AFMS-10

1RL232 leopard

The artillery Funkmeßstation 10 , abbreviated AFMS-10 , is a in the Soviet Union in 1966 developed counter-battery radar . The Russian name is станция наземной артиллерийской разведки-10 , abbreviated СНАР-10, and it means station for ground-based artillery reconnaissance ( SNAR-10 ). The project name is Leopard ( Леопард ), the GRAY index 1РЛ232 (1RL232). In NATO , the weapon system is called Big Fredguided. The radar device is used to clear up enemy targets, determine target coordinates and guide one's own fire. In this role, it replaced its predecessors, SNAR-6 and SNAR-2 .

development

From the beginning of the 1960s, the Soviet Army made the transition to self-propelled artillery. From 1965 the 122 mm self-propelled gun (Sfl) 2S1 , from 1967 the 122 mm Sfl 2S2 and the 152 mm Sfl 2S3 were developed. These weapon systems were characterized by better protection and greater tactical mobility compared to conventional rifled artillery. As a result, there was also the need to develop command and reconnaissance equipment that could be used together with the Sfl artillery. The command complex 1W12 Maschina was developed for the command of the artillery batteries and departments . Like the howitzer, built on the chassis of the MT-LBu , the vehicles of the complex were characterized by the protection of the crew against splinters and small arms as well as against radioactive, chemically and biologically (bacteriologically) contaminated outside air and a high level of tactical mobility. In addition, the command complex made it possible to largely automate the fire control and thus shorten the reaction time of the artillery batteries and departments. Up to this period, various sound measurement complexes and the artillery radio measurement stations AFMS-2 and AFMS-6 were mainly used as reconnaissance means . The latter, however, no longer met the increased requirements. Built on the chassis of the light AT-L chain tractor , they were too immobile and too big. In addition, there was no protection for the crew. In 1966, the Missile and Artillery Headquarters commissioned the development of a new artillery radio measuring station. Particular attention was paid to survivability on the battlefield, extensive autonomy, tactical mobility and the possibility of data transmission.

The system should functionally replace the AFMS-10. Both the electronic assemblies and the chassis should be redeveloped. First, the station was to be built on the chassis of the BMP-1 armored personnel carrier . In the course of development, however, difficulties arose both in the electronic part and with the intended chassis. The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant designated for the production of the chassis categorically refused to use the chassis of the BMP-1. This delayed development for a long time. It was not until 1969 that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR instructed to use the chassis of the artillery tug MT-LB . State testing of the system began, as planned, in 1970 at the Smolino ( Смолино ) firing range ( Nizhny Novgorod Oblast ) and was successfully completed on December 30 of this year. The following year the station was included in the armament of the Soviet Army.

Series production of the SNAR-10 was to begin in 1972. Due to the novelty of the system, however, many difficulties arose, so that series production could not begin until 1973 at the Arsenal plant in Tula . Forty to fifty stations were produced annually by the end of series production. Production of the improved version SNAR-10M began in 2004.

construction

The system consists of

the base vehicle
the radio measuring device 1RL127
the optical observation and reconnaissance devices
the navigation and orientation devices
the power supply
the life support system
the messaging devices
the tower system TKB-01

Basic interaction of the elements of the weapon system

The base vehicle accommodates all components of the system including the antenna system.

Basically, the SNAR-10 is used from measured positions. With the help of the navigation and orientation devices, the location of the vehicle can be determined independently of additional aids. The sector search is used for reconnaissance, a sector with a width of 26 ° is searched. The enlightened goals are displayed on a panoramic device , on which a representation of the boundaries of the sector is also generated electronically. The station can also work in an all-round search mode. The targets to be accompanied are displayed on a viewing device , with the help of which the lateral angle and distance to the target can also be determined. The calculated coordinates are transmitted to the firing batteries by telephone and radio. Two-color screens are used to distinguish fixed from moving targets. The target escort viewing device also serves to display the impacts of your own artillery and to measure the stowage area. The determined deposit is also passed on by telephone and radio to the firing batteries for fire correction.

The crew of the SNAR-10 consists of four soldiers. A time of 5 to 20 minutes is required for the transition from marching to combat position, and a time of one minute from combat position to marching position.

Base vehicle

The base vehicle is built on the chassis of the light artillery tug MT-LB .

The hull of the base vehicle is welded from armor steel with a thickness of three to ten millimeters. The armor protects the crew against rifle ammunition and shrapnel. The tub is divided into several areas that are connected to each other. The engine and genset are separated from the crew areas by partition walls. In the front of the vehicle, the driver is on the left and the surveyor on the right. Both can observe the area in front of them through large viewing windows, which can be closed with armored plates if necessary, then observation takes place via an angle mirror . The surveyor is also responsible for operating one of the two radios and the 7.62 mm MG PKT , which is housed in the tower TKB-01. Immediately afterwards follows the engine compartment, followed by the combat compartment, in which the electrical assemblies of the radio measuring device and the second radio device are housed. The fighting compartment is located in a flat tower on the rear part of the hull, on which the lowerable parabolic-linear antenna reflector is also attached. In the fighting area there is room for the commander on the left and the radio measurement specialist on the right. The power supply system with an electrical unit is located behind the combat area. The vehicle is accessed through two hatches in the front and two hatches in the tower. Two large hatches in the rear wall of the vehicle serve as an emergency entry and exit to the combat area on the left and as access to the unit on the right.

The eight-cylinder JaMZ-238 diesel engine develops 240 hp (177 kW) at 2,100 rpm. It is built in lengthways. The gearbox in the front of the vehicle is driven via the main clutch and a short cardan shaft . The drive wheels at the front are driven via the steering clutches flanged on the side with brakes, the transfer case and the side gears. The power transmission scheme basically follows the one already used in the BTR-50 , but the drive wheels are at the rear and is identical to that of the MT-LB. The vehicle is steered using steering levers that disengage or engage the steering clutches. The steering clutch is a multi-disc dry clutch without clutch linings, the main clutch is a two-disc dry clutch with brake linings. The brakes are designed as composite band brakes.

The drive has a front drive wheel and a rear idler wheel, which is also used to tension the chain. The six rollers on each side are independently torsion bar sprung. The suspension of the rollers on the first and last axles is dampened by a hydraulic shock absorber.

The vehicle has a total weight of 12.5 t, a length of 6454 mm and a width of 2850 mm. In the marching position the vehicle is 2390 mm high, in a combat position, with the antenna unfolded, 2780 mm. The maximum speed is 60 km / h and the range is 500 km. In contrast to other versions of the MT-LB, the AFMS-10 is not buoyant due to the heavy rear tower system.

Radio measuring device 1RL127

The 1RL127 radio measuring device consists of

Transmission system with AFN system
Antenna waveguide system
Receiving system
Distance measuring system
SBZ system
Tax and reading system
System for coordinate transformation
Display system

The 1RL127 radio measuring device works in the millimeter wave range with a wavelength of approximately 8 mm. The pulse repetition frequency is 0.15 µs. In the transmitting part, the signal is generated by a klystron and amplified by a magnetron . To protect the crew, the waveguides with the amplified signal are put under pressure, which switches off the magnetron when possible leaks are detected. The radio measuring device has a system for selecting moving targets (SBZ), which is seldom used due to its complexity and poor performance.

The spotted targets appear on a rectangular viewing device, on which the azimuth angle relative to the line of sight is displayed horizontally and the distance is displayed vertically. The system has no digital computers and uses analog electromechanical devices. The conversion of the measured polar coordinates into plan coordinates is effected by the LPD-43 chart table at the commander's seat. This uses the polar coordinates that correspond to the crosshairs of the viewing device and shows them through from below on a clamped map with a light pen. The plan coordinates can then be read from mechanical counters on the course table. These are then transmitted verbally by the radio R123 to the command complex.

The reconnaissance distance is between 300 m and 50 km. Tanks and motor vehicles can be detected for a maximum of 16 to 23 km without an SBZ. When using the SBZ, this distance is reduced to 10 to 18 km. Grenade impacts can be detected up to 10 km. Large sea targets are visible up to 50 km when the sea is shallow. The reconnaissance accuracy is around 5–10 m at a distance of 5 km.

Optical observation and reconnaissance equipment

The following optical observation and reconnaissance devices are available:

a TW-240 periscope sight for the commander to set up the station as well as to find and check targets,
several TNPO-170A tank observation devices to observe the terrain,
a PP-61B periscope rifle scope for the MG turret installed in the TKB-01 turret
a TWN-2B night vision device for the driver

Navigation and orientation devices

The basis for using the target coordinates is determining one's own location. Since the SNAR-10 was to work largely autonomously, the location had to be determined with on-board resources. The following devices are available:

a gyro compass 1G11N or 1G25-1 (1RL232-1)
a course table KP-4
a distance encoder
a gyro course indicator GAK with gyro 1G13 or 1G13M (1RL232-1)
a straightening circle PAB-2M

The rough determination of the position takes place during the march through the course table KP-4. On this course table, the distance covered is drawn on a map sheet. For this purpose, the direction angle is continuously transmitted by the gyro course indicator GAK and the distance covered by the distance sensor. On road marches of less than four kilometers, the error in determining the route was less than 22 m, and on longer marches it was less than 0.6% of the distance covered. When driving off-road and driving on soft ground such as sand, the route transmission becomes imprecise and has to be corrected manually at the start. This makes the course table unusable for the exact location determination under operational conditions.

Before the operation, the exact location is determined by the surveyor using the PAB-2M alignment circle . This can be done while the radio meter is starting up.

Power supply

The power supply consists of:

an AM-4-0 / 230 / Tsch-400-A4 unit
a generator G-290
the accumulators 6STÄN-140M and 6ST60-ÄM

The unit AM-4-0 / 230 / Tsch-400-A4 provides alternating current with a nominal voltage of 230 V and a frequency of 400 Hz with a nominal output of 4 kW. With the help of the generator G-290 flanged to the gearbox of the traction motor, the power supply of the station can be ensured even without the unit. The power supply system is mostly housed in the rear right part of the combat area, the generator G-290 and the accumulators are located in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

Life support system

The life support system protects the crew from radioactively, chemically and biologically (bacteriologically) contaminated outside air and also serves as fire protection. It consists of:

the dose rate meter DP-3B
the filter ventilation system PAZ
the dust collector
the IDK-1 detoxification kit
the fire extinguisher OU-2
the heating and ventilation system OW-65G
the pressure meter DTNMP-100
the control block for ventilation flaps LPD-5

The outside air was filtered by the PAZ filter ventilation system, keeping dust and contaminated outside air away. When a certain radiation dose , which was determined by the dose rate meter DP-3B , was exceeded, the ventilation flaps were closed by the control block and the interior was pressurized. The flaps could also be closed manually.

Messaging devices

The communication devices were used to guide the station and to transmit the target coordinates. Two R-123 tank radios with a range of around 20 km were available for this purpose. An R-124 on-board intercom was used to communicate with the crew. There are also two TA 57 field telephones.

Tower system TKB-01

The tower system TKB-01 is located on the tub at the front right. She picks up the PKT machine gun and the anti-tank telescopic sight.

Modifications

1RL232: The original version manufactured until 1991 was designated as 1RL232 ( 1РЛ232 ) or SNAR-10 or AFMS-10.
1RL232-1: The 1RL232-1 is a partially modified version of the SNAR-10.
1RL232-2

commitment

Operational principles

The SNAR-10 was used at division level to guide the artillery grouped into divisional artillery groups. For this purpose, it was assigned in the structure to the command batteries of the chief artillery or the chief missile troops and artillery.

States of operations

The system was introduced in the Soviet Army from 1973. The SNAR-10 was also exported to individual countries such as the GDR.

Use in the GDR

In the National People's Army of the GDR , the SNAR-10 was used in small numbers from the late 1970s. Deviating from the original name, the designation artillery radio measuring station AFMS-10 was chosen . In the associations of constant readiness, the AFMS-10 replaced the AFMS-6 and AFMS-2 in the 1970s. The command batteries of the chief missile troops and artillery of the mobilization divisions were at least partially equipped with the AFMS-10.

literature

MM Lobanow: Development of Soviet radar technology . Wojennisdat, 1982 (Russian: Развитие советской радиолокационной техники .).
AW Karpenko: Soviet-Russian tanks . 1905-2003. Ed .: Rudi Meier. Elbe-Dnjepr, Klitzschen 2004, ISBN 3-933395-44-5 , p. 96 (Russian: Обозрение отечественной бронетанковой техники (1905–1995 гг.) . Translated by Rudi Meier).

Web links

Missile and weapons technical service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, artillery radio measuring station AFMS-10

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Missile and Weapons Service in Kdo.MB III, technical catalog, artillery radio measuring station 10 (SNAR-10)
↑ In the Soviet Army, as in German armies, artillery units were referred to as batteries or detachments
↑ Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, command complex 1W12- (1) Maschina
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d НПО Стрела, Мобильная РЛС наземной артиллерийской разведки СНАР-10 ( Memento from November 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian).
↑ In German armies, radar devices were traditionally referred to as radio measuring devices. Since the system was not used in the Bundeswehr, the expression common in the East German NVA is used in this article.
↑ Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, course table KP-4
↑ Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, electrical unit AM-4-0 / 230 / Tsch-400-A-4
↑ НПО Стрела , Радиолокационная станция наземной артиллерийской разведки «СНАР-10М» ( Memento from October 7, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian)

[RWDIII-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Missile and Weapons Service in Kdo.MB III, technical catalog, artillery radio measuring station 10 (SNAR-10)

[2] In the Soviet Army, as in German armies, artillery units were referred to as batteries or detachments

[3] Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, command complex 1W12- (1) Maschina

[SNAR10-4] НПО Стрела, Мобильная РЛС наземной артиллерийской разведки СНАР-10 ( Memento from November 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian).

[5] In German armies, radar devices were traditionally referred to as radio measuring devices. Since the system was not used in the Bundeswehr, the expression common in the East German NVA is used in this article.

[6] Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, course table KP-4

[7] Missile and Weapons Technical Service in Kdo. MB III, technical catalog, electrical unit AM-4-0 / 230 / Tsch-400-A-4

[8] НПО Стрела , Радиолокационная станция наземной артиллерийской разведки «СНАР-10М» ( Memento from October 7, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian)