30 mm Vydra
In this thread: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/101927-Czech-30-MM-X-210?p=309615&posted=1#post309615
came up a question on the Czech development of 30 mm HEAT round chambered in 30x211.
The project with the cover name VYDRA was one of two 30 mm developments started in Czechoslovakia in the 1960’s. The other project was SAMOTA a 4 barrel 30 mm AA system based on the 30 mm PLDvK 53/59 guns with a modern fire direction system.
Project VYDRA was much simpler and its aim was to develop a gun for APC/AFV vehicle with both ground to ground and ground to air capabilities. IFV used in Czechoslovakia in that time was the BVP-1 (BMP-1 license) with 73 mm gun unable of AA fire.
Initial development was in the 28 mm caliber. The 28 mm canon VK-28 used necked down 30x211 cartridge. It was soon decided that 30 mm cartridge 30x211 already in production for the 30 mm PLDvK 53/59 was to be used. In 1968 there was the first prototype of 30 mm VK-30 mounted on the OT-62 APC ready.
30 mm HEAT round was fired from grooved barrel, but got no rotation and was fin-stabilized. It penetrated 90 mm armour.
It was decided to change the vehicle to BMP-1 and in 1972 was the prototype sent to USSR for evaluation. The results that came back said that the ammo is not unified in Warsaw Pact countries ( there was no 30mm round used except aircraft NR-30). This lead to the dropping of the project.
In 1977 project documentation was sold to Jugoslavia for 400 000 USD.
This text is based on the book Československé automatické zbraně a jejich tvůrci (Czechoslovak Automatic Weapons and their Creators) by professor Lubomír Popelínský.
Here is a link to other forum where it was discussed:
https://www.wk2ammo.com/showthread.php?8411-30x211/page2&highlight=vydra
Bob
In this thread: http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/101927-Czech-30-MM-X-210?p=309615&posted=1#post309615
came up a question on the Czech development of 30 mm HEAT round chambered in 30x211.
The project with the cover name VYDRA was one of two 30 mm developments started in Czechoslovakia in the 1960’s. The other project was SAMOTA a 4 barrel 30 mm AA system based on the 30 mm PLDvK 53/59 guns with a modern fire direction system.
Project VYDRA was much simpler and its aim was to develop a gun for APC/AFV vehicle with both ground to ground and ground to air capabilities. IFV used in Czechoslovakia in that time was the BVP-1 (BMP-1 license) with 73 mm gun unable of AA fire.
Initial development was in the 28 mm caliber. The 28 mm canon VK-28 used necked down 30x211 cartridge. It was soon decided that 30 mm cartridge 30x211 already in production for the 30 mm PLDvK 53/59 was to be used. In 1968 there was the first prototype of 30 mm VK-30 mounted on the OT-62 APC ready.
30 mm HEAT round was fired from grooved barrel, but got no rotation and was fin-stabilized. It penetrated 90 mm armour.
It was decided to change the vehicle to BMP-1 and in 1972 was the prototype sent to USSR for evaluation. The results that came back said that the ammo is not unified in Warsaw Pact countries ( there was no 30mm round used except aircraft NR-30). This lead to the dropping of the project.
In 1977 project documentation was sold to Jugoslavia for 400 000 USD.
This text is based on the book Československé automatické zbraně a jejich tvůrci (Czechoslovak Automatic Weapons and their Creators) by professor Lubomír Popelínský.
Here is a link to other forum where it was discussed:
https://www.wk2ammo.com/showthread.php?8411-30x211/page2&highlight=vydra
Bob
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