At the end of the 50s. after the adoption by the Soviet Army of high-precision anti-aircraft missiles, foreign aviation specialists urgently had to develop new tactics. Pilots were asked to fly at extremely low altitude to avoid detection by new air defense systems. During this period, the regular system air defense troops was the ZSU-57-2, but she could not cope with the new task, so it was urgently needed to develop a more modern anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. Such a machine appeared in 1964. It was.
ZSU-23-4 Shilka is intended for direct cover of ground troops, destruction of air targets at ranges up to 2500 meters and altitudes up to 1500 meters, flying at speeds up to 450 m/s, as well as ground (surface) targets at ranges up to 2000 meters from a standstill , with a short stop and in motion.
The welded hull of the TM-575 tracked vehicle is divided into three control compartments in the bow, combat in the middle and power in the stern. Between them there were partitions, which served as the front and rear supports of the tower. The tower is a welded structure with a shoulder strap diameter of 1840 mm. It is fixed on the bed with front frontal sheets, on the left and right walls of which the upper and lower cradles of the gun are attached. When the swinging part of the gun is given an elevation angle, the frame embrasure is partially covered by a movable shield, the roller of which slides along the guide of the lower cradle.
There are three hatches on the right side sheet, one with a bolted cover is used for mounting the tower equipment, the other two are closed with a visor and are air vents for ventilation of the units and superchargers of the PAZ system. On the left side of the tower, a casing is welded on the outside, designed to remove steam from the cooling system of the gun barrels. Two hatches are provided in the aft sheet of the tower, designed to service the equipment.
The turret is equipped with a 23-mm AZP-23 "Amur" quadruple cannon with a rate of fire of 11 rounds per second each. She, along with the tower, was assigned the index 2A10, the automatic guns - 2A7, and the power drives - 2E2. The operation of gun automation is based on the removal of powder gases through a side hole in the barrel wall. The barrel consists of a pipe, casings of the cooling system, a gas chamber and a flame arrester. The gate is wedge, with the lowering of the wedge down. The length of the machine with a flame arrester is 2610 mm, the length of the barrel with a flame arrester is 2050 mm (without a flame arrester - 1880 mm). The length of the threaded part is 1730 mm. The weight of one machine gun is 85 kg, the weight of the entire artillery unit is 4964 kg. It can fire both all four guns, and a pair or any of the four. The gun barrels and the antenna of the radar-instrument complex are fully stabilized, thanks to which the installation can conduct effective fire on the move.
The supply of cartridges is lateral, the chambering is direct, directly from the link with a skewed cartridge. The right machines have the right tape feed, the left ones have the left one. The tape is fed into the receiving windows of the machines from the cartridge box. For this, the energy of powder gases is used, which actuates the feed mechanism through the bolt carrier, and partly the energy of the recoil of automata. The gun is equipped with two boxes of 1000 rounds (of which 480 are on the upper machine, and 520 on the lower ones) and a pneumatic reloading system for cocking the moving parts of the machine guns in preparation for firing and reloading in case of misfires.
Two automatic machines are mounted on each cradle. Two cradles (upper and lower) are mounted on the bed one above the other at a distance of 320 mm from each other in a horizontal position, the lower one is advanced forward by 320 mm in relation to the upper one. The parallelism of the trunks is provided by a parallelogram link connecting both cradles.
The gun ammunition includes 23-mm BZT and OFZT shells. Armor-piercing projectiles BZT weighing 190 g do not have a fuse and explosive, but contain only an incendiary agent for tracing. OFZT fragmentation shells weighing 188.5 g have a head fuse MG-25. The propellant charge for both shells is the same - 77 g of gunpowder grade 5/7 CFP. Cartridge weight 450 g. Steel sleeve, disposable. The ballistic data of both shells are the same - the initial speed is 980 m / s, the table ceiling is 1500 m, the table range is 2000 m. OFZT shells are equipped with self-liquidators with an action time of 5-11 s. Four OFZT cartridges alternate in the tape - one BZT cartridge, etc.
Guidance and stabilization of the AZP-23 gun is carried out by 2E2 guidance actuators. The 2E2 system used URS (Jenny clutch) for horizontal guidance - URS No. 5, and for vertical guidance - URS No. 2.5. Both are powered by a common electric motor DSO-20 with a power of 6 kW.
Depending on the external conditions and the state of the equipment, shooting at anti-aircraft targets is carried out in four modes. The first (main) is the auto-tracking mode, the angular coordinates and range are determined by the radar, which automatically tracks the target along them, issuing data to the calculating device (analogue computer) to generate advanced coordinates. The opening of fire is carried out by the signal "There is data" on the calculating device. The RPK automatically generates full pointing angles, taking into account the pitching and yaw of the ZSU, and issues them to the guidance drives, and the latter automatically direct the gun to the pre-empted point. Shooting is carried out by the commander or search operator - gunner.
The second mode - the angular coordinates come from the sighting device, and the range - from the radar. The angular current coordinates of the target enter the calculating device from the sighting device, which is induced by the search operator - the gunner - automatically, and the range values come from the radar. Thus, the radar operates in radio range finder mode. This mode is auxiliary and is used in the presence of interference that causes malfunctions in the antenna guidance system in terms of angular coordinates, or, in the event of a malfunction in the autotracking channel, in terms of the angular coordinates of the radar. Otherwise, the complex works the same way as in the auto-tracking mode.
The third mode - advanced coordinates are generated according to the "memorized" values of the current coordinates X, Y. H and the components of the target's speed, based on the hypothesis of a uniform rectilinear movement of the target in any plane. The mode is used when there is a threat of loss of the radar target in the process of automatic tracking due to interference or malfunctions.
The fourth mode is shooting with the help of a backup sight, guidance is performed in semi-automatic mode. The lead is introduced by the search operator - the gunner on the foreshortening rings of the backup sight. This mode is used in case of failure of the radar, computer and stabilization systems.
The radar and instrument complex is designed to control the fire of the AZP-23 gun and is located in the instrument compartment of the turret. It consists of a radar station, a calculating device, blocks and elements of systems for stabilizing the line of sight and the line of fire, a sighting device. The radar station is designed to detect low-flying high-speed targets and accurately determine the coordinates of the selected target, which can be done in two modes: a) the angular coordinates and range are automatically tracked, b) the angular coordinates come from the sighting device, and the range - from the radar.
The radar operates in the range of 1-1.5 cm waves. The range was chosen for a number of reasons. Such stations have antennas with small weight and size characteristics. Radars in the 1-1.5 cm wavelength range are less susceptible to intentional enemy interference, since the ability to operate in a wide frequency band makes it possible to increase the noise immunity and processing speed of received information by using broadband frequency modulation and signal coding. By increasing the Doppler frequency shifts of the reflected signals arising from moving and maneuvering targets, their recognition and classification is ensured. In addition, this range is less loaded with other radio equipment. Radars operating in this range make it possible to detect air targets developed using stealth technology. by this technology.
The disadvantage of the radar is relatively short range action, usually not exceeding 10-20 km and depending on the state of the atmosphere, primarily on the intensity of precipitation - rain or sleet. To protect against passive interference, the ZSU-23-4 Shilka radar uses a coherent-pulse method of target selection, i.e., constant signals from terrain objects and passive interference are not taken into account, and signals from moving circuits are sent to the RPK. The radar is controlled by the search operator and the range operator.
The ZSU-23-4 Shilka was equipped with an 8D6 type diesel engine, which was given the designation V-6R by the manufacturer in the configuration for installation on the GM-575. On machines manufactured since 1969, the V-6R-1 engine was installed, which had minor design changes. The V-6R engine is a six-cylinder, four-stroke, compressorless liquid-cooled diesel engine that develops a maximum power of 206 kW at 2000 rpm. The working volume of the cylinders is 19.1 liters, the compression ratio is 15.0.
On the tracked chassis GM-575, two welded fuel tanks made of aluminum alloy are installed: front for 405 liters and rear for 110 liters. The first is located in a separate compartment of the bow of the hull.
In the aft part of the hull is a mechanical power transmission, with a step change in gear ratios. The main friction clutch is multi-disc, dry friction. The main clutch control drive is mechanical, from the pedal in the driver's seat. The gearbox is mechanical three-way, five-speed, with synchronizers in 2.3, 4 and 5 gears. Swing mechanisms are planetary, two-stage, with locking clutches. Final drives are single-stage with cylindrical gears.
The undercarriage of the machine consists of two driving wheels, two guide wheels with a track tensioning mechanism, two track chains and twelve support rollers. Driving wheels are welded, with removable rims, rear arrangement. The guide wheels are single with metal arches. Track rollers are welded, single, with rubberized rims. The caterpillar chain is metal, with lantern gearing, with closed hinges, from 93 steel tracks interconnected by steel pins. Track width 362 mm, track pitch 128 mm.
The suspension of the car is independent, torsion bar asymmetric, with hydraulic shock absorbers on the first front, fifth left and sixth right track rollers; spring stops on the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth left road wheels and the first, third, fourth and sixth right road wheels.
The power supply system is designed to supply all ZSU-23-4 consumers with direct current of 55 V and 27.5 V. and alternating current voltage 220 V, frequency 400 Hz.
In the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, a short-wave transceiver telephone with frequency modulation radio station R-123 is installed. The radius of its action on medium-rough terrain with the noise suppressor turned off and the absence of interference is up to 23 km, and with the noise suppressor turned on - up to 13 km. For internal communication, a P-124 tank intercom for 4 subscribers is used.
ZSU-23-4 Shilka is equipped with TNA-2 navigation equipment. Its arithmetic mean error in generating coordinates as a percentage of the distance traveled is no more than 1%. When the ZSU moves, the duration of the equipment without reorientation is 3-3.5 hours.
The crew is protected from radioactive dust by cleaning the air and creating excess pressure in the fighting compartment and the control compartment. For this, a central supercharger with inertial air segtaration was used.
Shilka went into serial production of the ZSU-23-4 in 1964. It was planned to produce 40 vehicles that year, but this was not possible. However, later mass production of the ZSU-23-4 was launched. During the 60s, their average annual output was about 300 cars.
ZSU-23-4 Shilka began to enter the troops in 1965 and by the beginning of the 70s they completely replaced the ZSU-57-2. Initially, in the state of the tank regiment there was a division "Shilok", which consisted of two batteries of four vehicles. In the late 60s, it often happened that in the division one battery had a ZSU-23-4 and one battery had a ZSU-57-2. Later, motorized rifle and tank regiments received a typical anti-aircraft battery, which consisted of two platoons. One platoon had four Shilka ZSUs, and the other - four Strela-1 self-propelled air defense systems (then Strela-10 air defense systems).
The operation of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka showed that the RPK-2 works well in the conditions of the use of passive interference. There was practically no active interference with the Shilka during our exercises, since there were no means of radio countermeasures on its operating frequencies, at least in the 70s. Significant shortcomings of the PKK, which often needed to be reconfigured, were also revealed. The instability of the electrical parameters of the circuits was noted. The PKK could take the target for auto tracking no closer than 7-8 km from the ZSU. At shorter distances, this was difficult to do due to the high angular velocity of the target. When switching from detection mode to auto-tracking mode, the target was sometimes lost.
In the second half of the 60s, the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled gun underwent two small upgrades, the main purpose of which was to increase the reliability of various components and assemblies, primarily the RPK. The machines of the first modernization received the index ZSU-23-4V, and the second - ZSU-23-4V1. Main performance characteristics self-propelled guns remained unchanged.
In October 1967, the Council of Ministers issued a resolution on a more serious modernization of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. The most important part of it was the reworking of the 2A7 assault rifles and the 2A10 gun in order to increase the reliability and stability of the complex, increase the survivability of gun parts and reduce maintenance time. In the process of modernization, the pneumatic charging of the 2A7 assault rifles was replaced by a pyro-charging, which made it possible to exclude the unreliable compressor and a number of other components from the design. The welded coolant outlet tube was replaced with a flexible pipe - this increased the barrel resource from 3500 to 4500 shots. In 1973, the upgraded ZSU-23-4M was put into service along with the 2A7M assault rifle and the 2A10M gun. ZSU-23-4M received the designation "Biryusa", but in the army units it was still called "Shilka".
After the next upgrade, the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun received the index ZSU-23-4M3 (3 - interrogator). For the first time, the identification equipment "friend or foe" was installed on it. Later, during the repair, all ZSU-23-4M were brought up to the level of ZSU-23-4M3. Production of the ZSU-23-4M3 ceased in 1982.
There are different points of view on the behavior of the effectiveness of the "Shilka" in the fight against air targets. So, during the 1973 war, Shilki accounted for about 10% of all losses of Israeli aircraft (the rest were distributed between air defense systems and fighter aircraft). However, the captured pilots showed that the Shilki literally created a sea of fire and the pilots instinctively left the zone of fire of the ZSU and fell into the zone of operation of the air defense system. During Operation Desert Storm, the pilots of the multinational forces tried not to operate at altitudes of less than 1,300 meters unnecessarily, fearing fire from the ZSU-23-4 Shilka.
In Afghanistan, this ZSU fully realized the ability to fire at ground targets in the mountains. Moreover, a special "Afghan version" appeared - as unnecessary, the radio instrument complex was dismantled on it, due to which it was possible to increase the ammunition load from 2000 to 4000 rounds. The car was also equipped with a night sight.
"Shilka" was widely exported to the countries of the Warsaw Pact, the Middle East and other regions. They took an active part in the Arab-Israeli wars, the Iraqi-Iranian war (on both sides), as well as in the war in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Serial production of Shilok was completed in 1983. Currently, ZSU of this type are in service with Afghanistan. Algeria, Angola. Bulgaria. Hungary, Vietnam, Egypt, Israel, India, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Congo, North Korea. Cuba, Laos, Libya, Nigeria, Peru, Poland. Russia, Syria, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Combat weight, t 19.0
Classic layout
Crew, pers. 4
Case length, mm 6535
Hull width, mm 3125
Height, mm 2500
Clearance, mm 400
Type of armor rolled steel bulletproof (9-15mm)
Armament
Caliber and brand of gun 4? 23 mm AZP-23 "Amur"
Gun type rifled automatic
Barrel length, calibers 82
Gun ammunition 2000
Angles VN, deg. ?4…+85
Sights optical sight, radar RPK-2
Engine type in-line
6-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel
Engine power, l. with. 280
Highway speed, km/h 50
Cross-country speed, km/h 25-30
Power reserve on the highway, km 450
Power reserve over rough terrain, km 300
Specific power, l. s./t 14.7
Suspension type individual torsion bar
Climbability, deg. thirty
Passable wall, m 0.7
Crossable ditch, m 2.5
Crossable ford, m 1.0
The ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was put into service more than 50 years ago, but despite this, it still does its job perfectly and even surpasses much later foreign-made vehicles. What is the reason for such a success of "Shilka", let's try to figure it out further.
NATO specialists began to be interested in the Soviet anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" from the moment when the first data about its capabilities appeared in the West. And in 1973, NATO members were already "feeling" the Shilka sample. The Israelis got it - during the war in the Middle East. In the early eighties, the Americans launched a reconnaissance operation to acquire another Shilka model, reaching out to the brothers of Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. Why was the Soviet self-propelled unit so interested in NATO?
I really wanted to know: are there any major changes in the modernized Soviet ZSU? It was possible to understand the interest. "Shilka" was a unique weapon, not inferior to the championship in its class for two decades. Its contours were clearly outlined in 1961, when Soviet science was celebrating the victory of Gagarin's flight.
So, what is the uniqueness of the ZSU-23-4? Retired Colonel Anatoly Dyakov, whose fate is closely connected with this weapon, says - he served in the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces for decades:
“If we talk about the main thing, then for the first time we began to systematically hit air targets with Shilka. Before anti-aircraft complexes 23- and 37-mm guns ZU-23 and ZP-37, 57-mm guns S-60 hit high-speed targets only by accident. The shells for them are percussion, without a fuse. To hit the target, it had to be hit directly by the projectile. The likelihood of this is low. In a word, the previously created anti-aircraft weapons could only put a barrier in front of the aircraft, force the pilot to drop bombs away from the planned place ...
Pictured: Kandahar. Nagahan turn. 1986 ZSU-23-4... "SHILKA"... "SHAYTAN-ARBA"
The commanders of the units expressed delight when they saw how the Shilka not only hit targets right before their eyes, but also moved after the units, in the battle formations of the covered troops. Real revolution. Imagine, you don’t have to roll the guns ... Setting up an ambush for batteries of S-60 anti-aircraft guns, you suffer - it is difficult to hide guns on the ground. And what is it worth to build a battle formation, "attach" to the terrain, connect all the points (power units, guns, a gun-guidance station, fire control devices) with a large cable facility. What crowded calculations were! .. And here is a compact mobile installation. She came, fired from an ambush and left, then look for the wind in the field ... Today's officers, those who think in terms of the nineties, perceive the phrase “autonomous complex” differently: they say, what is unusual here? And in the sixties it was a feat of design thought, the pinnacle of engineering solutions.
The advantages of the self-propelled "Shilka" are really many. The General Designer, Doctor of Technical Sciences Nikolai Astrov, as they say, not a round anti-aircraft gunner, managed to create a machine that proved itself in many local wars and military conflicts.
To clarify what we are talking about, let's say about the purpose and composition of the 23-mm quad self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". It is intended to protect the combat formations of troops, columns on the march, stationary objects and railway echelons from an attack by an air enemy at altitudes from 100 to 1500 meters, at ranges from 200 to 2500 meters at a target speed of up to 450 m / s. "Shilka" can also be used to destroy mobile ground targets at ranges up to 2000 meters. It fires from a place and on the move, equipped with equipment that provides an autonomous circular and sector search for targets, their tracking, the development of gun pointing angles and its control.
The ZSU-23-4 consists of a 23-mm AZP-23 quadruple automatic anti-aircraft gun, power drives designed for guidance. The next most important element is the RPU-2 radar-instrument complex. It serves, of course, to control fire. Moreover, "Shilka" could work both with the radar and with a conventional sighting optical device. The locator is, of course, good, it provides search, detection, automatic tracking of the target, determines its coordinates. But at that time, the Americans began to install missiles on planes that could find a locator using a radar beam and hit it. A visor is a visor. He disguised himself, saw the plane - immediately opened fire immediately. And no problem. The GM-575 tracked vehicle provides ZSU with high movement speed, maneuverability and increased cross-country ability. Day and night observation devices allow the driver and commander of the ZSU to monitor the road and the environment at any time of the day, and the communication equipment provides external communication and communication between crew numbers. The crew of the self-propelled unit consists of four people: the commander of the ZSU, the search operator - gunner, the range operator and the driver.
In the photo: Iraqi ZSU-23-4M damaged during Operation Desert Storm
"Shilka" was born, as they say, in a shirt. Its development began in 1957. In 1960, the first prototype was ready, in 1961 they passed state tests, in 1962, on October 16, an order was issued by the Minister of Defense of the USSR to put it into service, and three years later its mass production began. A little later - a test of combat.
Let us again give the floor to Anatoly Dyakov:
“In 1982, when the Lebanese war was going on, I was on a business trip in Syria. At the time, Israel was making serious attempts to strike at the troops stationed in the Bekaa Valley. I remember that immediately after the raid, Soviet specialists were brought fragments of the F-16 aircraft, the most modern at that time, shot down by Shilka.
Still, one might say, the warm wreckage pleased me, but I was not surprised at the very fact. I knew that "Shilka" could suddenly open fire in any area and give an excellent result. For I had to conduct electronic duels with Soviet aircraft in a training center near Ashgabat, where we trained specialists for one of Arab countries. And not once could pilots in the desert area find us. They themselves were targets, and only, take and open fire on them ... "
And here are the memoirs of Colonel Valentin Nesterenko, who in the eighties was an adviser to the head of the Air Force and Air Defense College in North Yemen.
“In the college being created,” he said, “American and Soviet specialists taught. The material part was represented by the American anti-aircraft installations "Typhoon" and "Volcano", as well as our "Shilki". Initially, Yemeni officers and cadets were pro-American, believing that everything American is the best. But their confidence was thoroughly shaken in the course of the first combat shootings, which were carried out by the cadets. American "Volcanoes" and our "Shilkas" were installed at the training ground. Moreover, American installations were serviced and prepared for firing only by American specialists. On Shilki, all operations were carried out by the Arabs.
Both the warning about security measures and requests to set targets for the Shilok much further than for the Volcanoes were perceived by many as propaganda attacks by the Russians. But when our first installation fired a volley, belching out a sea of fire and a hail of spent cartridges, the American specialists darted into the hatches with enviable haste and took their installation away.
And on the mountain, the targets, scattered to pieces, burned brightly. For all the time of firing, "Shilka" worked flawlessly. "Volcanoes" had a number of serious breakdowns. One of them was managed only with the help of Soviet specialists ... "
It is appropriate to say here: Israeli intelligence sniffed out that the Arabs used the Shilka for the first time back in 1973. At the same time, the Israelis quickly planned an operation to capture Soviet-made ZSU and successfully carried it out. But Shilka was investigated primarily by NATO specialists. They were interested in how it is more effective than the American 20-mm Vulkan ZSU XM-163, whether it is possible to take into account its best design features when fine-tuning the West German 35-mm Gepard twin self-propelled gun, which had just begun to enter the troops.
The reader will surely ask: why did the Americans need another sample later, already in the early eighties? "Shilka" was rated very highly by specialists, and therefore, when it became known that modernized versions had begun to be produced, they decided to get another car overseas.
Our self-propelled unit was really constantly modernized, in particular, one of the options even acquired a new name - ZSU-23-4M Biryusa. But fundamentally, she didn't change. Unless, over time, a commander's device appeared - for the convenience of pointing, transferring the tower to the target. Blocks became more perfect, more reliable every year. Locator, for example.
And, of course, the authority of "Shilka" has grown in Afghanistan. There were no commanders there who would have been indifferent to her. There is a column along the roads, and suddenly there is fire from an ambush, try to organize a defense, all the cars have already been shot. Salvation is one - "Shilka". A long queue into the enemy camp, and a sea of \u200b\u200bfire in position. They called the self-propelled unit "shaitan-arba". The beginning of her work was determined immediately and immediately began to retreat. Thousands Soviet soldiers saved the life of "Shilka".
In Afghanistan, "Shilka" fully realized the ability to fire at ground targets in the mountains. Moreover, a special "Afghan version" was created. A radio instrument complex was seized from the ZSU. Due to him, the ammunition load was increased from 2000 to 4000 rounds. A night sight was also installed.
An interesting touch. The columns escorted by the Shilka were rarely attacked not only in the mountains, but also close to settlements. The ZSU was dangerous for the manpower hidden behind the adobe duvals - the fuse of the "Sh" projectile worked when it hit the wall. Effectively "Shilka" also hit lightly armored targets - armored personnel carriers, vehicles ...
Each weapon has its own destiny, its own life. In the post-war period, many types of weapons quickly became obsolete. 5-7 years - and a more modern generation appeared. And only "Shilka" has been in combat formation for more than thirty years. It justified itself during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, where the Americans used various means of air attack, including the B-52 bombers known from Vietnam. There were very confident statements: they, they say, will smash the targets to smithereens.
And now the next entry at low altitudes of the Shilka ZSU, together with the Strela-3 complex, open fire. One plane's engine immediately caught fire. No matter how hard the B-52 tried to reach the base, it was not possible.
And one more indicator. "Shilka" is in service in 39 countries. Moreover, it was bought not only by the allies of the USSR under the Warsaw Pact, but also by India, Peru, Syria, Yugoslavia ... And the reasons are as follows. High fire efficiency, maneuverability. "Shilka" is not inferior to foreign analogues. Including the well-known American installation "Volcano".
The Vulkan, put into service in 1966, has a number of advantages, but in many respects it is inferior to the Soviet Shilka. The American ZSU can shoot at targets that move at a speed of no more than 310 m / s, while the Shilka works at faster ones - up to 450 m / s. My interlocutor Anatoly Dyakov said that he acted in a training battle on the "Volcano" in Jordan and cannot say that the American machine is better, although it was adopted later. About the same opinion and Jordanian experts.
In the photo: Egyptian "Shilka" at the parade in 1973.
The fundamental difference from the "Shilka" has ZSU "Gepard" (Germany). The large caliber of the gun (35 mm) makes it possible to have shells with a fuse and, accordingly, greater destruction efficiency - the target is hit by shrapnel. West German ZSU can hit targets at altitudes up to 3 kilometers, flying at speeds up to 350-400 m / s; its firing range is up to 4 kilometers. However, the "Gepard" has a lower rate of fire compared to the "Shilka" - 1100 rounds per minute against - 3400 ("Volcano" - up to 3000), it is more than twice as heavy - 45.6 tons. And we note that the Gepard was put into service 11 years later than the Shilka, in 1973, this is a later generation machine.
In many countries, the French Tyurren AMX-13 anti-aircraft artillery system and the Swedish Bofors EAAK-40 are known. But even they do not surpass the ZSU, created by Soviet scientists and workers. "Shilka" and today is in service with parts of the ground forces of many armies of the world, including the Russian one.
In the first two decades after its appearance, aviation became a formidable fighting force. Naturally, the means to counteract its destructive onslaught immediately began to appear. Even the simplest airplanes of the First World War could inflict significant damage on the troops of the opposing sides. Then there was Spain, Abyssinia and many other conflicts that took place with the use of aircraft, bombing often defenseless positions or peaceful villages, without meeting a rebuff. However, mass opposition to aviation began in 1939, when World War II broke out. became separate view weapons. Most often, the main problem of the ground forces was represented by enemy attack aircraft operating at low altitudes and delivering accurate bombing strikes. This situation has not fundamentally changed over the past seven decades.
The historical background of the Shilka concept
Already at the end of the twenties of the XX century, many arms manufacturers, anticipating the growing demand, began to develop rapid-fire artillery systems, designed primarily to combat air targets. As a result, samples of small-caliber guns on turret stands, equipped with circular swivel mechanisms, appeared. Examples are the German FlaK anti-aircraft guns (short for Flugzeugabwehrkanone), adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1934. During the war that began five years later, they were repeatedly modernized and produced in huge numbers. The Oerlikons, developed in Switzerland (1927) and used by all warring parties of World War II, gained great fame. The systems showed high efficiency in defeating attack aircraft forced to operate at low altitude. The caliber of these quick-firing guns was usually 20 mm with different lengths of the cartridge (the initial speed, and hence the range, depends on the volume of explosives in the sleeve). The increase in the rate of fire was achieved by using multi-barreled systems. Thus, a general concept was formed, according to which the Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun "Shilka" was subsequently created.
Why do we need a self-propelled rapid-fire anti-aircraft gun
In the 50s, rocket technology appeared, including anti-aircraft. Strategic bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, which previously felt quite confident in foreign skies, suddenly lost their inaccessibility. Of course, the development of aviation also followed the path of increasing the ceiling and speed, but it became unsafe for ordinary attack aircraft to appear over enemy positions. True, they had one reliable way not to get hit by air defense missiles, and it consisted in entering the target at an extremely low altitude. As of the end of the 60s, the anti-aircraft artillery of the USSR was not ready to repel the attacks of enemy aircraft flying along a flat trajectory at high speed. The response time turned out to be extremely short, a person even with the fastest "boxing" reflexes could not physically have time to open fire, much less hit a target flashing in the sky for a matter of seconds. Automation and reliable detection systems were required. In 1957, a secret decree of the Council of Ministers initiated the start of work on the creation of rapid-fire ZSU. They also came up with a name: the Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. It was a small matter: to design and manufacture it.
What to be ZSU?
The requirements for the new technology included many items, among which were many unique to our gunsmiths. Here are some of them:
Anti-aircraft gun "Shilka" should have a built-in radar to detect hostile aircraft.
Caliber - 23 mm. Of course, it is small, but the practice of previous hostilities showed that with a high rate of fire, an explosive fragmentation charge could well inflict damage sufficient to neutralize the combat capability of an attacking vehicle.
The system should include an automatic device that generates an algorithm for tracking the target during firing in different conditions, including from the move. If we take into account the elemental base of the middle of the 20th century, the task is not an easy one.
The Shilka installation must be self-propelled, capable of moving over rough terrain no worse than any tank.
guns
Artillery of the USSR since Stalin's times was the best in the world, therefore, in everything related to the "trunks", there were no questions. It only remained to choose the optimal variant of the charging mechanism (the tape was recognized as the best). Automatic gun 23-mm caliber "Amur" AZP-23 with an impressive "performance" of 3400 rds / min. needed forced liquid cooling (antifreeze or water), but it was worth it. Any target within a radius of 200 m to 2.5 km had little chance of surviving, hitting the crosshairs of the sight. The trunks were equipped with a stabilization system, their position was controlled by hydraulic actuators. There were four guns.
Where to put the radar antenna?
ZSU-23 "Shilka" is structurally made according to the classical scheme with a fighting compartment, aft power plant, rear transmission and movable turret. Some problems arose with the placement of the radar antenna. It was irrational to place it between the barrels, metal parts could become a screen for emitted and received signals. The lateral position threatened with mechanical destruction of the "plate" from the vibrations that occur during firing. In addition, in conditions of strong electronic countermeasures (interference), a manual control option was provided with aiming through the gunner's sight, and the design of the emitter could block the view. As a result, the antenna was made foldable and placed above the power compartment at the stern.
Motor and chassis
Borrowed from light tank PT-76. It includes six road wheels on each side. The shock absorbers are torsion bar, the tracks are equipped with rubber seals to protect against premature wear.
Forced engine (V6R), 280 hp. with., with an ejection five-speed transmission, provides a range from 30 km / h (on difficult terrain) to 50 km / h (on the highway). Power reserve without refueling - up to 450 km / h with fully filled tanks.
The ZU-23 unit is equipped with a perfect air filtration system, including a labyrinth system of partitions, as well as additional elimination of exhaust gas pollution.
The total weight of the machine is 21 tons, including the towers - more than 8 tons.
Devices
Electronic equipment, which is equipped with the Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, is combined into a single fire control system RPK-2M. The radio instrument complex includes a radar (1RL33M2, assembled on a lamp element base), (at the time of the creation of the sample it was called a calculating device), a radio interference protection system that duplicates the optical sight.
The complex provides the ability to detect a target (at a distance of up to 20 km), its automatic tracking (up to 15 km), change the carrier frequency of pulses in the event of jamming (wobble), calculate the parameters of fire to achieve a high probability of hitting shells. The system can operate in five modes, including storing the coordinates of an object, determining its angle rings and firing at ground targets.
External communication is carried out by radio station R-123M, internal - by intercom TPU-4.
Venerable age and experience of application
The Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was put into service more than half a century ago. Despite such a respectable age for anti-aircraft weapons, four dozen states still have it in the arsenal of their armed forces. Israeli army, which in 1973 experienced the crushing effect of four barrels of this SZU on its aircraft, continues to use sixty copies captured from Egypt plus additional ones purchased later. In addition to the republics that previously made up the USSR, Soviet anti-aircraft guns are ready to use many Asian and Arab world. Some of them have experience in the combat use of these air defense systems, which managed to make war in the Middle East and Vietnam (and by no means with weak opponents). They are also in the armies of the former countries, and in considerable numbers. And what is characteristic: nowhere and no one calls the ZU-23 an antique or another nickname that characterizes an outdated weapon.
Modernizations and prospects
Yes, the good old "Shilka" is no longer young. The anti-aircraft gun went through several upgrades aimed at improving performance and increasing reliability. She learned to distinguish her planes from strangers, began to act faster, electronics received new blocks on a modern element base. The last "upgrade" took place in the nineties, at the same time, apparently, the modernization potential of this system was exhausted. The Shilkas are being replaced by the Tunguskas and other SZUs, which have much more serious capabilities. A modern combat helicopter can hit a ZU-23 from a distance inaccessible to it. What can you do, progress...
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"
Main characteristics
Briefly
in detail
8.0 / 8.0 / 8.0 BR
4 people Crew
341% Visibility
forehead / side / stern Booking
9 / 9 / 9 cases
0 / 8 / 8 towers
Mobility
21.0 tons Weight
534 l/s 280 l/s Engine power
25 hp/t 13 hp/t specific
54 km/h ahead
8 km/h back49 km/h ahead
7 km/h ago Speed
Armament
2,000 rounds of ammunition
1.0 / 1.3 sec recharge
500 rounds clip size
850 shots/min rate of fire
4° / 85° UVN
biplanar stabilizer
Economy
Description
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"
At the end of the 50s. after the adoption of high-precision anti-aircraft missiles by the Soviet Army, foreign aviation specialists urgently had to develop a new tactic: pilots were asked to fly at extremely low altitude in order to avoid detection by new air defense systems. During this period, the standard air defense system of the troops was the ZSU-57-2, but it could not cope with the new task, so it was urgently needed to develop a more modern self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. Such a machine appeared in 1964. It was ZSU-23-4 "Shilka".
Designed for direct cover of ground troops, destruction of air targets at ranges up to 2500 m and altitudes up to 1500 m, flying at speeds up to 450 m / s, as well as ground (surface) targets at ranges up to 2000 m from a place, from a short stop and in movement. In the USSR, it was part of the air defense units of the ground forces of the regimental level.
Main characteristics
Armor protection and survivability
Shilka in Victory Park
Almost the entire projection of the "Shilka" is protected by armor plates 15 mm thick. Three of the four crew members are located in the turret, right behind the ammunition rack that takes up the entire front of the turret. Also next to the driver is a significant fuel tank. All this does not allow you to hold out at least for a long time against any opponents: chamber shells will be cocked, destroying modules and inflicting critical damage to crew members; HEAT projectiles will detonate fuel tanks and ammo racks; heavy machine guns pierce weak armor and damage crew members, and aircraft (if, of course, they can get the Shilka due to certain circumstances) are capable of destroying a vehicle quickly enough with their forward weapons.
Meeting an enemy tank on the battlefield is likely to be fatal for the Shilka. The only thing you can try to do against such armored targets is to try to shoot down their tracks and damage the trunk. And if the tracks are damaged quickly enough, then for many trunks the Shilka does not have enough projectile power to damage them.
Because of all of the above, it should be concluded that the Shilka is not a second or even third line technique - it should remain in the shelter of houses, hills, and other obstacles from enemy ground equipment and concentrate on destroying enemy aircraft without being distracted by ground .
Mobility
Shilka has rather mediocre mobility and mobility - the specific power is 14.7 horsepower per ton. For some tanks, such a relatively low value would be a disadvantage, but for ZSU, mobility is the least important characteristic, so it can be omitted and not considered as a disadvantage. Most of the safe positions from which you can effectively control the sky over the battlefield are often located near spawn points, so there is no need for better mobility.
Armament
There are three cannon belts to choose from:
- Standard: BZT - OFZT;
- OFZT: OFZT - OFZT - OFZT - BZT;
- BZT: BZT - BZT - BZT - OFZT.
Decryption:
- BZT- Armor-piercing incendiary tracer;
- OFZT- High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer.
The maximum penetration rate of the BZT projectile is only 46 mm, which is often extremely insufficient for at least some effective combat against enemy ground equipment, and the damage to air targets is insignificant (compared to a high-explosive projectile), although the chance of arson is high. The priority is the first two tapes - standard, in case of less accurate shooting, in order to have a greater chance to set fire to the enemy so that he does not leave and OFZT for a higher shooting skill due to the better efficiency of OFZT shells against air targets. The last tape (BZT) does not have any useful feature to use it.
Use in combat
Due to the possibility of an enemy aircraft taking off at any time, in arcade mode it makes sense to take the Shilka from the very beginning of the battle, take a position covered from enemy ground vehicles and cover the allies from enemy attack aircraft and bombers. The position should be chosen such that the arcade marker above your vehicle is not visible to the enemy. Usually such positions are at the spawn point or somewhere nearby. The lead marker will help a lot in aiming at enemy aircraft, although due to increased maneuverability, hitting a nimble target becomes an order of magnitude more difficult (than in RB or SB). For your own protection, you should be wary of not only attack aircraft and bombers, but also fighters without suspended weapons - at such a high level of battles, fighters have powerful forward weapons that can easily hit the Shilka's light armor.
Due to the restriction of the realistic mode on the departure of aircraft, for some time after the start of the battle the sky will be clear (and in very rare cases the enemy will not have aircraft at all) and the need for the Shilka disappears. It would be much more rational to use a tank with the first technique, thus bringing disproportionately great benefits to your team due to the Shilka's inability to fight at least somewhat effectively with the bulk of ground vehicles due to the low rate of penetration of its shells. If, by the time the enemy’s first equipment was lost, air targets were noticed, you can safely take the Shilka and take a position from which it will be possible to effectively observe the sky near the battlefield, remaining inaccessible to enemy ground equipment - this is either a yard surrounded by low houses , or a hollow in a hilly area, and in extreme cases, just a spawn point will do. The ideal position would be a position that offers an excellent view towards the direction of the enemy airfield - in this case, the enemy aircraft will be spotted in advance and it will be much easier to observe it up to the firing distance.
Most opponents at this rank already have high-level aircraft, many are jet-powered, with high flight speed, which are especially difficult to shoot down if they do not attack the Shilka itself, the equipment next to it, or simply fly past at low altitude. It's not worth wasting ammunition on enemy fighters that fly at a great distance from the battlefield - it's better to save ammunition for enemy attack aircraft.
Assault aircraft pose a serious threat to the allied ground force, and it is she who is the main goal laid down during the creation of the ZSU. For example, a good pilot in a Do.217 bomber (which is capable of pinpoint dive bombing) can destroy 3-5 tanks with a single bomb load, and a rather futuristic-looking Ho.229 V3 fighter, using a ground target belt, can damage several tanks, setting them on fire with hits in the engine compartment, distracting them from the battle with the allies. These aircraft are more dangerous for ground vehicles than many Il-28 type jet bombers due to lower flight speed and better controllability, but this does not mean that jet bombers are completely useless in combat - they are also capable of causing significant damage to allied tanks.
The enemy aircraft must be allowed close enough before opening fire for two reasons: first, despite the high rate of fire, there is a chance not to hit an aircraft flying in the distance; the second - having seen the routes of the "Shilka" cannons, the enemy can turn away and start looking for targets away from the place from where they fired at him. In this case, "Shilka" will not receive another note about the downed aircraft, and the enemy will attack the allied ground equipment with impunity. Because of so high density fire on Shilka, you can use the following shooting tactics - when the enemy approaches enough 1.0 - 1.3 km. it is necessary to choose a lead in the direction of its flight, after which it is required to take a sufficient lead in speed and change the lead of the enemy’s velocity axis (as if imagining that he flies first at a lower speed - a lower lead, and then with a large one - a greater lead) to pour a hail of shells on him. Such shooting allows you to more effectively hit targets flying at medium and above average distances.
If the enemy flies away from Shilka at an already decent distance (more than 700-800 meters), then you should not waste ammunition - most likely the shells will fly past, and the opportunity to shoot down the plane will be when it returns - most often they return.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Very high rate of fire and density of fire.
- Sufficiently powerful high-explosive fragmentation shells.
- High speed guidance of the tower and guns.
- Capacious ammo.
- No overcharging (continuous tape power).
Disadvantages:
- Large machine size.
- Ammunition "surrounds" the tower.
- Little mobility.
- Low penetration rate of armor-piercing shells.
- There are no sub-caliber shells.
History reference
Shilka at the parade on Red Square in Moscow
Immediately after the start of mass production
I served on it...
Designed for direct cover of ground troops, destruction of air targets at ranges up to 2500 meters and altitudes up to 1500 meters, flying at speeds up to 450 m / s, as well as ground (surface) targets at ranges up to 2000 meters from a place, from a short stop and in movement. In the USSR, it was part of the air defense units of the ground forces of the regimental level.
One of the main reasons for the development of "Shilka" and its foreign counterparts was the appearance in the 50s. anti-aircraft missile systems capable of hitting air targets at medium and high altitudes with a high probability. This forced aviation to use low (up to 300 m) and extremely low (up to 100 m) altitudes when attacking ground targets. To detect and shoot down a high-speed target located in the zone of fire for 15-30 seconds, the calculations of the then used air defense systems simply did not have time. I needed new technology- mobile and high-speed, capable of firing from a place and on the move.
In accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated April 17, 1957 No. 426-211, the parallel creation of rapid-fire ZSU "Shilka" and "Yenisei" with radar guidance systems began. It should be noted that this competition became the basis for an excellent result of research and development work, which is not outdated in our time.
In the process of doing this work, the OKB team of p / box 825 under the leadership of the chief designer V.E. Pickel and Deputy Chief Designer V.B. Perepelovsky, a number of tasks were solved in order to ensure the effectiveness of the developed gun mount. In particular, the choice of chassis was made, the type anti-aircraft installation, the maximum weight of the firing control equipment installed on the chassis, the type of targets served by the installation, as well as the principle of ensuring its all-weather capability. This was followed by the choice of contractors and the element base.
In the course of design studies carried out under the guidance of the Stalin Prize laureate, the leading designer L.M. Braudze, the most optimal placement of all elements of the sighting system was determined: radar antenna, anti-aircraft gun barrels, antenna pointing drives, stabilization elements on one rotating base. At the same time, the issue of decoupling the sighting and gun lines of the installation was quite ingeniously resolved.
Formula and block diagram complex, which formed the basis of the R&D for the creation of the Tobol radio-instrument complex. The goal of the work was "Development and creation of the all-weather complex "Tobol" for the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka".
In 1957, after reviewing and evaluating the materials on the research work "Topaz", presented to the customer of the PO box 825, he was issued a technical assignment for the development work "Tobol". It included the development of technical documentation and the manufacture of a prototype of the instrumentation complex, the parameters of which were determined by the previous Topaz research project. The instrumentation complex included elements of stabilization of the sighting and gun lines, systems for determining the current and forward coordinates of the target, drives for pointing the radar antenna.
The components of the ZSU were supplied by contractors to the enterprise p / box 825, where a general assembly and approval was carried out constituent parts between themselves.
In 1960 on the territory Leningrad region ZSU-23-4 factory field tests were carried out, according to the results of which a prototype was presented for state tests and sent to the Donguzsky artillery range.
In February 1961, specialists from the plant (N.A. Kozlov, Yu.K. Yakovlev, V.G. Rozhkov, V.D. Ivanov, N.S. Ryabenko, O.S. Zakharov) went there to prepare for the tests and presentation of ZSU to the commission. In the summer of 1961 they were successfully carried out.
It should be noted that simultaneously with the ZSU-23-4, a prototype ZSU was tested, developed by the State Central Research Institute TsNII-20, which in 1957 was also issued a technical assignment for the development of ZSU ("Yenisei"). But according to the results of state tests, this product was not accepted for service.
In 1962, "Shilka" was put into service and its mass production was organized at factories in a number of cities in the USSR.
Engine
A diesel engine of the 8D6 type, model V-6R, is used as a propulsion engine (since 1969, after minor design changes, - V-6R-1). A six-cylinder, four-stroke, compressorless diesel engine with a liquid cooling system is located in the aft part of the ZSU. A cylinder displacement of 19.1 or a compression ratio of 15 create a maximum power of 280 hp. at a frequency of 2000 rpm. The diesel engine is powered by two welded fuel tanks (made of aluminum alloy) with a capacity of 405 or 110 liters. The first is installed in the bow of the hull. The total fuel supply guarantees 330 km of run and 2 hours of operation of the gas turbine engine. On sea trials on a dirt road, the diesel engine provided movement at a speed of 50.2 km / h.
In the aft part of the combat vehicle, a power mechanical transmission with a step change in gear ratios is installed. To transfer forces to the propulsion unit, a multi-disk main dry friction clutch with a mechanical control drive from the driver's pedal is used. The gearbox is mechanical, three-way, five-speed, with synchronizers in II, III, IV and V gears. Swing mechanisms are planetary, two-stage, with locking clutches. Final drives are single-stage, with cylindrical gears. The caterpillar mover of the machine consists of two driving and two guide wheels with a caterpillar tension mechanism, as well as two caterpillar chains and 12 road wheels.
The suspension of the car is independent, torsion bar and asymmetric. Smooth running is ensured by hydraulic shock absorbers (on the first front, fifth left and sixth right road wheels) and spring stops (on the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth left and first, third, fourth and sixth right road wheels). The correctness of this decision was confirmed by the operation in the troops and during the hostilities.
Design
The welded hull of the TM-575 tracked vehicle is divided into three compartments: control in the bow, combat in the middle and power in the stern. Between them there were partitions, which served as the front and rear supports of the tower.
The tower is a welded structure with a shoulder strap diameter of 1840 mm. It is fixed on the bed with front frontal sheets, on the left and right walls of which the upper and lower cradles of the gun are attached. When the swinging part of the gun is given an elevation angle, the frame embrasure is partially covered by a movable shield, the roller of which slides along the guide of the lower cradle.
There are three hatches on the right side sheet: one, with a bolted cover, is used for mounting the tower equipment, the other two are closed with a visor and are air inlets for ventilation of the units and the blower of the PAZ system. On the left side of the tower, a casing is welded on the outside, designed to remove steam from the cooling system of the gun barrels. Two hatches are provided in the aft sheet of the tower, designed to service the equipment.
Equipment
The radar and instrument complex is designed to control the fire of the AZP-23 gun and is located in the instrument compartment of the turret. It consists of: a radar station, a calculating device, blocks and elements of systems for stabilizing the line of sight and the line of fire, a sighting device. The radar station is designed to detect low-flying high-speed targets and accurately determine the coordinates of the selected target, which can be done in two modes: a) angular coordinates and range are automatically tracked; b) the angular coordinates come from the sighting device, and the range - from the radar.
The radar operates in the range of 1-1.5 cm waves. The range was chosen for a number of reasons. Such stations have antennas with small weight and size characteristics, radars in the 1-1.5 cm wavelength range are less susceptible to intentional enemy interference, since the ability to operate in a wide frequency band makes it possible to increase the noise immunity and processing speed of received information by using broadband frequency modulation and signal coding. By increasing the Doppler frequency shifts of reflected signals arising from moving and maneuvering targets, their recognition and classification is ensured. In addition, this range is less loaded with other radio equipment. Radars operating in this range make it possible to detect air targets developed using "stele" technology. According to the foreign press, during Operation Desert Storm, the Iraqi Shilka shot down an American F-117A aircraft built using this technology.
The disadvantage of the radar is a relatively short range, usually not exceeding 10-20 km and depending on the state of the atmosphere, primarily on the intensity of precipitation - rain or sleet. To protect against passive interference, the Shilki radar uses a coherent-pulse method of target selection, i.e., constant signals from terrain objects and passive interference are not taken into account, and signals from moving targets are sent to the RPK. The radar is controlled by the search operator and the range operator.
According to the current coordinates of the target, the SRP generates control commands for hydraulic actuators that direct the guns to a pre-empted point. Then the device solves the problem of meeting the projectiles with the target, and when it enters the affected area, it gives a signal to open fire. During state tests, with timely target designation, the Tobol radio-instrument complex detected a MiG-17 aircraft flying at a speed of 450 m / s at a distance of about 13 km and accompanied it automatically from 9 km on a head-on course.
Armament
The Amur quadruple gun (four 2A7 anti-aircraft guns) was created on the basis of the 2A14 machine gun of the ZU-23 towed mount. Equipping with a liquid cooling system, a pneumatic reloading mechanism, guidance drives and an electric trigger ensured firing at a high rate in short and long (up to 50 shots) bursts with a break of 10-15 seconds after every 120-150 shots (for each barrel). The gun is distinguished by high operational reliability; in state tests after 14,000 shots, failures and breakdowns did not exceed 0.05% against 0.2-0.3%, determined in the tactical and technical assignment for its development.
The operation of gun automation is based on the principle of using powder gases and partially recoil energy. The supply of shells - side, tape, is carried out from two special boxes with a capacity of 1000 rounds each. They are installed to the left and right of the gun, with 480 rounds for the upper and 520 for the lower machine gun.
The cocking of the moving parts of the machine guns in preparation for firing and reloading is carried out by a pneumatic reloading system.
The machines are mounted on two swinging cradles (upper and lower, two on each), mounted vertically on the frame one above the other. With a horizontal arrangement (zero elevation angle), the distance between the upper and lower automata is 320 mm. Guidance and stabilization of the gun in azimuth and elevation is carried out by power drives with a common electric motor with a power of 6 kW.
The gun ammunition includes 23-mm armor-piercing incendiary tracer (BZT) and high-explosive-incendiary fragmentation tracer (OFZT) shells weighing 190 g and 188.5 g, respectively, with the MG-25 head fuse. Their initial speed reaches 980 m / s, the table ceiling is 1500 m, the table range is 2000 m. In the tape, the BZT cartridge is installed every four OFZT cartridges.
Depending on the external conditions and the state of the equipment, anti-aircraft targets are fired in four modes.
The first (main) is the auto-tracking mode, the angular coordinates and range are determined by the radar, which automatically accompanies the target along them, issuing data to the calculating device (analogue computer) to generate advanced coordinates. The opening of fire is carried out by the signal "There is data" on the calculating device. The RPK automatically generates full pointing angles, taking into account the pitching and yaw of the ZSU, and issues them to the guidance drives, and the latter automatically direct the gun to the pre-empted point. Shooting is carried out by the commander or search operator - gunner.
The second mode - the angular coordinates come from the sighting device, and the range - from the radar. The angular current coordinates of the target are fed into the calculating device from the sighting device, which is induced by the search operator - the gunner - semi-automatically, and the range values are received from the radar. Thus, the radar operates in radio range finder mode. This mode is auxiliary and is used in the presence of interference that causes malfunctions in the antenna guidance system in terms of angular coordinates, or, in the event of a malfunction in the autotracking channel, in terms of the angular coordinates of the radar. Otherwise, the complex works the same way as in the auto-tracking mode.
The third mode - advanced coordinates are generated according to the "memorized" values of the current coordinates X, Y, H and the target velocity components Vx, Vy and Vh, based on the hypothesis of a uniform rectilinear movement of the target in any plane. The mode is used when there is a threat of loss of the radar target in the process of automatic tracking due to interference or malfunctions.
The fourth mode is shooting with the help of a backup sight, guidance is performed in semi-automatic mode. The lead is introduced by the search operator - the gunner on the foreshortening rings of the backup sight. This mode is used in case of failure of the radar, computer and stabilization systems.
1-viewing device; 2-shield; 3 - landing hatch for operators; 4-antenna radar station; 5-antenna of the radio station; 6 commander's cupola; 7-engine; 8-compartment of the tower; 9-driver's seat Top left: firing scheme with two installations
The power supply system (EPS) provides all ZSU-23-4 systems with direct current of 55 V and 27.5 V and alternating current of 220 V, frequency of 400 Hz. It consists of: a gas turbine engine DG4M-1 with a power of 70 hp; DC generator to generate a stabilized voltage of 55 V and 27.5 V; DC to AC three-phase current converter block; four rechargeable batteries 12-ST-70M to compensate for peak overloads, power devices and electrical consumers when the generator is not running.
For external communication, the installation is equipped with a short-wave radio transceiver R-123 with frequency modulation. On medium rough terrain, with the noise suppressor turned off and the absence of interference, it provides communication at a distance of up to 23 km, with it turned on - up to 13 km. Internal communication is carried out by the R-124 tank intercom, designed for four subscribers.
To determine the location on the ground and make the necessary amendments to the RPK, the ZSU-23-4 has TNA-2 navigation equipment. The arithmetic mean error of the coordinates generated by this equipment does not exceed 1% of the traversed
way. In motion, navigation equipment can operate without specifying the initial data for 3-3.5 hours.
For operation in conditions of contamination of the area with weapons of mass destruction, the installation provides for the protection of the crew from radioactive dust and harmful effects environment. It is carried out with the help of forced air purification and the creation of excess pressure inside the tower by a central blower with inertial air separation.
ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun: 1 - anti-aircraft guns of 23 mm caliber (4 pcs.), 2 - turret, 3 - infrared device, 4 - radar antenna (radar), 5 - radio whip antenna, 6 - towing cable, 7 - armored body, 8 - cover, 9 - caterpillar, 10 - crew hatch, 11 - commander's hatch, 12 - driver's hatch, 13 - track roller, 14 - sprocket. In view A, the caterpillar is conventionally not shown.
In conclusion, let's try to simulate an episode of the battle in modern conditions. Imagine that ZSU-23-4 is covering a column of troops on the march. But here the radar, continuously conducting a circular search, detects an air target. Who is it? Yours or someone else's? An inquiry about the ownership of the aircraft immediately follows, and if there is no answer to it, the commander's decision will be the only one - fire!
But the enemy is cunning, maneuvering, attacking anti-aircraft gunners. And in the midst of the battle, a fragment cuts off the antenna of the radar station. It would seem that the "blinded" anti-aircraft gun is completely disabled, but the designers provide for this, and even more difficult situations. A radar station, a calculating device and even a stabilization system may fail - the installation will still be combat-ready. The search operator (gunner) will fire using an anti-aircraft sight-understudy, and introduce lead through the foreshortening rings.
Abroad, they have always shown an increased interest in Shilka. foreign states about three thousand copies of the Shilka were purchased, they are currently in service with the armies of almost 30 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The ZSU-23-4 was widely used in combat and proved to be highly effective in destroying air and ground targets.
The ZSU-23-4 was most actively used in the Arab-Israeli wars of the 60s, October 1973 and April-May 1974. As a rule, in the armies of Syria and Egypt, Shilki were used to directly cover tank units, as well as anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) "Cube" ("Square"), S-75 and S-125. ZSU were part of the anti-aircraft divisions (zdn) of tank divisions, brigades and separate mixed zdn. For the timely opening of fire in the defense, the Shilok units were deployed at a distance of 600-1000 m from the covered objects. In the offensive, they were located behind the advanced units at a distance of 400-600 m. On the march, the ZSU were distributed along the column of troops.
Basically, the ZSU-23-4 operated autonomously. Fire on Israeli planes and helicopters was opened from a range of 1500 - 2000 m (with visual detection of the target). The ZSU radar was practically not used in combat for a number of reasons, the main of which was the poor training of combat crews. The lack of centralized target designation and rugged terrain significantly limited the ability of the ZSU radar to detect targets in a timely manner.
However, "Shilka" proved to be a reliable air defense system, capable of covering troops from attacks by suddenly appearing low-flying air targets. During October 1973 alone, out of 98 aircraft shot down by Syrian military air defense systems, 11 hit targets fell on the ZSU-23-4. In April and May 1974, out of 19 aircraft shot down, five were destroyed by Shilki.
According to foreign military experts who analyzed the results of the 1973 Middle East war, during the first three days of fighting, about 100 enemy aircraft were destroyed by Syrian missilemen. In their opinion, this indicator is due to the successful use of the ZSU-23-4, the dense fire of which forced the Israeli pilots to leave low altitudes to where the air defense systems operated with great efficiency.
CHARACTERISTICS - ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"
Combat weight, t 19
Crew, pers. 4
Overall dimensions, mm:
length 6535
width 3125
height in the stowed position 2576
height in combat position 3572
ground clearance 400
Booking, mm up to 15
Armament 4x23-mm gun 2A7 (art system AZP-23 "Amur")
Ammunition 4964 rounds
Firing range at air targets, m 2500
Engine V-br, 6-cylinder, 4-stroke, compressorless liquid-cooled diesel engine, power 206 kW at 2000 rpm
Maximum speed on the highway, km/h 50
Power reserve on the highway, km 450
Overcome obstacles:
wall height, m 1.1
ditch width, m 2.8
fording depth, m 1.07
