SM-240 Tyulpan Self-Propelled Mortar
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 2023-04-26

The 2S4 "Tyulpan" was developed as a fully-tracked, self-propelled heavy mortar platform. The 30-ton system was first witnessed by the West in 1975 which gave birth to the NATO designation of "M1975" (not to be confused with the 2S7 "Pion", also given the NATO designation of M1975). It still maintains an active presence in the Russian Army inventory and has seen noted combat actions in Afghanistan (1979-1989) and Chechnya (1999-2009). The Soviet designation was consistent with the accepted practice of an alpha-numeric system ("2S4") and the association to a flower ("Tyulpan").