The 5 most fearsome 'gods of war' of Russian artillery

The Russian army possesses many artillery systems with long range and great destructive power, known as "gods of war".

2S7 artillery firing demonstration with code-death bullets

Artillery is tasked with softening up the battlefield, specializing in suppressing or destroying enemy positions to create conditions for infantry and armored vehicles to take over the battlefield. The Soviet and Russian armies paid special attention to artillery, turning it into a force with great destructive power and high precision, once called "the gods of war" by leader Stalin.

The Russian army still has or keeps in reserve many formidable artillery systems on the battlefield, according to Sputnik.

2S7 Pion and 2S7M Malka

The 2S7 Pion (NATO designation: M-1975) is a large-caliber self-propelled gun developed during the Cold War. In the 1970s and 1980s, both the Soviet Union and the United States sought effective ways to destroy large numbers of enemy troops at relatively short distances, using low-yield nuclear warheads.

"For the Soviet Union, the weapons that could meet this requirement were the 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun and its upgraded version, the 2S7M Malka," said military expert Andrei Kotz. The 2S7 complex consists of a 203 mm 2A44 gun mounted on the chassis of the T-80 main battle tank.

When it entered service in 1976, the Pion became the most powerful conventional gun in the world. In addition to nuclear warheads, the 2S7 can fire ZFO-35 fragmentation shells to destroy soft targets such as soldiers and unarmored equipment. Some military experts say this gun is as powerful as the giant guns on World War II battleships.

2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery system. Photo: Army Recognition.

The 2S7 has a range of 37.5 km using conventional ammunition, which increases to 55.5 km when equipped with rocket-assisted range-enhancing ammunition (RAP). Thanks to its long range, the operator can fire one or two shots and then move out of position before the shell hits the target. This makes the 2S7 difficult to counter, especially from an enemy equipped with a counter-battery detection and location system.

A unique feature of the Pion and Malka is the firing warning system. The pressure from each shot is so great that it can stun and disable any soldier at close range and unprepared. Therefore, the complex will issue a warning over the loudspeaker within 5 seconds before firing.

The 2S7M upgrade appeared in 1983 with improvements in the fire control system to increase accuracy. The rate of fire was increased to 2.5 rounds/minute and the ammunition reserve was twice as much as the original 2S7 model. The Russian army currently has 300 2S7 and 2S7M guns in storage, ready for use when required.

2S4 Tyulpan

The 2S4 Tyulpan (tulip) self-propelled mortar, also with the NATO designation M-1975, was put into service by the Soviet Union in the 1970s.

The 2S4's main strength lies in its ability to use a variety of 240mm mortar shells, from high explosive (HE), incendiary, cluster and smart shells. During the Cold War, the 2S4 mortar was capable of firing nuclear shells with a power equivalent to 2,000 tons of TNT. The ability to fire at a high angle allows the 2S4 to fire from a concealed position, avoiding detection and destroying targets hidden behind fortifications or hidden mountain slopes.

2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortar firing live ammunition

The Tyulpan first saw combat during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Its high mobility allowed it to move with armored formations over difficult terrain, supporting ground attacks. Its 240mm mortar shells destroyed numerous hidden targets during the operation.

2S31 Vena

The 2S31 Vena self-propelled mortar is a relatively new product, put into service by the Russian army in 2010. This complex was developed thanks to experience in the war in Afghanistan, when the 2S9 Nona light self-propelled mortar was fully utilized by the Soviet airborne forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defense decided to develop a new self-propelled mortar complex for the army with the same principle as the 2S9, based on the chassis of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. Compared to the 2S9, the 2S31 Vena model has a much higher level of automation. Each 2S31 complex is equipped with a fire control computer capable of transmitting and receiving firing element data. The turret has optical-electronic reconnaissance and target recognition equipment, shortening the firing preparation process.

2S31 Vena artillery system. Photo: Wikipedia

The information will be displayed on the screen in front of the commander. This person only needs to select one of the 30 targets stored in the computer, the fire control system will automatically aim and fire. If a new target suddenly appears, the 2S31 only needs 20 seconds to load data and be ready to fire.

The 2S31 Vena can fire a variety of ammunition with a 120 mm caliber, making it an attractive weapon for the export market.

BM-30 Smerch

The BM-30 Smerch was introduced into the Soviet Army in 1987. At that time, it was the most powerful multiple rocket launcher in the world. To this day, Smerch remains one of the most powerful rocket launchers in the world, with the added ability to launch 9M534 drones to the target area.

Each BM-30 launcher is equipped with 12 300 mm caliber launchers. The standard Smerch 9M55 round is 7.6 m long and weighs 800 kg. The system's firing range is 20-70 km, the 9M528 version has a firing range of up to 90 km.

BM-30 Smerch complex participates in exercises

The projectiles all have trajectory and range correction systems to increase accuracy. The BM-30 can use a variety of warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation (HEF), thermobaric, incendiary, cluster munitions with anti-personnel or anti-tank capabilities, as well as guided anti-tank rounds.

This complex is especially effective against concentrated groups of troops, armored vehicles, artillery batteries, airfields and scattered enemy targets. A salvo of 12 shells from the BM-30 can cover an area of ​​up to 67 hectares. Smerch is sometimes called a weapon of mass destruction, because its anti-personnel warhead can destroy all living things in the area of ​​​​the kill.

According to VNE