Difference between revisions of "AG-30 (30 mm)"

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[[File:AG-30.png|x280px|thumb|right|The AG-30 on top of the BMP-2M]]
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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''
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<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
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The '''30 mm AG-30''' is a Russian grenade launcher.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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== General info ==
 
== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
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The 30 mm AG-30 has a slow muzzle velocity. The grenade's travel time can be ~1 second at 250 m, and ~3 seconds at 500 m, and expect even more time needed for targets beyond 500 m.
  
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== Available ammunition ===
Currently, only HE ammo is available for the AG-30 due to its purpose mainly being anti-personnel. Other ammunition types cannot be selected, there is only 1 type of belt for the time being. The AG-30 has only HE, Smoke and Training munitions in real life, so only gaining access to HE makes sense.
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''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
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{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|VOG-30}}
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
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<!--Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.-->
  
(Currently, there are no other automatic grenade launchers installed on any other vehicles, so a comparison cannot be made.)
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The [[M129 (40 mm)|M129]], another AGL, is vastly superior to the AG-30 in every way, namely with better armour penetration, muzzle velocity, and a lighter shell. The only advantage the AG-30 has over the M129 is the explosive mass, but that's worth nothing because the explosive mass can't be utilized effectively.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
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<!--Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.-->
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Despite having no infantry to fight, the AG-30 can be used to cripple critical enemy modules. Breaking their gun barrel and tracks will provide the time to either escape or time to aim for weak spots. The shells have less than 5 mm of penetration, so it is unlikely to destroy anything. The only things that the AG-30 might shred through are ATGM carriers and thinly armoured SPAAs, but then HMGs and high-calibre HE shells do a better job at destroying them. It might defeat helicopters though, because the 30 mm grenades don't have tracers at all so the helicopters won't notice them coming until it hits them.
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Overall, the AG-30 is essentially a tool to buy time, and can't really do anything much more than disarming and demobilizing light tanks and MBTs. The AG-30 can be used to break through an enemy's ERA, which would help the player and teammates defeat the enemy more easily. However, the AG-30 shouldn't be the first weapon of choice in an engagement, as the BMP-2M has very useful ATGMs with tandem charges that can be fired in rapid succession. Again, don't think about actually destroying anything with the AG-30. Roofs and belly armour of even the earliest light tanks exceed 10 mm of RHA, which means penetration is nigh-impossible.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Decent rate of fire (400 RPM) in terms of an automatic grenade launcher
 
* Decent rate of fire (400 RPM) in terms of an automatic grenade launcher
 
* May damage and cripple modules that are important to the enemy, such as their gun barrel and tracks
 
* May damage and cripple modules that are important to the enemy, such as their gun barrel and tracks
* Can remove enemy applique armor plates, especially ERA plates, so that the primary armament will have a better chance of penetrating.
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* Can remove enemy armour plates, especially ERA plates, so that the primary armament has a better chance of penetrating
* If enemy compartment is open-back or open-top, the crew of the enemy will be eliminated within a single good burst.
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* If enemy compartment is open-back or open-top, the crew of the enemy will be eliminated within a single good burst
* Large belt capacity allows sustained fire for longer durations (300 grenades for the BMP-2M).
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* Large belt capacity allows sustained fire for longer durations (300 grenades for the BMP-2M)  
* Surprisingly, the grenades don't drop that much which makes firing at far-away stationary targets not that much of a problem.
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* Launcher has decent elevation angles
* Launcher has decent elevation angles.
 
* Grenade launcher was given a sight and is now considered a secondary weapon after an update, so accurate fire and independent aiming is now possible.
 
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
* Grenades will almost never penetrate armor directly and hurt the crew inside.
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* Grenades will almost never penetrate armour directly and hurt the crew inside
* Grenade's low muzzle velocity results in quite a delay from firing to grenade impact.
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* Grenade's low muzzle velocity results in quite a delay from firing to grenade impact, making it a challenge to hit any moving targets beyond 200 m
** Time of travel can be ~1 second at 250 meters, and ~3 seconds at 500 meters, and expect even more time needed for targets beyond 500 m.
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* The explosion of the grenade can obscure vision if using thermal gunner sights
** The very low muzzle velocity will make it a challenge to hit any moving targets beyond 200 meters.
 
<!--* Enemies may be able to shoot the launcher and cause an ammunition detonation (NEEDS EXPERIMENTATION TO CONFIRM)-->
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!--''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''-->
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<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
 
[[File:AGS-30 maks2009.jpg|left|thumb|x220px|none|The AGS-30 in an exhibition.]]
 
[[File:AGS-30 maks2009.jpg|left|thumb|x220px|none|The AGS-30 in an exhibition.]]
 
The AGS-17 adopted in 1971 was improved upon with the introduction of the '''AGS-30''' grenade launcher.<ref name="MilitaryTodayAG30">Military-Today "AGS-30"</ref> The new launcher, which had development started in the early 1990s by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, was introduced in 1999 as a lighter, more accurate, and farther-hitting grenade launcher compared to the AGS-17,  
 
The AGS-17 adopted in 1971 was improved upon with the introduction of the '''AGS-30''' grenade launcher.<ref name="MilitaryTodayAG30">Military-Today "AGS-30"</ref> The new launcher, which had development started in the early 1990s by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, was introduced in 1999 as a lighter, more accurate, and farther-hitting grenade launcher compared to the AGS-17,  
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<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on weapon;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''-->
 
* ''other literature.''-->
  

Latest revision as of 16:07, 5 November 2024

The AG-30 on top of the BMP-2M

Description

The 30 mm AG-30 is a Russian grenade launcher.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

The 30 mm AG-30 has a slow muzzle velocity. The grenade's travel time can be ~1 second at 250 m, and ~3 seconds at 500 m, and expect even more time needed for targets beyond 500 m.

Available ammunition

Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
VOG-30 VOG* 3 3 3 3 3 3
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
VOG-30 VOG* 185 0.28 0 0.1 64.68 79° 80° 81°

Comparison with analogues

The M129, another AGL, is vastly superior to the AG-30 in every way, namely with better armour penetration, muzzle velocity, and a lighter shell. The only advantage the AG-30 has over the M129 is the explosive mass, but that's worth nothing because the explosive mass can't be utilized effectively.

Usage in battles

Despite having no infantry to fight, the AG-30 can be used to cripple critical enemy modules. Breaking their gun barrel and tracks will provide the time to either escape or time to aim for weak spots. The shells have less than 5 mm of penetration, so it is unlikely to destroy anything. The only things that the AG-30 might shred through are ATGM carriers and thinly armoured SPAAs, but then HMGs and high-calibre HE shells do a better job at destroying them. It might defeat helicopters though, because the 30 mm grenades don't have tracers at all so the helicopters won't notice them coming until it hits them.

Overall, the AG-30 is essentially a tool to buy time, and can't really do anything much more than disarming and demobilizing light tanks and MBTs. The AG-30 can be used to break through an enemy's ERA, which would help the player and teammates defeat the enemy more easily. However, the AG-30 shouldn't be the first weapon of choice in an engagement, as the BMP-2M has very useful ATGMs with tandem charges that can be fired in rapid succession. Again, don't think about actually destroying anything with the AG-30. Roofs and belly armour of even the earliest light tanks exceed 10 mm of RHA, which means penetration is nigh-impossible.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent rate of fire (400 RPM) in terms of an automatic grenade launcher
  • May damage and cripple modules that are important to the enemy, such as their gun barrel and tracks
  • Can remove enemy armour plates, especially ERA plates, so that the primary armament has a better chance of penetrating
  • If enemy compartment is open-back or open-top, the crew of the enemy will be eliminated within a single good burst
  • Large belt capacity allows sustained fire for longer durations (300 grenades for the BMP-2M)
  • Launcher has decent elevation angles

Cons:

  • Grenades will almost never penetrate armour directly and hurt the crew inside
  • Grenade's low muzzle velocity results in quite a delay from firing to grenade impact, making it a challenge to hit any moving targets beyond 200 m
  • The explosion of the grenade can obscure vision if using thermal gunner sights

History

The AGS-30 in an exhibition.

The AGS-17 adopted in 1971 was improved upon with the introduction of the AGS-30 grenade launcher.[1] The new launcher, which had development started in the early 1990s by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau, was introduced in 1999 as a lighter, more accurate, and farther-hitting grenade launcher compared to the AGS-17, [2] as well as constructed with 40% fewer parts.[3] This was possible due to changes in the operating mechanism that allows a lighter breech body for firing from an open bolt (compared to the AGS-17's blowback operated closed bolt system), which consequently makes the weapon lighter with a faster firing rate.[4]

The AGS-30 (Avtomatischeskyi Granatmyot Stankovyi Automatic Grenade Launcher - Mounted) was adopted for Russian Army service in 2002, firing the same 30x28B mm grenades as the AGS-17 in belts of 29 grenades. Due to its lightweight construction of 16 kg with tripod included (compared to the AG-17's weight of 18 kg alone, with the tripod weighing 12 kg), the weapon could be easily used and moved by a crew of two soldiers in the infantry support role.[4] The AGS-30 can also be found as vehicle mounts as the AG-30M on AFV and helicopters with a remote-controlled turret.[1]

The AGS-30 is still in service today, alongside the AGS-17 grenade launcher that it was intended to replace.[5]

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

External links

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 Military-Today "AGS-30"
  2. Popenker "AGS-30"
  3. Army Recognition 2018
  4. 4.0 4.1 Koll 2009, pg 239-242
  5. TASS 2019
Bibliography
  • Army Recognition, "AGS-30 30mm automatic grenade launcher." Army Recognition, Army Recognition Group SPRL, 09 Oct. 2018, Website. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021 (Archive).
  • Koll, Christian, Soviet Cannon: A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Guns and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Self-published, PDF, 2009.
  • Military-Today. "AGS-30" Military-Today, Website. Accessed on 22 Apr 2021 (Archive).
  • Popenker, Maxim, "AGS-30." Modern Firearms, Website. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021 (Archive).
  • TASS, "Russian arms manufacturer to launch production of AGS-30 grenade launchers in 2020." Russian News Agency TASS, 20 Aug. 2019, Website. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021 (Archive from 08 Nov 2020).


USSR tank cannons
20 mm  TNSh
30 mm  2A42 · 2A72 · AG-30
45 mm  20-K
57 mm  AU-220 · Ch-51M · ZIS-2 · ZIS-4 · ZIS-4M
73 mm  2A28
76 mm  1902/30 · 3-K · D-56TS · F-32 · F-34 · F-96 · KT-28 · L-10 · L-11 · ZIS-3 · ZIS-5
85 mm  D-5S · D-5T · D-58 · D-70 · F-30 · ZIS-S-53
100 mm  2A48 · 2A70 · D-10S · D-10T · D-10T2S · D-50 · LB-1 · S-34
107 mm  ZIS-6
115 mm  U-5TS
122 mm  A-19 · D-25-44T · D-25S · D-25T · D-25TS · D-30T · D-49 · M-30 · M-62-T2S
125 mm  2A26 · 2A46 · 2A46M · 2A46M-1 · 2A46M-4 · 2A46M-5 · 2A46MS · 2A75 · D-126
130 mm  B-13 · C-70 · M-65
152 mm  2A33 · LP-83 · M-10T · M-64 · M-69 · ML-20S
  Foreign:
37 mm  M5 (USA)
50 mm  KwK L/42 (Germany)
57 mm  6pdr OQF Mk.III (Britain) · M1 (USA)
75 mm  KwK42 (Germany) · M2 (USA)
76 mm  M1 (USA)
85 mm  Type-62-85-TC (China)