152mm Br-2
Br-2M
Overview
152mm Br-2
Frontal view of a Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun seen in 2010 at a museum in Sevastopol.
Source: Iluvatar -
© CC BY-SA 3.0
1931 - 1934 (factory trials)
1936 (military trials)
1939 - 1940 (27 deep rifling guns)
~1955 (upgrade to Br-2M)
Soviet Union - No. 172 Perm plant (chassis)
Russian for 152mm gun model of 1935 (Br-2)
52-P-550 (GRAU index for shallow rifling guns)
52-P-551 (GRAU index for deep rifling guns)
Description
Introduction
The 152mm Br-2 is a pre-World War 2 era towed gun of Soviet origin. It was developed as a specialized long range gun to for use in the counter battery role. The 'Br' designation indicates that this gun was developed at the Barrikady state factory, since the 'B' designation was already in use for the Bolshevik plant. Externally the Br-2 looks like a longer barrel variant of the 203mm B-4. The Br-2 was deemed less practical due to even lower mobility and rate of fire than B-4.
Design
The Br-2 uses a long barrel 152mm howitzer, intended to reach a high velocity and long effective range. This allows the gun to be used in a counter battery role against other heavy artillery, or used to shell high value targets behind the frontline. The long 152mm barrel is mounted in the same rigid box chassis with tracks as the more widely known 203mm B-4 howitzer. Barrel life of the first production runs was limited, about 100 rounds. Solutions were sought in either having a longer barrel and slower burning propellant, or in increasing the depth of the rifling and accepting a loss in effective range. The latter option was chosen and barrel life improved to over 500 rounds.
Firepower
The 152mm L/47 howitzer allows for a high muzzle velocity and long range of 25 km. Early guns had a longer range of 27 km. Rate of fire is low at about 0.5 rpm to 1 rpm for a burst of several shells. Maximum accuracy is attained using a lower rate of fire of one shot per 4 minutes. The main shell types include HE-fragmentation and anti-concrete shells. Possibly chemical shells were developed for the Br-2. Some sources indicate that nuclear shells were developed for the Br-2M. These were likely planned and part of a design project, but proved easier to develop for the lower velocity and larger caliber 203mm guns during the early Cold War era.
Mobility
Mobility is one of the downsides of the Br-2. The long barrel requires a separate carriage for transportation over longer distances. The gun must be assembled before it is ready to fire. The long emplacement time and low mobility make the Br-2 vulnerable to counter battery fire and air strikes.
Protection
The main protection for the Br-2 is its long range and it being used behind the front lines. While the Br-2 outranges many World War 2 era howitzers, it could be struck by German guns such as the 17-cm Kanone 18 with its longer effective range. During World War 2 the Br-2 was used conservatively and no guns were lost to enemy action.
Users
The Br-2 was only ever used by the Soviet Union. Composition of batteries and command structure changes several times during World War 2. Most guns were assigned to a battalion with four regiments under direct control of the Soviet high command. In addition there were several independent batteries, as well as older guns remaining at training and proving grounds. No guns were lost to enemy action during World War 2. After the war there were 28 guns assigned to artillery batteries, plus some more guns in depots or training grounds. Many of the remaining guns, at least 16, were overhauled and upgraded around 1955 to the Br-2M standard with a wheeled chassis. Br-2M guns remained in second-line service until the 1970's.
Media
152mm Br-2
Personnel of one of the batteries of the 73rd Corps Artillery Regiment after receiving training on the 152mm Br-2.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
152mm Br-2
Two 152mm Br-2 guns seen during a military parade. These are towed in assembled form by Voroshilovets tracked artillery tractors.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
152mm Br-2
Frontal view of Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun on public display as seen in 2015 at the artillery museum in Saint Petersburg.
Source: Mike1979 Russia
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
152mm Br-2
Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun seen in 2007 at the Central Armed Forces Museum.
Source: Saiga20K
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
152mm Br-2
Rear view of the Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun seen in 2007 at the Central Armed Forces Museum.
Source: Saiga20K
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
152mm Br-2
Right side view of a Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun seen in 2007 at a museum in Sevastopol.
Source: Cmapm
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
152mm Br-2
Frontal view of a Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun on public display at a museum in Sevastopol.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
152mm Br-2
Soviet 152mm Br-2 towed gun seen at an artillery firing range during World War 2.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Artillery gun transport carriage
Photo of what is reportedly the same gun transport carriage as was used with the 152mm Br-2.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Details
Related articles
203mm B-4
The Br-2 uses the same tracked rigid box chassis as the 203mm B-4 towed howitzer.
203mm B-4M
In the mid 1950's the Br-2 was provided with the same wheeled chassis upgrade as the B-4M, and was known as the Br-2M.
152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B
Introduction of the 152mm Giatsint-B long range 152mm towed howitzer made the Br-2 instantly obsolete. This new gun has a slightly longer effective range, while being far more mobile and numerous than the Br-2.
Voroshilovets
During World War 2 the Voroshilovets was the prime mover for the Br-2. Over longer distances two vehicles were needed. One for the tracked cradle and one for the separate carriage for the gun barrel.