Battle-Tested Weapons: Podnos Mortars, Shturm-S ATGMs, and D-30 Howitzers Sent to Troops

The Russian military has received D-30 towed howitzers with a caliber of 122 millimeters, 2B14 Podnos mortars, and Shturm-S anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs). In total, about 20 units of weaponry.

The Shturm-S ATGM is a development of the Kolomna Design Bureau of Machine-Building. The ATGM was adopted into service back in 1979. In the Soviet army, the Shturm-S became the first multi-purpose vehicle that could counter not only enemy armored vehicles and tanks, but also helicopters, manpower, and could hit field fortifications.

Initially, the complex was considered as a means of suppressing tank breakthroughs into the depths of the Soviet defense. But fortunately, the Shturm-S did not have to fulfill such a role. The complex was actively used during the war in Chechnya, where it was used to destroy firing points.

The Shturm-S includes a 9P149 combat vehicle, which can be equipped with a guided or advanced missile, as well as maintenance equipment. The 9P149 combat vehicle is based on the MT-LB floating tracked tractor. The crew consists of two people. The flank speed of the targets hit is up to 60 km/h, the frontal speed is 80 km/h.

Among the advantages of the Shturm-S ATGM are the buoyancy of the combat vehicle, the supersonic speed of the missile's flight on the line of sight and above this line, as well as the launch of missiles in less than one second.

The complex has a disadvantage: it is impossible to detect targets at night without external illumination. This problem was solved by the designers in the Shturm-SM and Shturm-SME complexes.

The Podnos mortar is a well-established weapon that was used in the Soviet army. It was developed at the Gorky Machine-Building Plant.

The weight of the mortar is 42 kg, the calculation for its use can consist of two or four people, the rate of fire using guidance is 82 rounds per minute, and the maximum firing range with a long-range charge is 3922 meters, with a full variable charge - 3100 meters.

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