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NII-58 Big Triplex
S-23 / S-23 - 180-mm cannon
S-23-I / S-33 - 210-mm howitzer
S-23-II / S-43 - 280-mm mortar
S-23-IV - 203-mm gun-howitzer

The 210mm B-3 cannon was developed by Skoda in the late 1940s. The cannon was a further development of the 210 mm cannon Br 17. The characteristic external difference between V 3 and Br 17 was the presence of a muzzle brake. The V-3 gun differed from its older sister Br-17 with improved ballistics, a lower weight, a simplified loading system, and better mobility on the march. In 1950 in the Russian language was issued the service manual V 3. By the way, in the domestic documentation the cannon was called V 3, and B-3. The V-3 was tested in the USSR, but the Soviets did not produce it serially.

The 210mm V-3 cannon was developed by Skoda in the late 1940s. The cannon was a further development of the 210 mm cannon Br 17. The characteristic external difference between V 3 and Br 17 was the presence of a muzzle brake. The V-3 gun differed from its older sister Br-17 with improved ballistics, a lower weight, a simplified loading system, and better mobility on the hike. In 1950 in the Russian language was issued the service manual V 3. By the way, in the domestic documentation the cannon was called V 3, and B-3. The V-3 was tested in the USSR, but we did not produce it serially.

The loading devices included a rail track located on the turntable of the base, and a loading truck. A shell and one half-charge were stacked manually on the cart. When firing with full charge, the second half-charge was brought to the gun with one calculation number. Five numbers of calculations rolled the cart with the projectile to the gun along the railroad track. At the end of the road, the tilt of the trolley corresponded to the loading angle of the gun, 7. "At the last moment of rolling the trolley its support entered the bolt socket of the trunk.To speed up the loading, the gun was given by two carts, and the sending of the projectile to the chamber was made by 6-7 people manually with the help of a rifle.

The system in the marching position consisted of three special wagons: trunk carriages, machine wagons, base carriages. The trunk had a special wagon, and the machine and the base had only wheeled turns and made up the bodies of the wagons themselves. Each cart was transported by a separate tractor with the necessary devices for transferring the system from a marching position to a combat vehicle, with a tool and accessories for disassembling and assembling individual groups of the system and spare parts. Devices, tools and accessories could be transported and on separately allocated cars. The hulls of the wagons were supplied with pneumatic tires. The movement of the wagons was independently sprung with leaf springs.

The development of the elements of the new triplex was started in 1944 in the Central Bank of Crimea by the guidance of V.G. Grabine. Originally 180 mm and 210 mm guns were developed under the code number H6-277. As a triplex the theme was finally formed in 1945, when the triplex project was made from a 180 mm gun G6.536, 210 mm howitzers G6.536-1 and 280 mm mortars G6.536-II. In 1947 the project was finalized. The system also included a 203-mm gun-howitzer, but the system was still called a triplex.

The gun carriage for all guns is one. The installation at the position was to be carried out by the crew forces and did not require preliminary preparation. The system is separate.

In 1953, the design of the systems was finally completed, and they again received new indices: S-23 - 180 mm gun; S-33 - 210-mm howitzer and S-43 - 280mm mortar. The manufacture of all three systems was entrusted to the Barricade factory (under the contract of September 10, 1953). Trials of triplex was done by NII 6. In 1955, the Barrikady plant produced seven S-23 cannons, one S-33 howitzer and one S-43 mortar.

Initially, the loading of all the triplex systems was "separate-sleeve" [ie, bag]. However, because of the pathological predilection of the GAU, a variant S-23, S-33 and S-43 with a "cap-loading" was developed for the shell.

The S-23 was recalled in the early 1970s, when the Arabs had nothing to counter 175-mm Israeli M107 cannons firing at a range of 32 km. Then, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Barricade plant had to urgently restore the production of 180 mm S-23 guns for delivery to the Middle East. According to Western press reports, 180mm S-23 cannons were delivered to Syria and took an active part in the Middle East conflict.

The barrel of the 180-mm S-23 gun consisted of a free barrel, casing, coupling, breech and muzzle brake. Shutter piston push-pull with plate shutter. Actions with the shutter, like, however, and all other operations with the gun, were made manually. The retrace brake is hydraulic, with a variable retraction length. Drill collar hydropneumatic. The lifting mechanism had one sector and two guidance speeds. The sector-type swivel mechanism is located on the head box of the upper machine. Balancing mechanism of hydropneumatic type.

When transferring the cannon from the marching position to the battle gear, they are hung with hydraulic jacks. The shooting could only be carried out from the vomer mounts. The vane supports included two central supports and four side supports. For shooting, the system was installed on a flat site measuring 8x8 meters, possibly with hard ground. When installing the gun on soft ground used special beams, buried in the ground. The cannon was mounted on the beam by the front box of the lower machine and attached to it by chains.