In the 80s, NATO countries began an intensive buildup of their weapons. This was the impetus for the Central Research Institute to create a new concept for the development of military equipment for the airborne troops of the USSR. In order to create an effective weapon capable of withstanding NATO tanks, the Volgograd Tractor Plant joint stock company developed the 2S25 Sprut-SD anti-tank gun specially for the Russian Airborne Forces.
About authors of development
“Octopus-SD” 2S25 is a Russian airborne self-propelled anti-tank gun. The chief designer involved in the manufacture of the chassis was A.V. Shabalin. The 125 mm 2A75 gun for the Sprut-SD 2S25 was developed by V. I. Nasedkin. Work on the creation of this Russian anti-tank weapons was carried out at the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering.
Start of creation
In 1982, on the basis of the BMP-2 combat vehicle, a SAUT 2S25 Sprut-SD prototype was developed, designed for a 125 mm caliber. This was a confirmation that, using the components and assemblies of the landing vehicle, it is quite possible to create a new, very effective weapon. The leadership of the Central Research Institute of Tochmash decided that for the design of a lighter chassis, you can use the light tank “Object 934”, which was equipped with a lightweight 100-mm rifled gun with loading automatics, designed for 19 shots.
One of these tanks became the basis for creating a prototype of a 125-mm gun. The upgraded tank "Octopus-SD" was now equipped with a smooth-bore 125-mm gun. In the process, a classic tower scheme was used. In addition, the designers considered options with the removal of weapons.
Testing
In 1984, the Sprut-SD 2S25 was transported for experimental shooting at the Kubinka firing range. Testing results of the new self-propelled guns showed that in terms of accuracy of fire it is not inferior to tank guns, and the load acting on the crew and the gun itself does not exceed permissible limits. On October 20, 1985, the military-industrial commission decided to begin production of a 125-mm gun for the Sprut-SD 2S25.
What difficulties did the developers encounter when creating landing facilities?
Means P260, providing landing of a self-propelled gun, during the test showed a number of disadvantages:
- their production was expensive;
- the use of P260 was difficult.
As a result, work on parachute rocket-propelled equipment was discontinued, and the P260 was replaced by a strap-on landing system, which received the designation P260 M.
What is “Octopus-SD” 2C25? Design description
Self-propelled artillery installation is a combat armored tracked floating vehicle using a powerful artillery-missile system as an weapon.
Self-propelled guns consists of three parts - buildings:
In the front is a point that provides control of the machine "Octopus-SD" 2S25. The photo below presents the structural features of the self-propelled gun. This building is designed for three people: self-propelled commander, gunner and driver. In the roof of the combat vehicle for the crew there are built-in observation devices with day and night vision.
- The installation tower is located in the middle building. This block is combat. The sight, designed for the senior in the crew, is a combined design: the scope of its activity extends to two planes by combining it with a laser sight. Aiming 125 mm projectile is provided using a laser beam.
- The rear is considered the seat of the engine compartment.
Arrangement of a workplace for the commander
At the workplace of the main crew, the designers of the artillery installation provided for the presence of such devices:
- daytime monocular periscope sight 1A40-M1, having a stabilizing field of view;
- night optical-electronic complex TO1-KO1R;
- laser range finder, with which the commander measures the distance to the target and generates a proactive angle during firing at a moving target;
- an information channel through which guidance and launch of a guided missile is carried out;
- duplicate ballistic and sighting device, which is used by the gunner;
- a special remote control that performs autonomous control of automation during charging;
- drives providing operational communication between the commander and the gunner.
What tasks does the crew commander do?
The head of the group, using night and day vision sights, monitors the terrain. The commander of this self-propelled artillery installation, regardless of the gunner, can perform targeted fire from both a machine gun and a cannon. This feature is provided by a computerized fire control system: if the source data is available, the tank ballistic computer uses the drives to automatically enter angles and anticipations. Due to this function, the commander is not required to retarget using rangefinder and sighting marks. The commander is free to fire.
How is the crafted tool classified?
Anti-tank self-propelled artillery mount - the Sprut-SD 2S25 combat vehicle was assigned to this class of guns. The purpose and range of tasks she performed was reduced to the fight against enemy tanks. Previously, such tanks as the PT-76B and Object 934 performed this task. They were replaced with the advent of the 2C25 Sprut-SD. Fire support combat vehicle, unlike other light tanks, has a higher firepower. The maneuverability and maneuverability of the new self-propelled guns corresponds to the indicators characteristic of the combat weapons of light tanks. "Octopus-SD" is a modern and more advanced version of the PT-76B.
In what conditions is it operated?
“Octopus-SD” is able to cover distances of at least 500 kilometers without refueling. Self-propelled guns are transported by military transport aircraft. Also, landing ships can be used for this purpose. For the landing of the installation, its developers have provided landing and parachute methods. The crew of the combat vehicle is in its cockpit. Having a high specific power, “Sprut-SD” is suitable for warfare both in alpine terrain and in hot tropical climates.
Self-propelled guns are able to withstand highly armored enemy vehicles, their fortified strong points and manpower. Overcoming water barriers is possible provided that the excitement does not exceed 3 points. An artillery installation can operate on water due to water-jet engines equipped on the chassis. The buoyancy of the installation is ensured by water jets with a diameter of impellers of 34 cm and track rollers. The design of self-propelled guns has closed air chambers. When water gets into the housing, pumping is carried out using powerful water pumps. While afloat, "Octopus-SD" can fire.
After completing its combat mission, the self-propelled guns are capable of self-loading from a water surface into a landing ship.
Especially for working in snowy areas, snowmobile caterpillars and asphalt boots are used. “Octopus-SD” is suitable for areas that have received radiation, chemical and biological contamination. The safety of the crew provides protection against weapons of mass destruction.
A combat artillery vehicle can be masked with a smoke screen. For this purpose, the designers mounted brackets (2 pieces) on the aft leaf of the self-propelled gun turret, in which there are six 902V grenade launchers using 81 mm caliber smoke grenades.
For what purposes was the combat vehicle created?
Initially, self-propelled guns were designed to withstand tanks, various armored vehicles and manpower. 2S25 "Octopus-SD" - a fire support combat vehicle - was intended only for the Airborne Forces. The task of the airborne self-propelled artillery installation was to combat armored vehicles behind enemy lines. Over time, she became part of the Marine Corps and Special Forces. The experience of using 2S25 showed that, interacting with the BMD-4 combat vehicle equipped with a 100-mm gun and the Kornet self-propelled anti-tank system, the Sprut-SD can be very effective not only in the rear of the enemy, but also in a direct combat collision, which spend the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Russia.
In the period from 2001 to 2006, after additional tests, the troops of the Russian Federation received the Sprut-SD 2S25 combat vehicle at their location.
Main characteristics
The weight of the combat vehicle is 18 tons. The crew consists of three people. Cruising range is 500 km. The running gear consists of seven rubberized road wheels, six single rubberized rollers, a driving and directing wheel, steel two-ridged tracks, which use rubber-metal hinges, and asphalt shoes. The length of self-propelled guns with a gun is 9.77 meters.
The combat vehicle is equipped with a six-cylinder four-stroke boxer diesel engine with supercharging and direct fuel injection, for which liquid cooling is provided. 2V-06-2C - brand of engine installed in the “Octopus-SD” 2C25. Technical characteristics of the engine allow the self-propelled guns to reach speeds from 45 (average) to 70 km / h.
Self-propelled guns equipped with bulletproof armor. The frontal part is able to withstand direct hits of 23 mm shells from a distance of half a kilometer. In the process of manufacturing armor for a combat vehicle, aluminum alloys were used (for the self-propelled gun body and its turret). The device of the frontal part was made using steel pads. For combat vehicles, radio stations R-173 and intercoms R-174 are provided.
Airborne landing of a combat vehicle is carried out from aircraft IL-76 (models M and MD), AN-124. The use of external suspension for the MI-26 helicopter also allows successful landing of the Sprut-SD 2S25 self-propelled gun.
The armament of the Russian army was enriched by self-propelled guns equipped with one 2A75 smoothbore gun and a PKT machine gun coaxial with it. The combat set of the main gun 2A75 is designed for 40 shots. Mechanized stacking contains 22 ammunition. Additional - 18. Machine gun caliber: 7.62 mm. One machine-gun belt contains 2000 rounds.
What shells are used?
The combat vehicle's ammunition contains shells that allow firing four types of shots:
- High-explosive fragmentation (20 shells).
- Armor-piercing (14 pieces). When firing armor-piercing-projectile shells from a distance of two kilometers, it is possible to break through homogeneous armored steel, the thickness of which does not exceed 23 cm.
- Cumulative shells (6 pieces). Homogeneous steel armor is punched up to 30 cm thick.
- Equipped with anti-tank guided missiles. Penetrate armor whose thickness exceeds 35 cm.
The device basic equipment
Using the 2A46 tank gun and its modifications, the 2C25 designers created an improved 125-mm 2A75 smoothbore gun. In order to reduce the force of resistance to kickbacks during firing, it was planned to have a special muzzle brake in the installation. But as a result of these works, problems with the recoil of the gun appeared, which were solved by increasing the recoil length to 74 cm. In addition, a hydropneumatic suspension of the chassis was developed, the mechanism of which absorbed the residues from the recoil momentum.
The 2A75 cannon is equipped with loading automatic equipment, which positively affected the rate of fire of the gun: 7 shots can be completed in one minute. This automation consists of:
- conveyor mechanism equipped with 22 cartridges;
- chain mechanism for lifting cassettes;
- chain rammer;
- a mechanism for removing from the warhead installation of shot cartridges.
