3M6 Shmel

The3M6Shmel(Russian:3М6 «Шмель»;English:bumblebee) is anMCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missileof theSoviet Union.ItsGRAUdesignation is "3M6" and itsNATO reporting nameisAT-1 Snapper.

Too large to be manportable, it was typically deployed from specialised vehicles or helicopters. The missile was intended to supplement traditional anti-tank weapons, like the100 mm anti-tank gunwhose accuracy beyond 1,500 m is poor. The missile's accuracy in contrast remained high as far as its maximum range of 2,000 m.

However, the system's bulk, slow speed and poor combat accuracy drove development of laterSACLOSsystems, like the9M113 Konkurs.

Development[edit]

The3M6Shmelbegan development through Decree No. 7 on May 27, 1957.^[1]Development would be spread across several bureaus and research institutes, with the missile complex and rocket being designed bySKB-4,^[2]led byBoris Shavyrinunder the leadership of the to-be famousSergey Nepobedimy,^[3]being based on theNord Aviation SS.10.^[2]^[4]Teams fromTsNII-113[ru],^[5]^[6]led by Zinovy Moiseevich Persits, would handle the design of thecontrol system.Meanwhile, thechargefor thesolid-propellant rocket enginewould be designed byNII-125,and theHEAT warheadbyNII-6.^[3]

Development of the missile proceeded rapidly, with the first unguided flights in April 1958 followed by controlled flights in June and July 1958, where testing showed theprobability of a hitto be anywhere from 75—90%, depending on the range.^[7]However,Soviet Armyfield exercises showed that hit rates could decrease to as low as 25% due to the complexity of theguidance system.^[8]

Reveal and Western reaction[edit]

The system would enter service by August 1st, 1960.^[9]Later, parade 2P27 vehicles sporting four 2K16 launchers on May 1st, 1962 were noted byWesternobservers in parade formation, just before the 1962Moscow Victory Day Parade.^[10]The weapon would later be described in theUS ArmyjournalMilitary Reviewas being 'about the same size' and having 'approximately the same range' as the FrenchSS.11,later overestimating its range to be from 500 to 3,000 metres.^[11]

History[edit]

There were two ground-based platforms for the missile

2P26Based on the unarmoredGAZ-69light truck - with four backward pointing launch rails. The control station can be deployed up to 30 m away from the launcher vehicle. It entered service in 1960
2P27Based on the armoredBRDM-1- with three pop up launch rails protected by an armored cover. It entered service in 1964.

These vehicles were deployed in anti-tank batteries attached to motor rifleregiments.Each battery has threeplatoons,each with three launch vehicles and a single command BRDM.

While a few were used by Egyptian forces during the 1967Six-Day Warand from 1969 in theWar of Attrition,only one tank loss was attributed to the system. The system's hit probability is estimated to have been 25% in combat^{[citation needed]}.

The system was also used by theCypriot National Guardduring the1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprusin a man-portable version. Several dozen shots were fired in action during a number of July and August engagements in the conflict, with low effectiveness.

North Koreabegan producing a reverse-engineered version of the missile in 1975.

Description[edit]

The missile is guided to the target by means of a joystick, which requires some skill on the part of the operator. The operator's adjustments are transmitted to the missile via a thin wire that trails behind the missile.

The missile is steered by an unconventional arrangement of vibrating spoilers.

As stated before, MCLOS requires considerable skill on the part of the operator. The system's effectiveness in combat drove the development of missiles based on the easier to use SACLOS system.

One problem with the missile is the amount of time it takes to reach maximum range—around 20 seconds—giving the intended target time to take action, either by retreating behind an obstacle, laying down a smoke screen or firing on the operator. Also, the large size of the missile means that only a few rounds can be carried; theBRDM-1vehicle can only carry three missiles.

Operators[edit]

Current[edit]

Former[edit]

Afghanistan^[14]^: 766
Algeria^[14]^: 766
Bulgaria^[14]^: 767
Cyprus− 80 missiles received in 1973 in violation of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot arms embargo.^[15]
Czechoslovakia^[14]^: 768
East Germany^[14]^: 768
Egypt^[14]^: 768
Hungary^[14]^: 769
Iraq^[16]
Israel- Captured units from Egypt^[17]^[18]and Syria.^{[citation needed]}
Mongolia− 100 missiles received in 1963.^[15]
Poland^[14]^: 772
Romania^[14]^: 772
Soviet Union^[14]^: 406
Syria^[14]^: 773
Yugoslavia^[14]^: 774- 500 missiles received between 1964 and 1965.^[15]

General characteristics[edit]

Length:1150 mm
Wingspan:750 mm
Diameter:136 mm
Launch weight:22.5 kg
Speed:90 to 110 m/s
Range:500 m to 2.3 km
Time to maximum range:20 seconds
Guidance:wire-guided MCLOS
Warhead:5.4 kgHEAT300 mm vsRHA

References[edit]

^Ангельскии, Ростислав Д. (2002).Отечественные противотанковые комплексы: Иллюстрированный справочник.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 9.ISBN 5170117442.
^^a ^bС. Г., Тихонов (2010).Оборонные предприятия СССР и России: в 2 т.(Т. 1. ed.). Москва: ТОМ. p. 94.ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2.
^^a ^bШирокорад, Александр Борисович (2003).Энциклопедия отечественного ракетного оружия 1817-2002.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 154.ISBN 5-17-011177-0.
^В. Л., Солунина (2003).Высокоточные системы управления и приводы для вооружения и военной техники. К 50-летию ЦНИИ автоматики и гидравлики(2-е изд. ed.). Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 83.ISBN 5-7038-1407-3.
^С. Г., Тихонов (2010).Оборонные предприятия СССР и России: в 2 т.(Т. 1. ed.). Москва: ТОМ. p. 543.ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2.
^В. Л., Солунина (2003).Высокоточные системы управления и приводы для вооружения и военной техники. К 50-летию ЦНИИ автоматики и гидравлики(2-е изд. ed.). Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 81.ISBN 5-7038-1407-3.
^Непобедимый, Сергей Павлович (2008).Оружие двух эпох. Записки генерального конструктора ракетных комплексов.Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 108.ISBN 978-5-7038-3158-8.
^Мальгинов, Виктор (2008).«Шмель» на броне // М-Хобби: журнал(Май (вып. 4, № 90) ed.). p. 37.ISSN 0236-0586.
^Ангельскии, Ростислав Д. (2002).Отечественные противотанковые комплексы: Иллюстрированный справочник.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 24.ISBN 5170117442.
^Military Review(Volume XLIII, Number 2, February 1963 ed.). Fort Leavensworth, Texas: United States Army. February 1963. p. 105.
^Military Review(Volume XLIII, Number 1, January 1963 ed.). Fort Leavenworth, Texas: United States Army. January 1963. p. 106.
^International Institute for Strategic Studies(31 December 2024)."Chapter Seven: Latin America and the Caribbean".The Military Balance.124(1): 396–457.doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298595.ISSN 0459-7222.Retrieved16 April2024.
^International Institute for Strategic Studies(2024)."Chapter Five: Asia".The Military Balance.124(1): 218–327.doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593.ISSN 0459-7222.Retrieved16 April2024.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^lV. Hogg, Ian (1988).Jane's infantry weapons 1988-89(14th ed.). London: Jane's Pub. Co.ISBN 978-0710608574.
^^a ^b ^c"Trade Registers".Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Retrieved24 May2023.
^National Training Center(1 January 1991).The Iraqi Army: Organization and Tactics.Paladin Press. p. 126.ISBN 978-0-87364-632-1.
^Олег Грановский, Вадим Яковис (2005-01-15)."ПТУР первого поколения в АОИ".War Online(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-16.Retrieved2023-11-05.
^Олег Грановский (2018-09-09)."История начала разработок ПТУР в Израиле".oleggranovsky.livejournal(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-15.Retrieved2023-11-06.

Hull, A.W., Markov, D.R., Zaloga, S.J. (1999).Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present.Darlington Productions.ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
Jane's Weapon Systems 1977
ПТУР первого поколения в АОИin Russian
2P26 (GAZ-69).Vehicles in Russia. Silver collection. Vol. 15 (2nd ed.). Russian Motor Books. 2003.

External links[edit]

[1] Ангельскии, Ростислав Д. (2002).Отечественные противотанковые комплексы: Иллюстрированный справочник.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 9.ISBN 5170117442.

[soggy-2] С. Г., Тихонов (2010).Оборонные предприятия СССР и России: в 2 т.(Т. 1. ed.). Москва: ТОМ. p. 94.ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2.

[womp-3] Широкорад, Александр Борисович (2003).Энциклопедия отечественного ракетного оружия 1817-2002.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 154.ISBN 5-17-011177-0.

[4] В. Л., Солунина (2003).Высокоточные системы управления и приводы для вооружения и военной техники. К 50-летию ЦНИИ автоматики и гидравлики(2-е изд. ed.). Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 83.ISBN 5-7038-1407-3.

[5] С. Г., Тихонов (2010).Оборонные предприятия СССР и России: в 2 т.(Т. 1. ed.). Москва: ТОМ. p. 543.ISBN 978-5-903603-02-2.

[6] В. Л., Солунина (2003).Высокоточные системы управления и приводы для вооружения и военной техники. К 50-летию ЦНИИ автоматики и гидравлики(2-е изд. ed.). Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 81.ISBN 5-7038-1407-3.

[7] Непобедимый, Сергей Павлович (2008).Оружие двух эпох. Записки генерального конструктора ракетных комплексов.Москва: Московский государственный технический университет имени Н.Э. Баумана. p. 108.ISBN 978-5-7038-3158-8.

[8] Мальгинов, Виктор (2008).«Шмель» на броне // М-Хобби: журнал(Май (вып. 4, № 90) ed.). p. 37.ISSN 0236-0586.

[9] Ангельскии, Ростислав Д. (2002).Отечественные противотанковые комплексы: Иллюстрированный справочник.Москва: ООО «Издательство АСТ». p. 24.ISBN 5170117442.

[10] Military Review(Volume XLIII, Number 2, February 1963 ed.). Fort Leavensworth, Texas: United States Army. February 1963. p. 105.

[11] Military Review(Volume XLIII, Number 1, January 1963 ed.). Fort Leavenworth, Texas: United States Army. January 1963. p. 106.

[12] International Institute for Strategic Studies(31 December 2024)."Chapter Seven: Latin America and the Caribbean".The Military Balance.124(1): 396–457.doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298595.ISSN 0459-7222.Retrieved16 April2024.

[13] International Institute for Strategic Studies(2024)."Chapter Five: Asia".The Military Balance.124(1): 218–327.doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593.ISSN 0459-7222.Retrieved16 April2024.

[Janes-14] ^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^lV. Hogg, Ian (1988).Jane's infantry weapons 1988-89(14th ed.). London: Jane's Pub. Co.ISBN 978-0710608574.

[SIPRI-15] "Trade Registers".Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Retrieved24 May2023.

[16] National Training Center(1 January 1991).The Iraqi Army: Organization and Tactics.Paladin Press. p. 126.ISBN 978-0-87364-632-1.

[17] Олег Грановский, Вадим Яковис (2005-01-15)."ПТУР первого поколения в АОИ".War Online(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-16.Retrieved2023-11-05.

[18] Олег Грановский (2018-09-09)."История начала разработок ПТУР в Израиле".oleggranovsky.livejournal(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-15.Retrieved2023-11-06.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]