Artillery

2S4 Tyulpan

Also known as
  • 2S4 Tulpan
  • SM-240
  • M-1975
  • M1975
  • Tulip

The 2S4 Tyulpan is a Soviet 240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar built around a large breech-loaded 2B8 mortar on a tracked chassis. Its unusually heavy bombs, guided and special-purpose ammunition options, and low rate of fire make it a siege and bunker-attack weapon rather than a conventional rapid-fire howitzer. Soviet and Russian forces used it in Afghanistan and Chechnya, and Russian forces have fielded or lost examples in Ukraine, where its size and firing signature make it a high-value counter-battery target.

2S4 Tyulpan, 240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar, Artillery
Image source: File:2S4 Tyulpan ARMY-2022.jpg

Role in Conflicts

1979 Soviet-Afghan War
Fire Support
Side
Soviet Union and Afghan government forces

Soviet forces used the 240 mm 2S4 Tyulpan in Afghanistan, including a June 1985 action near the Panjshir valley where a 2S4 battery employed Smelchak guided rounds against a Mujahideen stronghold.

1994 First Chechen War
Fire Support
Side
Russia

Russian forces employed a small squadron of four 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars during the 1994-1996 Chechen campaign, using the 240 mm system as high-power artillery against defended positions in and around Grozny.

1999 Second Chechen War
Fire Support
Side
Russia

Russian high-power artillery units employed ten 2S4 Tyulpan mortars in the Second Chechen War, carrying out fire missions around Grozny and mountain targets with high-explosive, cassette, and guided Smelchak rounds.

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Fire Support
Side
Russia

Russian and Russian-backed forces have fielded the 240 mm 2S4 Tyulpan in Ukraine: OSCE monitors reported a 2S4 in DPR-controlled territory in 2015, later reporting and battlefield imagery documented Russian Tyulpans firing or being destroyed in 2022, and Oryx has visually documented Russian 2S4 losses during the full-scale invasion.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar
Service note
Introduced in the 1970s; documented in Soviet service in Afghanistan and retained in Russian service through the Chechen wars and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Uraltransmash / Uraltransmash design bureau; 2B8 mortar developed by Perm Machine Construction Works
Designed
Late 1960s to early 1970s
Unit cost
210,000 rubles reported for 1972
Produced
1972-1988 series production reported
Number built
Open references differ: Forecast International reported 453; WeaponSystems.net reports 588

Specifications

Caliber
240 mm 2B8 breech-loaded mortar
Ammunition
130 kg 3OF-864 high-explosive bomb; 228 kg rocket-assisted projectile reported
Range
800 m minimum; about 9.5-9.65 km with standard bombs and up to 18-19.7 km with rocket-assisted projectiles
Rate of fire
About 1 round per minute
Ammunition carried
Two automated drum magazines; up to 40 standard high-explosive rounds or 20 rocket-assisted projectiles reported
Crew
4 carried in the vehicle, with additional reload crew in a support vehicle
Combat weight
About 27,500 kg
Mobility
Tracked chassis with V-59 V-12 diesel engine; about 60 km/h road speed and 500 km cruising range
Protection
Welded steel armor against small-arms fire and artillery splinters; crew exposed while operating the mortar
Variants

2S4 identifies the baseline Tyulpan self-propelled 240 mm mortar. Later Russian reporting describes overhauled or modernized service vehicles with communications and fire-control improvements rather than a broad family of new-production variants.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
2S4Baseline self-propelled 240 mm mortar

The original series vehicle carries the 2B8 240 mm mortar on a tracked chassis and reached full operational capability with the Soviet Army in the mid-1970s.

Sources: 2S4 Tyulpan M-1975, 2S4 Tyulpan

2S4MModernized Russian-service vehicle

Russian modernization reporting describes barrel and recoil-mechanism renewal plus updated communications, positioning, and fire-control electronics for Tyulpan vehicles retained in service.

Sources: Army Recognition Tyulpan Modernization

Ammunition Fired

The 2S4 Tyulpan fires a family of 240 mm mortar projectiles, including conventional high-explosive, guided, cargo, incendiary, and other special-purpose rounds documented for the Tyulpan and M-240 mortar family.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
3O8 Nerpa, Rocket-assisted cargo projectile for 240 mm mortars, Munitions3O8 NerpaRocket-assisted cargo projectile

ARES explicitly lists the 3O8 Nerpa as a Soviet 240 mm projectile designed for use with the 2S4 Tyulpan.

Sources: ARES Soviet 3O8 Projectiles in Syria

53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb, 240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb, Munitions53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb

Army Recognition describes the 2S4 Tyulpan as firing the conventional high-explosive fragmentation bomb 3OF-864 / 53-F-864 as one of its basic 240 mm mortar bombs.

Sources: 2S4 Tyulpan M-1975

3F5 Smelchak, Laser-guided 240 mm mortar round, Munitions3F5 SmelchakLaser-guided 240 mm mortar round

Multiple sources explicitly state that the 2S4 Tyulpan can fire the 3F5 Smelchak laser-guided mortar round; TWZ reports Russian use of Tyulpan mortars firing Smelchak rounds in Ukraine, and Militarnyi identifies Smelchak as a laser-guided 240 mm mortar round.

Sources: 2S4 Tyulpan, TWZ Smelchak, Militarnyi Smelchak sighting

3B11 nuclear projectile, 240 mm rocket-assisted nuclear mortar projectile, Munitions3B11 nuclear projectileNuclear 240 mm projectile

Armament Research and other reporting explicitly name 3B11 as one of the 240 mm special-purpose projectiles designed for use with the 2S4 Tyulpan and the M-240.

Sources: ARES Soviet 3O8 Projectiles in Syria

Sayda incendiary round, Incendiary 240 mm rocket-assisted projectile, MunitionsSayda incendiary roundIncendiary 240 mm projectile

Armament Research identifies Sayda as one of the Soviet 240 mm rocket-assisted projectiles designed for use with the 2S4 Tyulpan and the M-240.

Sources: ARES Soviet 3O8 Projectiles in Syria, This Russian 'Big Gun' Only Had One Purpose: To Destroy a City

Ammunition And Attribution Limits

The Tyulpan's operational significance comes from the 240 mm mortar ammunition family as much as from the carrier. Conventional 53-F-864 bombs, rocket-assisted cargo rounds, guided Smelchak rounds, and Soviet special-purpose projectiles all sit inside the M-240/2S4 ammunition lineage, but field reports do not always distinguish a self-propelled 2S4 from a towed M-240 firing the same class of round.

High-explosive bombs

The 53-F-864/3OF-864 round is the baseline 240 mm destructive load for buildings, bunkers, and field fortifications.

Rocket-assisted rounds

Extended-range projectiles such as 3O8 Nerpa explain why the family appears in munition-remnant reporting beyond normal mortar ranges.

ARES documents 240 mm projectile remnants in Syria but frames them as part of the broader M-240/2S4 firing family, so that evidence is not treated here as a standalone 2S4 conflict-use row.

Guided Smelchak rounds

Laser-guided 240 mm rounds make the low-rate Tyulpan more relevant against point targets than an unguided siege mortar alone.

Ukraine reporting directly connects Smelchak rounds to Russian Tyulpan use, while older or indirect mentions remain background only.

Timeline

2S4 Tyulpan Key Events

  1. OSCE monitors a Tyulpan in eastern Ukraine

    OSCE monitors reported a 2S4 Tyulpan in DPR-controlled territory during the Donbas phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.

    Sources: Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, 5 July 2015

  2. Modernization described

    Russian modernization reporting described Tyulpan overhauls focused on barrel and recoil work as well as communication, positioning, and fire-control electronics.

    Sources: Army Recognition Tyulpan Modernization

  3. Documented in full-scale Ukraine combat

    Reporting from May 2022 described a Russian 2S4 shown in Ukraine and then targeted by Ukrainian forces during the full-scale invasion.

    Sources: Forbes Rare 2S4 Mega Mortar

  4. Rostec reports repaired Tyulpan deliveries

    Rostec said 240 mm 2S4 Tyulpan self-propelled mortars were sent to Russian troops after capital repair under the 2023 state defense order, with modern communications fitted during the work.

    Sources: Rostec Tyulpan Overhaul Delivery

  5. Reported destroyed near Vovchansk

    Ukrainian reporting identified another Russian 2S4 Tyulpan destroyed near Vovchansk after use against Ukrainian defensive positions.

    Sources: United24 Vovchansk Tyulpan Strike

Media

2S4 Tyulpan Videos

2S4 Tyulpan Images

2S4 Tyulpan, 240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar, Artillery - view 1
Source: File:2S4 Tyulpan Self-propelled Mortar 2017.jpg
2S4 Tyulpan, 240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar, Artillery - view 2
Source: File:Self-propelled mortar 2S4 with 240mm mortar 2B8.jpg
2S4 Tyulpan, 240 mm self-propelled heavy mortar, Artillery - view 3
Source: File:2S4 Tyulpan Army-2018.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb, 240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb, MunitionsMunitions53-F-864 / F-864 240 mm mortar bomb240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bombThe 53-F-864, commonly cited as F-864 and also rendered 3OF-864 in Tyulpan references, is a Soviet 240 mm high-explosive fragmentation mortar bomb for the M-240 / 2S4 Tyulpan heavy-mortar family. It is notable as a very heavy conventional mortar round: Human Rights Watch documented F-864 bombs in Syrian army shelling of Homs, and technical references report a projectile mass of about 130 kg and a maximum Tyulpan range of about 9.65 km.
2S35 Koalitsiya-SV, 152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, ArtilleryArtillery2S35 Koalitsiya-SV152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzerThe 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV is a Russian 152 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer developed as a highly automated successor to the 2S19 Msta-S, pairing a 2A88 gun, automated loading, digital fire-control features, and a T-90-derived chassis for long-range tube-artillery missions. Russian and specialist reporting placed small numbers near the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War front from late 2023, but the direct conflict record remains source-limited and centered on counter-battery claims rather than verified large-scale fielding.
2S34 Chosta, 120 mm tracked self-propelled gun-mortar, ArtilleryArtillery2S34 Chosta120 mm tracked self-propelled gun-mortarThe 2S34 Chosta is a Russian 120 mm tracked self-propelled gun-mortar that rebuilds the 2S1 Gvozdika chassis around the 2A80-1 weapon, an automatic loading system, and updated fire-control equipment. It gives Russian artillery units a compact turreted vehicle able to fire mortar-style high-angle missions, direct fire, and some guided 120 mm ammunition, but public reporting suggests only a small fleet reached service before examples appeared in Ukraine.
2B16 Nona-K, 120 mm towed gun-mortar, ArtilleryArtillery2B16 Nona-K120 mm towed gun-mortarThe 2B16 Nona-K is the towed member of the Soviet/Russian Nona 120 mm gun-mortar family, combining a rifled breech-loading weapon with a split-trail carriage light enough for air-assault fire support. It shares the Nona ammunition concept with the 2S9 and 2S23, allowing mortar bombs, special 120 mm projectiles, and selected guided rounds from one compact artillery piece. In the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War it has appeared in Russian loss tracking and in Ukrainian service, including captured guns used for infantry and position-defense fire missions.

Sources

2S4 Tyulpan M-1975Publisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports development background, manufacturer context, weapon layout, ammunition, range, mobility, aliases, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War deployment context. | Accessed: 2026-06-302S4 TyulpanPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports origin, production, Uraltransmash producer attribution, designations, ammunition, range, and mobility specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Rostec Uraltransmash 205th AnniversaryPublisher: Rostec | Note: Official Rostec history item supporting Uraltransmash association with 2S4 creation and serial production, plus Uralvagonzavod/Rostec ownership context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Rostec Tyulpan Overhaul DeliveryPublisher: Rostec | Note: Official Rostec release supporting 2023 repaired 2S4 Tyulpan deliveries and modern communications fitted during overhaul. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Forecast International SM.240 TyulpanPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Archived reference profile supporting Uraltransmash and Perm 2B8 attribution, reported total produced, Smelchak compatibility, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, 5 July 2015Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe | Note: Supports direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War context by reporting OSCE monitoring of a 2S4 in DPR-controlled territory during the Donbas phase of the war. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Artillery and Counterinsurgency: The Soviet Experience in AfghanistanPublisher: Foreign Military Studies Office / Field Artillery Journal | Note: Direct conflict-use source for the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War: identifies Soviet 2S4 self-propelled 240 mm mortar use in Afghanistan, including a June 1985 action near the Panjshir valley with Smelchak guided rounds. | Accessed: 2026-07-02ARES Soviet 3O8 Projectiles in SyriaPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports the 2S4 Tyulpan and M-240 relationship to Soviet 240 mm projectiles including 3O8 Nerpa, 3F2 Gagara, Sayda, and 3B11, and supports the Syria attribution caveat for 240 mm ammunition remnants. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of UkrainePublisher: Oryx | Note: Direct conflict-use source for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War: visually documented Russian 2S4 Tyulpan losses show the system was fielded by Russian forces during the 2022 full-scale invasion. | Accessed: 2026-06-30File:2S4 Tyulpan ARMY-2022.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the primary catalog image; the file page identifies the subject, author, date, and CC BY-SA 3.0 license. | Accessed: 2026-06-30File:2S4 Tyulpan Self-propelled Mortar 2017.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Kubinka/Park Patriot 2S4 Tyulpan museum photograph; the file page identifies the source, author, date, and CC BY-SA 2.0 license. | Accessed: 2026-07-02File:Self-propelled mortar 2S4 with 240mm mortar 2B8.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Motovilikha Plants museum photograph identifying the 2S4 Tyulpan with its 240 mm 2B8 mortar. | Accessed: 2026-07-02File:2S4 Tyulpan Army-2018.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an Army-2018 2S4 Tyulpan field-display photograph; the file page identifies the subject and CC BY-SA 4.0 license. | Accessed: 2026-07-02TWZ SmelchakPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for Russian 2S4 Tyulpan use with Smelchak laser-guided mortar rounds in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Militarnyi Smelchak sightingPublisher: Militarnyi | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War reporting context for Tyulpan-fired Smelchak laser-guided 240 mm mortar rounds near Avdiivka. | Accessed: 2026-06-30This Russian 'Big Gun' Only Had One Purpose: To Destroy a CityPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports the Tyulpan family context for Soviet 240 mm special-purpose munitions, including incendiary rounds such as Sayda. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Renaissance of Russian High-Power ArtilleryPublisher: Scientific Journal of the Military University of Land Forces | Note: Direct conflict-use source for 1994 First Chechen War and 1999 Second Chechen War employment of 2S4 Tyulpan heavy mortars, including Russian high-power artillery use around Grozny. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Army Recognition Tyulpan ModernizationPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports 2S4M modernization context, including barrel and recoil restoration plus updated communications, positioning, and fire-control electronics. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Forbes Rare 2S4 Mega MortarPublisher: Forbes | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source describing Russian 2S4 Tyulpan employment in Ukraine and subsequent Ukrainian destruction of a documented vehicle in May 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-30United24 Vovchansk Tyulpan StrikePublisher: United24 Media | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source reporting Ukrainian destruction of a Russian 2S4 Tyulpan near Vovchansk in May 2026 and describing its use against Ukrainian defensive positions. | Accessed: 2026-06-30