ZSU-23-4
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| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | |
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| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 4 |
| Length | 6.54 m |
| Width | 2.95 m |
| Height | 2.25 m |
| Weight | 20.5 t |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 8.3-9.2 mm |
| Main armament | 4x23 mm water-cooled AZP-23 autocannon
2,000 rounds |
| Secondary armament | |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | V-6R 6 cylinder inline diesel 280 hp (210 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Road speed | 50 km/h |
| Power/weight | 13.7 hp/tonne |
| Range | 450 km |
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armoured, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system (SPAAG). ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka, "anti-aircraft self-propelled system". It is named after the Russian Shilka River.
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[edit] History
The previous Soviet self-propelled anti aircraft gun (SPAAG), the ZSU-57-2, was armed with two 57 mm cannons, it was aimed optically using a basic tracking and lead calculating system. The ZSU-57-2 was not particularly successful; it could only carry a small number of rounds, was inaccurate, and had only limited mobility.
The ZPU series of guns were a major step forward, providing 14.5 mm heavy machine guns carried on a towed mount for stationary, point air-defence. The 23 mm version of this weapon system was known as the ZU-23-2, a towed mount carrying two 23 mm cannons.
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" was brought into service in 1965. It combined a proven radar system, the amphibious chassis of the PT-76 light tank and four 23 mm cannons. This delivered a highly effective combination of mobility with heavy firepower and considerable accuracy. The ZSU-23-4 outclassed all NATO anti-aircraft guns at the time, and it is still regarded as posing a major threat for low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The system was widely fielded throughout the Warsaw Pact and other pro-Soviet states. The Soviet Union's successor states continue to manufacture and supply variants of the Shilka, notably the Ukrainian 4M4 and the Belarusian 4M5.
Shilka units saw active service in the Six-Day War (1967) and other Arab-Israeli conflicts, the First Gulf War (1990), and possibly in the various Indo-Pakistan conflicts. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the system was particularly effective against the Israeli Air Force. Israeli pilots attempting to fly low in order to avoid SA-6 missiles were often shot down by the Shilka. During the Soviet-Afghan War Shilka units were used to great effect against mujahideen positions in the mountains, the Shilka's guns being able to elevate to a much higher azimuth than the weapons on BMPs, BRDMs, or T-72s, and T-80s.
[edit] Capabilities
Based on the chassis of the PT-76 light tank, the ZSU-23-4 mounts an armoured turret holding four liquid-cooled AZP-85 23 mm autocannon linked to an RPK-2 "Gun Dish" 30 mm Radar. Post-Soviet versions can be fitted with a different gun (twin 30 mm 2A38M) and different radar. The vehicle weighs 20.5 metric tonnes, has a range of 450 km and a top speed of 50 km/h. Additional firepower can be supplied by a roof-mounted pod of six short-range SA-18 SAMs, or side mounted SA-16s.
Each water-cooled 23 mm cannon has a cyclic rate of 1,000 rounds per minute for a combined rate of fire of 4,000 rounds per minute. To prevent overheating, the rate of fire is reduced to 50 round bursts per gun, and thus limits the Shilka's rate of fire to 200 rounds per minute. The turret is fully stabilised and capable of firing on the move. It has a range of elevation from -4° to +85°. Ammunition capacity is 2,000 rounds stowed aboard.
HEI-T (High Explosive Incendiary-Tracer), and API-T (Armour-Piercing Incendiary-Tracer) rounds are fired. They can be fired to a maximum horizontal range of 7 km (4.3 mi), and a vertical range of 5.1 km (3.2 mi). The effective anti-aircraft range is around 2 to 2.5 km (1.3 to 1.6 mi). In attacking targets on the ground, its effective range is 2 km (1.3 mi).
The Gun Dish radar operates in the J band and can detect aircraft 20 km (12.5 mi) away. It has excellent target tracking capability and is relatively hard to detect. Under 60 m (200 ft) of altitude however, the radar picks up many false returns (ground clutter). Regardless, pilots consider the Shilka to be an extremely dangerous weapons system. It is either avoided completely or engaged first.
[edit] Problems
The Shilka has a few significant problems, most notable being that if the water-coolant fails to quickly cool the system down, the cannons will continue to fire (cook off) even if the gunner lets go of the fire button. The Shilka is not heavily armored, and thus does not have remarkable survivability against anti-tank rockets and cannon rounds.
[edit] Deployment
Soviet doctrine supplied the vehicle in a platoon of four to support Motor Rifle or armor regiments in conjunction with medium-range SA-6 and short-range SA-9 teams. The system is very vulnerable to enemy fire; the armour is thin (maximum of 10 mm) and the exposed suspension, wheels, track, radar, and gun barrels can easily be damaged. Shilka units are typically placed near the forward-edge of battle-area (FEBA) but behind the main force.
The guns are useful against low-flying aircraft and lightly protected ground targets. Due to its effectiveness against ground targets, the ZSU units have been effectively used in urban environments (e.g., Chechnya, Lebanon). This is primarily because of the high rate of fire of their cannons. While a main battle tank can inflict substantially more damage, per round, the anti-aircraft guns can fire at a comparatively much higher rate. [2]
With its high rate of accurate fire, the Shilka can even neutralize tanks by destroying their gun sights, radio antennas, etc. The crew numbers four: driver, commander, gunner and radar operator.
[edit] Versions
- 1964: ZSU-23-4: pre-production and then initial production models.
- 1968: ZSU-23-4V: minor modifications.
- 1972: ZSU-23-4V1: more minor modifications.
- 1977: ZSU-23-4M: one extra ammunition panier on turret exterior (now three), added an armoured cover for the guns, upgraded fire-control computer to digital, "Gun Dish" radar can operate independently in search mode rather than only slaved to the guns.
[edit] Users
Afghanistan
Angola
Armenia
Belarus
Bulgaria
Cuba
Czech Republic
Germany
Egypt
Ethiopia
Hungary
Indonesia
India
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Libya
Morocco
Mozambique
Nigeria
North Korea
Palestine
Peru
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovakia
Somalia
Syria
Ukraine
Vietnam
Yemen
(Former)Yugoslavia
Zimbabwe
[edit] References
↑ Grau, Lester W and Gress, Michael A.: The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost: the Russian General Staff. University Press of Kansas, 2002
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Soviet and post-Soviet armoured fighting vehicles after World War II | ||||||||||||||
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| List of armoured fighting vehicles by country | ||||||||||||||
