By: Arabella-Cox - 22nd October 2002 at 02:27
RE: rapid fire artillery
“It was definately an artillery piece rather than a morter because of the simple fact that you see 3 shell casings ejected upwards torward the barrel. “
It is not actually that simple, the Russians have quite a few dual gun mortar systems that can fire mortar rounds and shells with cases.
Your description suggests that the weapon must have some sort of automatic feeding and clips are more likely than belts.
The 82mm Vasilek automatic mortar is rather old now and was used mostly by airborne troops as it was very mobile and had lots of firepower.
Perhaps this is a 152mm replacement?
A sort while ago at a defence expo in Asia the Russians showed a new light weight 152mm gun for highly mobile units.
Very little information was given about this system except that it was a light weight weapon for airborne units.
Perhaps they are one and the same or perhaps they were in competition for the same role.
I’ll have a look around.
Note it is not in “Russia’s Arms 2001-2002”, but then neither is the Vasilek…
Thanks for bringing it to my attention… 😉
By: mixtec - 21st October 2002 at 19:21
RE: rapid fire artillery
It was definately an artillery piece rather than a morter because of the simple fact that you see 3 shell casings ejected upwards torward the barrel. I appeared to be a standard caliber barrel for an arty, not wide and short like a morter. The barrel was pointed up in a high elevation. Unfortunately they didnt show much of the base of the weapon as the photog was pointing his camera high to get a view of the rounds being fired. You could also see the barrel recoil rapidly in what I would guess is a 3 round bursts shot in about a half a sec followed by about 3 or 4 secs for the next burst.
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st October 2002 at 02:25
RE: rapid fire artillery
Can you give me a little more information?
The Vasilek automatic mortar fires from 4 round clips and has a cyclic rate of fire of about 500rpm. (it is an 82mm weapon used by airborne units.)
Or is it the 152mm 2S23?
Did they show pictures?
Was it vehicle based or towed?
What calibre range did it seem to be?
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October 20, 2002 at 5:42 pm