Sunday 27 October 2013

S-41 122 mm Howitzer Project

CAMD RF 38-11369-106:

"Explanatory note for the 122 mm self propelled S-41 howitzer project.

1. Overall view

The 122 mm self-propelled howitzer is designed as a weapon that accompanies infantry and tank units, destroys pillboxes and fortifications with direct or indirect fire, and fights enemy tanks and artillery. 

The main objective of this project is to produce a self propelled gun, with explosive and armour piercing power of the 122 mm shell, combined with mobility of the T-34 tank, by the method of the S-41 122 mm howitzer, which uses shells and ballistics of the model 1938 122 mm howitzer, mount, recoil mechanisms, and many other components from the ZiS-5 tank gun, the breech from the S-3 gun, and the SU-122 SPG, with minor changes.

The gun is composed of a new cannon on a mount from the 76.2 mm ZiS-5 gun. The S-31 85 mm tank gun and S-18 85 mm SPG gun are constructed in the same way. The S-41 122 mm howitzer and S-18 85 mm gun are interchangeable in their installation, and the same parts are used to install both at Uralmash (non-moving armoured components, frame, etc).

Changes to the SU-122 SPG that enable it to use the S-18 gun also enable it to use the S-41 howitzer.

Due to the semi-automatic sliding breech, there is no need for a breech operator.

The ammunition rack placement is the same as on the SU-122. 

The remaining 4 crew members, radio equipment, optics, PPSh, chairs, and other equipment does not change. The ammunition capacity is 50 shells. The mass of the SPG is 30 tons (SU-122 - 30 tons). The SPG with its S-41 howitzer allows for practical rates of fire of 8-10 shots per minute (with aim correction).

The vertical gun range is -5 degrees to +20 degrees (allowing for range of 8.4 kilometers), and the horizontal range is +/- 10 degrees, which allows for sufficient manoeuvrability of fire.

The semi-automatic vertical sliding breech, compared to the M-30 howitzer, results in a howitzer that is easier to service, and allows for installation of a coaxial machinegun or cannon. The roof is raised by 100 mm to aid the loader. The T-10 sight allows direct fire, and the S-3 sight allows indirect fire. 

The self propelled S-41 122 mm howitzer will have the same armoured hull and installation components as the S-18 85 mm self propelled gun. Overall, the S-41 project satisfies the technical-tactical requirements of the Red Army GAU for 122 mm self-propelled howitzers. 

2. Installation of the 122 mm S-41 howitzer in the KV-1S and IS-1 tanks

The design of the 122 mm S-41 howitzer and 85 mm S-31 gun allows for installation in the turrets of the KV-1S and IS-1 tanks using their existing turret rings, with the conversion specifics identical for both guns, as defined by the S-31 project.

KV-1S with 122 mm S-41 howitzer

KV-1S with 85 mm S-31 gun

The installation of a 122 mm howitzer in a tank provides a powerful weapon, capable of destroying pillboxes, fortifications, and combat all types of tanks and self propelled guns of the enemy, his artillery, and personnel. 

This is achieved by the large explosive power of the shell, its weight (23 kg), and muzzle velocity (515 m/s). 

The dimensions of the turret, placement of crew members, fighting compartment layout, turret basket, equipment, communications, optics, radio, seats, hatches, and other components do not change between the S-41 and S-31. 

In this case, the tank can carry 60 shells, 12 of them in the rear compartment of the turret, 10 on the turret basket, and the rest immobile on the fighting compartment floor. 

With a semi-automatic breech and one loader, the practical rate of fire can be as high as 5-6 RPM. 

The mass of the KV-1S with a 122 mm S-41 howitzer will be ____ kg higher than the mass of the KV-1S with the 76.2 mm ZiS-5 gun (43.5 tons), and will be equal to ____ tons.

The specifications of installing the 85 mm gun in the KV-1S and IS-1, and the changes made to the turret and fighting compartment also apply to the 122 mm howitzer (see the TsAKB S-31 project).

In conclusion, the 122 mm howitzer installed in a tank will solve the problem of arming the tank forces with powerful howitzers.

Table of data for the 122 mm S-41 howitzer project





SU-122

S-41 Project

Gun caliber, mm

122

122

Muzzle velocity, m/s

515

515

Shell mass, kg

21.76

21.76

Explosive filler, kg

2.075

2.075

Propellant density

0.55

0.55

Maximum pressure, kg/cm^2

2350

2350

Chamber volume, dm^3

3.775

3.775

Full barrel length




27.6

Length of the rifled barrel, m

2.278

2.278

Number of grooves

36

36

Length of grooves

36/19.672

36/19.672

Mass of the propellant with casing

-

-

Muzzle energy, t.m.

294.2

294.2

Mass of the recoil mechanism




1000 kg

Recoil mechanism




Hydraulic

Return gear




Hydro-pneumatic

Recoil length




520 +/- 50 mm

Recoil resistance, tons




12

Mass of the oscillating part, without armour




1800 kg

Maximum elevation




+20

Minimum depression

-3

-5

Force for vertical aiming




7 kg

Bore axis height

1400

1620

Roof height

2000

2100

Maximum height

2210

2310

Clearance

400

400

Fighting compartment height

1560

1660

Distance from breech to ceiling

360

460

Hull




Same as SU-122

Crew

5

4

Practical ROF with fire correction

5

5-6

Ammunition capacity




50

Armou




Same as SU-122

Armouring of the recoil mechanisms




Same as ZiS-5

Overall mass

30

30

PPSh SMGs

2

2


Table of data for the 122 mm S-41 howitzer as installed in the KV-1S tank





Project

Note

Bore axis height

2212




Maximum height

2480




Clearance

450

Same as KV-1S

Height of the fighting compartment

1685




Height from bore axis to ceiling

450




Turret ring diameter (projected)

1570

Same as KV-1S

Practical rate of fire

5-6 RPM




Size of ammunition rack

60




Turret armour

Same as KV-1S




Overall mass







Composition of the 122 mm S-41 howitzer
  1. Barrel
  2. Breech (from S-3)
  3. Recoil brake
  4. Return gear (from F-34)
  5. Mount (from ZiS-5)
  6. Firing mechanism (F-34)
  7. Shell catcher
  8. Sight elevation mechanism (S-18)
  9. Elevation mechanism (F-34)
1. Barrel

The barrel monoblock consists of the following main components: barrel, breech, breech ring, buffer tube, and muzzle brake. The overall assembly is similar to the F-34 monoblock, with the difference that instead of two buffer tubes, there is one and a muzzle brake. 

2. Breech

It is a vertical sliding breech of the semi-automatic type, analogous to the F-34 tank gun breech. The use of a sliding breech, compared to the M-30 screw breech, makes the operation of the gun in a turret much more convenient, increases the rate of fire to 8 RPM, and allows for a coaxial machine gun or cannon.

The improved breech removes the necessity of a special loading tray. The sliding breech is much cheaper and simpler to manufacture than a screw breech. 

3. Recoil brake

A spindle type hydraulic brake, same as the one used by the F-34, with the following components replaced: stem, spindle, regulator ring, stem head, stem head nut, and centralizing ring. The replacement of these parts is caused by the increased ballistics and recoil length, and improvement of the robustness of some parts due to the heavier load on the recoil brake.

4. Shell catcher

The shell catcher is a U-shaped bent pipe, filling the role of a recoil guard. A sack is hung up on the pipe to catch shells.

5. Elevation mechanism

The elevation mechanism is from the F-34, with the exception of the flywheel, which is increased in size from 65 mm to 105 mm, with the goal of easing the force applied to rotate it.

6. Return gear

Identical to the F-34.

7. Sight elevation mechanism

The tank version of the mechanism is identical to the ZiS-5 mechanism, the SPG version of the mechanism is identical to the S-18 mechanism.

8. Mount

ZiS-5 mount with several changes.

Chief and Chief Engineer of the NKV TsaKB, Lieutenant-General of the Technical Forces, Grabin

May 27th, 1943"

9 comments:

  1. This reads almost like a teleshop offer. :D
    "The all new S-41, now with 40% more boom. We all know you like (bunch of guns) so we made this Frankensteinian monster that can be asembled from the parts available of the shelf. NO need for retooling required"
    On the other hand it is a pitch to mount his gun in SU-122, IS and KV-1S.

    Oh now that I remember, what naming convention Soviets used when naming the guns. This one is S-something, others that I saw were ZiS-something, D-something and so on. Were these factory/beaurou specifications, or maybe do they define the use/role of the guns?

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    Replies
    1. S is TsAKB's project, ZiS is Stalin Factory, D is factory #9. I'll post a partial list of the codes one of these days.

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    2. Does this mean that the ZiS S-53 was a joint project then?

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    3. Wikipedia states that S comes from the name of the engineer that adapted the ZiS-53 so it could be placed in T-34/85 turret.

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  2. So if I read this correctly, the Russians also had the plan to mount the 122m S-41 in the IS-85? Was this idea cancelled when they mounted the D-25T instead.

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  3. So if I'm reading this correctly the Russians were planning on mounting the 122mm S-41 howitzer as well in the IS-1, whatever happened to this project, was it dropped when the decision was made to upgrade the IS with the 122mm D-25T?

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    Replies
    1. It was dropped even earlier, when the 85 mm gun was chosen.

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  4. Ah I see, thanks for the info. I suppose that there was a preference for having the new tank equipped with a anti-tank capable gun rather than a support howitzer.
    Interestingly the US went ahead with producing a similar tank, the T26E2, but later reduced the order as there was a preference or the 90mm instead, I suppose that the Russians had reached a similar conclusion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, the SU-122 was lower priority than the SU-85. There was a proposal to build a SU-85 that could be transformed into a SU-122 simply by swapping out the gun, but enthusiasm for medium assault SPGs died out by the time that idea got anywhere.

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