2B1 Oka
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Russian. (September 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| 2B1 Oka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Self-propelled heavy mortar |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Barrikadny Plant |
| Produced | 1957 |
| No. built | 4 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 55.3 t (54.4 long tons; 61.0 short tons) |
| Barrel length | 20.02 m (65.7 ft) |
| Width | 3.08 m (10.1 ft) |
| Height | 5.73 m (18.8 ft) |
| Crew | 1+6 |
| Caliber | 420 mm (17 in) |
| Recoil | None |
| Rate of fire | 1 round per 5 minutes |
| Effective firing range | 25–45 km (16–28 mi) |
Main armament | 420 mm (17 in) smoothbore mortar |
| Engine | Modified V12-6B diesel 750 kW (1,010 hp) |
| Suspension | Planetary, 8 speed |
Operational range | 200–220 km (120–140 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 30 km/h (19 mph) |
| References | [1] |
2B1 Oka, (Russian: "2Б1 Ока" - "Oka River"), is a Soviet 420 mm self-propelled heavy artillery. 2B1 is its GRAU designation.
Background
[edit]In 1954, the Soviets began work on developing nuclear artillery. The program featured three different self-propelled guns based on the chassis of the T-10 tank: the 2A3 Kondensator 406 mm gun, the 2B1 Oka 420 mm breech-loaded mortar, and the 420 mm S-103 recoilless rifle. While the development of the S-103 was abandoned in November 1956 after the barrel burst during the 93rd test firing, four Okas and four Kondensators were built in 1957.[2]
Description
[edit]The Oka, originally known as the SM-58 was developed and built by the Barrikadny Plant in Stalingrad. An experimental model was ready in 1957. Its chassis (Object 273), designed and built by the Kirov Plant in Leningrad, was based on the chassis and components of the T-10M heavy tank with reinforced torsion bars and a system of suspension locks to provide firing stability. While the Oka chassis is superficially identical to the Kondensator, they have different cab arrangements. While the 2A3 features a large, but narrow tandem cab mounted above the right front track guard, the 2B1 have a large full width cab mounted at the front of the vehicle.[3]
According to Zaloga, the Soviets developed two tactical nuclear rounds for the Oka: the Transformator-AR and the Transformator-D, both based on the RDS-9 nuclear torpedo warhead. It weighed 650 kg (1,430 lb) and had a maximum range of 25 km (16 mi).[4] Kinnear and Sewell note that some sources claim that the Oka could fire 750 kg (1,650 lb) rounds up to 45 km (28 mi).[5] Due to its complexity of loading it had a relatively low rate of fire—one round every five minutes. Field tests showed various drawbacks of the entire design (the recoil was too strong for many components: it damaged drive sprockets, ripped the gear-box away from its mountings, etc.) and the sheer length rendered it incredibly difficult to transport.[6]
Its development continued until 1960, when the idea of such overpowered guns (along with the 2A3), was abandoned in favor of tactical ballistic missiles, such as the 2K6 Luna.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kinnear & Sewell 2017, p. 214.
- ^ Zaloga 2018, pp. 32−33.
- ^ Kinnear & Sewell 2017, pp. 122−123.
- ^ Zaloga 2018, p. 32.
- ^ Kinnear & Sewell 2017, p. 123.
- ^ Zaloga 2018, pp. 33−34.
- ^ Zaloga 2018, p. 34.
Bibliography
[edit]- Kinnear, James; Sewell, Stephen (2017). Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2053-2.
- Zaloga, Steven J. (2018). Superguns 1854–1991: Extreme artillery from the Paris Gun and the V-3 to Iraq's Project Babylon. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2609-1.
External links
[edit]
 | This article relating to artillery is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |