ACU "Acacia". Self-propelled howitzer 2C3 "Acacia": technical characteristics and photos

"Acacia" - a 152-mm self-propelled howitzer (the index of GABTU - object 303). Developed by a team of designers of the Ural Transport Engineering Plant under the direction of F.F. Petrova and GS. Efimova. ACU 2C3 "Acacia" is designed to destroy and suppress mortar and artillery batteries, enemy manpower, fire weapons, tanks, missile installations, tactical weapons of atomic weapons, command posts and other.

Generational Change

Until the mid-sixties of the last century, the self-propelled artillery systems (ACS) of the Second World War, such as the SU-100, the ISU-152 and the ISU-122, continued to serve in the troops of the USSR Army. These machines combined the qualities of cannon-howitzer complexes with anti-tank capabilities. It was for this universality that they liked the old-schooled military, who had experience of fighting in the course of the Great Patriotic War. However, with the change of generations of officers and generals, new views on the tactics of using self-propelled artillery in modern warfare were gradually formed.

So, in particular, the main enemy of tanks and other armored vehicles is not an ordinary projectile, but an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). In this regard, military experts came to the conclusion that on the one hand self-propelled artillery installations should not specialize in the destruction of heavy machinery, and on the other hand, the new ACS should not "dress" in thick armor, because the ATGM can penetrate even the strongest of them . In addition, according to new requirements, self-propelled artillery systems should have maximum mobility, air transportability and increased buoyancy. In order for the equipment to meet these requirements, it was necessary to abandon heavy armor and give preference to bulletproof protection. As for the placement of the gun, in order to increase fire maneuvering, it must be placed not in the armored turret, but in a freely rotating turret, which will allow the complex to fire round. In addition, one of the main requirements of the military was the creation of the possibility of using the updated nuclear weapons ammunition.

Prehistory

The beginning of work on ACA "Acacia" was preceded by a huge search research work, during which a comparative analysis of artillery complexes created during the Second World War (such as SU-100, SU-152 and others), as well as the postwar period - as Domestic gunsmiths, and foreign ones. So, in the process of research work by organizations and enterprises of the USSR defense complex, a number of different chassis variants were proposed, on which a 152-mm cannon would be placed. According to one of them, the self-propelled howitzer was worked out on the basis of the tank undercarriage of the objects "118", "123" and "124" by engineers of the Sverdlovsk Machine-Building Plant. In this project it was planned to place in the tower part an artillery gun of the towed D-20 cannon.

In another variation, ACU "Acacia" was suggested to create on the basis of nodes and mechanisms of the T-64 medium tank ("object 432"). Engineers offered to place a 152-mm gun in an armored turret with a coupled machine gun. This decision was very popular, since the T-64 was the first post-war tank of the second generation. It was implemented many new progressive solutions, it differed original chassis and automatic loading. At that time, this machine was very popular for the development of promising projects of armored vehicles. However, as a result of research into the experience of using self-propelled artillery, as well as the elaboration of the appearance of the installation, the concept of long-term development of automatic control systems was preferred. And for the further work on the creation of ACA "Acacia" was recommended running gear of the Sverdlovsk Machine-Building Plant.

History of creation

Proceeding from all the above technical tasks, the joint decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the CPSU Central Committee No. 609-201 of 4.07.1967, Sverdlovsk Engineering Plant "Uraltransmash" issued a technical assignment for the creation of ACS 2C3 "Acacia." Together with the 152-mm complex, designers of the plant developed a number of other self-propelled artillery systems: 122-mm howitzers "Gvozdika" and "Violet", as well as 240-mm mortar "Tulip". Fundamentally new models of ACS were designed to eliminate the backlog of the USSR from NATO countries in this aspect. "Acacia" was designed to arm the regiments of motorized rifle and tank divisions. This self-propelled howitzer was intended to destroy the hidden and open manpower of the enemy, military equipment and weapons, as well as other objects to the depth of the division's interests. The artillery complex was created on the basis of the chassis of experimental self-propelled installations "object 105" and "object 120", as well as the "Krug" air defense system.

The first two prototypes were created by the end of 1968, but in the process of testing, serious shortcomings were revealed, in particular, the very dangerous gassing of the felling area. Due to this shortcoming, four more samples were created, which were created by the summer of next year. After the improvement of the ventilation system, this problem was solved, as a result, the first series of ACA "Acacia" (photos shown in this article, clearly demonstrate these machines) was released in 1970. And in 1971 it was adopted. This model was produced without changes until 1975, after which the troops received the upgraded version of the ACA "Akatsiya" under the 2C3M index. The renewed machine had an updated drum-type drum pack for twelve charges, which increased the rate of fire of the complex and increased the ammunition. Two years later, the self-propelled gun was subjected to another modernization (2C3M1). Now the 152-mm self-propelled howitzer was equipped with the equipment for input, reception, processing, as well as the reflection of command data and the new sight of SP-538. In addition, the corrected projectiles 3ОФ38 "Centimeter" and guided missiles 3ОФ39 "Krasnopol" were introduced into the ammunition. The latest modernized variant of 2C3M2 differed from its predecessors by a more powerful artillery system. Also this version of the unit was equipped with the Receiver-Indicator Equipment "Mekhanizator-M" (1V514-1), allowing to exchange data between the machine of the senior battery officer and the gun, thereby shortening the preparation time of the complex to the opening of the fire. In general, the self-propelled howitzer "Acacia" was produced until 1993.

Description of the machine

The artillery installation is made according to the classical scheme with a tower felling. The complex has an armored welded body, which is divided into three compartments: control, combat and power (motor-transmission). The first compartment is located between the engine partition and the left side in the bow of the body. Here is the workplace driver-mechanic. The power section is located in the right front part. Here are located transmission, engine, as well as power plant systems. In the stern part of the corps there is a fighting compartment. At the bottom of the body is a rotating platform, which is mounted on a ball-race, it rests on five rolls. The gunner's workplace is placed to the left of the gun, and the charging gun to the right. The commander's chair is behind the gunner.

The realization of the chassis of the self-propelled gun differs from its predecessors using fine-linked caterpillars with rubber-metal hinges and the front location of the leading rollers.

"Acacia", 152-mm self-propelled howitzer: artillery piece

The gun (2A33) for this self-propelled unit was developed in OKB-9. The basis was a towed cannon-howitzer D-20. The prototype was assembled at the Perm Machine-Building Plant No. 172, and serial production at the Barrikady Software. An artillery gun with a vertical wedge gate, ejector and a two-chamber muzzle brake is housed in a rotary armored closed turret mounted on a reinforced ball bearing. In order to facilitate the loading procedure, the howitzer is equipped with an electromechanical device for dispatching shells and shells of the original design, as well as a tray-catcher for fired shells. On the roof of the combat deck of the ACS (photo above) to the left is the commander's turret, where a machine gun with remote control is installed, on the starboard side there is a charging hatch. Fire can be conducted from a place, as in usual conditions, and on the infected district. The self-propelled artillery mount (unmodified model) is placed in two mechanized belts. During the fire, they can also be fed through a special hatch in the hull from the ground.

Power plants and ancillary equipment

On the self-propelled howitzer "Acacia" developers have installed a twelve-cylinder V-shaped four-stroke turbocharged engine with liquid cooling (B-59). Together with it, a mechanical double-beam transmission with planetary rotary mechanisms is used. The artillery unit has an individual torsion bar with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers. At the SAU, the designers installed special self-digging equipment, which allows for twenty minutes to open a trench for shelter in the ground. With the purpose of heating the crew in the self-propelled gun, a heating installation (OB-65G) was installed, the capacity of which is 6500 kcal / h. This self-propelled artillery complex has a collective defense, equipped with systems of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, from weapons of mass destruction. 2С3 is equipped with an automatic fire system, a filtration unit, a compartment sealing system, which allowed the crew to be protected from the effects of bacteriological, nuclear and chemical weapons. The tightness of the self-propelled howitzer is maintained both during the fire and during the movement.

Ammunition

To fire from the self-propelled howitzer "Acacia" used shells from the guns D-20 and ML-20, as well as from the howitzer D-1. For these systems, a whole line of 152 mm ammunition was developed in NIMI. For example: high-explosive fragmentation 3VOF33 with full variable and reduced variable charge, 3VOF33 with long-range charge, shot 3VOF96, 3VOF97, 3VOF98, as well as 3V013 and 3V014 with fragmentation and cassette projectile full and reduced variable charge. Reduced charges allow you to send missiles at a short range along a steeper trajectory. This allows you to hit targets that are hidden behind various obstacles, such as houses, hills and the like.

To destroy heavy armored vehicles use cumulative ammunition BP-540. These shells with an initial velocity of 676 m / s have a range of up to five kilometers. Normally, they penetrate tank armor with a thickness of up to 250 mm, at an angle of 60 degrees to 220 mm, and at an angle of 30 degrees - up to 120 mm. In addition to the above ammunition, the self-propelled unit's ammunition includes special ammunition that serves to disorganize the enemy control systems in the tactical link by the method of intercepting ultrashort and short radio waves. For example, 3VRB37 and 3BBR36 with full and reduced variable charge. Currently, self-propelled howitzers "Acacia" use the NTK "Automation and Mechanization of Technologies" developed corrective projectiles of the type "Centimeter" and controlled type "Krasnopol". Thus, the "Centimeter" complex is used for the destruction of armored vehicles in areas where artillery systems are concentrated and launchers on firing positions, long-term defensive complexes, points of communication and control, bridges and crossings. "Krasnopol" is used to destroy small-scale ground targets in the conditions of fire from closed fire positions with illumination of targets by a laser beam of the target designator-range finder.

ACU "Acacia": characteristics

The combat mass of the unit is 27.5 tons (the relatively low weight of Akacia allows it to be transported by transport aircraft), the length with the forward-directed implement is 7765 mm, the height is 3050 mm, and the width is 3250 mm. Clearance САУ - 450 mm, average specific pressure on a ground - 0,6 kg / sm ² . Engine power is 520 hp, the speed is 2000 rpm. Characteristics of the running gear: individual suspension, caterpillar type of propulsor, 1st and 6th rollers are equipped with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, the width of the rubber-metal track is 485 mm, the number of trains is 115. The fuel capacity is 850 liters. The maximum speed is 63 km / h. Power reserve - 500 km. The machine is able to overcome obstacles: the rise is 30 degrees, the roll is 25 degrees, the moat is 3 meters, the wall is 0.7 meters, the ford is 1 meter. The frontal armor of the body and the tower is 30 mm. The crew of the self-propelled howitzer consists of four men.

Artillery armament: characteristics

As mentioned earlier, the developers of the 2A33 howitzer are OKB-9 and KB2 of the Perm Machine-Building Plant, and manufactured it at the Barricade PA. At Uraltransmash, the final assembly of the automatic control system was carried out. Characteristics of this weapon is the following: caliber - 152.4 mm, barrel retraction length - 510-750 mm, guidance angles - vertical from -4 to +60 degrees, horizontal - 360 degrees, weight of swinging part - 2450 kg, rate of fire - 1, 9-3.5 rounds per minute. The shutter part is a semi-automatic vertical-wedge type copier. Brake retraction - hydraulic spindle. The type of drawer is pneumatic. Charge - separately-sleeve. Range of fire: projectiles type 3ОФ25 to 17.3 km, 3ОФ22 to 20.5 km, Krasnopol - to 20 km.

As a supplementary weapon used machine gun type PKT caliber 7.62 mm, the ammunition of which is 250 rounds.

Military companies

Self-propelled howitzers 2C3 "Acacia" have been successfully used in many military conflicts that have occurred in different parts of the world over the past four decades. The presence of these facilities in the Soviet Army's arsenal was recognized by Western intelligence only in 1973, and therefore it received the conventional name "Model 1973". Officially, the government of the USSR "lit up" ACU "Acacia" only in 1977 on the "Carpathian" exercise. In the same year, these cars for the first time participated in the parade on Red Square. In 1979, about a hundred self-propelled howitzers 2C3 were delivered to the GDR, Iraq became the next country to receive these combat vehicles. During the period of the Iraqi company "Acacia" took part in all military operations, although the military remained unhappy with the insufficient, in their opinion, range of fire.

From the very beginning of military operations in Afghanistan, these artillery installations were involved in the art units of a limited contingent of Soviet troops. Military experts noted the high reliability of the complex, but there were also no shortcomings here. The main disadvantages of the automatic control system are the insufficient range and rate of fire. An interesting fact is that in Afghanistan these military vehicles were used mainly for firing direct fire, which had a great demoralizing effect on the Mujahideen. The same method is now being used by the Syrian military against militant Islamists.

SAU "Acacia" participated in all armed conflicts in the former USSR. For example, in companies in the North Caucasus, as well as during the so-called "War of 888".

Today these military artillery installations are used in the conflict in Ukraine, both from the side of the regular troops and the militia.

Conclusion

At present, both modern self-propelled artillery units and Soviet-era production facilities are in service with our army. The "Acacia" howitzer, despite its considerable age, continues to regularly carry out combat duty not only in the Russian army, but also abroad. These artillery installations were delivered to Europe: the Warsaw Treaty countries; On the African continent: Algeria, Iraq, Libya, Syria. In addition, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, these cars remained in all the former Soviet republics without exception. Demand for this type of weapons is not weakening today, orders are being received both for artillery installations of the times of the USSR and for new automatic control systems in Russia. Indeed, in modern warfare, such complexes, combined with high-precision guided munitions, can play a key role. In action, "Acacia" showed itself on the best side, military experts note the simplicity and reliability of this artillery complex. And after her participation in the Afghan company, she became very popular. Perhaps, that is why it remains in service not only in our country, but also in many other countries of the world.