 rounds per minute. The Pion-M artillery mount was supposed to be installed on Project 956 ships of the Sovremenny type. However, due to the fundamental disagreement of the leadership of the Navy with the use of a large caliber, they did not advance beyond the project of work on the Pion-M artillery mount.

Photo 7.

armored corps

The 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun was made according to a turretless scheme with an open installation of the gun in the aft part of the self-propelled guns. The crew consists of 7 (in the modernized version 6) people. On the march, all crew members are housed in the ACS hull. The body is divided into four sections. In the front part there is a control compartment with a place for a commander, a driver and a place for one of the crew members. Behind the control compartment is the engine compartment with the engine. Behind the engine-transmission compartment there is a calculation compartment, in which there are stowage with shells, a gunner's place for marching and places for 3 (in the modernized version 2) members of the calculation. In the aft compartment there is a folding coulter plate and a self-propelled gun. The hull 2S7 is made of two-layer bulletproof armor with a thickness of outer sheets of 13 mm, and internal sheets of 8 mm. The calculation, being inside the self-propelled guns, is protected from the consequences of the use of weapons mass destruction. The case weakens the effect of penetrating radiation by a factor of three. The loading of the main gun during the operation of the ACS is carried out from the ground or from a truck using a special lifting mechanism installed on the platform, on the right side of the main gun. In this case, the loader is located to the left of the gun, controlling the process using the control panel.

Photo 8.

Armament

The main armament is a 203-mm 2A44 cannon, which has a maximum rate of fire of 1.5 rounds per minute (up to 2.5 rounds per minute on the upgraded version). The gun barrel is a free tube connected to the breech. A piston valve is located in the breech. The barrel of the gun and recoil devices are placed in the cradle of the swinging part. The swinging part is fixed on the upper machine, which is mounted on the axis and fixed with basting. The recoil devices consist of a hydraulic recoil brake and two pneumatic knurlers located symmetrically with respect to the bore. Such a scheme of recoil devices makes it possible to reliably hold the recoil parts of the gun in the extreme position before firing a shot at any angles of vertical guidance of the gun. The recoil length when fired reaches 1400 mm. Lifting and turning mechanisms of the sector type provide gun guidance in the range of angles from 0 to +60 degrees. vertically and from -15 to +15 degrees. along the horizon. Guidance can be carried out both by hydraulic drives powered by the SAU 2S7 pumping station, and by manual drives. The pneumatic balancing mechanism serves to compensate for the moment of imbalance of the swinging part of the tool. To facilitate the work of crew members, the self-propelled guns are equipped with a loading mechanism that ensures that shots are fed to the loading line and delivered to the gun chamber.

The hinged base plate, located in the stern of the hull, transfers the forces of the shot to the ground, providing greater stability to the self-propelled guns. On charge number 3, "Pion" could fire direct fire without installing an opener. The portable ammunition of the Pion self-propelled gun is 4 shots (for the modernized version 8), the main ammunition of 40 shots is transported in the transport vehicle attached to the self-propelled guns. The main ammunition includes 3OF43 high-explosive fragmentation shells, in addition, 3-O-14 cluster shells, concrete-piercing and nuclear ammunition can be used. Additionally, the 2S7 self-propelled guns are equipped with 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun NSVT and man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems 9K32 "Strela-2".

Photo 9.

To aim the gun, the gunner's station is equipped with a PG-1M panoramic artillery sight for firing from closed firing positions and an OP4M-99A direct-fire sight for firing at observed targets. To monitor the terrain, the control department is equipped with seven TNPO-160 prismatic periscope observation devices, two more TNPO-160 devices are installed in the hatch covers of the calculation department. For operation at night, some of the TNPO-160 devices can be replaced by TVNE-4B night vision devices.

External radio communication is supported by the R-123M radio station. The radio station operates in the VHF band and provides stable communication with stations of the same type at a distance of up to 28 km, depending on the height of the antenna of both radio stations. Negotiations between crew members are carried out through the equipment intercom 1B116.

Photo 10.

Engine and transmission

As a power plant in 2C7, a V-shaped 12-cylinder four-stroke was used. diesel engine B-46-1 liquid-cooled supercharged 780 hp The V-46-1 diesel engine was created on the basis of the V-46 engine installed on the T-72 tanks. Distinctive features B-46-1 were small layout changes associated with its adaptation for installation in the engine compartment of the 2S7 self-propelled guns. Of the main differences was the changed location of the power take-off shaft. To facilitate starting the engine in winter conditions, a heating system was installed in the engine compartment, developed on the basis of a similar system of the T-10M heavy tank. In the course of modernization on self-propelled guns 2S7M power point was replaced by a V-84B multi-fuel diesel engine with an HP 840 power. The transmission is mechanical, with hydraulic control and a planetary rotation mechanism. It has seven forward and one reverse gears. The engine torque is transmitted through a bevel gear with a gear ratio of 0.682 to two onboard gearboxes.

Photo 11.

Chassis 2S7 is made on the basis of the main tank T-80 and consists of seven pairs of dual rubber-coated support rollers and six pairs of single support rollers. In the rear of the machine are the guide wheels, in the front - the drive. In the combat position, the guide wheels are lowered to the ground to make the ACS more resistant to the loads during firing. Lowering and raising is carried out with the help of two hydraulic cylinders fixed along the axles of the wheels. Suspension 2C7 - individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers.

Photo 12.

Special equipment

The preparation of the position for firing was carried out with the help of an opener in the aft part of the self-propelled guns. Raising and lowering the coulter was carried out using two hydraulic jacks. Additionally, the 2S7 self-propelled gun was equipped with a 9R4-6U2 diesel generator with an HP 24 power. The diesel generator was designed to ensure the operation of the main pump of the ACS hydraulic system during parking, when the vehicle's engine was turned off.

Machines based

In 1969, in the Tula NIEMI, by decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of May 27, 1969, work began on the creation of a new S-300V front-line anti-aircraft missile system. Studies conducted at the NIEMI together with the Leningrad VNII-100 showed that there was no chassis suitable for carrying capacity, internal dimensions and cross-country ability. Therefore, KB-3 of the Kirov Leningrad Plant was given the task of developing a new unified tracked chassis. The following requirements were imposed on the development: gross weight - no more than 48 tons, carrying capacity - 20 tons, ensuring the operation of equipment and crew in the conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction, high maneuverability and maneuverability. The chassis was designed almost simultaneously with the 2S7 self-propelled gun and was unified with it as much as possible. The main differences include the rear location of the engine compartment and the drive wheels of the caterpillar mover. As a result of the work carried out, the following modifications of the universal chassis were created.

- "Object 830" - for self-propelled launcher 9A83;
- "Object 831" - for self-propelled launcher 9A82;
- "Object 832" - for the radar station 9S15;
- "Object 833" - in the basic version: for the multi-channel missile guidance station 9S32; performed by "833-01" - for the radar station 9S19;
- "Object 834" - for command post 9C457;
- "Object 835" - for launchers 9A84 and 9A85.
The production of prototypes of universal chassis was carried out by the Kirov Leningrad Plant. Serial production was transferred to the Lipetsk Tractor Plant.
In 1997 by order Engineering Troops The Russian Federation developed a high-speed trench machine BTM-4M "Tundra" for making trenches and digging in frozen soil.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in Russia, the financing of the armed forces was sharply reduced, and military equipment practically ceased to be purchased. Under these conditions, a military equipment conversion program was carried out at the Kirov Plant, within the framework of which civil engineering machines were developed and began to be produced on the basis of the 2S7 self-propelled guns. In 1994, the highly mobile crane SGK-80 was developed, and four years later its modernized version appeared - SGK-80R. The cranes weighed 65 tons and had a lifting capacity of up to 80 tons. By order of the Department of Traffic Safety and Ecology of the Ministry of Railways of Russia in 2004, self-propelled tracked vehicles SM-100 were developed, designed to eliminate the consequences of rolling stock derailments, as well as to carry out rescue operations after natural and man-made disasters.

Photo 13.

Combat use

During their operation in the Soviet army, Pion self-propelled guns were never used in any armed conflict, but they were intensively used in high-capacity artillery brigades of the GSVG. After the signing of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, all Pion and Malka self-propelled guns were withdrawn from service. armed forces Russian Federation and relocated to the Eastern Military District. The only episode combat use SAU 2S7 was a war in South Ossetia, where the Georgian side of the conflict used a battery of six self-propelled guns 2S7. During the retreat, Georgian troops hid all six self-propelled guns 2S7 in the Gori region. One of 5 discovered Russian troops ACS 2S7 was captured as a trophy, the rest were destroyed.
In November 2014, in connection with the armed conflict, Ukraine began the reactivation and bringing into combat condition of its existing 2S7 installations.

In the 1970s, the Soviet Union made an attempt to re-equip the Soviet army with new models of artillery weapons. The first example was the self-propelled howitzer 2S3, presented to the public in 1973, followed by: 2S1 in 1974, 2S4 in 1975, and in 1979 the 2S5 and 2S7 were introduced. Thanks to new technology Soviet Union significantly increased the survivability and maneuverability of their artillery troops. By the time you start series production SAU 2S7, the 203-mm hull self-propelled gun M110 was already in service with the United States. In 1975, the 2S7 was significantly superior to the M110 in terms of the main parameters: the firing range of the OFS (37.4 km vs. 16.8 km), the ammunition load (4 shots vs. 4), however, at the same time, the 2S7 self-propelled guns served 7 people against 5 on the M110. In 1977 and 1978, the US Army received improved self-propelled guns M110A1 and M110A2, which were distinguished by an increased maximum firing range of up to 30 km, however, they could not surpass the 2S7 self-propelled guns in this parameter. An advantageous difference between the Pion and the M110 self-propelled guns is a fully armored chassis, while the M110 only has an armored engine compartment.

In North Korea, in 1978, on the basis of the Type 59 tank, a 170-mm self-propelled gun "Koksan" was created. The gun made it possible to fire at a distance of up to 60 km, but had a number of significant drawbacks: low barrel survivability, low rate of fire, low chassis mobility and the lack of portable ammunition. In 1985, an improved version was developed, this gun resembled the 2S7 self-propelled gun in appearance and layout.

Attempts to create systems similar to the M110 and 2C7 were made in Iraq. In the mid-1980s, the development of the 210 mm AL FAO self-propelled gun began. The gun was created as a response to the Iranian M107, and the gun had to be significantly superior to this self-propelled gun in all respects. As a result, a prototype ACS AL FAO was manufactured and demonstrated in May 1989. Self-propelled artillery mount was a chassis self-propelled howitzer G6, which was equipped with a 210 mm gun. The self-propelled unit was capable of speeds up to 80 km/h on the march. The barrel length was 53 caliber. Shooting could be carried out both with conventional 109.4-kg high-explosive fragmentation shells with a bottom notch and a maximum firing range of 45 km, and shells with a bottom gas generator with a maximum firing range of up to 57.3 km. However, the economic sanctions against Iraq that followed in the early 1990s prevented the further development of the gun, and the project did not go beyond the prototype stage.

In the mid-1990s, the Chinese company NORINCO based on the M110 developed a prototype 203-mm self-propelled gun with a new artillery unit. The reason for the development was the unsatisfactory firing range of the M110 self-propelled guns. New artillery unit allowed to increase the maximum firing range of high-explosive fragmentation shells up to 40 km, and active-reactive shells up to 50 km. In addition, the self-propelled guns could fire guided, nuclear projectiles, as well as cluster anti-tank mines. Further, the production of a prototype development did not advance.

As a result of the completion of the Pion R&D, the Soviet Army received self-propelled guns, which embodied the most advanced ideas for designing high-powered self-propelled guns. For its class, the 2S7 self-propelled guns had high performance characteristics (maneuverability and a relatively short time for transferring self-propelled guns to a combat position and back). Thanks to the caliber of 203.2 mm and the maximum firing range of high-explosive fragmentation shells, the Pion self-propelled gun had a high combat effectiveness: so, in 10 minutes of a fire raid, self-propelled guns are capable of "delivering" about 500 kg of explosive to the target. The modernization carried out in 1986 to the level of 2S7M allowed this self-propelled guns to meet the requirements for advanced artillery weapons systems for the period up to 2010. The only drawback noted by Western experts was the open installation of the gun, which did not allow the crew to be protected from shell fragments or enemy fire when working in position. Further improvement of the system was proposed to be carried out by creating guided projectiles of the "Smelchak" type, the firing range of which could be up to 120 km, as well as improving the working conditions of the ACS crew. In fact, after the withdrawal from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and redeployment to the Eastern Military District, most of the self-propelled guns 2S7 and 2S7M were sent for storage, and only a small part of them remained in operation.

Photo 14.

But look at what an interesting sample of weapons:

Photo 16.

Experimental self-propelled artillery mount. The development of the self-propelled guns was carried out by the Central Design Bureau of the Uraltransmash plant, the chief designer was Nikolai Tupitsyn. The first prototype of the self-propelled guns was built in 1976. In total, two copies of the self-propelled guns were built - with a gun from the Acacia self-propelled guns of 152-mm caliber and with a gun of the Hyacinth self-propelled guns. ACS "object 327" was developed as a competitor to the ACS "Msta-S", but turned out to be very revolutionary, it remained an experimental self-propelled gun. ACS was different a high degree automation - the reloading of the gun was carried out regularly by an automatic loader with an external location of the gun with the placement of the ammunition rack inside the body of the self-propelled guns. During tests with guns of two types, the self-propelled guns showed high efficiency, but preference was given to more "technological" samples - 2S19 "Msta-S". Testing and design of ACS were discontinued in 1987.

The name of the object "puck" was unofficial. The second copy of the self-propelled guns with the 2A37 gun from the self-propelled guns "Hyacinth" since 1988 stood at the training ground and was preserved in the Uraltransmash museum.

There is also such a version that the prototype of the self-propelled guns shown in the photo is the only mock-up image that was also worked out on the topics “object 316 ″ (prototype self-propelled guns “Msta-S“), “object 326″ and “object 327″. During the tests, guns with different ballistics were installed on a rotating platform tower. The presented sample with a gun from the self-propelled gun "Hyacinth" was tested in 1987.

Photo 17.

Photo 18.

sources

http://wartools.ru/sau-russia/sau-pion-2s7

http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/index-411.html

http://gods-of-war.pp.ua/?p=333

 Look at the self-propelled guns, but recently. Look at and how it looked before The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy is made -

Self-propelled gun "Condenser-2P"

Self-propelled gun "Kondensator-2P", index GRAU 2A3 - a heavy self-propelled unit weighing 64 tons, capable of sending a 570-kilogram projectile to a distance of 25.6 kilometers. Not mass-produced, only 4 guns were made. For the first time, a self-propelled gun was shown at a parade on Red Square in 1957. The shown self-propelled guns made a splash among domestic viewers and foreign journalists. Some foreign experts suggested that the vehicles shown during the parade were sham, designed for the effect of intimidation, but in fact it was a real 406-mm artillery system shot at the firing range.

The creation of a 460-mm self-propelled gun of special power in the USSR began in 1954. This self-propelled gun was intended to destroy large industrial and military facilities of the enemy located at a distance of more than 25 kilometers with conventional and nuclear shells. Just in case, the USSR began to develop 3 nuclear super-weapons: a cannon, a mortar and a recoilless gun, with calibers significantly exceeding the existing atomic guns. The huge caliber chosen arose as a result of the inability of Soviet nuclear scientists to produce a compact munition. During the development process, in order to ensure secrecy, the artillery system was given the designation "Condenser-2P" (object 271), and later the gun received its real index 2A3. The self-propelled guns were developed in parallel with the 420-mm self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka" (object 273), in accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of 04/18/1955.

The artillery part of the self-propelled guns (pointing and loading mechanism, swinging part) was designed by TsKB-34 under the control of I.I. Ivanov, here it was assigned the index SM-54. Horizontal aiming of the gun was carried out by turning the entire ACS, while accurate aiming was carried out using a special electric motor through the turning mechanism. The vertical aiming of the gun was carried out using hydraulic lifts, the weight of the projectile was 570 kg., The firing range was 25.6 km.

Due to the fact that there was no suitable chassis for mounting such a large weapon in the USSR, the Design Bureau of the Leningrad Plant named after. Kirov for self-propelled guns 2A3 "Condenser-2P" on the basis of components, parts, technical solutions for the undercarriage of the heavy tank T-10M (object 272), a new eight-roller chassis, which received the designation "object 271". When developing this chassis, the developers focused on the need to absorb large recoil forces when firing a shot. The chassis they developed had lowering sloths and hydraulic shock absorbers, which were supposed to partially dampen the recoil energy. The engine-power plant for this self-propelled guns was borrowed from the T-10 heavy tank, practically without undergoing any changes.

In 1955, work was completed at plant No. 221 on the creation of a 406-mm experimental ballistic barrel SM-E124, on which shots for the SM-54 gun were tested. In August of the same year, the first fully equipped artillery part of the SM-54 gun was ready at the plant. Its installation on the chassis of the Kirov Plant was completed on December 26, 1956. Tests of the self-propelled guns "Condenser-2P" took place from 1957 to 1959 at the Central Artillery Range near Leningrad, also known as the "Rzhevsky Range". The tests were carried out in conjunction with a 420-mm self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka". Prior to these tests, many experts were skeptical that this self-propelled gun mount would be able to survive a shot without destruction. However, the 406-mm self-propelled guns 2A3 "Kondensator-2P" quite successfully passed the mileage and shooting tests.

At the first stage of testing the ACS was accompanied by numerous breakdowns. So, when fired, the recoil force of the SM-54 gun mounted on the self-propelled guns was such that the caterpillar self-propelled gun rolled back several meters. During the first firing using simulators of nuclear shells, sloths were damaged in the self-propelled guns, which could not withstand the huge recoil forces of this gun. In a number of other cases, cases were noted with the collapse of the equipment of the installation, the failure of the gearbox mounts.

After each shot, the engineers carefully studied the state of the material, identified weak parts and components of the structure, and came up with new technical solutions to eliminate them. As a result of such actions, the design of the ACS was continuously improved, and the reliability of the installation increased. The tests also revealed low maneuverability and maneuverability of the self-propelled guns. At the same time, it was not possible to overcome all the detected shortcomings. It was not possible to completely extinguish the recoil of the gun; when fired, the gun drove back several meters. Also, the angle of horizontal guidance was insufficient. Due to its significant weight and size characteristics (weight about 64 tons, length with a gun - 20 meters), it took a significant amount of time to prepare the positions of the ACS 2A3 "Condenser-2P". The given accuracy of firing the gun required not only accurate aiming, but also careful preparation of the artillery position. Special equipment was used to load the gun, while loading was carried out only in a horizontal position.

In total, 4 copies of the 406-mm self-propelled guns "Kondensator-2P" were made, all of them were shown in 1957 during the parade on Red Square. Despite the skepticism of a number of foreign military and journalists, the installation was combat, although it had a number of significant drawbacks. The mobility of the artillery system left much to be desired, it could not pass through the streets of small towns, under bridges, on country bridges, under power lines. According to these parameters and in terms of its firing range, it could not compete with the Luna divisional tactical missile, therefore, the ACS 2A3 Capacitor-2P never entered service with the troops.

SELF-PROPELLED MORTAR 2B1 OKA

The Cold War prompted the Soviet defense industry to develop unique types of weapons that, even after 50 years, can excite the imagination of the layman. Everyone in the artillery museum in St. Petersburg was probably surprised by the size of the 2B1 Oka self-propelled mortar, which is one of the most interesting exhibits. This 420-mm self-propelled mortar, designed in the USSR in the mid-1950s, is the largest mortar in the history of mankind. Moreover, the concept of its use involved the use of nuclear weapons. In total, 4 prototypes of this mortar were made, it was never mass-produced.

Work on the creation of a powerful 420-mm mortar was carried out in parallel with the development of the 406-mm self-propelled guns 2A3 (code "Condenser-2P"). B. I. Shavyrin was the chief designer of the unique self-propelled mortar. The development of the mortar began in 1955 and was carried out by well-known Soviet defense enterprises. The development of its artillery unit was carried out by the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering. The Design Bureau of the Kirov Plant in Leningrad was responsible for the creation of a caterpillar self-propelled mortar chassis (object 273). The development of the 420-mm mortar barrel was carried out by the Barrikady plant. The length of the mortar barrel was almost 20 meters. The first prototype mortar 2B1 "Oka" (code "Transformer") was ready in 1957. Work on the development of the Oka self-propelled mortar continued until 1960, after which, according to the decree of the USSR Council of Ministers, they were stopped. The designations "Condenser-2P" and "Transformer" were used, among other things, for the purpose of disinformation potential adversary about the true purpose of development.

The undercarriage of the machine, designed by the Design Bureau of the Kirov Plant, according to the classification of the GBTU, received the designation "Object 273". This chassis was maximally unified with the 2A3 self-propelled guns and met the increased requirements for structural strength. On this chassis, a power plant from the Soviet T-10 heavy tank was used. The chassis of the self-propelled mortar "Oka" had 8 dual road wheels and 4 support rollers (on each side of the body), the rear wheel was a guide, the front wheel was a drive wheel. Chassis guide wheels had a hydraulic system for lowering them in combat position to the ground. The chassis suspension was a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers, which were able to absorb a significant part of the recoil energy at the moment the mortar was fired. However, this was not enough. The absence of recoil devices on the mortar also affected. For this reason, when fired, a 420-mm mortar drove back on tracks up to a distance of 5 meters.

During the campaign, only the driver controlled the self-propelled mortar, while the rest of the crew (7 people) were transported separately on an armored personnel carrier or truck. In front of the car body there was an MTO - an engine-transmission compartment, in which a V-12-6B 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine was installed, equipped with a turbocharging system and developing a power of 750 hp. There was also a mechanical planetary transmission, which was interlocked with the rotation mechanism.

As the main weapon on the mortar, a 420-mm 2B2 smoothbore mortar with a length of 47.5 calibers was used. Mines were loaded from the breech of the mortar using a crane (mines weight 750 kg), which negatively affected its rate of fire. The rate of fire of the mortar was only 1 shot in 5 minutes. The transportable ammunition of the 2B1 "Oka" mortar included only one mine with nuclear warhead, which guaranteed at least one application of tactical nuclear strike under any circumstances. The vertical guidance angle of the mortar lay in the range from +50 to +75 degrees. In the vertical plane, the barrel moved thanks to the hydraulic system, at the same time, the horizontal guidance of the mortar was carried out in 2 stages: initially, a rough adjustment of the entire installation, and only after that, aiming at the target using an electric drive.

In total, 4 2B1 Oka self-propelled mortars were assembled at the Kirov Plant in Leningrad. In 1957, they were shown during the traditional military parade, which took place on Red Square. Here, at the parade, foreigners were also able to see the mortar. The demonstration of this truly huge weapon made a splash among foreign journalists, as well as Soviet observers. At the same time, some foreign journalists even suggested that the artillery installation shown at the parade is only a props, which is designed to produce a frightening effect.

It is worth noting that this statement is not so far from the truth. The car was more indicative than combat. During the tests, it was noted that sloths could not withstand firing with conventional mines, the gearbox was torn off its place, the chassis structure was destroyed, and other breakdowns and shortcomings were also noted. The finalization of the self-propelled mortar 2B1 "Oka" went on until 1960, when it was decided to finally stop work on this project and self-propelled gun 2A3.

The main reason for the curtailment of work on the project was the emergence of new tactical unguided missiles that could be installed on lighter tracked chassis with better maneuverability, which were cheaper and much easier to operate. An example is tactical missile system 2K6 "Moon". Despite the failure with the Oka mortar, Soviet designers were able to use all the accumulated experience, including negative ones, when designing similar artillery systems in the future. Which, in turn, allowed them to reach a qualitatively new level in the design of various self-propelled artillery installations.

Specifications 2B1 "Oka":
Dimensions: length (with gun) - 27.85 m, width - 3.08 m, height - 5.73 m.
Weight - 55.3 tons.
Booking - bulletproof.
The power plant is a V-12-6B liquid-cooled diesel engine with a power of 552 kW (750 hp).
Specific power - 13.6 hp / t.
The maximum speed on the highway is 30 km / h.
Cruising on the highway - 220 km.
Armament - 420-mm mortar 2B2, barrel length 47.5 calibers (about 20 m).
Rate of fire - 1 shot / 5 min.
Firing range - up to 45 km, using active-reactive ammunition.
Crew - 7 people.

In the early 1960s, it turned out that armor-piercing caliber shells of tank guns D-10T. D-25 and M-62, which were armed with medium tanks T-54 and T-55 and heavy tanks T-10 and T-10M, cannot penetrate either frontal armor, or hull, or turret american tank M60 and English "Chieftain". To combat these tanks, work was started in parallel in various directions: the creation of new sub-caliber and cumulative shells for old tank guns; new rifled and smooth-bore tank guns of 115-130 mm caliber; tank guided missiles, etc. One of the elements of this program was the 152-mm self-propelled artillery mount SU-152 (object 120), development code ("Taran") ...

artillery system it was designed for it at the Design Bureau of Plant No. 172, and the chassis was designed at the Sverdlovsk Transport Engineering Plant (Chief Designer Efimov). The prototype self-propelled gun SU-152 "Taran" (object 120) was manufactured in 1965 and was a fully enclosed vehicle with a fighting compartment in the stern, and the engine and transmission in the bow. Chassis and power plant self-propelled guns borrowed from the SU-152P.

The M-69 gun with a monoblock barrel 9045 mm long (59.5 klb) is placed in a rotating turret in the aft part of the self-propelled guns. Its horizontal guidance is carried out by turning the tower using an electric drive, and vertical - by a hydraulic drive. The gun is equipped with an ejector mounted in the muzzle of the barrel: when fired, the powder gases filled its receiver and then, when the pressure in it and in the bore after the projectile was ejected, they rushed to the muzzle through inclined nozzles, pulling out those gases that were still remained in the treasury. The duration of the ejector was regulated by ball valves of the filling channels of the receiver.


The shutter of the M-69 gun is a wedge semi-automatic horizontal, loading is separate-sleeve. Powder charges - full weight 10.7 kg, and reduced weight 3.5 kg. - located in metal or combustible sleeves. For armor-piercing tracer shells, it was used special charge weighing 9.8 kg.

The gun could fire 43.5 kg high-explosive fragmentation shells, 12.5 kg sub-caliber armor-piercing shells, and HEAT shells. For firing high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, two types of charges were used: full - weighing 10.7 kg, and reduced - weighing 3.5 kg. For an armor-piercing projectile, a special charge weighing 9.8 kg was used. Armor-piercing shells were capable of penetrating armor up to 295 mm thick from a distance of up to 3500 m. The range of a direct shot was 2050 m at a target height of 2 m and 2500 m at a target height of 3 m. , in the dark - a periscope night sight. The total transportable ammunition load of self-propelled guns was 22 rounds. Part additional weapons included a 14.5-mm machine gun, as well as 2 AK-47 and 20 assault rifles hand grenades F-1.

The ACS hull was welded from rolled steel armor plates and divided into three compartments: power (motor-transmission), control compartment and combat. The thickness of the front hull plate was 30 mm. According to the tactical and technical requirements, the frontal armor of the hull and turret was supposed to protect the self-propelled guns from being hit by armor-piercing shells of 57 mm caliber with an impact speed of 950 m/s.

The SU-152 Taran (object 120) was not accepted into service. The main reason for this was the creation of effective alternative anti-tank weapons - the 125-mm D-81 smoothbore gun and anti-tank guided missiles.

When creating the SU-152 Taran, the designers used a lot of new and original engineering solutions. Many of them came in handy later, in the 60s, when creating the next generation of self-propelled artillery.


The performance characteristics of the 152-mm self-propelled guns SU-152 Taran (Object 120)

Combat mass.t 27
Crew. people four
Overall dimensions, mm:
case length 6870
width 3120
height 2820
Booking, mm:
hull forehead 30
Armament 152 mm gun M-69
Ammunition 22 rounds
Engine B-54-105, 12-cylinder, V-shaped. Liquid-cooled 4-stroke diesel, power 294 kW at 2000 rpm
Maximum speed on the highway, km / h 63.4
Range on the highway, km 280


performance characteristics

Name ZIS-30

USSR country

Weight 4000 kg

Type of machine ACS

Engine power 50 hp

Max. Speed ​​42.98 km/h

Hull armor thickness 10/7/- (mm)

Turret armor thickness -/-/- (mm)

Free repair time 0 h 24 min

Maximum repair price* 200 s.l.

Machine price* 2100 s.l.

Description

ZIS-30 (57-mm anti-tank gun) - Soviet light open-type anti-tank self-propelled guns. Created by a team of developers of plant No. 92 under the leadership of P. F. Muravyov. Machines of this brand were mass-produced at artillery plant No. 92 in the second half of 1941 by open installation anti-tank gun ZIS-2 on the artillery tractor T-20 "Komsomolets". In total, about 100 ZIS-30 self-propelled guns were produced, which participated in the battles of 1941-1942. and were well received by the troops due to the effectiveness of the ZIS-2 gun. However, due to the small number, breakdowns and combat losses, they did not have any noticeable impact on the course of the war.

Strong and weak sides cars

Powerful weapons at the level (even with 3 ranks in

able to stretch)

High speed and mobility (the only thing that saves

in case of a hasty evacuation or if someone left you

go around him with a brazen jerk forward and go from behind)

Rank 1 (Which fully makes him a monster at his level)

Colossally small armor (especially the cabin with a cannon)

Small ammo load (20 rounds with a healthy loader, sold like hot cakes)

Incredibly easily incapacitated crew (with a thin armor thickness, there’s nothing to say here)

Poor gun balance (takes a long time to stabilize after stopping)

Armament

Cannon 57 mm ZIS-2, 1 machine gun 7.62 mm DT.

With average parameters, rate of fire and penetration. Good accuracy (for pt this is normal)

Main armament 57mm ZIS-2

Reload time: 5.9 sec

Ammo: 20 rounds

Vertical aiming angles: -4°/22°

shells:

BR-271 Armor-piercing blunt chamber shell

Weight: 3.1 kg

Initial speed: 990 m/s

Armor penetration: 10m - 115mm 500m - 95mm 1000m - 91mm 2000m - 60mm

BR-271K Armor-piercing sharp-headed chamber projectile

Weight: 3.1 kg

Initial speed: 990 m/s

Armor penetration: 10m - 122mm 500m - 101mm 1000m - 79mm 2000m - 50mm

O-271 High-explosive fragmentation projectile

Weight: 3.7 kg

Armor protection and survivability

Forehead, mm: 10

Board, mm: 7

Feed, mm: 7

Modules and improvements

Mobility

Security

Firepower

History of creation and combat use

The shortage of anti-tank self-propelled units Soviet army began to experience at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In July 1941, the High Command issued a decree to develop self-propelled guns armed with a 57-mm ZiS-2 gun as soon as possible. At plant No. 52, a group of designers was urgently assembled, headed by engineer P.F. Muravyov, and a month later the serial assembly of the ZiS-30 self-propelled guns began. The car was a caterpillar tractor "Komsomolets", which housed anti-tank gun ZiS-2 designed by V.G. Grabin. The engine was located in the aft part of the self-propelled gun, and in the front - the transmission and controls. The front hull plate also had a 7.62 mm DT defensive machine gun. In total, about 100 ZiS-30 self-propelled guns were produced, which were literally distributed piece by piece among the tank brigades of the Western Front. For the first time, these self-propelled guns were used during the Battle of Moscow, where they proved to be excellent, successfully destroying any type of German tanks and armored vehicles. However, over time, the shortcomings of the ZiS-30 were also revealed. The car was extremely unstable, the undercarriage was overloaded (especially the rear rollers), the armor also left much to be desired. In addition, the self-propelled guns had a small power reserve and a scanty portable ammunition load, which amounted to only 20 shells. Nevertheless, despite all the shortcomings, the ZiS-30 continued to participate in battles until the summer of 1942, when there were practically no vehicles left in the troops. Some of the machines failed due to technical breakdowns, the rest were lost in battle. However, due to their small number, the ZiS-30 self-propelled guns did not have any noticeable effect on the course of the war.