Shooting from a mortar in a mountainous wooded area. Shooting from a mortar in a mountainous wooded area Observation of a mortar during firing, possible malfunctions and ways to eliminate them

When you first come under fire from a mortar, it may seem that nothing could be worse. Actually - maybe.

After a week of shelling with Grads, mortar fire seems more annoying than intimidating.

The 82mm mortar is not a particularly long-range weapon. The maximum firing range is up to three kilometers, and it is really effective to shoot up to two kilometers. Therefore, for the purpose of camouflage, the mortar and ammunition are usually carried by hand. A mortar weighs more than 40 kilograms, a standard box with 10 mines weighs more than 30. Therefore, mortar attacks are usually sudden and short-lived: an experienced crew fires ten shots in a matter of seconds, and the last mine exits the barrel before the first one explodes. After that, the mortars immediately disassemble the mortar and change position to get away from return fire.

According to experience, they fired at us from a mortar in "series": 6-8 shots, a pause of 5-10 minutes, then again 6-8 shots. Usually there were no more than three such series. It is possible to fire from one, two or three mortars (three mortar crews are part of a platoon).

An 82mm mine is stuffed with a 400g explosive charge. Fragments scatter 30-50 meters. With a close gap, even if fragments did not hit you, a serious concussion is possible.

The mortar has several features that you must know. First, the mine flies at subsonic speed along a steep trajectory. This means that you can hear a shot and a characteristic whistling sound from the mine to its explosion. Experienced fighters determine by the sound in which direction it is flying (“toward us” or “away from us”), approaching or already moving away during the flight. In combat conditions, such skills need to be acquired as quickly as possible.

Secondly, the mine explodes on impact with the ground, and fragments fly up and to the sides. So a car or standing man is a very vulnerable target. If the fighter is lying at the time of the mine explosion, the probability of falling into him with fragments decreases sharply. Therefore, when you hear the sound of an approaching mine (or the warning cry of an experienced comrade), immediately fall to the ground and press yourself into it harder, covering your head with your hands.

Mine fragments are light and very "bad". When a three-kilogram mine explodes, 400-600 fragments are formed. Any obstacle - a brick, a tree, a concrete pillar - can unpredictably change the direction of their flight. For the same reason, mine fragments do not penetrate more or less serious obstacles. A stone wall, a fallen tree trunk, a helmet, body armor - all this can help.

During the shelling, do not even think about getting up. Lie down where you fell. During a pause, you can inspect the area, move to the basement, to the slot, to the funnel. The lower you lie, the more likely you are to survive the shelling without consequences. Trenches, dugouts, solid stone walls - quite reliable protection against a mortar. Even in an open field, you can come up with a shelter. For example, sometimes our fighters simply stuck a small infantry shovel from the side of a possible shelling and used it as a shelter. If it hits the handle of a shovel, the fragment will most likely ricochet, and if it does, it will lose its destructive power.

In a pause, be ready for the next "series" of shelling, the approach of which will warn you all the same whistling sound.

So, the basic rules for survival during a mortar attack:

1. Listen to the sounds of flying mines, learn to recognize and analyze them.

2. When firing, immediately fall and press into the ground. Learn to do this before the mines start to fall - it's to your advantage.

3. No matter what happens, in no case should you rise, let alone stand up. Do not try to run away from the fire zone - mines and fragments are still faster than you. Wait for an example of 8-10 breaks, then wait at least three minutes, then quickly change position and go into cover. Even if someone nearby needs help, provide it after shelling and in cover, otherwise you will most likely need help soon.

4. Use artificial and natural shelters and terrain folds. You can hide in them in between series of shots.

5. If you are in an area where mortar shelling is possible, do not take off your body armor and helmet - if you have them, of course. Bulletproof vests of the third or fourth class stop mortar fragments quite reliably. Even a simple second-class vest and an old Soviet-style helmet will not be superfluous.

6. Feel free to train and work out your actions in case of shelling in advance. Remember: hard in teaching, easy in the affected area.

Experience in the combat use of mortar weapons in local conflicts of the late XX - early XXI century.

Mortars, as a class of weapons, became widespread during the Second World War. It was then that this weapon became one of the main artillery means fire support of tactical level infantry units (platoon-company-battalion).

On the eve of World War II, virtually all participating countries are adopting various mortars. So on August 1, 1940. The Red Army had 5543 82-mm mortars, in parts of the Wehrmacht by June 1941. there were 11,767 mortars (six 81-mm in the machine gun company of each infantry battalion). Light 50, 60 and 81 (82)-mm mortars become the standard artillery system of infantry companies and battalions - infantry artillery.

What is the reason for the choice of infantry mortars?

Firstly, the mortar has a fairly high accuracy and firing range, which ensures reliable destruction of enemy manpower, weapons and unarmored vehicles in battle. Secondly, it makes it possible to relatively covert firing (a closed firing position and low sound power during a shot make it difficult for the enemy to detect the calculation).

Calculation of 82-mm mortar arr. 1938 During the Great Patriotic

Thirdly, high rate of fire - from ten to twenty rounds per minute provides a high density of fire in the critical minutes of the battle. Fourth, the relatively low weight of weapons and ammunition increases the maneuverability of infantry units and reduces their dependence on supporting artillery fire, which is not always effective due to the time spent on passing teams and the possibility of hitting friendly troops with a decrease in the radius of safe removal (SDR).

The average weight of an 81/82 mm mortar disassembled into three main parts (barrel, bipod and base plate) is about 50 kg. The mass of 81/82-mm high-explosive fragmentation mines ranges from 3.2 to 4.4 kg. The classification of 81/82-mm mortars by caliber deserves special attention. In fact, these are weapons of the same caliber, as will be discussed below.

The first episodes of the combat use of mortars

The first episodes of the combat use of mortars were noted during the defense of Port Arthur in 1904. (mortar designed by Lieutenant General of the Artillery of the Russian Army Leonid Nikolaevich Gobyato). During the Second World War, mortars were in service with the armies of all warring parties. The first Soviet 82-mm mortar was adopted by the Red Army under the name BM-36 in 1936. In Boris Ivanovich Shavyrin's SKB-4 (Leningrad), an 82-mm battalion mortar arr. 1937 (BM-37), which replaced its predecessor. Battalion mortars (this concept applies to all portable 81 and 82-mm systems) during the battle were directly subordinate to the commanders of infantry companies and battalions.

This made it possible to quickly and with high accuracy hit the infantry and machine-gun crews of the enemy directly in front of the battle formations of their troops, which is very problematic when using cannon artillery (guns and howitzers).

The first baptism of fire BM-37 took place in the area of ​​​​the Khalkhin-Gol river in battles with Japanese invaders, providing infantry with indispensable assistance in destroying the enemy in the trenches and on the reverse slopes of the hills.

In 1941 and 1943. the Soviet battalion mortar was modernized. During the Great Patriotic War, battalion 82-mm mortars arr. 1937, 1941 and 1943 were in service with rifle battalions, serving as the main means of fire support for rifle companies. 82 mm battalion mortar mod. 1943 produced long time and in post-war period and is still in service with the Russian army and the armies of other states.

In favor of the domestic 82-mm mortar is the fact that during the Great Patriotic War Soviet crews often used captured German 81-mm and Lend-Lease American 81-mm mines for firing. A unique example of the development of a domestic modern battalion mortar was shown to the world by the war in Afghanistan in 1979-1989. In the early 1970s the main 82-mm mortar of the Soviet army BM-43 model 1937/1943. was withdrawn from service with the Ground Forces. The leadership of the USSR Armed Forces until the end of the 1970s. did not find a place for 82-mm mortars in the "nuclear missile war". They remained in service only with Airborne Troops, and in parts of the Ground Forces it was completely replaced by a 120-mm mortar, which was armed with mortar batteries of motorized rifle battalions. However, in the Design Bureau of the Gorky Machine-Building Plant, a new 82-mm mortar was being developed on its own initiative.

And not in vain ... With the outbreak of the war in Afghanistan, it became clear that only portable systems can provide infantry units operating autonomously at a considerable distance from the towed and self-propelled artillery, effective direct fire support. Just by this time, factory tests of the 82-mm mortar 2B14 developed in Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) were carried out. An order was received from the military for the urgent production of a batch of 100 pieces, which passed field and military tests in Afghanistan.

In 1983 82-mm mortar 2B14 "Tray" was adopted by the Soviet army. Later, its modification was also created - 2B14-1, which had minor design changes. In Afghanistan, 82-mm mortars BM-43 and 2B14 "Tray" were in service with mortar companies of motorized rifle, airborne and airborne assault battalions of the Limited Contingent Soviet troops.

From the beginning of the 80s. and Afghan rebels used 82mm mortars. Their main Type 53 mortar was essentially a Chinese version of the Soviet BM-43 mortar. In addition, the Afghan rebels used two identical 60-mm Type 63 and MB mortars of Chinese and Pakistani production, respectively, as well as an 82-mm Yugoslav M69 mortar coming to Afghanistan from Arab countries. In addition to 60 and 82-mm systems, Afghan rebels since 1987. began to receive Spanish 120-mm Esia mortars through the United States.

The 60-mm company mortar deserves special attention. The division of mortars into company (up to 60 mm), battalion (75 and 81/82 mm) and regimental (106.7 and 120 mm) mortars came into practice on the eve of World War II. 60-mm systems and similar in caliber domestic 50-mm mortars mod. 1941 armed infantry companies. However, the domestic 50-mm mortar was discontinued at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War. Nevertheless, company 60-mm mortars are in service with many modern armies of the world. Already in their very name it is indicated that these weapons belong to the company-level fire support weapons complex, i.e. weapons of direct fire support for platoons of infantry companies.

In modern combat operations, especially during local wars and armed conflicts, there is a steady trend of fragmentation of units and formations into smaller subunits of the tactical level. Under such conditions, small infantry units need their own effective means of defeating the enemy.

Systems developed in recent decades assault weapons(reactive anti-tank and assault grenades, reactive anti-tank grenade launchers and flamethrowers) and fire support weapons ( heavy machine guns and sniper rifles, underbarrel and automatic grenade launchers, portable anti-tank missile systems and recoilless rifles) are not capable of replacing a small-caliber mortar on the battlefield. It is indispensable in close combat when destroying the enemy in the trenches and folds of the terrain, behind the reverse slopes of heights, houses and fences. These are the tasks facing company mortars in modern combat. At the same time, the presence of mortars directly in the combat formations of infantry units simplifies fire control for commanders and contributes to a prompt response to a rapidly changing combat situation.

Carrying mortar mines by Soviet infantrymen in Afghanistan. 80s

The absence of small-caliber mortars in the arsenal of the Russian army is justified by the presence in the armament system of infantry units in the platoon-company link of 40-mm grenade launchers and 30-mm automatic grenade launchers. However, the power factor of a 60-mm fragmentation mine is several times higher than that of a similar indicator

30 and 40 mm fragmentation grenades, which significantly affects the reliability of destroying enemy infantry and fire weapons in field-type shelters, destroying enemy equipment and fire weapons. Company mortar covers the firing range by 3-5 times grenade launcher, and at the same range of fire with automatic grenade launcher exceeds it by several times in terms of weight and size characteristics. For example, the mass of a 30 mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher with a sight is 30.5 kg, and a 60 mm mortar is three times less.

Calculation of the "Tray" fires at the positions of the rebels. Afghanistan, 80s

Here is an example of the use of 60-mm mortar fire by a company tactical group of a paratrooper battalion of the Jordanian Armed Forces at one of the tactical exercises in 2003, where I managed to visit. The paratroopers were faced with the task of destroying the "terrorists" who had taken refuge in one of the camps.

With the support of fire from 20-mm cannons of the AN-1 Cobra fire support helicopters (USA) and the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle (South Africa), the Jordanian paratroopers dismounted from armored vehicles and blocked the "terrorists". When the fire of the helicopter and combat vehicles began to pose a danger to the paratroopers approaching the object of capture, fire was opened on the "terrorists" from a 60-mm Type 63 mortar, the firing position of which was located in the combat formations of a dismounted unit.

Under cover of mortar fire

Under the cover of mortar fire (combat rate of fire 10-12 rounds per minute), a pair of flamethrowers crawled towards the object and destroyed the "terrorists" with a volley of lungs infantry flamethrowers LPO-50 (USSR). By the way, for some reason, LPO-50 is ignored by domestic anti-terrorist units, although burning terrorism with fire is much more convenient than “soaking it in the toilet”.

There is no information about successful examples of the use of 60-mm mortars by the rebels in Afghanistan, this weapon was painfully rare among the Mujahideen. Far more problems for the Soviet and Afghan troops was the fire of the most common artillery system among the rebels - 82-mm mortars. The former farmers, artisans and students studied the development of mortar weapons in training centers and camps in Pakistan and Iran. By the way, at one time they were taught this art by the same Jordanian non-commissioned officer who skillfully laid 60-mm mines 20-30m ahead of the flamethrowers during the anti-terrorist exercise, covering their advance to the firing line.

Luckily, I didn't have to deal with his students in Afghanistan... But our garrison, two weeks after my departure from it, was less fortunate in this respect. November 27, 1987 the garrison of Soviet and Afghan troops in the city of Asadabad was subjected to a massive fire raid using all the artillery weapons systems available to the Mujahideen. It all started with the defeat of the Mi-8 helicopter by the fire of the Stinger MANPADS in the air. Then the rebels opened fire on the garrison and residential areas of the city with 107-mm rockets and, under their cover, dragged 82- and 120-mm mortars to the firing lines. It was in Asadabad that the fact of the delivery of the 120-mm Esia mortar to the Afghan rebels was confirmed. The servicemen of the Asadabad garrison learned about the use of 120-mm mortars by the enemy by the characteristic aluminum plumage of exploding mines.

Like the Stinger, the Esia 120-mm mortar was of American origin, although it was produced by Spain. The fact is that at that time the United States decided to adopt a 120-mm mortar system into service with the Marine Corps in order to ensure the supply of the expeditionary forces with NATO-standard 120-mm mortar ammunition (only 60-, 81- and 106.7 mm mortars). Their choice fell on the Spanish mortar. It was he who had to be tested in Afghanistan in order to make the final decision on adoption. Our intelligence learned in advance that the Afghan rebels were armed with a new powerful weapon system, and the first confirmation of this was given by scouts of 334 ooSpN (a separate detachment special purpose), when the reconnaissance group of Lieutenant Igor Matveychuk in October 1987 destroyed from an ambush in Surubi district field commander Mujahideen, capturing from him firing tables from the 120-mm Esia mortar and other documentation.

120-mm mortars were also used in Afghanistan by Soviet troops, but the battalion 82-mm Tray mortars earned great popularity among our troops. The Soviet infantry, leaving for the mountains, did not part with them. The "tray" was much lighter than the Chinese 82-mm mortar, which was in service with the Mujahideen, but that weapon maneuver in battle was not particularly required. Unlike the Soviet troops, they used defensive tactics.

The rebels equipped stationary positions of mortars in the highlands in the strongholds of fortified areas or in the greenery (irrigated valleys and gorges) near their bases. In the highlands and in winter, they often froze the base plate of the mortar into the ground. With this method of equipping the firing position, it was ensured that intense heap fire was carried out in series of several minutes without restoring the pickup. It is this method of firing, after preliminary zeroing and waiting for a convenient moment of opening fire, that provides the maximum effect of hitting an openly located manpower that does not have time to hide from fire. Subordinates of Major Solovyov from the airborne assault battalion of the 66th Motorized Rifle Brigade came under such mortar fire on December 2, 1986, during the capture of the Ogz and Shpolkai fortified areas in the south of Nangarhar province. Only the next day, the paratroopers managed to knock the enemy off the ridge and capture an 82-mm mortar with a base plate frozen into the ground, then the reason for the high accuracy of fire of the enemy calculation became clear.

In the foreground are captured 60- and 82-mm mortars captured by our troops in Afghanistan. Left - Advisor to the Central Committee of the CPSU in the operational zone "Vostok" S. Bekov

In addition to regular 82-mm battalion mortars, our troops also used captured mortars in Afghanistan. First of all, 60-mm systems, but such cases were episodic and were not widespread due to the small number of these weapons and mines for them in the Mujahideen weapons system. So the scouts of the 3rd company of the 154th ooSpN during the winter of 1985-1986. used a 60-mm Type 63 mortar captured from the enemy until they ran out of mines.

The experience gained in handling non-standard weapons was useful to scouts in the battle on March 29, 1986. on the Afghan-Pakistani border in the Krer Gorge (transshipment base for caravans "Shahid Abdul Latif" and "Fatha"). At a critical moment in the battle, the scouts deployed the 82-mm mortar they captured in battle. Type 53 towards the enemy. Thanks to the fire, from it they managed to stop the counterattack of the superior forces of the rebels and ensure the evacuation of the wounded. Scouts of the 22nd Special Forces used captured 82-mm mortars, installing them in the bodies of military vehicles (captured pickups and full-time Urals),

Armed forces of the USSR in the 80s. on the " afghan war” did not go in cycles.

In 1984 For the supply of the Ground Forces, separate air assault brigades (ODSHBR) and battalions (ODSHB) receive the 2I27 product, which is a UAZ-469 vehicle with a kit for installing, laying and transporting two 82-mm mortars and portable ammunition. In the UAZ-469 car, in addition to two 2B14-1 mortars and spare parts for them, there were: in the first version - 116 mines (36 in 12 trays and 80 in 8 park boxes), calculation with a driver - 2 people; in the second option - transportable ammunition 76 minutes (36 in 12 trays and 40 in park boxes), calculation with a driver - 4 people. However, this weapon was not suitable for the conditions of Afghanistan, it was suitable for raid operations during a large-scale war.

Mortars were actively used in the 90s. last century during the Yugoslav war

In Afghanistan, another method, or rather a technique, of using mortars on a car chassis has been developed - the use of nomadic mortars. The rebels used this trick. The Afghan mujahideen, using the nomadic firepower (KOS) tactic, transported their 82-mm mortars in the back of pickup trucks, and sometimes on pack animals or tractor trailers. At the same time, they created the necessary stock of mines in advance near the intended firing position and delivered only a mortar to it at the appointed time.

Moreover, the creation of caches of ammunition near firing positions concerned not only mortars, but also other weapon systems. This was the reason for the high mobility of bandit formations, unencumbered by the carrying of ammunition. Even machine gunners had their hiding places in the area of ​​​​responsibility or in places of ambushes and other armed actions.

Whoever knew this was no longer surprised that when examining the killed or captured rebels, they only had a minimum supply of cartridges from 30 to 180 pieces for an assault rifle and a carbine (rifle) and a little more for machine gunners, and grenade launchers rarely carried more than 2- 3 grenades. This circumstance was always used by spetsnaz scouts, catching the enemy by surprise during an ambush or raid.

Calculation of the mortar "Tray" of the SPN GRU unit. Chechnya, 2005

The Afghan experience in using KOS was also in demand by the domestic army special forces, but in another war. It is for reconnaissance and sabotage groups armed with mortars that the tactics of nomadic fire weapons are best suited. Mortar fire behind enemy lines, like no other (with the exception of sniper fire), affects the morale of the personnel of the opposing side.

So in Tajikistan in the early 90s. the special forces reconnaissance group successfully applied the KOS tactics using the Yugoslav 81-mm M69 mortar (M081LC), captured from the Mujahideen by scouts of the 15th separate special forces brigade back in 1987. The design of this mortar made it possible to mount a domestic mortar sight on it. The Yugoslav mortar was 11 kg lighter than the domestic 82 mm BM-43 mortar, and the firing table on a metal nameplate was attached directly to the barrel. The mortar was transported on a UAZ-469 vehicle, and deployed at the firing position from three people, not including volunteers from People's Front Tajikistan.

The tactics of nomadic fire weapons determine several stages of actions: the collection of intelligence information about the object of the raid; reconnaissance of the area and selection of firing positions; access to combat positions (firing, observer-spotter, subgroups of cover (support); fire engagement (target shelling); change of firing position or withdrawal.

The transportable ammunition of the 81-mm nomadic mortar consisted of ten to forty 82-mm mines of domestic production. Such a universal "omnivorous" 81- and 82-mm battalion mortars is explained different approaches in determining the caliber. In domestic practice, the caliber of the barrel is indicated, and in the West - mines. The versatility of the 81 and 82mm caliber values ​​of the mortar allows the use of both mines in them. For example, the Mujahideen in Afghanistan successfully used Pakistani, British and American 81-mm mortars with 82-mm Chinese mortars.

In fact, the difference in the caliber of an 81/82 mm mine and an 81/82 mm mortar is the same and amounts to 0.7 mm. It is precisely the lack of contact between the mine and the walls of the barrel when fired, thanks to the annular grooves on the mine body that create an “air cushion”, that explains the high accuracy of the mortar. To ensure high accuracy of shooting, in the first place, in addition to the correct aiming of the weapon at the target, the mass of the mine and the same temperature of the propellant charge (main and additional) come out. Produce weight-accurate mortar shells in force technological features their production (casting and turning) is quite difficult.

Domestic manufacturers mark mines of different weights with a cruciform core. Mines with one, two or three "crosses" are classified into three different weight groups. This should be taken into account when firing a series of mines and, especially, when hitting the enemy near friendly troops. Strange as it may seem, but many Russian army mortarmen do not know about this, which is confirmed by their actions during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. Looks like the old Soviet artillery school and the experience of the Great Patriotic War, in which Soviet artillery, including mortar, is recognized as the best.

The mortar crew of the intelligence unit of the Special Forces of the GRU is preparing its mortar for firing. Chechnya, 2005

During the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, 82-mm mortars 2B14 and BM-43 were widely used by both federal forces and gangs. The federal troops suffered especially significant losses from enemy mortar fire during the capture of Grozny in January 1995. Having an extensive network of informers and observers-spotters, illegal armed groups used the tactics of fire raids to concentrate Russian troops in courtyards and on the streets. In the "Second Chechen campaign", the militants, fortunately, "underestimated" mortars, but the federal forces used them quite widely.

So, during the destruction of R. Gelaev's bandit group in December 2003, thanks to the high professionalism of the mortar crew of the army special forces, the federal forces managed to completely block the enemy with fire. For two days, the calculation of the 82-mm mortar 2B14 "Tray" kept the surrounded enemy in a gorge on the northern slope of the Kusa ridge with harassing fire, and later provided direct fire support to the assault groups. At the same time, the mortars were in a closed firing position 1.7 km from the assault groups, and the mines were laid 30-50m from the attackers.

The 82mm mortar appeared in the early 2000s. in service with the domestic army special forces is not accidental. The combat experience of using mortars in Afghanistan and Tajikistan affected here, overseas experience Force special operations, a number of publications in the domestic media and the enthusiasm of individual officers of the special forces.

Foreign experience Experience in the combat use of mortars

Foreign experience The experience of the combat use of mortars by special forces of the United States and Great Britain indicates that this type of weapon plays an important role in the course of special operations.

A typical example was the operation of the military personnel of the 22nd SAS Regiment (Special Airborne Service) of the British Armed Forces to destroy Argentine Air Force aircraft on Pebble Island during the Falklands conflict, which was carried out on May 14-15. The day before, on May 10, 1982, two patrols of four people each were landed from helicopters on the island of West Falklands with the task of conducting reconnaissance of the aircraft base.

Having crossed the strait in collapsible canoes, the patrols equipped two observation posts (OP) and established the presence of 11 Pukara attack aircraft at the reconnaissance airfield. On the morning of May 14, at the opposite end of Pebble Island, three Sea King helicopters landed a detachment of the 22nd SAS Regiment, armed with small arms, grenade launchers and two 81-mm mortars. Coming to the airfield, a detachment of 40 people divided into two groups and took up their original positions.

One group of 20 people was supposed to destroy the planes in the parking lots with mortar fire, and the other was to cover their actions and cut off reinforcements from the nearest Argentine garrison. The operation took place at night with the use of lighting mines and shells from the destroyer Glamorgan. During the special operation, all Argentine aircraft were destroyed. British losses were two wounded.

More effective weapon than a mortar of a reconnaissance and sabotage group, when destroying enemy aircraft and helicopters at airfields and landing sites, it is difficult to find. A wealth of experience in this kind of combat against enemy aircraft has been accumulated by various rebel formations in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. From mortar fire, the protection of airfields with an extensive network of outposts and posts, minefields and engineering barriers is often powerless.

Armed with portable 60- or 82-mm mortars, small reconnaissance and sabotage groups, operating behind enemy lines at a considerable distance from the main forces, can always count on effective fire support from their own mortar. Even in Afghanistan, where there was an effective air support system for special forces, with a relatively primitive air defense rebels, special forces could not always hope for the help of army and attack aircraft.

In addition to air defense, the work of aviation is limited and weather. Artillery support is devoid of such shortcomings, but its capabilities are limited by the firing range of the barrel and rocket artillery Ground forces. In such a situation, the issue of increasing the firepower of special forces is solved very simply - with their own mortars.

The main advantages of the 82-mm mortar as a special forces weapon are not only its high firing accuracy, but also the possibility of covert firing, as well as the high mobility of this artillery weapon system.

In the early 2000s By order of the GRU GSh, domestic designers developed an 82-mm silent mortar complex BSHMK 2B25. However, due to the short-sightedness of individual officials of the military department, the work was curtailed, and the adoption of a silent mortar into service with the Russian Armed Forces is not planned in the near future. But in vain. The mortar, which has no analogues in the world, has a mass of about 12 kg and a firing range

about 1200m. At the same time, its fragmentation mine is several times more effective than a conventional 82-mm high-explosive fragmentation mine, and the sound of a shot is no louder than a hammer hitting a tree ...

Alas, what kind of silent mortars for domestic special forces can we talk about if its very number is reduced, while the United States and our other "sworn friends" give paramount importance to the development of special operations forces.

The high mobility of 60- and 82-mm mortars is ensured by the possibility of carrying them by personnel, parachute landing (in cargo containers), deliveries by helicopters, light vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The kit of the domestic 82-mm mortar 2B14 includes pack devices that allow it to be carried by three servicemen (barrel - pipe, base plate, bipod and sight). The fourth calculation number transfers the mines themselves, but if necessary, they can be transferred over short distances by other numbers. During the actions of a mortar crew in infantry combat formations or as part of a reconnaissance and sabotage group, other military personnel are involved in carrying mines.

In China, where the infantry is one of the largest military branches in the world, universal pack devices are used to carry 82-mm mortars and recoilless rifles, heavy machine guns and other fire support weapons. Our servicemen had the opportunity to get acquainted with them in Afghanistan. The versatility of the packs is achieved by the presence of a standard back cushion with mounting brackets, straps and shoulder straps with shoulder pads. With the help of such a pack, you can carry any types of heavy weapons in standard cases or fasten them to packs with belts, as well as other loads.

It is clear that the battalion mortar has not lost its importance in modern high-tech warfare. Portable 82mm mortar armed forces Russia cannot be replaced by an automatic mortar of the same caliber 2B9 "Vasilek" or mortars of a larger caliber. Other infantry support weapons of the 21st century, including high-precision ones, cannot fully replace it.

Alexander MUSIENKO, Colonel of the Reserve

Previous games in the Assassin's Creed series have delighted fans with bustling, bustling, and majestic cities. In Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, the opposite is true, focusing on the vast territories of the Caribbean. The shift in emphasis entailed a number of changes: islands, medium-sized cities and ships came to the fore. Even the confrontation between the Assassins and the Templars faded into the background. Moreover, the thoughts of the protagonist are not busy solving global problems, but are focused on finding ways to get rich quick. Jackdaw will help Edward Kenway to realize his dreams, become famous and become a thunderstorm of the seas and oceans. The nondescript military brig, taken from the Spaniards, will eventually turn into a floating fortress. With the help found in or on the ocean floor among the wreckage, you can improve everything: the hull, cannons, mortars, falconets and ammunition. But change ships in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag it is forbidden; sailing on a ship of the line is allowed only according to the plot. is also limited and appears only for those who have bought a licensed copy of the game and have a stable Internet connection, there is no such possibility on the pirated version.

Boarding in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag starts only after the battle, when the strength of the enemy ship's hull drops to the red mark. As soon as this happens, white zones appear on both sides, which you need to enter at low speed, and then hold down the [S] key. During the capture, depending on the size of the ship, additional objectives appear (kill the enemy captain, scouts on the masts, a certain number of soldiers, blow up powder barrels or rip off the flag), which must be completed, otherwise the ship will not be captured. When boarding, the size of the team plays an important role, the larger it is, the higher the chances of success. The team can be replenished in taverns or pick up people on rafts right in the ocean by pressing the [Space] key at a close distance from the victim of a shipwreck. After the boarding, a choice arises of what to do with the defeated: release to reduce the level of fame in order to get rid of the pirate hunters, use the wreckage to repair the Jackdaw (on land, port captains do the repairs), or attach the ship to Kenway's fleet. Regardless of the decision made, the cargo from the holds becomes a trophy. On the decks of ships abandoned in the ocean, chests with money and items are stored. They need to be inspected, not drowned.

Ship control in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag:

• Shot from cannons with ordinary cannonballs- move the camera with the mouse to the left or right side of the ship, hold down [RMB] and press [LMB] (it is impossible to shoot from both sides at the same time, being between two enemy ships).
• Shot from cannons with heavy cannonballs- move the camera with the mouse to the left or right side of the ship and press [LMB] (the number of available cores is indicated in the lower right corner of the screen, you can replenish the stock of cores in the captain's cabin through the ship's layout, from the harbor captain on the islands or after a successful boarding). Heavy cannonballs deal massive damage at close range. To use heavy cores, you first need to buy the upgrade of the same name in the captain's cabin.
• Shot with nipples- move the camera with the mouse to the bow of the ship, hold down [RMB] and press [LMB], or immediately press [LMB]. Knipples help break sails, break masts, slow down or stop opponents.
• Falconet shot- hold down the key and release after pointing at vulnerable spot ship, marked with a red pointer. Falconets cannot be fired at random targets, as it was in AC3, but they can be used during boarding by approaching them and pressing the [E] key.
• Mortar shot- hold down the [Q] key, point the sight at the target with the mouse and press [LMB]. The amount of charge is indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. Stocks are replenished through the captain's cabin on the Jackdaw or from the harbor captain on the islands. Mortars deal massive damage from a distance. Very effective against battleships and forts. To use mortars, you first need to buy the upgrade of the same name in the captain's cabin.
• Spyglass- hold down the [E] key. The mouse wheel helps to zoom in, and the [W] key helps to mark the selected ship.
• The use of incendiary projectiles- move the camera with the mouse towards the stern and press the [LMB] key. Gunpowder barrels are effective against pursuers.
• The use of a ram- direct the ship towards the enemy and crash into it at full speed.
• Raise the sails and speed up- press the [W] key several times.
• Stop and release the steering wheel- press [S] several times to stop the ship, and then hold down [S].
• Dodging enemy shots- hold down the [Space] key.
• Management of sailor songs (shanti)- keys and .
• Align the camera and change the angle of view- keys [C], [←], , [↓], [→].

In fact, being the captain of a ship is very difficult, since he needs not only to take care of the condition of his ship and crew, but also be able to manage it.

In this section, we'll cover all the basic ship controls in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

Ship control in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

Team set. Commands can be typed in taverns or pick up people on rafts right in the ocean by pressing the [Space] key. To replenish the team at sea, you need to board and capture the ship. After a successful boarding, a selection menu appears on how to deal with the defeated: reduce the level of fame and get rid of the pirate hunters and replenish the team, use the captured ship to repair Jackdaw, or join the ship to the fleet.

Navigation

• Spyglass- hold down the [E] key. Zoom in - scroll wheel on the mouse. Cancel selected ship - [W].
• Raise the sails and speed up- press several times [W].
• Stop and release the steering wheel- press [S] several times to stop and then hold down [S].
• Management of sailor songs (or as they are also called - shanti)- keys and .
• Align the camera and change the angle of view- keys [C], [←], , [↓], [→].
• Dodging enemy shots- hold down [Space].
• Trophy Selection- swim up to the object and press [Space].

The battle

• Shot from cannons with ordinary cannonballs- move the camera with the mouse to the left or right side of the ship, hold [RMB] and press [LMB]. It is impossible to shoot simultaneously from two sides, being between two enemy ships.
• Shot from cannons with heavy cannonballs- move the camera with the mouse to the left or right side of the ship and press [LMB]. The number of cores is indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. Replenishment of ammunition: through the captain's cabin in the ship's layout, at the harbor master or after boarding.
• Shot with nipples- move the camera with the mouse to the bow of the ship, hold down [RMB] and press [LMB], or immediately press [LMB]. Knipples tear sails, break masts, which slows down the enemy.
• Falconet shot- hold and release after aiming at the weak spot of the ship (marked with a red pointer). When boarding, we use it by pressing the [E] key.
• Mortar shot- hold down the [Q] key, point the sight at the target with the mouse and press [LMB]. The number of mortar charges is indicated in the lower right corner of the screen. Mortars - good weapon for long range combat. Effective against forts and ships of the line. To start using, you need to purchase the upgrade of the same name in the captain's cabin.
• The use of incendiary projectiles- move the camera with the mouse towards the stern and press the [LMB] key. Gunpowder barrels are effective when you need to get away from the chase.
• The use of a ram- use the navigation keys to direct the ship towards the enemy and crash into it at full speed.
• Boarding and capture of the ship. Starts during battle when you immobilize an enemy ship. After that, white zones appear on both sides of the enemy ship, which you need to enter, and then hold down [S]. Depending on the size of the enemy ship, additional goals appear: destroy a certain number of soldiers of the enemy captain, scouts on the masts, blow up barrels of gunpowder or rip off the flag. Only after completing these tasks, the ship is considered captured.

The duration of the mortar's combat service and the failure-free operation of all its mechanisms depend on proper handling with the mortar and care for it, as well as from the thorough preparation of the mortar for firing and marching.

Preparation of mortars for firing is carried out under the direction of the platoon commander. It consists of inspecting mortars, checking and adjusting the operation of mechanisms, as well as checking sights.

Inspection of the mortar is carried out in order to timely identify and eliminate malfunctions, as well as to prevent damage and the consequences of improper care for the material part of the mortar and handling it. In military units, the inspection is carried out by the chiefs artillery weapons, artillery technicians and officers to whom the material part was entrusted in the service, within the time limits established by the Charter of the internal service, as well as persons appointed to conduct inspection inspections of artillery weapons and ammunition.

The mortar must always be ready for combat use, but before each shooting it is necessary to make sure once again that the mortar and all its mechanisms are in full working order. It should be remembered that even minor malfunctions that are not detected and eliminated in a timely manner can cause serious damage to the material part and lead to an accident, and poorly adjusted mortar mechanisms and misaligned sights reduce the accuracy of fire and, as a result, increase ammunition consumption.

During firing, it is necessary to continuously monitor the operation of the mortar and promptly eliminate all noticed malfunctions.

It is forbidden to shoot with long-range charges from the M-120 mortar.

Inspection and preparation of the mortar for firing should be carried out in the following sequence:

1. Thoroughly clean the mortar from dust and dirt, paying special attention to the condition of the breech and screws of the lifting and turning mechanisms.

2. Inspect the barrel and breech. On the outer surface of the barrel and breech there should be no cracks, swelling and dents that form bulges in the bore, visible to the naked eye.

Check the reliability of the fastening of the pipe in the holder 2 (see fig. 21) and basting 3 basting clamp; remove grease from the bore.

Note. Careful removal of grease from the bore is one of the main conditions for preparing a mortar for firing.

It is necessary to remove the lubricant not only because the lubricant slows down the movement of the mine when loading the mortar, which can cause misfires, but also because the lubricant has big influence for ignition and combustion of charges.

Oily and wetted charges ignite poorly and burn unevenly. Therefore, the presence of lubrication in the bore during firing, as a rule, leads to undershot mines and their large dispersion.

When removing lubricant from the bore, they are often limited to running a bannik with a breech screwed onto the pipe. In this case, the lubricant is not removed from the bore, but is driven into the breech, i.e., where the charge is located before the shot.

If the lubricant remains in the bore, then the powder grains get into the lubricant, are oiled and do not burn out. Therefore, special attention should be paid to removing grease from the bore and, whenever possible, before firing, when wiping the bore, screw the breech off the pipe and carefully wipe both the bore and the breech. Inspect the bore that has been wiped clean. In poor lighting, place a sheet of white paper obliquely in front of the muzzle. When inspecting the channel, pay special attention to ensure that there are no cracks, swellings or dents in it. A barrel that has cracks, bulges or dents on the outer surface or in the channel is not allowed to fire.

Carefully check the condition of the channel, paying attention to the fact that there are no solid particles left in it, which, when fired, can damage the barrel. Inspect the obturation ring, check whether it has compression around the entire circumference in the form of imprints of the pipe and breech belts, indicating a tight fit of the obturation ring to the corresponding surfaces of the pipe and breech.

3. Check the operation of the firing mechanism.

To do this, release the impact mechanism several times, while the trigger lever must each time return to its original position under the action of the spring. Then, with the breech separated, check the output of the striker.

4. Check the fuse against double charging.

Remove grease from the parts by wiping them with a clean rag and check that the fuse is assembled correctly. Then check the reliability of the fuse on the barrel and put the safety mechanism in the "Open" position.

5. Check the operation of the lifting and turning mechanisms. The check is carried out on a mortar installed in a combat position. The handles of the lifting and turning mechanisms should rotate easily and smoothly, without jerking and sitting. If the effort on the handles is greater than normal (over 4 kg), then inspect the mechanisms, especially carefully inspect the screws of the lifting and turning mechanisms, and identify the cause of the tight movement of the handles of the mechanisms (the cause may be dirt and nicks).

The mortar guidance mechanisms (lifting and swivel) may have backlashes - pitching in the connections of the lead screws with their queens or with other landing parts of the biped-carriage.

There may be backlash in the rotary mechanism:

Axial (longitudinal) and radial (transverse) - in the connection of the screw with the eyes of the swivel;

Axial and radial - in the connection of the uterus with the screw.

To select the axial and radial play in the connection of the screw with the eyes of the swivel, it is necessary to use a wrench screwdriver ( 51–15 ) unscrew the plug 1 (see fig. 16), take out the washer 2 and bend the washer tooth; then the key ( 51–20 ) rotate the cone 4 to such an angle at which the screw will rotate smoothly and without pitching in the eyes of the swivel, then insert the washer, bend its tooth into the slot of the cone and screw in the plug.

In mortars with a variant shock absorber, only the axial play of the propeller can be selected. To do this, remove the washers 11 and 12 (see fig. 18), tighten the nut 13 and turn it to such an angle that there is no axial pitching of the screw in the eyes of the swivel and at the same time the screw rotates easily and smoothly.

To select the backlash of the uterus, you need a key ( 51–12 ) loosen the locknut 11 (see fig. 16) and tighten the adjusting nut 10 in the direction of the arrow marked on the uterus; tighten the nut so that the screw rotates easily and without play. If the uterus has two adjusting nuts, then they need to be tightened alternately. In mortars that do not have lock nuts and nuts, and the uterus is made split (see Fig. 20), it is necessary to remove the wire and tighten the adjusting bolts, and then re-secure them with wire.

In the lifting mechanism, only the axial (longitudinal) play of the screw is regulated. To do this, unscrew the screws that lock the cover on the body of the lifting mechanism, and with a key ( Sat51–20, see fig. 11) tighten the cover on the body of the lifting mechanism so that the screw rotates smoothly and easily, without axial pitching.

In other mechanisms, backlashes are selected by lining washers or replacing worn parts in repair shops.

It must be borne in mind that the gaps in the mortar mechanisms increase the overall instability of the mortar barrel, which worsens the accuracy of fire. The unsteadiness of the mortar barrel should not be more than ±0-20. If the shakiness of the barrel is greater and it is impossible to reduce it by adjustments, the mortar must be sent to the workshop for repair.

6. Inspect the bipedal carriage and check for breakage and damage on it, as well as cracks on the swivel. Check the operation of the sight leveling mechanism (where available), make sure that the shock absorber springs are in good condition and check for deflection of the shock absorber rods. The shock absorber should freely (without sitting) move forward by the amount of travel when pulled by the swivel and return to its original position when the force is removed from the swivel.

7. Inspect the base plate; on the plate, especially in welds, there should be no damage (cracks).

8. Check sights.

Checking sights includes:

Quadrant check;

Preparing the sight for alignment;

Mortar preparation for checking the zero line of sight;

Reconciliation of the sight (alignment of the scales of elevation angles, the zero line of aiming and the level of the swivel according to the transverse level of the sight).

To reduce the amount of drift of the zero line of sight depending on the elevation angle, it is necessary to align the zero line of sight of the mortar at an angle of 63 ° (7-00).

Alignment of the control mortar quadrant KM-1

To reconcile a quadrant, you must:

Disconnect the barrel from the plate;

Put the breech of the barrel on some kind of rigid support (tragus, park boxes, etc.) with a height of 1200-1300 mm, while setting the biped approximately vertically;

Wipe dry the control pad on the trunk;

Level the control area of ​​the shaft in the transverse direction using the leveling mechanism;

Remove the quadrant from the case and dry the bottom plane of its base;

Set the zero division of the quadrant scale against the pointer and place the quadrant on the control platform along the barrel along the longitudinal risk so that the point of the arrow of the quadrant is directed to the muzzle of the barrel; using the lifting mechanism of the biped, bring the bubble of the quadrant level to the middle;

Rotate the quadrant 180°, if the level bubble stays in the middle then the quadrant is correct.

If, after turning the quadrant, the level bubble does not retain its middle position, then it is necessary to select approximately half of the error by turning the quadrant disk relative to the pointer; then, turning the flywheel of the lifting mechanism, bring the quadrant level bubble to the middle and rotate the quadrant 180° again. If the level bubble is not in the middle, repeat the above procedure until the level bubble remains in the middle position when the quadrant is rotated 180°.

Note. It may be that when the quadrant is rotated 180° for the first time, the level bubble will shift so much that it does not. it will even be possible to roughly determine the magnitude of the error. In this case, it is recommended, by rotating the handle of the lifting mechanism, to bring the level bubble to the middle, noticing the exact number of turns of the handle (take into account the backlash), and then turn the handle to reverse side half the observed number of its revolutions. By turning the quadrant disk, bring the level bubble to the middle.

Rotate the quadrant 180°. If the level bubble remains in the middle, then the quadrant is correct. If, when turning the quadrant by 180 °, the level bubble slightly shifts from the middle position, then continue the check as indicated above; if the bubble again shifts so much that it will not be possible to determine the magnitude of the error by eye, then continue the test using the lifting mechanism, taking into account more precisely the number of revolutions of the handle.

Preparing sights for inspection

To prepare sights for testing, you must:

Remove the scope from the case and wipe it with a clean, dry cloth;

Inspect the sight and its mechanisms, test the smoothness of their movement and check the presence of all nuts and screws;

Install the sight with the axis into the socket of the bracket and secure it with the handle;

Set zero settings on the sight: goniometer 30-00, sight 7-00; using the fine leveling mechanism (or sight leveling mechanism, where available), bring the bubble of the transverse level of the sight to the middle.

Determination of dead moves of the goniometer

To determine the dead strokes of the protractor, you must:

Aim the crosshair of the reticle at any aiming point located no closer than 400 m from a mortar by rotating the goniometer drum in one direction; on the scale of the goniometer and the drum, read the setting of the goniometer and memorize it;

Knock down the tip by rotating the goniometer drum in the same direction;

Align the crosshairs of the sight with the same aiming point by rotating the protractor drum in the opposite direction, and read the setting of the goniometer.

The difference between the first and second settings is the backlash of the goniometer. The backlash must be determined three times and the arithmetic mean of the three determinations should be taken as its value. In addition, checking the backlash of the goniometer in the order indicated above should be carried out in three positions that differ from each other by about 10–00, for example, with goniometers 20–00, 30–00 and 40–00.

The backlash value of the goniometer should not exceed two thousandths (0-02). In case of greater backlash, at least in one position, the sight must be replaced.

Determination of dead moves of the mechanism of elevation angles

To determine the backlash of the elevation mechanism, you must:

Set the “50” division of the scale of the checked quadrant against the pointer, place the quadrant on the control platform along the barrel, as indicated above, and, turning the handle of the mortar lifting mechanism, bring the bubble of the quadrant level to the middle, i.e., give the mortar barrel an elevation angle of 50 ° ; remove the quadrant from the trunk;

Bring the bubble of the longitudinal level of the sight to the middle by rotating the drum of the elevation angle mechanism in one direction (in the direction of decreasing the installation of the sight); on a scale 27 (see fig. 31) and drum scale 4 read the setting of the sight and memorize it;

Remove the bubble of the longitudinal level from the middle position, continuing to rotate the drum in the same direction;

Bring the bubble of the longitudinal level back to the middle, rotating the drum in the opposite direction, and read the sight setting again.

The difference between the first and second sight settings is the backlash of the elevation mechanism.

The backlash must be determined three times in this way and the arithmetic mean should be taken as its value.

In the same order, check the backlash of the mechanism of elevation angles at an angle of 65 °. The value of the backlash of the mechanism of elevation angles should not exceed two thousandths (two divisions of the drum scale).

With a larger backlash, at least at one elevation angle, the sight must be replaced.

Preparation of the mortar for checking the zero line of sight

Before checking the zero line of sight, it is necessary to level the mortar in the transverse direction, for which you should:

Install the mortar, if possible, on a flat area, giving it an elevation angle of 63 °;

Wipe the control platform on the trunk and install on it (perpendicular to the axis of the bore along the transverse risk on the platform) a previously checked control quadrant; set the zero division of the quadrant scale against the pointer;

Bring the bubble of the quadrant to the middle using the clamp (see fig. 12) and the fine leveling mechanism (see fig. 13).

Alignment of the sight MPM-44 (MPM-44M)

Reconciliation of sight levels in the troops is not carried out, since they are not amenable to any adjustment in military conditions. Levels are adjusted at the factories that manufacture sights, or in workshops that have special adjustment devices.

To align the sight, you must select a pointing point (tree, pole, milestone, etc.) located at a distance of at least 400 from the mortar m.

If the aiming point is selected at a distance of at least 400 m is impossible in front of the mortar, then you can align the sight using a special shield, which should be placed in front of the mortar at a distance of at least 10 m without removing the mortar from the firing position. To do this, on a piece of plywood, a board, a wall or the bottom of a box, draw two prominent parallel lines 200–250 long. mm and a width of 3–5 mm each.

Distance between lines should be 136 mm. On a light background, the lines should be applied with dark paint (black, blue or charcoal). On a dark background, the lines should be applied with white paint or chalk.

Place the shield in front of the mortar so that the lines on the shield are vertical (check the installation of the shield by a plumb line).

After selecting the aiming point or setting the shield, point the mortar muzzle roughly at the eye to the aiming point or shield. At the same time, the slab and the biped must be placed on the ground in such a way that during further work at the mortar they do not change their position. Therefore, it is most expedient to align the sight without removing the mortar from the firing position; the barrel must be securely fixed in the shock absorber cage so that the white line on the barrel does not fall off to the side when looking at the rear of the barrel.

Check the sight in the following order.

Alignment of elevation scales

To give the mortar barrel with the greatest accuracy - an elevation angle of 63 "in the control quadrant, carefully installed on the control platform of the barrel.

Bring the bubble of the transverse level to the middle (using the sight leveling mechanism).

Then, turning the drum 4 (see fig. 31), remove the bubble of the longitudinal level 6 to the middle. In this case, the risk of the pointer 24 must match the division "10" on the scale 27 , and "0" of the drum scale 4 - with pointer risk 13 . If the position of the scales does not correspond to the specified, then it is necessary:

unscrew four screws 12 one turn and, holding the drum 4 with one hand, turn the scale with the other 5 1Z and tighten the four screws 12 ; at the MPM-44M sight, respectively, the blind nut is unscrewed and screwed, securing the drum;

Loosen the screw one turn 25 and two turns screw 14 , move the pointer until its risks coincide with the “10” division of the scale 27 , then tighten both screws until they stop.

To avoid friction, check the presence of an end gap between the pointer 24 and scale 27 ; clearance must be at least 0.15 mm.

Reconciliation of the zero line of sight

Behind the mortar, at a distance of 10–15 m from it, install the compass so that the line of sight from the compass to the aiming point (or the right line on the shield) passes approximately through the middle of the ball heel of the breech of the tested mortar.

Then, rotating the monocular of the compass and working with the rotary mechanism of the mortar, achieve the alignment of the white line on the barrel of the mortar and the aiming point (or the right line on the shield) with the vertical line of the crosshair in the monocular of the compass. The bubbles of the longitudinal and transverse levels should be in the middle.

Rotating drum 4 , combine the vertical line of the crosshair of the sight mounted on the mortar with the aiming point (or the left line on the shield). In this case, the risk of the pointer 19 must match the division "30" on the scale 18 large divisions of the goniometer, and the risk of the pointer 9 must match the division "0" on the scale 17 small divisions of the goniometer.

If the position of the scales does not correspond to the specified, then it is necessary to loosen the locking screws by half a turn. 3 , fixing the scale 18 large divisions of the protractor, and move this scale until division "30" is aligned with the stroke of the pointer 19 then tighten the screws until they stop.

Then loosen the four screws one turn. 7 on the drum 4 and holding the handwheel with one hand; another turn the scale 17 until the zero division is aligned with the pointer 9 , after which the screws 7 screw it all the way down (in the MPM-44M sight, unscrew and tighten the cap nut securing the drum, respectively). Check if the aiming of the mortar and sight has not gone astray.

Note. If there is no compass, then pointing the white line on the mortar barrel to the aiming point (or the right line on the shield) can be done using a sight mounted on the second mortar behind the tested mortar at a distance of 10–15 m, or a plumb line suspended behind the mortar at a distance of 3–5 m.

Check the level of the swivel in the following order: give the mortar an elevation angle of 63° (along the quadrant) and accurately orient the swivel using the precise leveling mechanism along the transverse level of the sight, while the level bubble of the swivel should be in the middle.

If the bubble of the swivel level is not in the middle, loosen the fixing screws, turn the level to one side or the other and bring the bubble to the middle, then fix the level again with the fixing screws.

Notes: 1. If the mortar has a swing mechanism, then before adjusting the level of the swivel, it is necessary to combine the marks on the clamp of the swing mechanism.

2. If the level of the swivel, consistent with the level of the sight at a mortar elevation angle of 63 °, leaves the middle when the mortar elevation angle changes (within the operation of the lifting mechanism by more than 0.5 level divisions), then this level of the swivel cannot be used; in this case, when pointing the mortar, use only the level of the sight.

Checking the sight stand

After checking the sights, it is necessary to check the rack attached to this mortar and determine the error of the rack. To determine the error of the stand, it is necessary, having noted at any aiming point with a sight mounted on a mortar without a stand, then mark at the same aiming point with a sight mounted on a mortar with a stand, and determine the difference in marks both by goniometer and by elevation. To determine the difference in elevation marks, you need to bring the bubble of the longitudinal level to the middle with the drum of the elevation angles of the sight and subtract its reading from the obtained indication of the elevation angle scale before installing the sight on the rack. This difference will be the stance error (excluding dead moves of the sight) in elevation.

The rack error is allowed no more than 0-05 (according to the goniometer and elevation angle). The actual rack error must always be taken into account when dealing with it. If the rack error exceeds 0-05, then the rack must be handed over to the workshop.

It is necessary to select and prepare a firing position in such a way that it ensures the mortar's camouflage, its stability when firing, and the ability to quickly change the direction of fire.

It must be borne in mind that the safety of the material part of the mortar and the accuracy of fire depend on the choice and quality of the preparation of the firing position.

Camouflage is achieved by placing the mortar in closed firing positions (reverse slopes, hollows, full-profile trenches, etc.).

The installation of a mortar in open positions should be carried out only in exceptional cases when, according to the conditions of the situation, it is required to immediately open fire, and there are no natural shelters on the ground.

In order for mines not to burst prematurely on their flight path, mortars must be positioned so that the distance from the mortar to the shelter is one and a half times the height of the shelter (for example, if the height of the shelter is 10 m, then the mortar must be installed no closer than 15 m from shelter). The area in the direction of fire must be cleared of trees, branches of which the mine may touch during flight, as a result of which premature rupture may occur.

When preparing a firing position, it must be taken into account that, depending on the quality of the soil (soft, hard or medium hardness), its preparation for installing the base plate should be different.

The best soil for installing the mortar base plate is medium-hard soil (alumina, black earth, turfed soil, etc.). Such a soil provides a slight draft of the base plate, sufficient stability of the mortar during firing and the safety of the material part.

Rice. 73. Strengthening the soil under the base plate by driving stakes

Before installing the base plate, the soil must be processed (depending on the conditions and condition of the soil). Installing the base plate on soft ground (loose sand, swamp, etc.) without treatment leads to an increased settling of the plate when fired, which is accompanied by a large pickup and can cause damage to the material. Installing the base plate on hard ground (frozen, rocky, etc.), as well as on medium hard ground without treatment, leads to poor stability of the mortar (bouncing) and breakage of the material part of the biped, sight or base plate.

Soft soil is processed in one of the following ways:

Bags of earth, turf, small branches mixed with the ground, crushed stone, etc. are placed under the base plate;

Stakes 5–8 thick are driven into the ground on which the slab rests. cm and length?-1 m(Fig. 73);

2–4 mats of branches are placed under the base plate (Fig. 74); between the mats and on top of them, the existing dense soil is poured (turf, small branches mixed with the ground, etc.);

The base plate is installed on the roots of the shrub;

The base plate is installed in a rectangular wooden frame (Fig. 75); log house is made of logs with a thickness of about 15 cm; inside the log house, the existing dense soil is poured (turf, small branches mixed with the ground, etc.); when installing the base plate in a log house, it is necessary to ensure that the sides of the plate do not rest against the walls of the log house; the emphasis of the sides of the slab against the walls of the log house can cause it to break during firing;

Rice. 74. Strengthening the soil under the base plate by lining mats from branches

Rice. 75. Installation of a base plate in a rectangular wooden frame

The soil is strengthened with stakes hammered into a cone (Fig. 76).

Solid soil under the slab is loosened by about? m. If it is impossible to loosen the soil with the available entrenching tool (crowbar, pickaxe), the soil is loosened by blasting with the help of sapper tools. 2-3 bags of earth are poured onto the top layer of loosened soil.

The preparation of soil of medium hardness comes down to loosening the soil and digging a ditch (trench) for the slab.

Rice. 76. Strengthening the soil with stakes driven in a cone

To the prepared firing position, bring a wheeled move with a mortar and put it with a pivot paw towards the rear. Unfasten the straps that secure the biped to the walk. Raising the stroke by the front part, gradually lower the base plate to the place prepared for it, keeping the stroke from tipping over. Release the barrel from the clip securing it. Release the biped from fastening with clamp supports, unwind the chain of the bipod and unfasten the coupler connecting the plate with the move. Supporting the trunk, take the move back. Move the barrel over the plate (forward) and set it in firing position. At the same time, put the uterus of the rotary mechanism in the middle of the screw and, by rearranging the bipedal, direct the mortar barrel approximately at the intended target.

If the fuse was removed during the transportation of the mortar, then it must be put on the mortar barrel.

When transporting a mortar without a move (on a utility wagon, in a sleigh, etc.), transfer the mortar to a combat position in the following order: remove the base plate from the wagon and place it on the ground, remove the barrel and install the ball heel into the base cup of the plate, supporting trunk with hands at an elevation angle of 45–80 °. Then remove the shock absorber with the bipedal from the wagon, rest it against the ground with openers, and bring the shock absorber with the clip under the trunk, insert the shock absorber clip and the basting of the clip into the recess on the trunk and secure with a clamp.

Installing a mortar at a firing position

The correct placement of the mortar in the firing position is one of the important factors that ensure effective firing. Incorrect installation of the mortar in the firing position leads to the following;

To poor stability and, as a result, to frequent knocking down of aiming, which is accompanied by a deterioration in the accuracy of fire, and, consequently, an increase in ammunition consumption;

To damage to the material part of the mortar (settlement and breakage of the springs of the shock absorber and screws of the lifting and turning mechanisms, as well as the breakage of individual parts of the two-legged mortar and the breakage of the sight).

Base plate installation must be carried out so that the amount of departure or settlement of the plate from the shot is not more than the allowable shock absorber, i.e. not more than 150 mm.

If the deflection or settling of the plate is greater than the specified value, then the shock absorber springs are compressed until the coils come into contact, and further withdrawal of the plate leads to a hard blow, which is accompanied by an even greater settling of the plate, and then breakage of the springs and bending of the shock absorber rods, bending of the screws of the lifting and turning mechanisms, bending swivel and bipod, sight breakage, etc.

When installing the base plate, the following rules must be observed:

The inclination of the base plate to the horizon in the direction of the shooting direction should be 25–30 °,

The base plate must rest with its entire surface on solid ground and must be immersed in it for at least ? coulter heights;

Under the surface of the base plate, it is necessary to create a dense earthen cushion, on which the base plate should lie with all its recesses and recesses (Fig. 77), and not with individual points.

Setting up a biped. The openers of the bipedal must be sunk into the ground to the plates and be approximately at the same level with the ball heel of the breech (Fig. 78).

Rice. 77. Base plate installation

At the same time, if the elevation angles are less than 65 ° (sight 6-50 and more), the biped is moved forward by about 1600 mm from the center of the ball heel of the breech and connects to the upper recess of the barrel, and at elevation angles greater than 65 ° (sight 6-50 and less), the biped is moved forward by about 1000 mm and connects to the lower groove of the barrel.

Rice. 78. Installing a mortar at a firing position

When installing a mortar on a firing position, two grooves are made with radii equal to 1000 and 1600 mm, to bring the biped forward from the center of the base plate. Bipedal openers are installed in one or another groove, depending on the elevation angle attached to the mortar.

If, after installing the mortars on the firing position, a parallel fan was built, then the adapter posts of the sight must be removed. It should be remembered that it is impossible to fire from a mortar with a rack installed, since in this case the rack, swivel bracket and sight may break.

Target the mortar in the following order:

1. Check the leveling of the sight by its transverse level.

2. Set the commanded elevation angle on the sight by operating the sight elevation knob.

3. Bring the bubble of the longitudinal level of the sight to the middle, using the lifting mechanism of the mortar.

4. Install the commanded goniometer on the sight and, using the rotary mechanism of the mortar, align the vertical cross hairs on the reticle with the aiming point. If the angle to which the mortar needs to be rotated is greater than the angle selected by the rotary mechanism, but not more than 3-00, then the biped should be rearranged.

If the angle of rotation is greater than 3-00, then rearrange the biped and the base plate so that the cutout in the cup of the base plate is located in the direction of the trunk.

5. Bring the bubble of the transverse level of the sight to the middle by turning the adjusting screw of the sight swing mechanism (in mortars with a device for leveling the sight) or by operating the swivel leveling mechanism.

6. Check the aiming and, using the rotary mechanism, accurately align the vertical thread of the cross hairs of the reticle with the aiming point; if necessary, make additional leveling of the sight or swivel.

7. Check the position of the bubble of the longitudinal level and, using the lifting mechanism, bring it to the middle, then check again the leveling (according to the transverse level) and aiming.

8. When firing, do not remove the sight from the mortar swivel.

Before loading the mortar, set the firing device to the "hard" or "free" position of the striker.

To set the striker to the “Hard” position, you need a switch knob 12 (see fig. 4) turn, setting it against the letter "Ж", printed on the breech, and to set the striker to the "Free" position, set the switch knob against the letter "C", also printed on the breech.

After aiming and installing the firing device, loading and firing are performed on command. In order to fire a shot, you need a mine with additional charges put on it and the fuse crane installed according to the command, insert the stabilizer into the muzzle of the barrel and, having sunk it into the barrel approximately to the centering thickening, release it.

The fuse cap must be removed immediately before loading. After lowering the mine, the loader must quickly remove his hands from the barrel.

In the "Hard" position of the striker, the shot is fired by self-piercing the primer of the tail cartridge of the mine onto the striker when the mine is lowered into the bore of the mortar.

In the "Free" position of the striker, to fire a shot, after lowering the mine into the bore of the mortar, pull the trigger cord to failure, and after the shot, release it again. When firing, it is necessary to carefully monitor the position of the double-loading fuse blade in order to prevent loading the barrel with two mines.

Note. It must be borne in mind that when switching from firing with the "Hard" position of the striker to firing with the "Free" position of the striker, the first shot due to soot or contamination of the striker may occur by self-piercing, as in the "Hard" position of the striker. Therefore, in order to prevent possible self-piercing of the primer of the tail cartridge of the mine in the "Free" position of the striker, before loading the mortar, perform 2-3 idle triggers of the firing mechanism.

In the event of a misfire when firing with the “Free” position of the striker, trigger another 2–3 times; if the shot does not occur, then, after waiting at least 2 minutes, go up to the mortar and sharply push the mortar barrel (with a banner, a shovel handle or some kind of pole) so that the mine falls into place (if it has not reached before), after what, after waiting at least a minute, to make another 2-3 times the descent; if the shot does not follow, then it is necessary to defuse the mortar.

In the event of a misfire when firing with a “hard” position of the striker, you should wait at least 2 minutes, then go up to the mortar and sharply push the mortar barrel (with a banner, shovel handle or some kind of pole) so that the mine sits in its place (if She hadn't gotten there before.)

If the shot does not follow, then, after waiting at least 1 minute, move the handle 12 switch (see Fig. 4) to position "C", and then unload the mortar.

In mortars of earlier manufacture, having a firing device with a switch stopper, before unloading the mortar, it is necessary, by rotating the stopper lamb, to drown the switch stopper. To unload the mortar, it is necessary to separate the trigger cord from the firing device and give the barrel the smallest elevation angle (about 45 °).

After that, loosen the basting of the shock absorber cage, carefully, without jerking, turn the barrel 90 ° in the ball bearing of the plate, separate the barrel from the plate and, holding the biped, raise the breech of the barrel. In this case, one number of the calculation should keep their hands near the muzzle so as to keep the mine from falling to the ground, while trying not to put pressure on the fuse head (hands must be kept near the muzzle after the barrel takes an approximately horizontal position).

When the mine touches the hands, carefully remove it from the barrel. In order to avoid a shot when unloading, it is strictly forbidden to lower the raised breech of the mortar barrel while the mine is in the bore.

A mine, the tail cartridge of which misfired, but the fuse and stabilizer were not damaged by the mine itself during discharge, can be used. To do this, after removing additional charges, remove the misfired tail cartridge using the extractor, insert a new tail cartridge and equip the mine with additional charges.

When shooting, the following must be observed:

1. Check and correct aiming after each shot.

2. Monitor the operation of the shock absorber and the installation of the plate.

The plate should rest firmly on the ground and not give a large draft when fired. At the beginning of shooting, when the ground has not yet been compacted, the base plate from each shot should not go deeper into the ground by more than the amount allowed by the shock absorber. When the soil under the slab is compacted, the shrinkage of the slab should be greatly reduced. If shooting conditions allow, the first shot must be made on the smallest or average charge.

With the correct installation of the slab on medium ground and correct work shock absorber (without meetings), after several shots, the mortar pickup almost does not go astray.

3. Follow the installation of the biped. In no case should the womb of the swivel mechanism rest against the swivel leg.

When the slab shrinks, it is necessary to dig in the bipedal coulters so that they are approximately at the same level with the ball heel of the breech. When the slab moves back, it is necessary to rearrange the biped periodically so that the normal offset of the bipod (1600 mm at elevation angles less than 65° and 1000 mm at elevation angles greater than 65°).

Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to the failure of the mortar. With a large shrinkage of the plate, the shooting should be stopped and the soil under the base plate should be compacted.

4. Make sure that all the time the bubbles of the transverse level of the sight and the level of the swivel (in mortars with a swivel leveling mechanism) are in the middle.

5. Check the mounting of the sight on the swivel and the clips of the shock absorber on the barrel after 8-10 shots.

Possible malfunctions of the mortar when firing and how to eliminate them

The procedure for transferring a mortar from a combat position to a marching one is as follows:

1. Fix accessories (bannik, pickaxe, shovel, crowbar and milestone) on the wheeled course. Put covers on the muzzle and on the breech of the mortar barrel.

2. Raise the frame of the mortar stroke with the pivot paw up and in this position bring the mortar to the rear of the mortar so that it enters the hooks of the base plate with its U-shaped brackets (thickened parts of the brackets) (Fig. 79-81), then put on the coupler of the course on the plate bracket and tighten the tie.

3. After the base plate is laid and secured to the travel frame, the mortar barrel is carefully (without removing it from the base plate) using. overturn two or three people so that the muzzle of the barrel lies in the holder of the course, where it is fixed with a basting and a clamp.

Rice. 79. Mortar in the stowed position. Wheel travel arr. 1938 (the right wheel is conventionally not shown in the upper figure):

1 - wheel travel; 2 - mortar; 3 - a box for spare parts; 4 - banner and milestone; 5 - Sapper shovel; 6 - pickaxe; 7 - scrap

Rice. 80. Mortar in the stowed position. Wheel travel design of plant No. 702 (the right wheel is conventionally not shown in the upper figure):

1 - wheel travel; 2 - mortar; 3 - a box for spare parts; 4 - banner and milestone; 5 - Sapper shovel; 6 - pickaxe; 7 - scrap

Rice. 81. Mortar in the stowed position. Wheel travel design of factory No. 106 (the right wheel is conventionally not shown in the upper figure):

1 - wheel travel; 2 - mortar; 3 - a box for spare parts; 4 - banner and milestone; 5 - Sapper shovel; 6 - axe; 7 - park boxes with mines

4. Fold the biped, wrap the chain and secure the legs in the barrel yoke.

5. Lower the travel frame with the mortar and check whether the fastening of the plate with the barrel coupler in the travel clip and the biped in the barrel collar is secure. Attach the legs to the travel frame with two straps.

6. Close the stacked mortar on top with a cover of general coverage.

Inspection of the mortar before marching should be carried out in the following order:

1. Check whether the fastening of the stowed barrel, bipedal and plate, as well as the box with spare parts and entrenching tools is secure.

2 Inspect the suspension of the B-20 stroke.

3. Inspect the wheels, make sure that the tires are intact and that they are securely attached to the rims, check the condition of the discs (no cracks, deflection, etc.), check that all nuts are screwed onto the bolts to failure.

Check that the wheels rotate freely by lifting them off the ground. The wheels must turn freely.

4. Check the serviceability of the stoppers, as well as the presence of all bolts, nuts and cotter pins.

When transporting the mortar behind cars and tractors that have rear buffers, the latter must be removed, as they limit the rotation of the mortar and can lead to breakage of the pivot paw.

The rotating hook of the vehicle (tractor) must be fixed, as the pivot foot of the B-20 travel rotates.

During movement, it is necessary to observe the marching mount of the trunk, bipedal and base plate. When driving on bad roads and rough terrain, make sure that the plate does not touch the ground, as this may break the parts of the marching mount.

At halts and stops, check whether the box with spare parts and accessories and trenching tools are securely fixed; make sure that the wheel hubs do not heat up and grease does not leak out of them. If the hub becomes very hot, remove the wheel as soon as possible, inspect the roller bearings and change the grease. Replace defective roller bearing. Check if the nuts securing the wheels to the axle shafts have loosened; fasten loose nuts.