To begin, probably, stands with definitions. And already they ask the further development of our narrative threads. so, no one today do not need to explain, that is self-propelled artillery (HEALTHY) or self-propelled guns. A self-propelled?
"Self-propelled" - themselves go. "Self-propelled" - move themselves. All the difference between the words "go" and "move". Walk - a travel considerable distances. Self-propelled guns and walked side by side with the tanks, which was ordered. Moving the gun - a move that could independently.
Moving the guns in a combat situation is quite complicated procedure, which also takes a lot of time. And require draft power, it does not matter, what will it be, horse or tractor.
The most striking example: surprise attack of the enemy tanks on the positions of the battalion there, where he absolutely did not expect. The use of anti-tank artillery instantly simply impossible, as the gun is not enough that you have to gather, still need to adjust the traction force, hook and move. The enemy will not wait ...
In fact,, the first step in this direction was taken already in 1923 year at the Leningrad plant "Red Arsenalets".
Kits H. Karateev and B. Andryhevich developed a self-propelled chassis for 45-millimeter cannon. Inside the light-armored hull design called "Arsenalets" housed boxer petrol engine capacity of the motorcycle just 12 HP.
Motor clocked chassis weighing a little less than a ton to 5-8 kmh. It is unlikely that such driving characteristics "Arsenalets" could keep up with the troops on the march, so the caterpillar to be used only for the movement on the battlefield.
To calculate the gun seat is not planned. The driver was just walking behind "arsenaltsev" and managed it with the help of two levers.
A prototype self-propelled gun was introduced to the test in 1928 year. Of course, military interested in a motor vehicle for field artillery, but "arsenaltsev" design does not provide any protection for the calculation and did not have an acceptable speed and maneuverability. On the cross was all right. Nevertheless, after the test project was canceled.
Self-propelled gun "Arsenalets", which, undoubtedly, It is one of the first projects in the world, rightly belongs to the class of self-propelled artillery. It is because, that at the time of development of any major projects SAU just have not been.
At the same time more recent ACS domestic and foreign production were armored chassis mounted with guns and fighters remedies.
The idea of "arsenaltsev" not been forgotten. And the idea of self-propelled guns began to develop in the bureau F.F. Petrova even during the Great Patriotic War.
AT 1946 year by the Soviet Army adopted the anti-tank gun D-44 caliber 85 mm. This tool has proved very successful, so, D-44 that still stands in service in a number of countries.
AT 1948 For engineers, the. AT. Belyaev and C. F. Komissarik (a photo, Alas, I could not find) proposed the idea of guns, which could move around the battlefield without the aid of a tractor. The developers performed a self-propelled gun project, which was approved by, and 1949 №9, the plant started production of the prototype.
The next few years have gone on trial, identification and elimination of shortcomings. In November 1954 , the self-propelled gun was accepted for service under the designation CR-44, ie, "self-propelled D-44".
In the development of self-propelled guns DB-9 designers have followed the path of least resistance. The receiver is a group of the original gun D-44 does not alter the. Trunk-piece with a two-chamber muzzle brake and breech remained unchanged.
Solid revision undergone only carriage guns. To the left of its frame was attached special metal box, within which is housed a motorcycle engine M-72 power 14 HP. Engine power was transmitted to the drive wheels through the clutch, gearbox, main shaft, rear Axle, PTO drive and airborne transmission.
Gearbox provide six gears forward movement and two reverse gears. On the frame and secured the driver's seat. At his disposal is available steering, Managing additional, third, cannon wheel, mounted on the end of one of the trails. During translation, the gun in the firing position the steering wheel leans to the side-up and did not prevent the coulter frame rest on the ground.
There's also installed headlights to illuminate the road in the dark.
As fuel tanks used hollow frame mast.
In the stowed position weapon SD-44 weighed about 2,5 tons. In this case, it could go on the highway at speeds of up to 25 kmh, a 58 liters of gasoline enough to overcome 220 kilometers.
The main way to move the gun was still towing other equipment with more serious driving characteristics.
Notably, that of the SD-44 equipment includes a winch for self. In the stowed position, it was kept on the cable bulletproof shield, and it was fixed, if necessary, a special drum on the axis of the drive wheels.
winch is driven by a main engine M-72. On the translation of cannon firing position to the stowed and vice versa calculation of five people needed less than a minute. With the advent of the military transport aircraft An-8 and AN-12 the opportunity to carry a gun SD-44 through the air, as well as its parachute parachute.
It is only natural, gun on his eye the chief commando of the USSR Vasily Margelov, who understood, a tool that, able to be moved with the help of an airplane or helicopter, and at the very least leave the drop zone, worth it.
Tactical and technical data CD-44:
Caliber, mm: 85
barrel length, calibres: 55,1
Weight in firing position, kg: 2250
Ugol GN, city: 54
angle HV, city: -7; +35
The initial velocity of the projectile, m / s: 793
Max. firing range, m: 15820
Max. self-motion speed, kmh: 25
projectile weight, kg: 9,54
Maximum range of fire FFS, m: 15820
rate of, rds. / min: to 15
Calculation, people: 6
In drive mode the gun barrel is moved back, while on it is possible to place a part of the calculation and (a small) boekomplekta.
DM-44 Gradability to 27 °, fords depth to 0,5 m and snowdrifts height of 0.30 ... 0.65 m. Cruising on paved roads - up 220 km.
All were released 704 SD-44 gun, like new, and converted from D-44. In addition to the USSR Army, SD-44 was in service with the armies of Albania, Bulgaria, GDR, Cuba and China.
That's the story. Once again, the Soviet engineers showed, that they can beat the whole world.
