2S4 Tyulpan Self-propelled Mortar
from: Wikipedia
edited by: Tim Wing
The 2S4 Tyulpan (English: tulip) was a Soviet self-propelled 240mm mortar system. The Tyulpan was at one time the heaviest mortar in deployment among any country.
General Characteristics
- Type: Self-propelled mortar
- Place of origin: Soviet Union
- In service: 1972-2024
- Primary users: Soviet Union
- Produced: 1969-1978
Specifications
- Weight: 30 tons
- Length: 8.5 meters
- Width: 3.2 meters
- Height: 3.2 meters
- Crew: 9
History
The 2S4 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1972. In design, it was based a GMZ tracked minelaying vehicle, carrying an externally mounted M-240 240 mm breech-loading mortar on the rear of the hull.
Propulsion
- Engine: V59 V-12 liquid-cooled diesel 387.76 kW (520 HP)
- Suspension: Torsion bar
Performance
- Road speed: 62 km/h
- Operational range: 420 km
- Power to weight: 17 HP/ton
Armor
Armor thickness, in Rolled Homogenous Steel Armor equivalency (RHAe)
- Hull, frontal: 20 mm RHAe
Armament
Primary
Though the crew consisted of four men, an extra five were required to operate the mortar. The 240mm mortar had a range of 9.65 km, or up to 20 km with extended range ammunition. Due to the large size of the weapon and the weight of the ammunition (130 kg for a standard projectile), it had a slow rate of fire: one round per minute. In addition to the high explosive rounds, it could fire armor-piercing, chemical and nuclear rounds. It could also fire the “Smel’chak” (“Daredevil”) laser-guided round.
Designation: M-240 240 mm breech-loading mortar- Calibers: 240 mm
- Range, conventional rounds: 9.65 km
- Range, extended range rounds: 20 km
- Rate of fire: 1 round per minute
- Warhead:HE, AP, Chemical, Nuclear (Fission)
Secondary
- Designation: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun
Service History
The 2S4 saw action during the Soviet Union’s conflict in Afghanistan and the Global Civil War. In both conflicts, the Smel’chak projectile consistently destroyed targets quickly, precisely, and with only a few rounds. The extreme firepower per round compensated for the Tyulpan’s slow rate of fire.
Operators
Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Syria
Bibliography
- Wikipedia (English): 2S4 Tyulpan
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Original artwork by: Unknown
Content by Tim Wing
Copyright © 2015 Tim Wing