The mobile coastal artillery system A-222 Bereg, developed by Russia, is considered unique and unmatched worldwide, boasting several outstanding advantages.
A-222 Bereg Mobile Coastal Artillery System: The Perfect Piece for Maritime Defense
The A-222 Bereg mobile coastal artillery system, manufactured by Russia, is currently deployed in large numbers within the Coastal Defense Forces of the country.
A-222 Bereg is considered unique.
This system can operate independently or in conjunction with missile systems such as the 4K44 Redut, K-300P Bastion-P, Bal-E, and 4K51 Rubezh, creating a continuous, multi-layered coastal defense fire network.
The A-222 Bereg is said to be unparalleled globally, possessing several superior advantages:
Firstly, rapid mobility. The A-222 Bereg can swiftly navigate complex terrains thanks to its placement on a wheeled chassis with 4 active axles from the MAZ-543 vehicle, enabling it to reach combat deployment positions promptly, allowing it to fire and suppress enemy maritime or coastal combat forces.
The A-222 Bereg artillery can target fast-moving boats traveling at speeds of up to 200 nautical miles per hour (360 km/h) due to its reconnaissance radar system, laser rangefinder, and digital fire control system installed on a command vehicle.
Secondly, high-density and rapid firepower. The firing rate of a single gun can reach 12 rounds per minute, allowing the entire system, with a full complement of 6 guns firing simultaneously, to unleash a staggering fire density of up to 72 rounds per minute.
The firing control system can track and calculate 4 targets in high interference conditions and simultaneously engage 2 of these targets. The maximum firing range is 27 km, with an effective combat radius of 22 km.
The preparation time for firing at moving maritime targets is 1 to 2 minutes, with a target destruction probability of 0.8.
Self-propelled artillery.
The system includes 1 to 2 support vehicles for logistics, dining, sleeping, medical first aid, and power supply for the system, sufficient for 7 days with an adequate fuel reserve.
Thirdly, it fills the “dead zone.” While missile systems may struggle with close-range targets, the A-222 Bereg serves as a decisive last line of defense.
In outer circles, if the target is far offshore, within 300 km, the Bastion-P system (with Yakhont missiles, range of 300 km) and Rubezh-ME (with Kh-35U missiles, range of 260 km) take charge.
The missile “wolf pack” from these systems operates in a “fire and forget” mode, autonomously seeking out designated targets, namely large enemy vessels, to sink them.
Closer in, within 130 km, targets are engaged by the Bal-E system (with Kh-35 missiles, range of 130 km) with a barrage of missiles.
At extremely close distances, under 30 km, the A-222 Bereg-E self-propelled artillery will complete the mission, executing the “sea vessel” tactic, resulting in a decisive defeat of numerous enemy boats and high-speed craft.
Basic configuration of the A-222E Bereg-E mobile coastal artillery system
Outstanding Technical and Tactical Features
Mission
The A-222E Bereg-E mobile coastal artillery system is designed to destroy or suppress enemy maritime or coastal combat forces, preventing enemy warship fire directed at our coastal combat forces during amphibious operations, coastal defense operations, and protecting maritime routes and coastal parking areas.
The system can accurately target moving objectives at sea and on land at speeds up to 200 nautical miles per hour (360 km/h).
Configuration
• Command vehicle with BR-136 fire control system
• 6 self-propelled artillery vehicles
• One or two support combat vehicles.
Characteristics
Command Vehicle:
The command vehicle performs fire control for the entire system and includes equipment such as: reconnaissance radar, optical reconnaissance system equipped with laser rangefinders and target identification sights, digital fire control computer, and devices for monitoring and evaluating firing results, along with training simulation equipment for the combat crew, power generators, and combat support equipment.
The fire control system on the vehicle can detect and calculate firing data in both active and passive interference environments for 4 targets, commanding the system to engage 2 of those targets simultaneously.
A-222 Bereg mobile coastal artillery system
Self-Propelled Artillery
The self-propelled artillery can fire electrically via the command vehicle or through the onboard targeting system (optical sight, ballistic computer, and laser rangefinder).
It features a semi-automatic ammunition loader designed for solid projectiles, such as fragmentation shells with base fuzes, proximity-fuzed anti-aircraft shells, as well as various training and drill ammunition types.
Support Combat Vehicles
The support vehicles supply power to the command vehicle and self-propelled artillery, providing dining, sleeping, resting, and first aid facilities for the combat crew. The power supply for the system is handled by 2 diesel generators with sufficient fuel reserves for 7 days.
All vehicles in the Bereg-E system are designed on the MAZ-543M 8×8 wheeled chassis.
Basic Technical Specifications
Effective firing range (km): 20
Preparation time for firing at moving maritime targets (with a probability of destruction of 0.8): 1-2 minutes
Number of targets that can be engaged simultaneously by any firing system: 1-2
Caliber: 130mm
Barrel length: 7020mm
Types of ammunition: various solid 130mm projectiles
Firing rate: 12-14 rounds/minute
Gun rotation angle: -120… +120 degrees
Elevation angle: -5… +50 degrees
Crew size:
- On each self-propelled artillery vehicle: 8
- On the command vehicle: 7
- On the support vehicle: 4
Chassis of the vehicles in the system: Based on a wheeled all-terrain chassis with 4 active axles.
