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ZU-23-2
ZU-23-2 in Saint Petersburg
A ZU-23-2 on display at Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
Type Towed 23 mm Anti-Aircraft Twin Autocannon
Place of origin Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1960 - present
Used by See Operators section
Production history
Designed Late 1950s
Produced 1960 - still in production [1]
Variants See Variants section
Specifications (ZU-23-2)
Mass 0.95 tonnes (2,094 lbs)
Length 4.57 m (10 ft)
Barrel length 2.008 m (79.1 in) (87.3 calibers)
Width 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height 1.22 m (4 ft)
Crew 6

Shell 23x152B
Caliber 23 mm
Barrels 2
Traverse 360°
Rate of fire 2000 rpm cyclic, 400 rpm practical
Effective firing range 2.5 km (2 mi)

The ZU-23-2 "Sergey", also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная Установка) - anti-aircraft mount. The GRAU index is 2A13.[1]

Development history[]

The ZU-23-2 was developed in the late 1950s. It was designed to engage low-flying targets at a range of 2.5 km as well as armoured vehicles at a range of 2 km and for direct defense of troops and strategic locations against air assault usually conducted by helicopters and low-flying airplanes.[2] In 1955, KBP presented the single-barrel ZU-1 and the twin-barrel ZU-14. While the former was eventually dropped, the ZU-14 was selected and, after some modifications, entered series production.[1]

In the Soviet Union, some 140,000 units were produced. The ZU-23 has also been produced under licence by Bulgaria,[3] Poland, Egypt[4] and the People's Republic of China.[5]

Development of this weapon into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) led to the ZSU-23-4 Shilka.

Description[]

The ZU-23-2 (2A13) mounts two 2A14 23 mm autocannons on a small trailer which can be converted into a stationary mount for firing the guns. While in this position the wheels are moved aside. The autocannon can be prepared for firing from the march position in 30 seconds and in emergency can be fired from the traveling position. The weapon is aimed and fired manually, with the help of the ZAP-23 optical-mechanical sight which uses manually entered target data to provide limited automatic aiming. It also has a straight-tube telescope T-3 for use against ground targets such as infantry as well as unarmored or lightly armoured vehicles. The ammo is a feed by a conveyor belt from two ammunition boxes. Each of the ammunition boxes are located on the side of the twin autocannon and each carries 50 rounds. The fumes created by firing the weapon are partially removed through the side openings in the barrels.[2]

Normally, once each barrel has fired 100 rounds it becomes too hot and is therefore replaced with a spare barrel. Each weapon is normally provided with two replacement barrels as part of its standard equipment. Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company is offering to upgrade the 2A14 guns to the 2A14M standard with a barrel life of 10,000 rounds instead of 8,000 rounds.

The cannon carriage is based on the earlier ZPU-2 anti-aircraft twin heavy machine gun, which mounted two KPV 14.5 mm heavy machine guns. ZU-23-2 can be identified by different placement of the ammunition boxes (at right angles to the gun carriage) and by muzzle flash suppressors. In another similarity to the ZPU series, single-barrel and four-barrel versions of the ZU-23 were also developed. However, these versions never entered service.

ZU-23-2 can be towed by a number of different vehicles. In USSR and later Russia the most frequently used towing vehicles for it were GAZ-66 4x4 trucks and GAZ-69 4x4 light trucks.[2]

Ammunition[]

The 23mm AA guns utilizes the same 23x152B case as the wartime VYa aircraft cannon. Due to different loadings and primers the ammunition is not interchangeable, however; ammunition of the anti-aircraft cannon can be identified from its steel casings, ammunition for the aircraft cannon having brass cases instead.[6] The following table lists the main characteristics of some of the available 23x152B ammunition used in 23mm AA guns:

Designation Type Projectile Weight [g] Bursting charge [g] Muzzle Velocity [m/s] Description
BZT API 190 [7] ? 970 Blunt AP steel core, with incendiary charge inside windshield cap.[7] Penetration 15 mm RHA at 100 m range and 30 degree impact angle (from perpendicular), tracer burn time 5 seconds.
OFZ HE 184 [7] 19 [8] 980[7] HE fragmentation round with nose fuzes incorporating self-destruct mechanism.[7]
OFZT HE-T 188[7] 13 [8] 980[7] HE fragmentation round with a reduced HE charge due to the space taken by the tracer; tracer burn time 5 seconds.
APDS-T APDS-T 103 none 1220 A Polish sub-caliber armour-piercing round with tracer. Penetration 30 mm RHA at 100 m range and 30 degree impact angle (from perpendicular), tracer burn time >2.5 s.

Not only the gun itself but also the ammunition is produced in several countries. In Bulgaria, the company ARCUS Co. produces rounds and fuses for the 2A7 and 2A14 guns.[9]

Service history[]

ZU-23-2 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1960. ZU-23-2 is often mounted on trucks for use in both anti-aircraft and fire support roles. It can also be mounted on the roof of the MT-LB multi-purpose tracked APCs. Specially modified three-legged ZU-23-2 is used in BTR-DG based airborne SPAAG. Cheap, easy to operate and still effective, the ZU-23-2 is still used by the Russian Army and by more than 20 other armies.

During Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Soviet forces put ZU-23-2 sets to secure the air defense of occupation area; also, the Afghan Mujahedeen utilized those ZU-23-2 sets which were left behind by defeated or retreated Soviet forces, to fight back against Soviet air powers. In the later Afghan War, the belligerents including Taliban and Northern Alliance used ZU-23-2, along with SA-7 or Stinger Missile, as their primary air-defense weapons.

The type has seen widespread use by both sides in the Libyan civil war often mounted on technical pickup trucks.[10]

Variants and upgrades[]

Russian Federation[]

Zu-23-2-belarus

ZU-23-2 firing. Vitebsk, Belarus

  • ZU-23M - Upgraded variant, designed by the Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau (KB Tochmash). Has new targeting system (which includes laser rangefinder, television channel, optical mechanic device, can be reinforced with thermo location channel and a television system for usage at night) and electromechanic turn system. Optionally, the mount can be fitted with two short-range air-defence missiles, such as the 9M32M "Strela-2M" or the 9M39 "Igla".[11][12]
  • ZU-23M1 - This is the current model, developed by Open Joint Stock Company Podolsky Electromechanical Plant of Special Engineering “PEMZ Spetsmash” and Closed Joint Stock Company “NTC Elins” and offered by Rosoboronexport. Like the ZU-23M, it has an upgraded fire control system and can optionally be fitted with two launchers for the "Igla" series missile, usually the 9M342 "Igla-S".[13]
    • The complete air-defence gun/missile system system is called ZU-23/ZOM1 (often erroneously called “ZU-23/30M1”). It consists of the "missile-gun firing module" (strel’bovoj modul) ZU-23/ZOM1-SM; the "missile-launching module" (puskovoj modul) ZU-23/ZOM1-PM armed with four 9M333 “Strela-10” missiles; a remote control module (modul distantsionnogo upravleniya) ZU-23/ZOM1-MU and a portable generator AB-1. Depending on the wishes of the client, the system can be delivered without the -SM module (ZU-23/ZOM1-1), without the -PM module (ZU-23/ZOM1-2), without the remote control (ZU-23/ZOM1-3), or without -PM and -MU modules (ZU-23/ZOM1-4).[14]

Poland[]

Hibneryt 453 5180

Star 266 mounted ZUR-23-2 kg gun

  • ZU-23-2 - Polish designation for basic gun variant. Built under license in Zakłady Mechaniczne "Tarnów" S.A. since 1972.[15]
    • ZUR-23-2S "Jod" - Polish variant with electro-optical sight GP-1R and twin launcher for "Strela-2M" missiles, used from 1988[15] (picture).
      • ZUR-23-2 kg "Jodek-G" - Development of ZUR-23-2S with more advanced reflex sight CKE-2 (later CP-1 night-and-day sight with laser rangefinder), electromechanic gun turn system and twin launcher for "Grom" missiles, produced from 2002[15] (pictures).
        • ZUR-23-2 kg-I - Improved export version for Indonesia with CKE-2I sight.
        • TR-23-2 - Training simulator version of the ZUR-23-2 kg-I. The set consists of an instructor's station and a gunner's station (a modified "artillery-missile unit" with the sight replaced by a computer station). Both stations are linked by a wireless network.[16]
        • Kobra - Short-range modular air-defense system. A typical battery consists of up to 6 guns (for example ZUR-23-2 kg), up to 6 Poprad systems, a WD-95 command post and a Radwar MMSR radar.[17]
    • ZU-23-2M "Wróbel" - Polish naval version of ZU-23-2, hydraulically powered, produced from 1979.[15]
    • ZU-23-2MR "Wróbel-II" - Polish naval version of ZUR-23-2S, with Strela-2M missiles and water-cooled barrels, produced from 1986[15][18] (picture).
      • "Hibneryt" - A ZU-23-2 family gun mounted on specially modified Star 266 truck, truck is fitted with additional ammunition for the gun and modified electrical installation to power guns electromechanic turn system (gun can also work from batteries).

Czech Republic[]

  • ZU-23-2M2 Vlara - Field upgrade modernization kit. (picture).

Slovak Republic[]

  • ZU 23M - Upgraded version with automatic fire control system, developed by the EVPU company.[19] This version is offered by EVPU and the Punj Lloyd Ltd of India to the Indian army.[20]

Egypt[]

  • ZU 23-M - Licence version of the ZU-23. It is also known as SH-23M and is produced by Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries (Factory 100).[4]
    • Nile 23 - Self-propelled version on the tracked M113. A system consists of the combat vehicle with ZU 23-M guns and surface-to-air missiles Saqr Eye, and a tracker vehicle, also based on the M113.[21][22]
    • Sinai 23 - Similar to the Nile 23, but with the guns and missiles mounted on a TA-23E turret, fitted with a RA-20S E-band radar. Instead of the Saqr Eye, FIM-92 Stinger missiles can be used.[23]

Finland[]

  • 23 ItK 95 - Finnish upgrade of the original 23 ItK 61, designed by Instrumentointi Oy and Vammas Oy. The upgraded gun is equipped with a gyro-stabilized gun, an APU and a laser range finder. ([2]).[11]
  • SAKO 23 mm/87 - a navalized modernization used by Finnish Navy. Variants are the 23 M74, the 23 M77, the 23 M80 and the 23 M85. The guns can be removed from M85 carriage and replaced with six Mistral surface-to-air missiles.[24]

China[]

  • Type 80 - Reverse-engineered copy of the ZU-23-2, made by NORINCO.[5] Initially it was offered for export as the G-AA-01.[25] It is referred to as Type 85 gun by some sources.
    • Giant Bow - Also known as Shengong (Deity Bow, 神弓). This is the name of an air-defense system which consists uf up to eight Type 80 guns and a battery command vehicle (BCV).[5]
    • Giant Bow II a.k.a. Shengong-II - This is a more modern version of the Giant Bow and is offered for export since 2005. Apart from the 23mm guns, it also comprises TY-90 missile launchers and a 3D radar.[5]
  • Type 87 - Upgraded version with twin 25mm guns for 25x183B ammunition such as the PG87. After a failed initial design, an improved design was developed in 1979 and ready for evaluation in 1984. The Type 87 gun was accepted for service in 1987. It has the same layout as the original model and consists of two automatic, recoil-operated cannons, a two-wheel cartridge, a Type 86 infrared tracking sight and two 40-round ammunition magazines. The Type 87 fires in either single shot or burst mode, with a cyclic rate of fire of 600~700 rounds/min and has a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m/s.[26]
    • PGZ95 - self-propelled version of the Type 87.

Iran[]

  • Mesbah-1 - Iranian-made air-defence and anti cruise missile system with four ZU-23 mounts. For the first time presented in 2010.
  • ZU-23-6 (unofficial designator) - Similar to the Mesbah-1 but with only 6 instead of 8 barrels. This was probably the pre-series model of the Mesbah-1.[27]

General characteristics[]

Brega checkpoint - Flickr - Al Jazeera English (5)

Libyan ZU-23-2 at Brega checkpoint.

Bulgarian truck-mounted AA-gun in 2012

Bulgarian truck-mounted ZU-23-2.

  • Overall dimensions in firing position
    • Length: 4.57 m (15 ft)
    • Width: 2.88 m (9.44 ft)
    • Height: 1.22 m (4 ft)
  • Weight: 0.95 tonnes (2,094 lbs)
  • Armament: two 2A14 Afanasyev-Yakushev 23x152mm (.90 in) autocannons
  • Barrel length: 2 m (6.5 ft)/ 87.3 calibers
  • Muzzle velocity: 970 m/s (3,182 ft/s)
  • Projectile weight: 186 g (6.27 oz)
  • Rate of fire
    • Cyclic: 2,000 rounds per minute
    • Practical: 400 rounds per minute
  • Effective range: 2-2.5 km (1.24-1.55 mi)
  • Effective altitude: 1,500-2,000 m (4,921-6,562 ft)
  • Crew: 6

Operators[]

  • Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan - 5000
  • Flag of Algeria Algeria - 60
  • Flag of Armenia Armenia
  • Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
  • Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
  • Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina - 150
  • Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria - 128
  • Flag of Cambodia Cambodia
  • Flag of the People's Republic of China China - Type 80, Type 87
  • Flag of Cape Verde Cape Verde - 8
  • Flag of Cuba Cuba
  • Flag of Cyprus Cyprus
  • Flag of Djibouti Djibouti
  • Flag of Ecuador Ecuador - Type 80 [28]
  • Flag of Egypt Egypt - 220 as Nile 23 and Sinai 23, and 650 upgraded with radar guidance
  • Flag of Estonia Estonia - 198, some mounted on MAN 4520 6x6 trucks.
  • Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia - 10
  • Flag of Finland Finland - 1,100
  • Flag of Gabon Gabon - 24
  • Flag of Georgia Georgia - 200
  • Flag of Greece Greece - 523
  • Flag of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau - 16
  • Flag of India India - 800; to be upgraded
  • Flag of Indonesia Indonesia - 14 ZUR-23-kg-I as part of the "Kobra" AD system for the TNI-AU[29][30] + 18 Type 80 as part of the Giant Bow II AD system for the TNI-AD[31][32]
  • Flag of Iran Iran
  • Flag of Iraq Iraq - Use on Polish and Bulgarian built MT-LB
  • Flag of Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan - Captured from Sadam Hussein
  • Flag of Israel Israel[33] Captured from Arab Armies over the Arab-Israeli Conflict.
  • Flag of Hungary Hungary
  • Flag of Laos Laos - 2
  • Flag of Latvia Latvia - 3 ZU-23-2MR Wróbel II on Imanta and Viesturs ships.
  • Flag of Lebanon Lebanon - 1,000+ mostly mounted on M113 APC's for fire support on ground targets and air defense.
  • Flag of Libya Libya - 450, most captured by Free Libyan Army and mounted on light trucks
  • Flag of Morocco Morocco - 160
  • Flag of Moldova Moldova - Small number, some mounted on BTR-D
  • Flag of Mali Mali
  • Flag of Mongolia Mongolia
  • Flag of Mozambique Mozambique - 150
  • Flag of Myanmar Burma - 380 Type 87
  • Flag of Namibia Namibia
  • Flag of Nicaragua Nicaragua - 20
  • Flag of Nigeria Nigeria - 20
  • Flag of Pakistan Pakistan - 5,200
  • Flag of Peru Peru - 230
  • Flag of Poland Poland - 444 ZUR-23-2 series + some naval versions
  • Flag of Russia Russia
  • Flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic - 50
  • Flag of South Africa South Africa - 36 "Zumlac" on an armoured SAMIL 100 heavy truck. Captured in Angola in the 1980s.[34]
  • Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
  • Flag of Syria Syria
  • Flag of Tanzania Tanzania - 40
  • Flag of Uganda Uganda - 5
  • Flag of Ukraine Ukraine
  • United States - Testing only
  • Flag of Venezuela Venezuela - 250 ZU-23M1
  • Flag of Vietnam Vietnam
  • Flag of Yemen Yemen - 200
  • Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe - 5

Former Operators[]

  • Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union - Passed on to successor states.
  • Flag of East Germany East Germany
  • Flag of Rhodesia Rhodesia - 12 were captured from Soviet-supplied militants during the Rhodesian Bush War.

Notable appearances in media[]

The ZU-23-2 appears in the video games Battlefield: Bad Company, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 as a towed weapon and also mounted on a variant of the BMD-3.[35] The ZU-23-2 also makes an appearance in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as a weapon to fight an Mi-24 Hind.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/ZU-23-2-Russian-Federation.html
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Militarium.net
  3. http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/Arsenal-Joint-Stock-Company-JSC--ZU-23-2-twin-23-mm-anti-aircraft-mount-Bulgaria.html
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/ZU-23M-Egypt.html
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/23-mm-Type-80-China.html
  6. "Williams, Anthony G: An introduction to collecting 23-28mm cartridges. http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 "Russian Ammunition Page, http://www.russianammo.org
  8. 8.0 8.1 ORDATA: Ordnance Identification Tool, http://maic.jmu.edu/ordata
  9. http://www.arcus-bg.com/
  10. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/rebels-down-libyan-aircraft-as-world-leaders-discuss-next-move-383784.html
  11. 11.0 11.1 http://milparade.udm.ru/security/28/074x.htm
  12. http://testwww.janes.com/articles/International-Defence-Review-98/RUSSIA--AUTOMATIC-AIMING-FOR-ZU-23-2-LAAG.html
  13. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26822716@N02/2948338319/in/photostream/
  14. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26822716@N02/2948327015/
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 (Polish) "Dwudziestkitrójki" z Tarnowa ["Twentythrees" from Tarnów] in: Nowa Technika Wojskowa Nr. 9/2010, p. 76-78
  16. http://62.129.200.244/pdf/trenazer_en.pdf
  17. http://www.bumar.com/dywizje_flash/admin/store/images/image-1304661693-link.pdf
  18. http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Electro-Optic-Systems/Polish-Navy-Wrobel-II-ZU-23-2MR-Poland.html
  19. http://www.epicos.com/EPCompanyProfileWeb/GeneralInformation.aspx?id=20166&isframe=true
  20. http://www.punjlloyd.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Force%20April%20Issue%202012%5B1%5D.pdf
  21. http://jedsite.info/fulltrack-mike/mike-number-us/m113_series/nile-23/nile23.html
  22. http://jedsite.info/fulltrack-mike/mike-number-us/m113_series/nile-23-tracker/nile23t.html
  23. http://jedsite.info/fulltrack-mike/mike-number-us/m113_series/sinai-23/sinai23.html
  24. Kiiskinen, Pekka; Wahlman, Pasi (2003) (in Finnish). Itsenäisen Suomen laivaston laivatykit 1918-2004 [The naval guns of Finland 1918-2004]. Helsinki: Typomic Oy. pp. 121–133. ISBN 952-91-6807-1. 
  25. International Defence Equipment Catalogue 1988-89, page II/27
  26. http://www.sinodefence.com/army/antiaircraft/type87towed25mm.asp
  27. http://www.armyrecognition.com/iran_iranian_army_light_heavy_weapons_uk/zu-23-6_six_cannons_23mm_anti-aircraft_gun_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video.html
  28. http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/12/next-stop-ecuador.html
  29. http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/Indonesia-Indonesia.html
  30. http://garudamiliter.blogspot.com/2012/04/zur-23-2kg.html
  31. http://www.adprconsult.com.my/indo-aerospace-defence.pdf
  32. http://garudamiliter.blogspot.com/2012/04/giant-bow-i.html
  33. http://www.inss.org.il/upload/%28FILE%291245235226.pdf
  34. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Land-Based-Air-Defence/Zumlac-South-Africa.html
  35. http://www.battlefieldbadcompany2.com/game-info?p=vehicle&i=!bmd3

External links[]

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The original article can be found at ZU-23-2 and the edit history here.
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