Firing AK 630. Operation of ship guns

At the beginning of 1976, the AK-630 artillery complex was put into service. Its main element was a gun turret equipped with a six-barreled AO-18 assault rifle of 30 mm caliber. Due to the high rate of fire (up to 5 thousand rounds per minute), it ensured reliable destruction of all types of targets with which something similar had to work in the late 70s. However, the characteristics of potential targets, such as anti-ship missiles, were constantly increasing, and the AK-630 needed to be modernized.


As one of the ways to increase the combat effectiveness of the installation, they chose the most obvious one - increasing the number of barrels. However, the new version of the AK-630 had to be based on existing machine guns, so they decided to install two six-barreled guns in the gun turret. At the very end of 1983, the Navy command approved the tactical and technical specifications for the new complex, designated AK-630M1-2 “Roy”. Its development was entrusted to the Tula TsKIB SOO, and V.I. was appointed chief designer. Bakaleva. At the same time, it was ordered to carry out a number of works related to increasing the reliability of the machines. In the future, it was planned to replace the AK-630 already available on ships with a twin system.

The development of the new installation took only a few months, and already in March 1984, factory tests began at plant No. 535 (Tula Machine-Building Plant), which lasted until the end of November. Work on installing the “Swarm” on ships took much longer - direct installation could only begin in 1987. The Project 2066 missile boat R-44 from the Black Sea Fleet was chosen as the carrier ship, and the installation was also carried out there. The R-44 was tested with the AK-630M1-2 only in the summer of 1989. The targets used in these tests were specialized La-17K devices and converted Phalanga-2 ATGMs. During the firing, it was possible to effectively hit targets simulating anti-ship missiles at altitudes of about 10 meters. At the same time, about 200 shells were required to hit one target. It was not possible to achieve a significant increase in combat qualities, so the fleet command did not accept the AK-630M1-2 for service. At the same time, since 1993, this artillery mount has been offered for export, but there is still no data on large deliveries.

At the IMDS-2007 exhibition, Tulamashzavod demonstrated an updated version of the AK-630M1-2, called the AK-630M2 “Duet”. The Duet does not have many differences from the Roy, and almost all of the differences relate to the turret body - now it is made angular and consisting of even plates. It is alleged that this was done to reduce the radar signature of the installation and the ship as a whole. The barrel blocks on the AK-630M2 were covered with a common casing. The fate of this installation is the same as that of the AK-630M1-2 - the domestic fleet has not yet accepted it into service, and foreign potential buyers are in no hurry to prepare contracts.

The basis of all installations of this family are AO-18 automatic cannons of 30 mm caliber. The guns are located one above the other (the distance between the axes of the barrel blocks is 320 mm). The rate of fire of the AK-630M1-2 installation is 10,000 rounds per minute, for the “Duet” this parameter ranges from 4 to 10 thousand rounds, because in this version you can use one machine at a time or both at once. The maximum firing range of the installation is 8100 meters (ballistic). The maximum range of action against air targets and targets on the surface is 4 and 5 kilometers, respectively. However, the greatest effectiveness of fire is achieved at a distance of less than a kilometer. Despite the existing liquid cooling system, in order to maintain sufficient performance, the gun mount’s control system maintains an alternation of bursts and breaks between them: bursts of 200 shots with breaks of about one and a half seconds or 400 shots with breaks of 5-6 seconds. After every six bursts, additional time is required to cool the barrels and mechanics. If the recommended operating modes are observed, the barrel life is enough for 12 thousand shots, after which the initial velocity of the projectiles drops.

The ammunition used on the AK-630M1-2 and AK-630M2 is completely similar to that used by the AK-630. This:
- OF-84. High-explosive fragmentation incendiary projectile weighing 390 grams. Contains 48.5 g of explosive initiated by the A-498K fuse.
- OFZ. Modification of OF-84, which has greater power.
- OR-84. fragmentation projectile. Total weight - 390 g, 11.9 g of explosive. It is not equipped with a fuse, but has a tracer.

“Roy” and “Duet” can work in conjunction with several control system options:
- Vympel-AM2 radar control system. Compatible with MP-123AM2 and MP-176M2 radars. There is also a KM-11-1 laser target designator and an LDM-1 “Cruiser” rangefinder.
- Radar control system "Laska". A newer set of equipment capable of controlling two gun mounts at once. Detects targets in a sector of 180° in azimuth and 40° in elevation at a distance of up to 21 km. In this case, it is possible to track up to four targets with distribution by importance and retargeting of the weapon in a “streaming manner”.

The AK-630M1-2 “Roy” artillery mount did not go into production, and the only ship on which it managed to work, the R-44, was written off in October 2008 and sent for disposal. There is information that two AK-630M2 “Duet” installations will be installed on small missile ships of Project 21631 “Buyan-M”. Construction of the lead ship of this project, Grad Sviyazhsk, began in 2010 at the Zelenodolsk shipyard.

The design of a 30-mm six-barreled installation was started according to Decree No. 801-274 of July 15, 1963 and the tactical and technical specifications approved by the deputy. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy on 02/22/1963. The developer of the installation and the head of the system was appointed TsKIB SOO - the Central Design Test Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons (chief designer - Knebelman M.S.), the assault rifle - Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering (chief designer - Gryazev V.P. ), radar control system "Vympel" MR-123 - Design Bureau of the "Topaz" plant (chief designer - Egorov V.P.), hydraulic drive D-213 - branch of TsNII-173 (currently VNII "Signal").

KBP designers V.P. Gryazev and Shipunov A.G. The six-barrel assault rifle AO-18 was designed. Six barrels, enclosed in a block, have a single automation. A characteristic feature is the continuous operation of the automation during firing, which is ensured by a gas exhaust engine that uses the energy of powder gases supplied alternately from the barrel channels into its gas chamber, thereby eliminating the need for an additional source of energy. This made it possible to obtain a compact and lightweight AU. Suffice it to say that with a standard ammunition capacity of 2000 rounds, the entire mass of the gun is less than the mass of the ammunition. Two engine pistons connected by a single rod, performing a reciprocating motion under the action of powder gases, provide rotational movement of the barrel block through a crank mechanism and a gear transmission of the buttplate. In one stroke of the pistons (one shot), the barrel block rotates 60 degrees. Six identical bolts placed in the longitudinal grooves of the central star, having a forced reciprocating movement provided by a closed screw copier, chamber the cartridge, lock the barrel bore, fire and extract the cartridge case or misfired cartridge.

The presence of a rotating block of barrels with general automation makes it possible to combine reloading operations as much as possible in time and thereby obtain a high rate of fire.

The machine is powered by continuous tape. The tape consists of steel links that split when fired. The tape is fed from a magazine that was originally flat (then a round magazine was introduced). Looking ahead, let's say that before being adopted into service, installations with a flat magazine were indexed A-213, and then AK-630, and installations with a round magazine - A-213M and AK-630M, respectively. Both magazines (in the final version) hold 2000 rounds per belt. On some ships with AK-630M installations, in addition to the round magazine, the barbette houses a bunker with additional ammunition for 1000 rounds of ammunition loaded into a belt.

At a rate of fire of 5000 rounds/min. Cooling of the barrels becomes a serious problem. Several cooling methods were tested, including the manufacture and firing of a special cartridge containing coolant. In the final version, all methods of internal barrel cooling were abandoned and only external cooling was left, which occurs by passing distilled water or antifreeze between the casing and the barrels.

The installation is guided by a system of electro-hydraulic drives A-213 for ship networks powered by 220 V, 400 Hz, and D213-50 for ship networks 380 V, 50 Hz. The drives provide automatic target tracking with errors not exceeding 3-4 etc. (etc. - rangefinder points). A fiberglass fairing is placed on top of the rotating part of the installation, which serves to protect the mechanisms from being flooded with sea water and from precipitation.

Factory tests of the first two A-213 samples began at the end of 1964 at the testing ground of plant No. 535 and continued intermittently until March 30, 1966. State ship tests of the AU A-213 began on May 18, 1971 in the Sevastopol area on an experimental boat pr.205PE (serial number 110). Due to shortcomings of the MP-123 Vympel system, the tests were interrupted on October 20, 1971. After finalizing the Vympel system, testing continued from March 29 to September 20, 1972. It is interesting that during tests on the boat, serial number 110, the Vympel system controlled the firing of both the A-213 and the 57mm AK-725 two-gun automatic mount. The targets used were La-17M and low-flying small-sized targets RM-15.

Based on the test results, a firing mode was introduced in the MP-123 for firing at high-speed air targets: 4-5 bursts of 20-25 shots each from the maximum range and a burst of 400 shots at the most effective engagement distance, with a break between bursts of 3-5 seconds .

Based on the results of the 1972 tests, the complex was again modified and tested again from June 4 to August 23, 1973. Officially, the A-213 was put into service under the designation AK-630 by order of the Navy Commander-in-Chief No. 05 of January 6, 1976.

The AK-630 gun had a flat magazine, but due to the need to reduce the dimensions of its turret compartment to ensure a more rational placement of the gun on newly built ships, a round magazine was designed. The gun with a round magazine received the index A-213M, all other components and its tactical and technical characteristics did not change compared to the A-213. The prototype A-213M passed factory and field tests, based on the results of which the A-213M was modified and put into mass production in 1972.

From November 16 to December 7, 1979, State ship tests of the A-213M with the MP-123/176 control system (an upgraded MP-123 system capable of controlling the fire of two AK-630 or one AK-630 and one 76-mm) were carried out in the Baltic Sea installation of AK-176). The A-213 AU was installed on the lead missile boat, Project 1241.1 (serial number 401). Officially, the A-213M was adopted for service by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy No. 0189 dated August 26, 1980 under the name AK-630M.

The A-213-Vympel-A artillery complex, which is a means of self-defense for ships, can be used to destroy air targets at a slant range of up to 4000 m and enemy light surface forces at distances of up to 5000 m. The MR-123 Vympel system provides control one or simultaneously two 30-mm caliber gun mounts or two different-caliber (30 and 57 mm) gun mounts. The upgraded MP-123/176 system is capable of controlling the fire of two AK-630 gun mounts or one AK-630 and one 76-mm AK-176 gun mount. The PUS system has a television camera that provides surveillance of a sea target such as a Project 205 boat at a distance of up to 7.5 km and an air target such as a MiG-21 fighter at a distance of up to 7 km (depending on weather conditions). In the event of a radar failure, the Vympel system provides a backup fire control post in the form of a sighting column with a ring (collimator) sight. This control post is the main one when shooting floating mines and when firing A-213 artillery mounts on landing ships at open coastal targets during landings.

The A-213 gun mount is fully automated during combat use. All operations to turn on and off the power supply and cooling system, control the guidance drives and travel stopper, monitor the operation of the gun mount systems and ammunition consumption, load the machine gun, as well as open and stop fire, are carried out remotely from the central control post.

The ammunition of the AK-630 and AK-306 artillery mounts includes two types of rounds. The first is a high-explosive fragmentation incendiary projectile OF-84 weighing 0.39 kg, explosive weight 48.5 g, fuse A-498K. The modification of the OF-84 projectile is designated OFZ. The second is an OR-84 fragmentation tracer projectile weighing 0.39 kg, explosive weight 11.7 g, no fuse. The weight of the cartridge is 832-834 g, the length of the cartridge is up to 293 mm. Case weight is about 300 g. Gunpowder grade 6/7FL.

With an initial projectile speed of 900 m/s, the ballistic firing range is 8100 m, the self-liquidator range is 5000 m, the slant range provided by the MP-123 system is 4000 m, the slant range provided by the sighting column is 5000 m.

Serial production of the A-213 (AK-630) and A-213M (AK-630M) was carried out at plant No. 535 in Tula. In 1969, 4 pieces were manufactured, in 1970 - 12, in 1971 - 14, in 1972 - 37, etc. The placement of AK-630 and AK-630M AUs was envisaged on more than forty projects of various ships from aircraft-carrying cruisers Project 1143 and the nuclear cruiser "Kirov" to missile boats. During the modernization, these AU also received ships of old construction: the cruiser pr.68bis “Zhdanov”, BOD pr.61M and others.

History of creation

The design of a 30-mm six-barrel installation was started according to Decree No. 801-274 of July 15, 1963 and the tactical and technical specifications approved by the deputy. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy on 02/22/1963. The developer of the installation and the head of the system was appointed TsKIB SOO - the Central Design Test Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons (chief designer - M. S. Knebelman), the assault rifle - Instrument Design Bureau (chief designer - V. P. Gryazev. ), radar control system "Vympel" MR-123 - Design Bureau of the "Topaz" plant (chief designer - Egorov V.P.), hydraulic drive D-213 - branch of TsNII-173 (Currently VNII "Signal").

KBP designers V.P. Gryazev and A.G. Shipunov designed the AO-18 six-barreled assault rifle. Six barrels, enclosed in a block, have a single automation. A characteristic feature is the continuous operation of the automation during firing, which is ensured by a gas exhaust engine that uses the energy of powder gases supplied alternately from the barrel channels into its gas chamber, thereby eliminating the need for an additional source of energy. Two engine pistons connected by a single rod, performing a reciprocating motion under the action of powder gases, provide rotational movement of the barrel block through a crank mechanism and a gear transmission of the buttplate. In one stroke of the pistons (one shot), the barrel block rotates 60 degrees. Six identical bolts placed in the longitudinal grooves of the central star, having a forced reciprocating movement provided by a closed screw copier, chamber the cartridge, lock the barrel bore, fire and extract the cartridge case or misfired cartridge.

The presence of a rotating block of barrels with general automatics makes it possible to combine reloading operations as much as possible in time and thereby obtain a high firing range.

The machine is powered by continuous tape. The tape consists of steel links that split when fired. The tape is fed from a magazine that was originally flat (then a round magazine was introduced). Looking ahead, let's say that before being adopted into service, installations with a flat magazine were indexed A-213, and then AK-630, and installations with a round magazine - A-213M and AK-630M, respectively. Both magazines (in the final version) hold 2000 rounds per belt. On some ships with AK-630M installations, in addition to the round magazine, the barbette houses a bunker with additional ammunition for 1000 rounds of ammunition loaded into a belt.

At a rate of fire of 5000 rounds/min. Cooling of the barrels becomes a serious problem. Several cooling methods were tested, including the manufacture and firing of a special cartridge containing coolant. In the final version, all methods of internal barrel cooling were abandoned and only external cooling was left, which occurs by passing distilled water or antifreeze between the casing and the barrels.

The installation is guided by a system of electro-hydraulic drives A213 for ship networks powered by 220 V, 400 Hz, and D213-50 for ship networks 380 V, 50 Hz.

The drives provide automatic target tracking with errors not exceeding 3-4 etc. (etc. - thousandth of the distance)

A fiberglass fairing is placed on top of the rotating part of the installation, which serves to protect the mechanisms from being flooded with sea water and from precipitation.

The A-213-Vympel-A artillery system, which is a means of self-defense for ships, can be used to destroy air targets at a slant range of up to 4000 m and light enemy surface forces at distances of up to 5000 m.

The MP-123 “Vympel” system provides control of one or simultaneously two 30-mm caliber gun mounts or two different-caliber (30 and 57 mm) gun mounts.

The PUS system has a television camera that provides surveillance of a sea target such as a Project 205 boat at a distance of up to 7.5 km and an air target such as a MiG-21 fighter at a distance of up to 7 km (depending on weather conditions).

In case of failure of the RAS, the Vympel system provides a reserve fire control post in the form of a sighting column with a ring (collimator) sight. This control post is the main one when shooting floating mines and when firing A-213 artillery mounts located on landing ships at open coastal targets during landings.

The A-213 gun mount is fully automated during combat use. All operations to turn on and off the power supply and cooling system, control the guidance drives and travel stopper, monitor the operation of the gun mount systems and ammunition consumption, load the machine gun, as well as open and stop fire, are carried out remotely from the central control post.

Factory tests of the first two A-213 samples began at the end of 1964 at the testing ground of plant No. 535 and continued intermittently until March 30, 1966.

State ship tests of the AU A-213 began on May 18, 1971 in the Sevastopol area on an experimental boat pr.205PE (serial number 110).

Due to shortcomings of the MP-123 Vympel system, the tests were interrupted on October 20, 1971. After finalizing the Vympel system, testing continued from March 29 to September 20, 1972.

It is interesting that during tests on the boat, serial number 110, the Vympel system controlled the firing of both the A-213 and the 57mm AK-725 two-gun automatic mount.

Here is one of the test episodes - shooting on August 18, 1972 at a La-17M controlled aerial target. Only the A-213, controlled by the Vympel system, fired at the target. The AK-725 AU did not fire because it was outside the firing angles. Target speed - 230 m/s, height - 1050 m. Fire on the La-17M was opened at the maximum current slant range of 5062 m (anticipated meeting point 3800). Three bursts were fired - 32, 39 and 42 shots with breaks between them of 3 seconds, and at the current distance of 2220 m continuous fire was opened and 542 shots were fired. In total, the shooting lasted 17 seconds and 665 rounds were fired. The target was hit and fell into the sea 10 km from the boat.

The shooting on August 22, 1972 was less successful. Both Vympel-controlled installations fired at the La-17M target, flying at an altitude of 1200 m at a speed of 230 m/s. Firing began at the maximum current slant range of about 5 km (anticipated meeting point 3700 m). The A-213 fired two bursts of 40 and 44 shots with a break of 3 seconds, and the 57-mm AK-725 fired 30 shots, after which the on-board power supply of the boat disappeared and the firing of both installations stopped. However, the target was damaged because it no longer obeyed radio commands, so the shooting was scored “excellent.” And the MiG-19 fighters finished off the target.

In addition to the La-17M, low-flying small-sized targets RM-15 were also used as targets.

Based on the test results, a firing mode was introduced in the MP-123 for firing at high-speed air targets: 4-5 bursts of 20-25 shots each from the maximum range and a burst of 400 shots at the most effective engagement distance, with a break between bursts of 3-5 seconds .

Based on the results of the 1972 tests, the complex was again modified and tested again from June 4 to August 23, 1973. Officially, the A-213 was put into service under the designation AK-630 by order of the Navy Commander-in-Chief No. 05 of January 6, 1976.

As already noted, the AK-630 gun had a flat magazine, but due to the need to reduce the dimensions of its turret room, a round magazine was designed to ensure a more rational placement of the gun on newly built ships. The gun with a round magazine received the index A-213M, all other components and its tactical and technical characteristics did not change compared to the A-213.

The prototype A-213M passed factory and field tests, based on the results of which the A-213M was modified and put into mass production in 1972.

From November 16 to December 7, 1979, State ship tests of the A-213M with the MP-123/176 control system were carried out in the Baltic Sea (the upgraded MP-123 system, capable of controlling the fire of two AK-630 or one AK-630 and one 76-mm installation of AK-176). The A-213 AU was installed on the lead missile boat, Project 1241-1 (serial number 401).

Officially, the A-213M was adopted for service by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy No. 0189 dated August 26, 1980 under the name AK-630M

Serial production of the A-213 (AK-630) and A-213M (AK-630M) was carried out at plant No. 535 in Tula. In 1969, 4 pieces were made, in 1970 - 12, in 1971 - 14, in 1972 - 37, etc.

The placement of the AK-630 and AK-630M AUs was envisaged on more than forty projects of various ships, from aircraft-carrying cruisers Project 1143 and the nuclear-powered cruiser Kirov to missile boats.

During the modernization, these AU also received ships of old construction: cruisers pr.686is “Zhdanov” and “Senyavin”, BOD pr.61M and others.

DATA FOR 2009 (standard update)
AK-630 (mount A-213, gun - AO-18) - ADG6-30 (NATO name)
AK-630-MR-123 / "A-213-Vympel-A" (complex)
AK-630M "Vulcan" (mount A-213M) - ADGM6-30 (NATO name)
AK-630M-MR-123-02 (complex)

Six-barreled 30 mm Gatling-type artillery mount. TTZ approved by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy on February 22, 1963. Design began according to the resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers No. 801-274 dated June 15, 1963. The main developer of the system is the Central Design Test Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO), chief designer M.S. Knebelman. The machine was developed by the Instrument Design Bureau, chief designer V.P. Gryazev. The AO-18 assault rifle (TKB-025) was designed by V.P. Gryazev and A.G. Shchipunov. Factory tests of the first two copies of the installation were carried out from the end of 1964 to March 30, 1966 at the testing ground of plant No. 535. Serial production began at plant No. 535 (Tula Machine-Building Plant) in 1969. State ship trials began on May 18, 1971 on the boat pr.205PE (serial number 110) in the Sevastopol area. The tests were interrupted on October 20, 1971 due to shortcomings of the MR-123 Vympel fire control system and continued again from March 29 to September 20, 1972. During the tests, the operation of the control system with the AK-630 and AK-725 was tested simultaneously. The complex was sent for revision, after which it was tested again from June 4 to August 23, 1973 and accepted for service by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy No. 05 dated January 6, 1976. Further improvements and modifications of the AK-630 were carried out by the Amethyst Design Bureau. Default data is AK-630.

Installation of AK-630 on the airborne landing craft "Zubr" (Military parade, 1998)

Guidance:

FCS "Vympel" / "Vympel-A" with radar MR-123 / MR-123/176 (BASS TILT) - developed by the design bureau of the Topaz plant, chief designer V.P. Egorov. Provides tracking and guidance of the installation to air, surface and ground targets at a range of up to 5000 m with control of 1-2 installations (AK-630, AK-630M, AK-725, AK-176). The fire control center (FCS) is equipped with a TV sight. The system provides a reserve fire control post in the form of a sighting column with a collimator sight (must be used for firing at ground-based non-contrast targets, for example, on landing ships).

Target detection range with TV sight:

75 km (sea target type boat pr.205)

7 km (air target like MiG-19)

Radar system "Vympel-AM" / "Vympel-AME" with radar MR-123-02 / MR-123-03 / MR-123-02/176 (BASS TILT) - used in conjunction with AK-630M (1-2 installations) or with AK-630 and AK-176 or AK-725 (1 installation each), developed by Amethyst Design Bureau. The radar interfaces with the TV viewer and laser rangefinder.

Target tracking range - 25-30 km (45 km without interference, 30 km with interference)
Viewing sector - 40 degrees.

System weight - 5.2 t

Radar radar "Laska" (the first version of the product 5P-10E) - simultaneously tracks 4 targets, detection range - 21 km, azimuth field of view - 180 degrees, elevation field of view - 40 degrees, reaction time - 2-3 s, combat crew - 1 person, simultaneously controls two AKs (30 and/or 76 mm), consumes 10 kW of electricity, weight - 1000 kg, antenna post weight - 500 kg. The installation can accommodate the Igla-S MANPADS launcher;

Antenna post for radar MR-123 BASS TILT

Installation operates under the control of an electric-hydraulic drive D-213 (developed by TsNII-173 - now called VNII "Signal"). Power supply 220 volts 400 Hz (D-213) and 380 volts 50 Hz (D-213-50). The installation is controlled remotely. The machine is powered by continuous tape. Split steel links. The magazine is flat (AK-630) or round (AK-630M). The installation standardly houses two magazines with cartridges; on some ships, the AK-630M is equipped with an additional magazine for 1000 rounds. The rotating part of the tower is covered with a fiberglass casing.

Automatic AO-18 It works by removing gases from the barrel bores into the gas chamber, followed by using the accumulated pressure on a two-piston engine, which ensures rotation of the barrel block and operation of the automation. In one shot, the barrel block rotates 60 degrees. The machine is cooled with liquid water or antifreeze between the casing and the barrels.

Installation height above deck - 1070 mm

Tower height - 2050 mm

The height of the line of fire from the ball shoulder strap is 218 mm

Height of the firing line from the deck - 698 mm

Ball ring diameter - 1240 mm

Diameter of the turret room - 2500 mm

Number of balls - 191

Ball diameter - 15.87 mm

Radius of sweeping along trunks - 1660 mm

Sweeping radius along the breech - 663 mm

Maximum error of the electric hydraulic drive - 3-4 rangefinder points
Weight of the complex (installation, control system, ammunition, standard) - 9114 kg (AK-630M / AK-630M1)

Weight of the unit without ammunition, spare parts and external components:

1000 kg (AK-630)

1850 kg (AK-630M)

The weight of the installation with ammunition is 2000 rounds. - 3814 kg (AK-630M / AK-630M1)

Weight of external components - 800 kg

Weight of ammunition in the belt - 1918 kg (2000 rounds)

Vertical guidance angle - from -12 +-2 degrees. to +88 +2 -1 deg. (all mod.)
Horizontal guidance angle - +-180 -5 degrees.

Vertical guidance speed - 50 deg/s

Horizontal guidance speed - 70 deg/s
Ammunition:

2000 rounds (AK-630, standard)

4,000 rounds (AK-630, with additional power from external ammunition boxes)
- 2000-3000 rounds (AK-630M, standard-reinforced configuration options)

Barrel length with chamber - 1629 mm (54.3 calibers)

Barrel length - 1620 mm (54 calibers)

Length of the threaded part - 1460 mm

Chuck length - 293 mm

Rifling steepness - 23.8 caliber (constant)

Number of grooves - 16

Rifling depth - 0.3+0.1 mm

Rifling width - 3.5+0.4 mm

Field width - 2.4 mm

Maximum rollback length - 13 mm

Length of the AO-18 assault rifle - 2176 mm

Width of the AO-18 assault rifle - 295 mm

The height of the AO-18 assault rifle is 336 mm

Machine weight - 205 kg

Cartridge weight - 832-834 grams

Case weight - approx. 30 grams

Initial speed - 880-900 m/s
Range:

8100 m (ballistic)

4000 m (for air targets, oblique provided by MP-123 radar)

5000 m (for self-destructor and for surface targets, provided by guidance through the sighting column)
- 500-600 m (effective)
Flight altitude of an air target with an EPR of 0.01 sq.m (minimum) - 3-5 m (AK-630M)
Rate of fire - 4000-5000 rounds/min

The resource of the AO-18 assault rifle is 8000 rounds

The service life of the GSh-6-30K assault rifle is 12,000 rounds (AK-630M1, after which the initial velocity of the projectiles is reduced by 6%)

Ammunition assault rifles of the AO-18 type - are not unified with military 30 mm assault rifles (different capsules, brands and weights of propellant charges, and fuses are used). The cartridges use 6/7FL propellant.

OF-84 - high explosive fragmentation incendiary projectile, weight 39o grams, explosive weight - 48.5 grams, fuse A-498K.

OFZ - modification of OF-84, probability of initiation of the Harpoon anti-ship missile warhead when hit by a projectile at a distance of 1.25 km - 0.25 (AK Goalkeeper NATO - 1.0).

OR-84 - fragmentation tracer projectile, without fuse, weight - 390 grams, explosive weight - 11.7 grams.

A projectile with an RL fuse - R&D began in 1982, a projectile with a plastic radio-transparent tip, tests were carried out from an AK-630M installation in 1983. The projectile was completely ready for production and adoption, but by the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers of June 6, 1989 Work on this type of projectile has been stopped due to high cost and doubts about the effectiveness of its use.

An experimental sub-caliber projectile with a solid core - for use from a modified AO-18 assault rifle with a barrel length of 2400 mm. The probability of initiation of the Harpoon anti-ship missile warhead when hit by a projectile at a distance of 1.25 km is 1.0 (NATO Goalkeeper AK - 1.0). Mention in literature - 1998

Project of a telescopic type projectile, where the projectile was placed inside a cartridge case, surrounded by a propellant charge (studied, not implemented, data for 2001)

Description of the complex's operation using the example of tests (boat pr.205PE):

1971 August 18 - shooting at a La-17M target, an AK-630 is operating with an MP-123 radar, target speed is 230 m/s, flight altitude is 1050 m. Fire is opened at a slant range to a target of 5062 m at a range of 3800 m (anticipated meeting point). Three bursts were fired - 32, 39 and 42 shots with breaks of 3 seconds. Continuous fire (542 rounds) was opened from an inclined distance of 2220 m. In total, the shooting lasted 17 seconds, ammunition consumption was 665 rounds. The target was hit and fell into the sea 10 km from the boat.

1972 August 22 - firing at a La-17M target, AK-630 and AK-725 operating with MP-123 radar, target speed - 230 m/s, flight altitude - 1200 m. Fire is opened at a slant range to the target of approx. 5000 m to a range of 3700 m (anticipated meeting point). Two bursts of AK-630 were fired - 40 and 44 rounds (break 3 seconds), AK-725 - one burst of 30 rounds. Then the boat's power supply system failed. The target was damaged (no longer obeying control commands) and was finished off by MiG-19 fighters.

Based on the test results, an operating mode for high-speed air targets was introduced - 4-5 bursts of 20-25 shots from the maximum range with breaks of 3-5 seconds with a transition to continuous fire (400 rounds) at the most effective engagement distance.

AK-630 and AK-725 installations

Modifications:

AK-630 / A-213 (1976) - basic model (see above).

AK-630M / A-213M (1980) - in order to reduce the dimensions of the installation, an installation version with a round turret magazine was developed, other characteristics are similar to the AK-630. The prototype passed factory and field tests and was put into production according to the drawings of the chief designer at plant No. 535 in 1972. State tests of the A-213M complex with the MR-123/176 control system were carried out in the Baltic from November 16 to December 7, 1979 at the head missile boat pr.1241.1 (serial number 401). The installation was adopted for service by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy No. 0189 dated August 26, 1980 under the name AK-630M.

AK-630M1 - a variant of installing the AK-630M with a GSh-6-30K assault rifle of increased reliability, the assault rifle was developed according to the decision of the military-industrial complex under the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 197 dated June 8, 1983 and in 1986 it successfully passed factory tests. It was planned to replace machine guns in AK-630M installations.

(1980) - a lightweight version of the AK-630, an automatic rifle with air-cooled barrels and without radar guidance.

AK-630M1-2 "Roy" (1989) - a variant with two vertically placed barrels based on the AK-630M installation with GSh-6-30K assault rifles.

ZRAK "Dirk" / "Broadsword" - the installations use AO-18 assault rifles and ammunition from AK-630.

Carriers:

Heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser " " (formerly "Tbilisi") Project 1143.5 - carries 8 AK-630;
Aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Gorshkov" (formerly "Baku") pr.1143.4 - carries 8 AK-630;
Aircraft carrier cruisers "Kyiv", "Minsk", "Novorossiysk" pr.1143 - each carry 8 AK-630 - removed from service by 1994;
Nuclear-powered missile cruisers of the "Kirov" type (3 units, 8 installations each);
Missile cruisers of the "Grozny" type, pr.58 KYNDA (a total of 4 units were built, AK-630 was installed on some of them during modernization);
Missile cruisers Project 1134 KRESTA-1 "Admiral Zozulya" (a total of 4 units were built, according to data from 1997, AK-630M was installed on those remaining in service);
Slava-class missile cruisers (6 AK-630M mounts each);

Cruisers pr.68bis "Zhdanov" and "Admiral Senyavin" - 2 ships, installed during modernization.
BOD "Kronstadt" pr.1134A KRESTA-II (a total of 10 units were built, 4 installations on each);
BOD "Nikolaev" pr.1134B KARA and KARA mod. (8 units built, together with Azov, 4 units each), the lead ship was built in 1971;

The design of a 30-mm six-barrel installation was started according to Decree No. 801-274 of July 15, 1963 and the tactical and technical specifications approved by the deputy. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy 02/22/1963
The developer of the installation and the head of the system was appointed TsKIB SOO - Central Design Test Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons (chief designer - M. S. Knebelman), the assault rifle - Instrument Design Bureau (chief designer - V. P. Gryazev), the Vympel radar control system » MR-123 - design bureau of the Topaz plant (chief designer - V.P. Egorov), hydraulic drive D-213 - branch of TsNII-173 (Currently VNII "Signal").

KBP designers V.P. Gryazev and A.G. Shipunov designed the AO-18 six-barreled assault rifle. Six barrels, enclosed in a block, have a single automation. A characteristic feature is the continuous operation of the automation during firing, which is ensured by a gas exhaust engine that uses the energy of powder gases supplied alternately from the barrel channels into its gas chamber, thereby eliminating the need for an additional source of energy. Two engine pistons connected by a single rod, performing a reciprocating motion under the action of powder gases, provide rotational movement of the barrel block through a crank mechanism and a gear transmission of the buttplate. In one stroke of the pistons (one shot), the barrel block rotates 60 degrees. Six identical bolts placed in the longitudinal grooves of the central star, having a forced reciprocating movement provided by a closed screw copier, chamber the cartridge, lock the barrel bore, fire and extract the cartridge case or misfired cartridge.

The presence of a rotating block of barrels with general automatics makes it possible to combine reloading operations as much as possible in time and thereby obtain a high firing range.
The machine is powered by continuous tape. The tape consists of steel links that split when fired. The tape is fed from a magazine that was originally flat (then a round magazine was introduced). Looking ahead, let's say that before being adopted into service, installations with a flat magazine were indexed A-213, and then AK-630, and installations with a round magazine - A-213M and AK-630M, respectively. Both magazines (in the final version) hold 2000 rounds per belt. On some ships with AK-630M installations, in addition to the round magazine, the barbette houses a bunker with additional ammunition for 1000 rounds of ammunition loaded into a belt.


At a rate of fire of 5000 rounds/min. Cooling of the barrels becomes a serious problem. Several cooling methods were tested, including the manufacture and firing of a special cartridge containing coolant. In the final version, all methods of internal barrel cooling were abandoned and only external cooling was left, which occurs by passing distilled water or antifreeze between the casing and the barrels.

The installation is guided by a system of electro-hydraulic drives A213 for ship networks powered by 220 V, 400 Hz, and D213-50 for ship networks 380 V, 50 Hz.
The drives provide automatic target tracking with errors not exceeding 3-4 etc. (etc. - thousandth of the distance)
A fiberglass fairing is placed on top of the rotating part of the installation, which serves to protect the mechanisms from being flooded with sea water and from precipitation.
The A-213-Vympel-A artillery system, which is a means of self-defense for ships, can be used to destroy air targets at a slant range of up to 4000 m and light enemy surface forces at distances of up to 5000 m.

The MP-123 “Vympel” system provides control of one or simultaneously two 30-mm caliber gun mounts or two different-caliber (30 and 57 mm) gun mounts.
The PUS system has a television camera that provides surveillance of a sea target such as a Project 205 boat at a distance of up to 7.5 km and an air target such as a MiG-21 fighter at a distance of up to 7 km (depending on weather conditions).
In case of failure of the RAS, the Vympel system provides a reserve fire control post in the form of a sighting column with a ring (collimator) sight. This control post is the main one when shooting floating mines and when firing A-213 artillery mounts located on landing ships at open coastal targets during landings.
The A-213 gun mount is fully automated during combat use. All operations to turn on and off the power supply and cooling system, control the guidance drives and travel stopper, monitor the operation of the gun mount systems and ammunition consumption, load the machine gun, as well as open and stop fire, are carried out remotely from the central control post.


Factory tests of the first two A-213 samples began at the end of 1964 at the testing ground of plant No. 535 and continued intermittently until March 30, 1966.
State ship tests of the AU A-213 began on May 18, 1971 in the Sevastopol area on an experimental boat pr.205PE (serial number 110).
Due to shortcomings of the MP-123 Vympel system, the tests were interrupted on October 20, 1971. After finalizing the Vympel system, testing continued from March 29 to September 20, 1972.
It is interesting that during tests on the boat, serial number 110, the Vympel system controlled the firing of both the A-213 and the 57mm AK-725 two-gun automatic mount.


Based on the test results, a firing mode was introduced in the MP-123 for firing at high-speed air targets: 4-5 bursts of 20-25 shots each from the maximum range and a burst of 400 shots at the most effective engagement distance, with a break between bursts of 3-5 seconds .
Based on the results of the 1972 tests, the complex was again modified and tested again from June 4 to August 23, 1973. Officially, the A-213 was put into service under the designation AK-630 by order of the Navy Commander-in-Chief No. 05 of January 6, 1976.
As already noted, the AK-630 gun had a flat magazine, but due to the need to reduce the dimensions of its turret room, a round magazine was designed to ensure a more rational placement of the gun on newly built ships. The gun with a round magazine received the index A-213M, all other components and its tactical and technical characteristics did not change compared to the A-213.
The prototype A-213M passed factory and field tests, based on the results of which the A-213M was modified and put into mass production in 1972.

Structure of the AK-630M gun: 1 - cables, 2 - control unit, 3 - magazine with doors, 4 - cooling hoses, 5 - pins for attaching the winch, 6 - power hose, 7 - barbette, 8 - machine, 9 - control mechanism firing and braking chains, 10 — barrel block, 11 — mask, 12 — sleeve-link outlet, 13 — fairing, 14 — hatch lift cylinder, 15 — travel stopper, 16 — horizontal buffer, 17 — hydraulic pump of the HV drive, 18—hydraulic pump of the GN drive, 19—pneumatic lift, 20—neck cover, 21—link supply hose, 22—receiver, 23—oil-moisture separators, 24—cooling tank, 25—cooling system pump, 26—electric motor, 27—hand lever submissions.
From November 16 to December 7, 1979, State ship tests of the A-213M with the MP-123/176 control system were carried out in the Baltic Sea (the upgraded MP-123 system, capable of controlling the fire of two AK-630 or one AK-630 and one 76-mm installation of AK-176). The A-213 AU was installed on the lead missile boat, Project 1241-1 (serial number 401).


Officially, the A-213M was adopted for service by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy No. 0189 dated August 26, 1980 under the name AK-630M
Serial production of the A-213 (AK-630) and A-213M (AK-630M) was carried out at plant No. 535 in Tula. In 1969, 4 pieces were made, in 1970 - 12, in 1971 - 14, in 1972 - 37, etc.
The placement of the AK-630 and AK-630M AUs was envisaged on more than forty projects of various ships, from aircraft-carrying cruisers Project 1143 and the nuclear cruiser Kirov to missile boats.


Authors' team: DAY1923 And Lenka
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