Self-propelled howitzer 2S3 "Acacia" was designed and built at the KB plant named after Kalinin in connection with the resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers 4 July 1967 g. The first two prototypes created at the end of 1968 city, but during the tests it manifested a number of serious flaws, in particular the strong fumes in the crew compartment. Because of this, the lack of testing is not passed four sample, built by summer 1969 g. After the ventilation system to improve the problem was solved, and the first series of machines have already been released in 1970 g. And in 1971 g.
SAU 2S3M2 «Acacia» – video
2C3 "Acacia" have adopted. She was supposed to enter into the tank and motorized infantry divisions to destroy armored vehicles, positions of artillery and mortars, as well as the enemy's manpower. The production of these self-propelled guns were closed only 1993 g.
"Acacia" received chassis "object 303", developed based on the chassis PU SAM 2K11 "Krug" and was praised during the pilot tests. Subsequently, in the process of operation is tracked chassis and showed good reliability.
For the manufacture of the hull and turret used sheets rolled steel armor, capable of protection against armor-piercing bullet, fired from a distance 300 m. fragments of artillery shells and mines, small caliber.
The ACS scripting diesel engine B-59 with fuel injection and forced to operate in afterburner. The machine has a mechanical double-flow transmission, independent torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers of telescopic type, as well as for gearboxes, made with planetary rotation mechanism. Coil composition comprises six on each side of the double rubberized rollers, four support rollers, as well as one at the front wheel and one rear wheel guide arrangement. Track width reaches 490 mm.
Housing "Acacia" is divided into three compartments. The bow of the hull between the left partition board and a motor control is separated, in which it is located the driver's workplace. To the right is located in the nose of the engine compartment power, transmission, systems supply fuel and air, grease, cooling, preheating and start. The remainder of the body and the entire tower occupies the fighting compartment, the vast space which is under the howitzer and boeukladki. Commander's cupola hatch and placed in the roof of the tower to the left, and hatch loader - right.
Base part for artillery "Acacia" was towed instrument for the same purpose - 152mm howitzer gun-D-20. Its internal structure, ballistics and ammunition left unchanged. Howitzer was assigned an index Grau-2A33. Cannon installed in the embrasure tower. Gun barrel consisted of one-piece tube, two-chamber muzzle brake, ejector, sleeve and breech, hydraulic recoil buffer spindle type compensator fluid and pneumatic recuperator with additional braking valve. howitzer aiming angle vertically produced in the range of -4 to +60″. The gun had a manual lifting gear sector type, equipped with equilibration pneumatic push device type. "Acacia" is capable of producing fire as a direct fire, and indirect fire. ammunition includes 40 Shots Of CFC-540 and PF-25 FFS, stored on two combat laying, located in the tower and housing.
In the late 70-ies. the car became equipped with a drum-type boeukladki, and ammunition grew up 46 shots. To download shells in the stern hatch has a special self-propelled. Besides, howitzer capable of firing a wide assortment of shells: Br-540B, SG-540, illuminating parachute C1, chemical 3X3, all 152mm. In the 1970s,. ammunition "Acacia" added shot with nuclear warheads capacity 2 CT. The auxiliary arms used 7.62mm gun PKT, located above the commander's hatch and necessary to deal with the air forces of the enemy.
2C3 is equipped with a filtering unit, fire alarms, sealing system operating crew seats, that will protect people from the effects of chemical, bacteriological and nuclear weapons. The tightness of the machine retained during transportation, and in the process of firing ammunition, stored within self-propelled. Weight "Acacia" allows its transportation on heavy transport aircraft.
Self-propelled perfected over time. There are two modernization of this machine. 2C3M "Acacia" appeared in 1975 g. and features one boeukladki drum, and the presence of the projectile ZOF29 enlarged fourfold fragmentation. Besides, ammunition and ammunition replenished APS, fitted bottom gas generators, Enlarge cannon maximum range of 20-30%.
2S3M1 was modernized version 2S3M. By car appeared reception equipment, processing and reflection command information, new sight CP-538, 30F38 UAS "Krasnopol", homing at the target on the final trajectory and hitting a moving object.
The "Acacia" action was relatively simple and reliable in operation. After taking part in the fighting in Afghanistan, it has become quite popular fighting machine. maybe, that's why ACS 2S3 taken into service not only in Russia, but also in many other countries.
Performance characteristics 2S3 "Acacia"
| Crew | 4 people. |
| Weight | 27,5 t |
| Length | 8,4 m |
| Height | 3,05 m |
| Width | 3,25 m |
| Clearance | 450 mm |
| Maximum road speed | 60 kmh |
| Cruising on the highway | 500 km |
| weaponry | 152-mm howitzer 2A33, machine gun 7.62 mm PKT |
| gun ammunition | 46 |
| firing range | to 20,5 |
| Engine | In-59U |
| Engine power | 520 HP |
| booking | bulletproof, housing forehead, mm – 30 body board, mm – 15 tower forehead, mm – 30 board towers, mm – 15 |
Photo 2S3 «Acacia»
