Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun "Shilka". Shilka (anti-aircraft self-propelled gun) Types of fire on ZSU 23 4

15.03.2020

The Soviet ZSU "Shilka" is the most widespread anti-aircraft self-propelled gun in the world. This legendary fighting vehicle is easily recognizable both by its appearance and by the characteristic sound of firing.

The Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was created by the combined efforts of several developers. The lead contractor was OKB-40 of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (chief designer N.A. Astrov), the Leningrad OKB-357 (chief designer V.E. Pikkel) was engaged in the development of the instrumentation complex, the Tobol RPK developed the design bureau of the Tula plant No. 668 (chief designer Ya. I. Nazarov), 23-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun "Amur" - OKB-575 (chief designer N. E. Chudakov).

"Shilka" was intended to replace the ZSU-57-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. It was developed for air defense of motorized rifle regiments in accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of April 17, 1957. Adopted by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 5, 1962. It was mass-produced at plant No. 535 (artillery unit) and MMZ (chassis and assembly) from 1964 to 1982.

MODIFICATIONS

ZSU-23-4 - a specially designed tracked vehicle GM-575 serves as a base. Department of management - in the bow, combat - in the middle, power - in the stern. The turret is equipped with a 23-mm AZP-23 Amur quadruple gun. Together with the turret, it has the GRAU index 2A10, and the machine guns - 2A7. The total rate of fire is 3400 rds / min, the initial velocity of the projectile is 950 m / s, the slant range of fire against anti-aircraft targets is 2500 m. Pointing angles: horizontal - 360 °, vertical - 4 ° .. + 85 °. In the aft part of the turret roof, on folding racks, there is a radar antenna of the RPK-2 Tobol radar-instrument complex. The machine has a power supply system, which includes a single-shaft gas turbine engine of the DG4M-1 type, designed to rotate a DC generator, a PAZ system, navigation equipment TNA-2 and PPO. ZSU-23-4V - upgraded version. Improved reliability of various components and assemblies. The casing of the ventilation system is located on the right side of the hull. Introduced command guidance device.

ZSU-23-4V1 - an upgraded version of the ZSU-23-4V. The reliability of various components and assemblies has been increased, primarily the RPK. The casings of the ventilation system are located on the frontal cheekbones of the tower. The resource of the gas turbine unit has been increased.

ZSU-23-4M1 - modernized 2A7M assault rifles and 2A10M cannon. Increased barrel survivability from 3000 to 4500 shots. Radar reliability improved and GTA resource increased from 600 to 900 hours.

ZSU-23-4M2 - modernization of the ZSU-23-4M1 for use in the mountainous conditions of Afghanistan. The RPK was excluded from the installation, due to which the ammunition load of shells was increased from 2000 to 3000 pieces, night vision equipment was introduced for firing at night at ground targets.

ZSU-23-4M3 "Biryusa" - ZSU-23-4M1 with the installation of the ground-based radio interrogator "Luk" of the radar identification system for air targets on the basis of "friend or foe".

ZSU-23-4M4 "Shilka-M4" - modernization with the installation of a radar control system and the possibility of installing an air defense system "Sagittarius". The introduction of the “Assembly M1” mobile reconnaissance and control center (PRRU) into the battery as a command post and the introduction of a telecode communication channel for the exchange of information between the ZSU and the command post in the ZSU.

Replacing an analog computing device with a modern TsVS.
A digital tracking system is being installed. Modernization of the caterpillar chassis, aimed at improving the controllability and maneuverability of the self-propelled vehicle and reducing the complexity of its maintenance and operation. An active night vision device, new means of communication, air conditioning, an automated control system for the performance of radio-electronic equipment.

ZSU-23-4M5 "Shilka-M5" - modernization of the ZSU-23-4M4 with the installation of a radar and optoelectronic control system.

OPERATION AND COMBAT APPLICATION

The ZSU-23-4 began to enter the troops in 1965, and by the beginning of the 1970s, the ZSU-57-2 was completely ousted from the air defense units. Initially, according to the state, the tank regiment relied on the Shilok division, which consisted of two batteries of four vehicles each. In the late 1960s, often one battery in a division was armed with Shilki, and the other with ZSU-57-2. Later, motorized rifle and tank regiments received a typical anti-aircraft battery, which included 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).

"Shilki" were widely used by the Soviet army in Afghanistan. Moreover, in the absence of air targets, this ZSU fully realized the ability to fire at ground targets in the mountains. A special "Afghan version" appeared - as unnecessary, the PKK was dismantled on it, due to which it was possible to increase the ammunition load to 4000 rounds. A night sight was also installed. Similarly, "Shilki" were used by the Russian army in Chechnya.

ZSU-23-4s were widely exported to the Warsaw Pact countries, the Middle East and other regions. They took an active part in the Arab-Israeli wars, the Iraqi-Iranian war, as well as in the war in the Persian Gulf in 1991.

DESIGN ZSU-23-4

Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-23-4 belongs to the type of closed self-propelled guns with aft MTO.

A rotating turret is installed in the middle part of the hull, in which a quadruple automatic 23-mm anti-aircraft gun AZP-23 "Amur" with guidance drives, a radar-instrument search and guidance system RPK-2 "Tobol", ammunition and three crew members. A rotating turret of increased manufacturing accuracy is mounted on a ball bearing of the T-54 tank turret. The hull and turret are welded from 6- and 8-mm armor plates.

The embrasure of the gun at the maximum elevation angle of the trunks is partially covered by a movable armor plate, the roller of which slides along the guide of the lower cradle. In the fighting compartment to the left of the gun is the workplace of the vehicle commander, to the right - the range operator, and between them - the search operator-gunner. The commander monitors the battlefield through periscope devices located in the rotating commander's cupola.

In a combat situation, the driver uses a BM-190 periscope device or two B-1 glass blocks for observation. Outside the combat situation, the driver observes the terrain through his open hatch or through the windshield located in his hatch cover.

GUN AZP-23 "AMUR"

The turret is equipped with a 23-mm AZP-23 Amur quadruple gun. She, along with the tower, was assigned the index 2A10, the automatic guns - 2A7, and the power drives - 2E2. The operation of the automatic gun is based on the removal of powder gases through the side hole in the barrel. 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 mass of one machine gun is 85 kg, the mass of the entire artillery unit is 4964 kg.

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 in part - 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) 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. Two toothed sectors are attached to the lower cradle, which engage with the gears of the input shaft of the vertical guidance gearbox. The Amur gun is placed on a base placed on a ball shoulder strap. The base consists of upper and lower boxes. An armored tower is attached to the end of the upper box. Inside the base there are two longitudinal beams that serve as a support for the bed. Both cradles with machine guns attached to them swing on the trunnions in the bed bearings.

SHOOTING FEATURES

The supply of machine guns with shells is continuous. The rate of fire from four machine guns is 3600-4000 rds / min. Fire control - remote, with the help of electric triggers. The descent of the bolt carrier (that is, the opening of fire) is carried out either by the installation commander or the search operator. The number of machine guns assigned for firing, as well as the number of shots in the queue, is determined by the commander of the installation, depending on the nature of the target. The defeat of low-speed targets (aircraft, helicopters, paratroopers, ground targets) is carried out in short bursts of 3-5 or 5-10 shots per barrel. The defeat of high-speed targets (high-speed aircraft, missiles) is carried out in short bursts of 3-5 or 5-10 rounds per barrel, and if necessary, in long bursts of up to 50 rounds per barrel with a break between bursts of 2-3 seconds.

Regardless of the type of queue, after 120-150 shots per barrel, a break was made for 10-15 seconds to cool the barrels. Cooling of the barrels of machine guns during firing is carried out by an open-type liquid system with forced circulation of the liquid. Water is used as a coolant in summer, and KNIFE 65 is used in winter.

AMMUNITION

The gun ammunition includes 23-mm armor-piercing incendiary tracer (BZT) and high-explosive fragmentation-incendiary tracer (OFZT) projectiles. 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 MG-25 head fuse. Cartridge weight 450 g. Steel sleeve, disposable. The ballistic data of both projectiles are the same - muzzle velocity 980 m/s, tabular ceiling 1500 m, tabular range 2000 m. OFZT shells are equipped with self-liquidators with an action time of 5-11 s. Every fifth cartridge in the tape is BZT.

The radar instrumentation complex RPK-2 (1A7) is located in the instrument compartment of the tower and consists of the 1RL33 radar station and the instrumental part of the Tobol complex. The radar station allows you to detect and track air targets, as well as accurately measure their current coordinates. The 1RL33 radar station operates in a pulsed mode in the centimeter wave range and is protected from active and passive interference. Detection of air targets by the station is carried out in a circular or sector (30-80 °) search, as well as in manual control mode. The station provides target acquisition for autotracking at ranges of at least 10 km at a flight altitude of 2000 m and at least 6 km at a flight altitude of 50 m. The station is mounted in the instrument compartment of the tower. The station antenna is located on the roof of the tower. In the non-working position, the antenna automatically folds and locks.

We are smoothly moving from the ZSU-57-2 to the great (and I’m not at all afraid of this word) successor. "Shaitan-arbe" - "Shilke".

You can talk about this complex endlessly, but one short phrase is enough: "In service since 1965." And enough, by and large.

History ... The history of creation was replicated in such a way that it is unrealistic to add something new or piquant, but speaking of the Shilka, one cannot fail to note a few facts that simply enter the Shilka into our military history.

So, the 60s of the last century. Jet planes have already ceased to be a miracle, representing a very serious strike force. With completely different speeds and maneuverability. Helicopters also stood on the screw and were considered not only as a vehicle, but also as quite a decent weapon platform.

And most importantly, helicopters began to try to catch up with the planes of the Second World War, and the planes completely overtook their predecessors.

And something had to be done about all this. Especially at the army level, "in the fields."

Yes, anti-aircraft missile systems appeared. Still stationary. A promising thing, but in the future. But the main load was still carried by anti-aircraft guns of all sizes and calibers.

We have already talked about the ZSU-57-2 and the difficulties encountered by the calculations of installations when working on low-flying fast targets. Anti-aircraft systems ZU-23, ZP-37, ZSU-57 could hit high-speed targets by accident. Projectiles of installations, percussion, without a fuse, for a guaranteed defeat, had to hit the target itself. How high was the probability of a direct hit, I can not judge.

Things were somewhat better with batteries of S-60 anti-aircraft guns, which could be guided automatically according to the data of the RPK-1 radio instrument complex.

But in general, there was no longer any talk of any accurate anti-aircraft fire. Anti-aircraft guns could put a barrier in front of the aircraft, force the pilot to drop bombs or launch missiles with less accuracy.

"Shilka" was a breakthrough in the field of hitting flying targets at low altitudes. Plus mobility, which has already been evaluated by the ZSU-57-2. But the main thing is accuracy.

General Designer Nikolai Alexandrovich Astrov managed to create an incomparable machine that proved to be excellent in combat conditions. And more than once.

Small amphibious tanks T-38 and T-40, tracked armored tractor T-20 "Komsomolets", light tanks T-30, T-60, T-70, self-propelled gun SU-76M. And other, less known or not included in the series models.

What is the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"?

Perhaps we should start with purpose.

"Shilka" is designed 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 fire from a place and on the move, equipped with equipment that provides an autonomous circular and sector search for targets, their tracking, and the development of gun pointing angles.

The armament of the complex consists of a 23-mm quad automatic anti-aircraft gun AZP-23 "Amur" and a system of power drives designed for guidance.

The second component of the complex is the RPK-2M radar-instrument complex. Its purpose is also clear. Guidance and fire control.

This particular machine was modernized in the late 80s, judging by the commander's triplex and night sight.

An important aspect: "Shilka" can work with both radar and conventional sighting optical aiming device.

The locator provides search, detection, automatic tracking of the target, determines its coordinates. But in the mid-1970s, the Americans invented and began arming aircraft with missiles that could find a locator using a radar beam and hit it. This is where simplicity comes in handy.

Third component. Chassis GM-575, on which everything, in fact, is mounted.

The Shilka crew consists of four people: a ZSU commander, a search-gunner operator, a range operator and a driver.

The driver is the most thieves member of the crew. It is in simply stunning luxury, compared to others.

The rest are in the tower, where not only is it cramped and, like in a normal tank, there is something to put your head on, it can also (it seemed to us) to apply a current easily and naturally. Very closely.

Places for range operator and gunner-operator. Top view in a hung condition.

Analog electronics... You look with awe. From the round screen of the oscilloscope, apparently, the operator determined the range ... Wow ...

Shilka received its baptism of fire during the so-called "War of Attrition" of 1967-70 between Israel and Egypt as part of the Egyptian air defense. And after that, the complex accounted for two dozen more local wars and conflicts. Mostly in the Middle East.

But Shilka received special recognition in Afghanistan. And the honorary nickname "Shaitan-arba" among the Mujahideen. The best way to calm an ambush organized in the mountains is to use the Shilka. A long burst of four barrels and the subsequent shower of high-explosive shells at the intended positions is the best means that saved more than one hundred lives of our soldiers.

By the way, the fuse worked quite normally when it hit an adobe wall. And the attempt to hide behind the duvals of the villages usually did not lead to anything good for the dushmans ...

Considering that the Afghan partisans did not have aviation, Shilka fully realized its potential for firing at ground targets in the mountains.

Moreover, a special "Afghan version" was created: a radio instrumentation complex was withdrawn, which was completely unnecessary in those conditions. Due to him, the ammunition load was increased from 2000 to 4000 rounds and a night sight was installed.

By the end of our troops' stay in the DRA, the columns escorted by the Shilka were rarely attacked. This is also a confession.

It can also be considered recognition that the Shilka is still in service in our army. Over 30 years. Yes, this is far from the same car that started its career in Egypt. "Shilka" underwent (successfully) more than one deep modernization, and one of these modernizations even received a proper name, ZSU-23-4M "Biryusa".

39 countries, and not only our "true friends", have purchased these machines from the Soviet Union.

And today, the Shilki are also in service with the Russian army. But these are completely different machines, which are worth a separate story.

In September 1962, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, an all-weather self-propelled 23-mm artillery anti-aircraft system (self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" (complex 2A6) was adopted for arming the air defense of the Ground Forces). ZSU "Shilka" was intended to provide air defense units motorized rifle (tank) regiments in various combat conditions, including on the march, at different times of the year and day, in any weather.The main characteristics of the "Shilka" and its foreign analogue are given in the table.The main developer of the installation was the design bureau of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (chief designer N.A. Astrov).

It is interesting to note that at the final stage of the development of the Shilka ZSU, clouds hung over its fate. This is how the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper of September 12, 1992 describes it in the article “The proud secret of Almaz (telling for the first time)”. The fact is that in March 1961, state tests of the S-125 Neva anti-aircraft missile system developed by Design Bureau No. 1 (now the Almaz Research and Production Association) were successfully completed. The S-125 air defense system being developed was intended to combat low-flying air targets flying at altitudes of 200 meters and above at a distance of up to 10 km.

This served as the basis for ambiguous assessments of the need to complete the development of an anti-aircraft artillery system (ZSU "Shilka"), also designed to combat low-flying targets. In particular, in the governing bodies of the country, which at that time determined the prospects for the development of domestic weapons, a draft decision was prepared to stop the development of the Shilka ZSU. When this decision was shown to the general designer of the S-125 air defense system, Academician A.A. Raspletin, he wrote on this document: “... Strongly against. ZSU can perform tasks in parallel with the S-125 air defense system. Work on the creation of the Shilka ZSU continued, and in 1962 it was put into service.

Since then, for many years, the S-125 air defense system and the Shilka ZSU have participated in real hostilities on different continents, have been operated by the troops, are still in service with the armies of many countries of the world, and have been repeatedly modernized. And almost forty years later, their last (in terms of time) modifications met at the international aerospace shows MAKS-99 and MAKS-2001, which were held in the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow. Words by Academician A.A. The scatter turned out to be prophetic: the S-125 air defense system, the Shilka ZSU and their modifications have been regularly serving in the military for almost half a century.

"Shilka" was the first self-propelled gun in the history of the development of domestic anti-aircraft weapons, which could effectively fire at air targets on the move. This quality was ensured by the presence of gyro stabilization along the line of sight and shot. The installation could also fire at ground targets, including lightly armored ones. ZSU-23-4 replaced the towed small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guns used in motorized rifle and tank regiments.

The following organizations participated in the development of the main elements and components of the ZSU-23-4:

OKB-40 of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant of the Ministry of Transport Engineering of the USSR - the lead developer of the ZSU as a whole and the developer of the tracked chassis (the chief designer of the installation as a whole is N.A. Astrov);
Leningrad Optical and Mechanical Association - developer of a radio instrument complex (RPK-2 "Tobol"), consisting of a tracking radar, a calculating device and optical means (chief designer of the RPK - V.E. Pikkel);
the design bureau of the Tula plant of radioelements (later the Research Institute "Strela" of the Ministry of Radio Industry of the USSR) - the developer of the tracking radar (chief designer of the radar - Ya.I. Nazarov);
Central Design Research Bureau of Sports Small Arms (Tula) - developer of a quadruple 23-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun;
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Electromechanical Instruments of the USSR Ministry of Electrical Industry - developer of electrical equipment for the power supply system of ZSU and electric motors for drives;
the Automotive Research Institute and the Kaluga Experimental Motor Plant of the USSR Ministry of the Automobile Industry are the developers of a gas turbine engine for the power supply system.

The composition of the ZSU "Shilka" includes the following elements:

23-mm quadruple automatic anti-aircraft gun (AZP-23-4) with ammunition;
radio instrument complex (RPK);
electrohydraulic power servo drives;
day and night observation devices;
means of communication.

All of the above ZSU equipment was placed on a tracked chassis with high cross-country ability. The combat operation of the anti-aircraft installation under all weather conditions was provided by a radio instrument complex, consisting of: a gun-guided radar, a calculating device and a sighting device. The radar made it possible to detect an air target in a circular or sector (within 30-80 degrees) search in azimuth and simultaneous search in elevation (within 30 degrees). Target capture was possible at ranges of at least 10 km at a flight altitude of 2000 m and at least 6 km at a flight altitude of 50 m. advance data for aiming guns at a predetermined point using hydraulic power drives.

ZSU-23-4 ensured the destruction of air targets flying at speeds up to 450 m / s, in a circular zone of fire in range - up to 2500 m, in height - up to 2000 m. The AZP-23-4 anti-aircraft gun had a rate of fire of up to 4000 rounds per minute, ammunition installation - 2000 rounds. ZSU-23-4 was in service with motorized rifle (tank) regiments. It was part of an anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery, which consisted of two platoons: a platoon of the Strela-1 air defense system and a platoon of the Shilka ZSU, and later - a part of the anti-aircraft battery (six ZSU) of the anti-aircraft battalion of a motorized rifle (tank) regiment. The battery was controlled by the air defense chief of the regiment through the automated control post PU-12 (PU-12M). Commands, orders and target designation data were received by the ZSU using radio stations installed at the command post and combat vehicles. "Shilka" could be used not only to cover the units of the regiment from attacks by an air enemy operating at low and extremely low altitudes, but also to fight a ground enemy, including lightly armored targets.

It should be noted that simultaneously with the development of the ZSU-23-4, the design of an installation equipped with a twin 37-mm gun (ZSU-37-2 "Yenisei") was going on. The creation of this sample was entrusted to NII-20 of the USSR State Committee for Radio Electronics. For fire control, the Baikal radio-instrument complex was developed. Tests of prototypes of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns ZSU-23-4 and ZSU-37-2 were carried out at the Donguz test site in 1961. As a result of the tests, the ZSU-37-2 was not recommended for adoption due to the low survivability of guns and the lack of reliability of guns in general. It was also planned to install a 37-mm Shkval quad assault rifle on the Yenisei, which was not put into service due to low reliability.

The closest foreign analogue of the ZSU-23-4 in the 1960s was the American 20-mm six-barreled installation M163 ("Volcano"). It consisted of a 20-mm Vulkan six-barrel gun and fire control equipment, located on the basis of the M113A1 tracked armored personnel carrier. The fire control system included: a gyro-stabilized sight with a calculating device, a radar rangefinder and sighting devices. "Shilka" was in service with the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as many states of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In combat conditions, it was used in the Arab-Israeli wars in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the Syrian army, batteries armed with the Shilka ZSU were part of the anti-aircraft divisions of tank divisions and individual tank brigades, and were also used to cover the batteries of the Kub (Square) air defense system. During the fighting, when repelling Israeli air raids, the Shilki operated autonomously. Fire on aircraft was opened from a range of 1500-2000 meters, as a rule, upon visual detection of an air target. However, it should be noted that radars were practically not used in combat conditions for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fighting was carried out mainly on rough terrain, including mountainous, where the terrain did not allow to fully realize the capabilities of the radar to detect air targets (the line-of-sight range was short). Secondly, the Syrian combat crews were not sufficiently prepared to work on complex equipment and the use of radars preferred visual detection of air targets. Thirdly, radar installations have limited search capabilities without preliminary target designation, which was absent in those conditions. Nevertheless, as the experience of hostilities has shown, the Shilka ZSU turned out to be quite an effective tool, especially for combating suddenly appearing low-flying air targets. The combat effectiveness of the ZSU-23-4 in these military conflicts was 0.15–0.18 per installation. At the same time, from 3300 to 5700 shells were taken for each downed air target. During October 1973, out of 98 aircraft shot down by Syrian air defense systems (ZRK Kvadrat, MANPADS Strela-2M, ZSU Shilka), ZSU accounted for 11. In April-May 1974, out of 19 shot down, the share of Shilok ” amounted to 5 aircraft. In addition, the ZSU-23-4 proved to be a highly maneuverable vehicle with good maneuverability in desert and mountainous terrain.

"Shilka" was widely used in combat operations in Afghanistan. However, here it was used not as an anti-aircraft weapon, but as a highly effective weapon to destroy ground targets. In this regard, it should be noted that the ZSU fire, in addition to the actual combat effect (fire destruction of objects, including lightly armored ones), also had a strong psychological impact on the enemy. A sea of fire and a flurry of fragments created by the firing of a rapid-fire anti-aircraft gun often caused panic in the enemy and led to a temporary loss of combat capability.

After the ZSU-23-4 was adopted by the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (in 1962), this complex went through several upgrades. The first was carried out in 1968–1969, as a result of which the operational and ergonomic characteristics of the installation were improved, the living conditions for the calculation were improved, and the resource of the gas turbine unit was increased (from 300 to 450 hours). To guide the tracking radar to a visually detected air target, a commander's guidance device was introduced. The upgraded installation was named ZSU-23-4V.

Further modernization of the ZSU was carried out in the direction of improving the calculating device and increasing the reliability of the electronic equipment. The resource of the gas turbine unit was also increased from 450 to 600 hours. ZSU with these improvements received the name ZSU-23-4V1. The next modernization of the installation, carried out in 1971-1972, ensured an increase in the survivability of cannon barrels (from 3000 to 4500 shots), the resource of the gas turbine unit was also increased (from 600 to 900 hours). In 1977-1978, Shilka was equipped with the Luk interrogator of the friend-or-foe radar identification system for air targets. This modification was named ZSU-23-4M3.

The next modernization (1978–1979) was aimed at reorienting the installation to combat ground targets in any combat conditions. For this purpose, the radio instrument complex and associated equipment were removed from the installation housing. Due to this, the transportable ammunition load was increased (from 2,000 to 3,000 rounds), and night vision equipment was introduced, which makes it possible to fire at ground targets at night. This option was named ZSU-23-4M2.

Many years of experience in the operation and combat use of the Shilka ZSU showed its certain shortcomings:

a small zone of effective shelling of air targets;
insufficient projectile power to hit new types of targets;
passing air targets unfired due to the impossibility of their timely detection by their own means.

Based on a generalization of the operating experience and combat use of ZSU, it was concluded that a new complex of this class should be as autonomous as possible, provide independent detection of low-flying targets using its own detection tools, and have more long-range weapons to destroy aircraft and helicopters. In order to expand the zone of fire of air targets (ensure the defeat to the line of use of airborne weapons by them at covered objects), it was considered expedient to put additional missile weapons on the ZSU with an optical sighting and radio control system for missiles. As a result of the analysis of these conclusions, the requirements for a new complex of this type were formed. They became the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun-missile system.

At the same time, life has shown that the modernization potential of the ZSU-23-4, which was put into service back in 1962, has not yet been exhausted. So, at the international aerospace show MAKS-99, held in the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow in August 1999, a new installation (ZSU-23-4M5) was presented. As a result of this modification, the Shilka turned into a cannon-missile system, since in addition to the standard cannon armament, the Strela-2 anti-aircraft guided missiles were installed on the combat vehicle.

It should be noted that there are two options for such an upgrade: "Shilka-M4" (with a traditional radar control system) and "Shilka-M5" (with a radar and optical-location control system). The main enterprises for the modernization of the ZSU "Shilka" are the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant" and the Minsk company "Minotor-service". In the course of these upgrades, the ZSU equipment was transferred to a new element base, which has improved operational, weight and size characteristics and lower power consumption.

Optical-location system ZSU "Shilka-M5" provides search, detection, automatic and semi-automatic tracking of air targets. The company "Minotor-service" provided the modernization of the chassis and power plant. By changing the layout of the engine compartment, it was possible to place an auxiliary diesel engine that provides electricity in the parking lot. As a result, there is no power take-off from the main engine and its resource is not consumed. The ergonomic characteristics of the ZSU have been significantly improved: instead of traditional control levers, a motorcycle-type steering column has been installed. Improved overview of the environment, which is carried out using a video camera. This ensures driving the car and maneuvering in reverse in combat conditions. In order to increase the survivability of the installation, its thermal visibility was reduced, for which the most heated elements of the hull (engine compartment, exhaust pipes) were covered with heat-absorbing material. Sensors are installed on the body that record the irradiation of the machine with a laser beam. The signals coming from such sensors are used to generate commands for shooting smoke grenades in the direction of the radiation source in order to disrupt the guidance of ATGMs with laser guidance systems. To increase the safety of the crew, seats with increased mine resistance are installed.

It is interesting to note that the waves of political transformations that shook our country at the end of the 20th century (the collapse of the USSR, the formation of independent states with their own armies in its place, etc.) reached the long-lived complex ZSU-23-4. In Ukraine, in the late 1990s, on the basis of "Shilka" at the Kharkov Tractor Plant. Malyshev developed the Donets missile and artillery complex. It uses the main elements of the following types of Soviet military equipment: the ZSU-23-4 Shilka turret, Strela-10SV short-range air defense missiles, and the chassis of the T-80UD tank.

A distinctive feature of this complex is that on the sides of the tower with four 23-mm guns, two twin launchers with Strela-10SV air defense missiles are installed. Artillery weapons ensure the defeat of air targets at a distance of up to 2.5 km at a height of up to 2 km, missiles - at a distance of up to 4.5 km at a height of up to 3.5 km. Cannon ammo load increased to 4000 rounds.

The complex has equipment that provides reception of target designation from external sources. Changes were also made to the chassis - an APU appeared, which ensures the operation of the equipment of the combat vehicle in the parking lot with the main engine turned off. Crew - three people, weight - 35 tons. Organizationally, the anti-aircraft missile battery includes six Donets combat vehicles and one control vehicle on the chassis of the T-80 tank. It has a three-coordinate detection radar. When creating the complex, it was assumed that it would be exported to countries that had previously purchased tanks made in Kharkov. In particular, Pakistan, which purchased 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine.

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 allied ground equipment with impunity. Due to such a high density of fire on Shilka, the following shooting tactics can be used - when the enemy approaches 1.0 - 1.3 km is enough. 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

The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" 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 self-propelled anti-aircraft 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. Prior to this, anti-aircraft systems of 23- and 37-mm ZU-23 and ZP-37 guns, 57-mm S-60 guns 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 up 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 unit commanders 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 combat formations of troops, columns on the march, stationary objects and railway echelons from 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 the 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 the requests to set targets much further away for the Shiloks 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. Shilka saved the lives of thousands of Soviet soldiers.

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 near 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 fragments. 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 photo: ZSU-23-4 tanks T-55 cover the exercises

Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun "Shilka". Shilka (anti-aircraft self-propelled gun) Types of fire on ZSU 23 4

You might be interested: