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Showing posts from February, 2024

2S3 "Akatsiya" floatation packages

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Due to the 2S3 "Akatsiya's" inability to traverse water obstacles using fording equipment, VNIITransmash was tasked with developing 2 different floatation package kits. One design was based on a hard frame body and the other was a pontoon-style kit, both of which could be mounted and unequipped. VNIITranshmash also carried out model tests using the PST-63M pontoon flotation package.  Floatation package No.1 mounted on 2nd pre-production 2S3 prototype Two experimental hard frame body packages were created by VNIITransmash together with СЗТрМ (Sverdlovsk Transport Engineering Plant). The 2nd 2S3 pre-production prototype was retrofitted to equip the aforementioned kit and was tested in 1970.  The design was made using a hard frame body, which consisted of tubes, mounted to the hull and turret of the vehicle. A rubberized tarp was attached to the frame and mounted to hermetically sealed mounting points. The driver had a special opening in the front of the package but directio

Prospective SPG R&D Program: "Uspekh"

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 The "Uspekh" research and development program was conceptualised in the late 1960s by OKB-3 based on a request made by the Military-Industrial Commission of the USSR in 1968 to perform R&D to create a new prospective artillery system between the 1971-1975 and its further development through 1976-1980.  This program's first stages focused on comparative analysis of domestic and foreign artillery systems and their relative performance. In 1969, the first proposed schematics were presented by OKB-3, featuring 122mm and 152mm artillery systems. The proposed design choices followed certain criteria; improving ammunition capacity, firing range and rate of fire, improved survivability in scenarios when nuclear weapons are used and improved mobility. The designs were based on unmodified 2S3 "Akatsiya" hulls aiming to preserve the engine transmission bay, and the main armament was to use  obturation with  caseless munitions to reduce excess fume accumulation inside

2S4 "Tyulpan" predecessor concepts by Perm Machine-Building Plant

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In the 1960s, the Perm Machine-Building Plant named V. I. Lenin (now known as PJSC Motovilikha Plants) conceptualized the installation of a 240mm mortar on a BMP-1 and MT-LB chassis. The preliminary design did not utilize either chassis but instead used an Object 132 hull which at the time was in a similar weight range. Additionally, PMBP already looked into using the Object 132 hull to mount the "Uragan" MLRS system.  3 different mortar mounting options were considered.  The mortar system is mounted in the centre of the hull and positioned to fire forward.  The mortar system is mounted in the rear of the hull. The base plate is hard-mounted to the chassis and lifts the hull when moved into the ready position. Mortar can only fire backwards.  The mortar system is mounted in the rear of the hull. The base plate is connected to the hull and can be lowered into the firing position. Mortar can only fire backwards.  With the 3rd design option chosen, various ammunition-loading des

T-80 geographical testing locations

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  These are the locations where the T-80 MBT was tested consisting of 87 tanks, fitted with 119 engines with 33000 operating hours and traversed 573000km. RSFRS:  Leningrad Oblast (Kamenka, Tikhvin, Sertolovo, Rzhevka, Zelenogorsk, Gorelodo,  Cheremykino, Priozersk, Ladoga ) Moscow Oblast (Kubinka, Novo-Moskovskaya, Zagorsk, Noginsk, Kolomna) Pskov Oblast (Strugi Krasnye) Smolensk Oblast (Dorogobuzh) Orenburg Oblast (Totskoye) Amur Oblast (Blagoveshchensk, Zavitinsk, Bureya, Tryokhrechye) Murmansk Oblast (Luostari, Kandalaksha, Pechenga, Rybachy Peninsula) Zabaykalsky Krai (Chita, Olovyanka, Mirnaya, Tsugol, Dosazhu) Gorky Oblast - Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (Gorohovets) Kemerovo Oblast (Yurga) Saratov Oblast (Shihan') Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk, Rovno, Chuguev, Novomoskovsk, Ihnatpil', Skvyra, Bila Tserkva, Asepovichy) Belarus (Baranovichi, Obuz-Lesnovskyi, Kalinkavichy, Asipovichy, Urechcha) Turkmenistan (Mary, Gökdepe, Kelete, Tejen, Turkmenbashy 'Krasnovodsk', Gyzylarbat)