In the first two decades after its appearance, aviation became a formidable fighting force. Naturally, means immediately began to appear to counteract its destructive onslaught. Even the simplest airplanes from the First World War could inflict significant damage on the opposing forces. Then there was Spain, Abyssinia and many other conflicts that took place with the use of aircraft that bombed often defenseless positions or peaceful villages without meeting resistance. However, massive opposition to aviation began in 1939, when World War II broke out. became a separate type of weapon. More often main problem The ground forces were represented by enemy attack aircraft operating at low altitudes and delivering precise bombing strikes. This situation has not fundamentally changed over the past seven decades.
Historical background of the Shilka concept
Already in the late twenties of the 20th century, many arms manufacturers, anticipating growing demand, began developing rapid-fire artillery systems designed primarily to combat air targets. As a result, samples of small-caliber guns on turret stands, equipped with circular rotating mechanisms, appeared. Examples include 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 quantities. The Oerlikons, developed in Switzerland (1927) and used by all belligerents of World War II, became very famous. The systems have shown high effectiveness in defeating attack aircraft forced to operate at low altitude. The caliber of these rapid-fire guns was usually 20 mm with different cartridge lengths (the initial speed, and therefore the range, depends on the volume of the explosive in the cartridge case). An increase in the rate of fire was achieved by using multi-barrel systems. This is how the general concept was formed, according to which the Soviet anti-aircraft self-propelled gun “Shilka” was subsequently created.
Why do we need a self-propelled rapid-firing 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 followed the path of increasing the ceiling and speed, but it became unsafe for ordinary attack aircraft to appear above enemy positions. True, they had one reliable way to avoid being hit by an air defense missile, and it was to approach the target at an extremely low altitude. At the end of the 60s, the anti-aircraft artillery of the USSR was not ready to repel attacks from enemy aircraft flying along a flat trajectory at high speed. The reaction 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 in a matter of seconds. Automation and reliable detection systems were required. In 1957, a secret resolution of the Council of Ministers initiated the start of work on the creation of rapid-fire self-propelled guns. They also came up with a name: the Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. All that was left to do was to design and manufacture it.
What kind of ZSU should it be?
The requirements for the new technology included many points, among which were many unique to our gunsmiths. Here are some of them:
The Shilka anti-aircraft gun must have a built-in radar to detect hostile aircraft.
Caliber - 23 mm. It is, of course, small, but the practice of previous military operations has shown that with a high rate of fire, an explosive fragmentation charge can easily cause damage sufficient to neutralize the combat effectiveness of the attacking vehicle.
The system must contain an automatic device that develops an algorithm for tracking a target during firing conducted in different conditions, including on the move. Considering the elemental base of the mid-20th century, the task is not simple.
The Shilka installation must be self-propelled, capable of moving over rough terrain no worse than any tank.
Cannons
Since Stalin's times, the artillery of the USSR was the best in the world, so there were no questions regarding everything related to the “barrels”. All that was left was to choose best option loading mechanism (belt was considered the best). AZP-23 23-mm Amur caliber automatic cannon with an impressive “productivity” of 3400 rounds/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 if it fell into the crosshairs. The trunks were equipped with a stabilization system; their position was controlled by hydraulic drives. There were four guns.
Where to put the radar antenna?
ZSU-23 "Shilka" is structurally designed according to the classical design with a fighting compartment, aft power plant, rear transmission and a 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 mechanical destruction of the “plate” from the vibrations that occur during shooting. In addition, in conditions of strong electronic counteraction (jamming), 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 folded and placed above the power compartment at the stern.
Motor and chassis
Borrowed from the PT-76 light tank. It includes six road wheels on each side. The shock absorbers are torsion bar, the tracks are equipped with rubber bushings-seals to protect against premature wear.
Uprated engine (V6P), 280 hp. s., with ejection Five-speed transmission, provides a range from 30 km/h (on difficult terrain) to 50 km/h (on the highway). Cruising range without refueling is up to 450 km/h with fully filled tanks.
The ZU-23 installation is equipped with a perfect air filtration system, including a labyrinth system of partitions, as well as additional screening of exhaust gas pollution.
The total weight of the vehicle is 21 tons, including the turret - more than 8 tons.
Devices
The electronic equipment that is equipped with the Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled gun is combined into a single RPK-2M fire control system. The radio instrument complex includes a radar (1RL33M2, assembled on a lamp element base), (at the time the sample was created it was called a computing device), a radio interference protection system, and a backup optical sight.
The complex provides the ability to detect a target (at a distance of up to 20 km), automatically track it (up to 15 km), change the carrier frequency of pulses in the event of interference (wobulation), and calculate fire parameters to achieve a high probability of projectile hits. 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 via the R-123M radio station, internal communication is carried out via the TPU-4 intercom.
Venerable age and experience of use
The Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled gun was put into service more than half a century ago. Despite such a venerable age for anti-aircraft weapons, four dozen states still have them in the arsenal of their armed forces. The Israeli army, which in 1973 experienced the devastating effect of four barrels of this self-propelled gun on its aircraft, continues to use sixty copies captured from Egypt, plus additional ones purchased later. In addition to the republics that formerly made up the USSR, Soviet anti-aircraft guns are ready to use many in Asia and Arab world. Some of them have experience combat use these air defense systems, which managed to fight in both the Middle East and Vietnam (and by no means against weak opponents). They are also in armies former countries and in considerable quantities. And what is characteristic: nowhere and no one calls the ZU-23 an antique or any other nickname characterizing an outdated weapon.
Modernizations and prospects
Yes, the good old “Shilka” is no longer young. The anti-aircraft gun has undergone several modernizations aimed at improving performance and increasing reliability. She learned to distinguish her planes from others, began to act faster, and the electronics received new units based on a modern element base. The last “upgrade” took place in the nineties, at which 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 beyond its reach. What can you do, progress...
At the end of the 50s. After the Soviet Army adopted high-precision anti-aircraft missiles, foreign aviation specialists urgently had to develop new tactics. Pilots were asked to fly at extremely low altitudes to avoid detection by new air defense systems. During this period, the standard air defense system for the troops was the ZSU-57-2, but it could not cope with the new task, so it was urgently necessary to develop a more modern self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. Such a car appeared in 1964. It was.
ZSU-23-4 Shilka is designed for direct cover of ground forces, 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 , from a short stop and on the move.
The welded body of the TM-575 tracked vehicle is divided into three control compartments in the bow, a combat compartment in the middle and a power compartment in the stern. Between them there were partitions that served as the front and rear supports of the tower. The tower is a welded structure with a ring diameter of 1840 mm. It is attached to the frame by the front frontal plates, on the left and right walls of which the upper and lower gun cradles are attached. When the swinging part of the gun is given an elevation angle, the embrasure of the frame is partially covered by a movable shield, the roller of which slides along the guide of the lower cradle.
On the right side plate there are three hatches, one, with a bolted cover, is used for mounting turret equipment, the other two are closed with a visor and are air inlets for ventilation of units and superchargers of the PAZ system. A casing is welded to the outside of the left side of the turret, designed to remove steam from the gun barrel cooling system. There are two hatches in the rear turret for servicing equipment.
The turret is equipped with a 23-mm quad gun AZP-23 "Amur" with a rate of fire of 11 rounds per second each. It, together with the turret, was assigned the index 2A10, the gun's submachine guns - 2A7, and the power drives - 2E2. The automatic operation of the gun is based on the removal of powder gases through a side hole in the barrel wall. The barrel consists of a pipe, cooling system casings, gas chamber and a flame arrester. The valve is wedge, with the wedge lowering down. The length of the machine gun 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 with all four guns, or with a pair or any of the four. The gun barrels and the antenna of the radar-instrument complex are completely stabilized, thanks to which the installation can fire effectively while moving.
The cartridges are fed from the side, chambering is direct, directly from the link with the cartridge skewed. Right-hand machines have right-hand tape feed, left-hand ones - left-hand feed. The tape is fed into the receiving windows of the machines from the cartridge box. For this purpose, the energy of powder gases is used, driving the feed mechanism through the bolt frame, and partly the recoil energy of the machine guns. The gun is equipped with two boxes of 1000 rounds of ammunition (of which the upper machine gun has 480, and the lower machine has 520 rounds) 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 machines are mounted on each cradle. Two cradles (upper and lower) are mounted on the frame, one above the other, at a distance of 320 mm from each other in a horizontal position, the lower one is extended forward in relation to the upper one by 320 mm. The parallelism of the trunks is ensured by a parallelogram rod connecting both cradles.
The gun's ammunition load includes 23-mm BZT and OFZT shells. Armor-piercing BZT shells weighing 190 g do not have a fuse and explosive, but contain only incendiary agent for tracing. OFZT fragmentation shells weighing 188.5 g have an MG-25 head fuse. The propellant charge for both projectiles is the same - 77 g of 5/7 TsFP grade gunpowder. Cartridge weight 450 g. Steel sleeve, disposable. The ballistic data of both projectiles are the same - initial speed 980 m/s, table ceiling 1500 m, table range 2000 m. OFZT projectiles are equipped with self-liquidating devices with an action time of 5-11 s. The machine is fed by a belt, for 50 rounds. The belt alternates four OFZT cartridges - one BZT cartridge, etc.
Guidance and stabilization of the AZP-23 gun is carried out by 2E2 power guidance drives. The 2E2 system used a URS (Jenny coupling) for horizontal guidance - URS No. 5, and for vertical guidance - URS No. 2.5. Both operate from a common DSO-20 electric motor 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) mode is the auto-tracking mode, angular coordinates and range are determined by the radar, which automatically tracks the target along them, providing data to the computing device (analog computer) for generating pre-emptive coordinates. Fire is opened upon the “Data available” signal on the counting device. The RPK automatically generates full pointing angles, taking into account the pitching and yaw of the self-propelled gun and sends them to the guidance drives, and the latter automatically point the gun at the lead point. Firing is carried out by the commander or search operator - gunner.
The second mode - 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 aimed automatically by the search operator - the gunner, 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 operation of the antenna guidance system along angular coordinates, or, in the event of a malfunction in the auto-tracking channel, along the angular coordinates of the radar. Otherwise, the complex works the same as in auto tracking mode.
The third mode - pre-emptive coordinates are generated based on the “remembered” values of the current coordinates X, Y. H and the components of the target’s speed, based on the hypothesis of a uniform straight motion targets in any plane. The mode is used when there is a threat of losing a radar target during automatic tracking due to interference or malfunctions.
The fourth mode is shooting using a backup sight, aiming is carried out in semi-automatic mode. The lead is introduced by the search operator - the gunner along the angle rings of the backup sight. This mode is used when the radar, computer and stabilization systems fail.
The radar-instrument complex is designed to control the fire of the AZP-23 cannon and is located in the instrument compartment of the tower. It consists of a radar station, a computing device, blocks and elements of stabilization systems for the line of sight and line of fire, and 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 tracked automatically, b) angular coordinates come from the sighting device, and range - from the radar.
The radar operates in the 1-1.5 cm wavelength range. The choice of range is due to a number of reasons. Such stations have antennas with small weight and dimensions. Radars in the 1-1.5 cm wavelength range are less susceptible to deliberate enemy interference, since the ability to operate in a wide frequency band allows, by using broadband frequency modulation and signal coding, to increase noise immunity and the processing speed of received information. 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 stealth technology. According to foreign press information, during Operation Desert Storm, an Iraqi ZSU-23-4 Shilka shot down an American F-117A aircraft built using this technology.
The disadvantage of radar is its 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 ZSU-23-4 Shilka radar uses a coherent-pulse target selection method, 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 is equipped with an 8D6 diesel engine, which was given the designation B-6R by the manufacturer 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.
The GM-575 tracked chassis is equipped with two welded aluminum alloy fuel tanks: a front one with a capacity of 405 liters and a rear one with a capacity of 110 liters. The first is located in a separate compartment of the bow of the hull.
In the rear part of the hull there is a mechanical power transmission, with a stepwise change in gear ratios. The main clutch is multi-disc, dry friction. The main clutch control drive is mechanical, from the pedal at the driver's seat. The gearbox is a mechanical three-way, five-speed, with synchronizers in 2.3 4th and 5th gears. The rotation mechanisms are planetary, two-stage, with locking clutches. Final drives are single-stage with spur gears.
The chassis of the machine consists of two drive wheels, two guide wheels with a track tensioning mechanism, two track chains and twelve support wheels. The drive wheels are welded, with removable rims, rear-mounted. Single guide wheels with metal arches. The support rollers are welded, single, with rubberized rims. The caterpillar chain is metal, with lantern engagement, with closed hinges, made of 93 steel tracks connected to each other by steel pins. Track width 362 mm, track pitch 128 mm.
The vehicle's suspension is independent, asymmetrical torsion bar, with hydraulic shock absorbers on the first front, fifth left and sixth right road wheels; spring stops on the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth left track rollers and the first, third, fourth and sixth right track rollers.
The power supply system is designed to power all ZSU-23-4 consumers with direct current voltages of 55 V and 27.5 V. and alternating current voltage 220 V, frequency 400 Hz.
The ZSU-23-4 Shilka is equipped with a short-wave frequency-modulated telephone transceiver radio station R-123. Its range of action in moderately rough terrain with the noise suppressor turned off and no interference is up to 23 km, and with the noise suppressor turned on - up to 13 km. For internal communication, a tank intercom P-124 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 is moving, the operating time 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 control compartment. For this purpose, a central supercharger with inertial air segmentation is used.
Shilka went into serial production of the ZSU-23-4 in 1964. That year it was planned to produce 40 vehicles, but this was not possible. However, mass production of the ZSU-23-4 was later launched. During the 60s, their average annual production was about 300 cars.
ZSU-23-4 Shilka began to enter service with the troops in 1965 and by the beginning of the 70s they completely replaced the ZSU-57-2. Initially, the statewide tank regiment had a “Shilok” division, which consisted of two batteries of four vehicles each. At the end of the 60s, it often happened that in a division one battery had a ZSU-23-4 and one battery had a ZSU-57-2. Later, motorized rifle and tank regiments received standard anti-aircraft battery, consisting of two platoons. One platoon had four Shilka self-propelled air defense systems, and the other had four Strela-1 self-propelled air defense systems (later Strela-10 air defense systems).
Operation of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka showed that the RPK-2 works well under conditions of passive interference. We practically did not actively interfere with the Shilka during our exercises, since there were no radio countermeasures at its operating frequencies, at least in the 70s. Significant shortcomings of the PKK were also revealed, which often needed reconfiguration. Instability of the electrical parameters of the circuits was noted. The RPK 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 modernizations, the main purpose of which was to increase the reliability of various components and assemblies, primarily the RPK. The vehicles of the first modernization received the index ZSU-23-4V, and the second - ZSU-23-4V1. The main tactical and technical characteristics of self-propelled guns remained unchanged.
In October 1967, a resolution of the Council of Ministers was issued on a more serious modernization of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Its most important part was the redesign 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. During the modernization process, the pneumatic charging of the 2A7 assault rifles was replaced by pyrocharging, which made it possible to exclude an unreliably operating compressor and a number of other components from the design. The welded coolant drain pipe was replaced with a flexible pipeline - this increased the barrel life from 3500 to 4500 shots. In 1973, the modernized ZSU-23-4M was accepted for service along with the 2A7M assault rifle and the 2A10M cannon. ZSU-23-4M received the designation "Biryusa", but in the army units it was still called "Shilka".
After the next modernization, the anti-aircraft self-propelled gun will receive the index ZSU-23-4M3 (3 - interrogator). For the first time, “friend or foe” identification equipment was installed on it. Later, during repairs, all ZSU-23-4M were brought to the level of ZSU-23-4M3. Production of the ZSU-23-4M3 ceased in 1982.
There are different points of view on the effectiveness of the Shilka in the fight against air targets. Thus, during the 1973 war, Shilki accounted for about 10% of all Israeli aircraft losses (the rest were distributed between air defense systems and fighter aircraft). However, the pilots taken prisoner showed that the Shilkas literally created a sea of fire and the pilots instinctively left the ZSU fire zone and fell into the range of the air defense missile system. During Operation Desert Storm, pilots of the multinational forces tried not to operate unnecessarily at altitudes below 1300 m, fearing the fire of 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 - the radio instrument complex on it was dismantled as unnecessary, due to which it was possible to increase the ammunition load from 2000 to 4000 rounds. A night sight was also installed on the vehicle.
"Shilkas" 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 (on both sides), and the Gulf War in 1991.
Serial production of "Shilok" was completed in 1983. Currently, self-propelled guns of this type are in service in 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 diagram
Crew, people 4
Case length, mm 6535
Case width, mm 3125
Height, mm 2500
Ground clearance, mm 400
Armor type rolled steel bulletproof (9-15mm)
Armament
Caliber and brand of gun 4? 23-mm AZP-23 "Amur"
Gun type rifled automatic
Barrel length, caliber 82
Gun ammunition 2000
Angles VN, degrees. ?4…+85
Optical sights, RPK-2 radar
Engine type in-line
6-cylinder diesel liquid cooled
Engine power, l. With. 280
Highway speed, km/h 50
Speed over rough terrain, km/h 25-30
Cruising range on the highway, km 450
Cruising range over rough terrain, km 300
Specific power, l. s./t 14.7
Suspension type: individual torsion bar
Climbability, degrees. thirty
Wall to be overcome, m 0.7
Ditch to be overcome, m 2.5
Fordability, m 1.0
We are smoothly moving from the ZSU-57-2 to the great (and I’m not afraid of this word at all) successor. “Shaitan-arbe” - “Shilke”.
We can talk about this complex endlessly, but one thing is enough. short phrase: “In service since 1965.” And enough, in general.
History... The history of its creation has been replicated in such a way that it is unrealistic to add anything new or piquant, but speaking about the “Shilka”, one cannot help but note several facts that simply fit the “Shilka” into our military history.
So, the 60s of the last century. Jet aircraft have ceased to be a miracle, representing a completely serious strike force. With completely different speeds and maneuvering capabilities. Helicopters also mounted a propeller and were considered not only as a vehicle, but also as a quite decent weapons platform.
And most importantly, helicopters began to try to catch up with the planes of World War II, 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. The thing is promising, but in the future. But the main load was still borne by anti-aircraft guns of all sizes and calibers.
We have already talked about the ZSU-57-2 and the difficulties that installation calculations encountered when working on low-flying fast targets. Anti-aircraft systems ZU-23, ZP-37, ZSU-57 could hit high-speed targets by accident. The projectiles of the installations, impact action, without a fuse, had to hit the target itself to be guaranteed destruction. I cannot judge how high the probability of a direct hit was.
Things were somewhat better with batteries of S-60 anti-aircraft guns, the guidance of which could be carried out automatically according to the data of the RPK-1 radio instrument complex.
But in general, there was no longer talk of any accurate anti-aircraft fire. Anti-aircraft guns could put a barrier in front of the plane, 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 appreciated by the ZSU-57-2. But the main thing is accuracy.
General designer Nikolai Aleksandrovich Astrov managed to create an incomparable machine that performed well 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 the purpose.
"Shilka" is intended to protect combat formations of troops, columns on the march, stationary objects and railway trains from enemy air attacks at altitudes from 100 to 1500 meters, at ranges from 200 to 2500 meters at target speeds of up to 450 m/s. The Shilka can fire from a standstill and on the move, and is equipped with equipment that provides 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 power drive system designed for guidance.
The second component of the complex is the RPK-2M radar and instrument complex. Its purpose is also clear. Fire guidance and control.
This particular vehicle was modernized in the late 80s, judging by the commander’s triplex and night sight.
An important aspect: “Shilka” can work with both a radar and a conventional optical sighting device.
The locator provides search, detection, automatic tracking of a target, and determines its coordinates. But in the mid-70s, the Americans invented and began arming aircraft with missiles that could find a radar beam using a radar beam and hit it. This is where simplicity comes in handy.
The third component. The GM-575 chassis, on which everything is actually mounted.
The Shilka crew consists of four people: a self-propelled gun commander, a search and 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 hit your head on, but also (it seemed to us) it can easily and naturally apply an electric shock. Very cramped.
Positions of the range operator and gunner-operator. Top view in hover.
Analogue electronics... You look in awe. Apparently, the operator determined the range using the round screen of the oscilloscope... Uh...
“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 was responsible for another two dozen local wars and conflicts. Mainly 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 down an ambush organized in the mountains is to use the Shilka. A long burst of four barrels and a subsequent shower of high-explosive shells at the intended positions is the best remedy that saved more than one hundred lives of our soldiers.
By the way, the fuse went off quite normally when it hit an adobe wall. And trying to hide behind the duvals of villages usually did not lead to anything good for dushmans...
Considering that the Afghan partisans did not have aviation, the Shilka fully realized its potential for firing at ground targets in the mountains.
Moreover, a special “Afghan version” was created: a radio device complex was removed, which was completely unnecessary in those conditions. Thanks to it, 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, columns accompanied by Shilka were rarely attacked. This is also a recognition.
It can also be considered recognition that the Shilka is still in service in our army. More than 30 years. Yes, this is far from the same car that began its career in Egypt. “Shilka” has undergone (successfully) more than one deep modernization, and one of these modernizations even received its own name, ZSU-23-4M “Biryusa”.
39 countries, and not only our “faithful friends,” purchased from Soviet Union these cars.
And today the Russian army also has Shilki in service. But these are completely different machines, which are worth a separate story.
The ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was put into service more than 50 years ago, but despite this, it still copes with its tasks perfectly and even surpasses much later foreign-made vehicles. Let’s try to figure it out further what is responsible for such success of “Shilka”.
NATO experts 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 began an intelligence operation with the aim of acquiring another Shilka model, contacting the brothers of Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. Why was NATO so interested in the Soviet self-propelled gun?
I really wanted to know: is it possible? major changes in a modernized Soviet ZSU? The interest was understandable. "Shilka" was the most unique weapon, has not lost the championship in its class for two decades. Its contours became clearly visible in 1961, when Soviet science celebrated the victory of Gagarin's flight.
So, what is unique about the ZSU-23-4? Retired colonel Anatoly Dyakov tells the story, whose fate is closely connected with this weapon - he served for decades in the air defense forces of the Ground Forces:
“If we talk about the main thing, we for the first time began to systematically hit aerial targets with the Shilka. Prior to this, anti-aircraft systems of 23- and 37-mm ZU-23 and ZP-37 guns, and 57-mm S-60 guns hit high-speed targets only by accident. The shells for them are impact-type, without a fuse. To hit a target, it had to be hit directly by a projectile. The likelihood of this is minuscule. In a word, the previously created anti-aircraft weapons could only put a barrier in front of the plane, forcing the pilot to drop bombs away from the planned location...
In the photo: Kandahar. Nagahan turn. 1986 ZSU-23-4... "SILKA"... "SHAYTAN-ARBA"
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. A real revolution. Imagine, you don’t need to roll the guns... When arranging an ambush for batteries of S-60 anti-aircraft guns, you will suffer - it’s difficult to hide guns on the ground. And what does it take to build a battle formation, “become attached” to the area, connect all the points (power units, guns, gun guidance station, fire control devices) with a large cable system. What crowded crews there were!.. And here is a compact mobile unit. She came, fired from an ambush and left, then look for the wind in the field... Today's officers, those who think in the categories of the nineties, perceive the phrase “autonomous complex” differently: they say, what’s unusual here? And in the sixties it was a feat of design thought, the pinnacle of engineering solutions.”
The self-propelled Shilka really has many advantages. The general designer, Doctor of Technical Sciences Nikolai Astrov, as they say, is not a complete anti-aircraft gunner, managed to create a machine that has proven itself in many local wars and military conflicts.
To clarify what we're talking about, let’s talk about the purpose and composition of the 23-mm quad anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-23-4 “Shilka”. It is designed to protect combat formations of troops, columns on the march, stationary objects and railway trains from enemy air attacks at altitudes from 100 to 1500 meters, at ranges from 200 to 2500 meters at target speeds of up to 450 m/s. The Shilka can also be used to destroy moving ground targets at a range of up to 2000 meters. It fires from a standstill and on the move, and is equipped with equipment that provides autonomous circular and sector search for targets, their tracking, development of gun pointing angles and its control.
The ZSU-23-4 consists of a 23-mm quadruple automatic anti-aircraft gun AZP-23, power drives designed for guidance. The next most important element is the RPU-2 radar and instrument complex. It serves, of course, to control fire. Moreover, “Shilka” could work both with a radar and with a conventional optical sighting device. A locator is, of course, good; it provides search, detection, automatic tracking of a target, and determines its coordinates. But at that time, the Americans began to install missiles on airplanes that could find a radar beam using a radar beam and hit it. And a viewer is a viewer. He disguised himself, saw the plane, and immediately opened fire. And no problem. The GM-575 tracked vehicle provides the ZSU with high speed of movement, maneuverability and increased maneuverability. Day and night surveillance devices allow the driver and commander of the self-propelled gun system to monitor the road and surrounding conditions at any time of the day, and communication equipment provides external communication and communication between crew numbers. The crew of the self-propelled gun consists of four people: the SPAAG commander, 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 state tests were carried out, in 1962, on October sixteenth, the USSR Minister of Defense issued an order to put it into service, and three years later it began mass release. A little later - trial by combat.
Let’s give the floor again to Anatoly Dyakov:
“In 1982, when the Lebanese war was going on, I was on a business trip to Syria. At that time, Israel was making serious attempts to attack the troops located in the Bekaa Valley. I remember that immediately after the raid, Soviet specialists were brought the wreckage of an F-16 aircraft, the most modern at that time, shot down by the Shilka.
You could also say that the warm debris made me happy, but I wasn’t surprised by the fact itself. I knew that the Shilka could suddenly open fire in any area and give excellent results. Because I had to conduct electronic duels with Soviet aircraft in training center, near Ashgabat, where we trained specialists for one of the Arab countries. And not once were pilots in desert areas able to detect us. They themselves were targets, and that’s all, just take them 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.
“At the college that was being created,” he said, “American and Soviet specialists taught. The material part was represented by American anti-aircraft installations "Typhoon" and "Vulcan", as well as our "Shilki". At first, Yemeni officers and cadets were pro-American, believing that everything American was the best. But their confidence was thoroughly shaken during the first live firing exercises that the cadets performed. American Vulcans and our Shilkas were installed at the training ground. Moreover, American installations were serviced and prepared for firing only by American specialists. On the Shilki, all operations were performed by Arabs.
Both the warning about security measures and the requests to place targets for the Shiloks much further than for the Vulcans were perceived by many as propaganda attacks by the Russians. But when our first installation fired a salvo, spewing out a sea of fire and a hail of spent cartridges, American specialists with enviable haste ducked into the hatches and took their installation away.
And on the mountain the targets, blown to pieces, burned brightly. During the entire shooting period, the Shilkas worked flawlessly. "Vulcans" had a number of serious breakdowns. One of them was dealt with only with the help of Soviet specialists...”
It is appropriate to say here: Israeli intelligence discovered that the Arabs first used the Shilka 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 studied primarily by NATO specialists. They were interested in how it was more effective than the American 20-mm Vulcan XM-163 self-propelled gun, and whether it was possible to take into account its best design features when fine-tuning the West German 35-mm twin self-propelled gun "Gepard", which had just begun to enter the army.
The reader will probably ask: why later, already in the early eighties, did the Americans need another model? “Shilka” was rated very highly by experts, and therefore, when it became known that modernized versions had begun to be produced, they decided to get another car overseas.
Our self-propelled gun was indeed constantly modernized, in particular, one of the variants even acquired a new name - ZSU-23-4M Biryusa. But it didn’t change elementally. Except that over time a commander's device appeared - for ease of guidance and transfer of the turret to the target. The blocks became more perfect and reliable every year. Locator, for example.
And, of course, the authority of Shilka grew in Afghanistan. There were no commanders there who were indifferent to her. A convoy is walking along the roads, and suddenly there is fire from an ambush, try to organize a defense, all the vehicles have already been targeted. There is only one salvation - “Shilka”. A long line into the enemy camp, and a sea of fire in the position. They called the self-propelled gun “shaitan-arba”. The start of her work was determined immediately and the withdrawal immediately began. “Shilka” saved the lives of thousands of Soviet soldiers.
In Afghanistan, the Shilka fully realized the ability to fire at ground targets in the mountains. Moreover, a special “Afghan version” was created. A radio device complex was seized from the ZSU. Thanks to it, the ammunition load was increased from 2000 to 4000 rounds. A night sight was also installed.
Interesting touch. Columns accompanied by the Shilka were rarely attacked, not only in the mountains, but also near populated areas. The ZSU was dangerous for manpower hidden behind the adobe ducts - the fuse of the “Sh” projectile was triggered when it hit the wall. The Shilka was also effective against 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 more appeared modern generation. And only “Shilka” has been in combat service for more than thirty years. It justified itself during the war in Persian Gulf 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 goals to smithereens.
And now, at low altitudes, the Shilka self-propelled gun, together with the Strela-3 complex, opens 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 USSR’s allies 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 famous American installation “Vulcan”.
The Vulcan, which entered 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 higher speeds - up to 450 m/s. My interlocutor Anatoly Dyakov said that he acted in a training battle on the Vulcan in Jordan and cannot say that the American vehicle is better, although it was adopted later. Jordanian experts have approximately the same opinion.
In the photo: Egyptian “Shilkas” at the 1973 parade.
A fundamental difference from the Shilka is the Gepard self-propelled gun (Germany). The large caliber of the gun (35 mm) makes it possible to have shells with a fuse and, accordingly, greater effectiveness of destruction - the target is hit by shrapnel. The West German ZSU can hit targets at altitudes of up to 3 kilometers, flying at speeds of 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 versus - 3400 ("Vulcan" - 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 machine of a later generation.
The French anti-aircraft artillery complex Turren AMX-13 and the Swedish Bofors EAAC-40 are known in many countries. But they are not superior to the ZSU created by Soviet scientists and workers. "Shilka" is still in service today ground forces many armies of the world, including the Russian one.
In the photo: ZSU-23-4 cover T-55 tanks during exercises
Of all the anti-aircraft systems built after World War II, it has the longest and most impressive track record.
The Middle East became the place of baptism of fire for “Shilka”, then there was the fight against American aviation in Vietnam, numerous conflicts on the African continent and the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan Mujahideen did not have aviation, so the Shilka was used for other purposes: the ZSU-23-4 was used to support ground forces and protect transport convoys. The Dushmans called “Shilka” “shaitan-arba” and were very afraid of her.
ZSU-23-4 is designed to cover ground troops, as well as combat low-flying targets. "Shilka" was part of the air defense of the regimental level. Potential opponents highly appreciated the combat effectiveness of this anti-aircraft complex, at one time the Americans and Israelis spent a lot of effort to get it for study.
Currently, the ZSU-23-4 is considered an obsolete anti-aircraft gun, back in Soviet time its replacement began with the more advanced Tunguska air defense missile system. Despite this, Shilkas are still in service with the armed forces of Russia, Ukraine and several dozen other countries. They are actively used in local conflicts in third world countries.
Since the start of mass production, 6.5 thousand units of these weapons have been manufactured.
History of creation
During the Second World War, air attacks during the march became a big problem for ground forces: attack aircraft, operating at low altitudes, caused enormous damage to manpower and military equipment. The Germans, who suffered severe losses from Western aviation at the end of the war, developed a small-caliber anti-aircraft gun called Kugelblitz (“Ball Lightning”). It had two 30-mm guns and a radar, with the help of which it detected the enemy and aimed at the target. The rate of fire of the Kugelblitz was 850 rounds per minute, and they even tried to install night vision devices on it. This ZSU was far ahead of its time and became the subject of study and copying for many years.
Soviet infantry and tank crews did not have such luxury and suffered greatly from German air raids throughout the war. They began to correct the situation after the victory over the Germans.
In 1947, work began on the creation of a 57-mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-57-2. However, at the time production began, this complex was already outdated. It had a too low rate of fire (220-240 rounds per minute), clip-on loading and an open turret at the top. The ZSU-57-2 did not have a radar, so the target could only be detected visually, and it also did not have a protection system against weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, the potential enemy was not asleep: the Americans, having studied captured samples of the German “Ball Lightning”, adopted a 40-mm ZSU with a radar target detection system in 1956.
In 1957, work began in the USSR on the creation of a new self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. Two competing projects were launched at once: the ZSU-37-2 Yenisei, armed with two 37 mm guns, and the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, with four 23 mm guns. Both anti-aircraft installations were equipped with a radar, had a tracked chassis and a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. Formally, they were intended to solve various tasks: “Yenisei” provided protection for armored forces, and “Shilka” was supposed to cover motorized rifle units. Both complexes had belt-fed guns and water-cooled barrels.
By 1960, both anti-aircraft systems were ready, and their testing began. The ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” turned out to be 1.5-2 times more effective than its competitor in shooting at low-flying high-speed targets, but the “Yenisei” was superior to it in terms of engagement height. The commission recommended the adoption of both anti-aircraft systems. However, only the Shilka went into production; work on the Yenisei was suspended.
By 1970, "Shilka" became the main mobile anti-aircraft complex of the SA, it completely replaced the ZSU-57-2 and began to be exported. Shilkas were first used during the 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. Then the Syrian air defense managed to destroy 98 Israeli Air Force aircraft, 10% of which were ZSU-23-4. Dense flak at low altitudes had a demoralizing effect on Israeli pilots, forcing them to rise to high altitudes, where they became easy prey for air defense systems.
“Shilkas” were used during the Iran-Iraq War (by both sides), in the final stages of the Vietnam War, and during Operation Desert Storm.
In Afghanistan, Soviet troops used the ZSU-23-4 to destroy ground targets. The unnecessary radar was removed from the Shilka and the ammunition load was increased to 4 thousand shells. After the Shilka appeared on the battlefield, the dushmans usually began to retreat.
The main disadvantage of the Shilka was the insufficient power of the 23-mm projectile, which did not suit the military and slant range guns, and insufficient high-explosive effect of shells. When creating a new attack aircraft, the Americans tested on it the effects of a captured Shilka, captured by Jews during the 1973 war. This is how the famous A-10 “Warthog” appeared, which is really well protected from 23 mm anti-aircraft ammunition. The Americans actively advertised this aircraft, calling it invulnerable to Soviet air defense fire.
They tried to convert the ZSU-23-4 to a more powerful 30-mm projectile, but it turned out that it was easier and cheaper to build a new anti-aircraft gun than to modernize an old one. And so it was done: in 1982, the Tunguska ZSU, armed with 30-mm automatic cannons, was put into service.
Over the years of operation of this complex, several modifications have been developed.
Description of design
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" has a welded body with bulletproof and anti-fragmentation armor. It is divided into three compartments: control, located in the front of the vehicle, the fighting compartment, located in its center, and the power compartment, in the rear. On the right side of the anti-aircraft gun there are three hatches, through which the equipment of the machine is dismantled and serviced, as well as the ventilation of the units.
The Shilki turret is equipped with a quadruple 23-mm AZP-23 Amur gun, the automation of which operates by removing powder gases from the barrel. Each barrel is equipped with a cooling system casing and a flash suppressor. The cartridge feed is lateral, from a belt link with the cartridge skewed. The tapes are in cartridge boxes. The turret contains two boxes; the system for cocking anti-aircraft guns is pneumatic.
The Shilka ammunition consists of two types of 23-mm shells: armor-piercing BZT and fragmentation OFZT. Armor-piercing BZT ammunition does not have an explosive and contains only an incendiary composition for tracing. OFZT shells have a fuse and a self-destructive device (action time is 5-10 seconds). In a belt for four rounds of OFZT there is one BZT.
Guidance is carried out using hydraulic drives, manual guidance is also possible. The rate of fire is 3400 rounds per minute.
In the instrument compartment of the tower there is a radar-instrument complex, with the help of which the target is searched, tracked, and projectile trajectories and the necessary lead are calculated. The detection range of airborne objects is 18 km.
The Shilka anti-aircraft complex can fire at air targets in several modes:
- in automatic;
- in semi-automatic;
- along foreshortening rings;
- according to remembered coordinates;
- against ground targets.
Automatic firing mode is considered the main one.
The radar-instrument complex consists of the following elements:
- lamp radar 1RL33M2;
- analog counting and solving device;
- sighting device;
- stabilization systems.
The combat vehicle is equipped with an R-123M radio station and a TPU-4 intercom.
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is equipped with a V6R diesel engine. It has six cylinders, liquid cooling and a maximum power of 206 kW. The vehicle has two aluminum fuel tanks with a total volume of 515 liters. This was enough for up to 400 km. The additional installation is intended to power the on-board electronics.
The chassis of the machine consists of two drive wheels, two guide wheels and twelve road wheels with rubber-coated rims. Suspension – independent torsion bar.
The crew is protected from weapons of mass destruction by creating excess pressure in the fighting compartment and purifying the air.
The modernization of the Shilka anti-aircraft complex followed the path of improving its ability to detect air targets, as well as increasing the security of the complex. Back in the mid-70s, the Ovod-M-SV complex was created to control the fire of anti-aircraft guns at the regimental level. It included the Luk-23 radar and an automated fire control system.
In the mid-90s, modifications “Shilka-M4” and “Shilka-M5” appeared with more advanced fire control systems. To destroy armored targets, a 23-mm sub-caliber ammunition was created.
In 1999, the Shilka modification was presented to the general public, the turret of which was additionally equipped with Igla MANPADS.
Advantages and disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages of the Shilka anti-aircraft gun is its heavy, complex and low-power chassis. Its repair and maintenance is a complex and labor-intensive task. To get to some of its components, it is necessary to dismantle many units, drain the oil and coolant. Power 240 l. s., which the Shilka engine is capable of, is insufficient for its weight, so the car is slow-moving and difficult to maneuver.
In addition, other design errors and shortcomings were made in the power plant and chassis of the vehicle, which resulted in frequent breakdowns of the anti-aircraft gun.
The Shilki radar has a short range and is quite finicky to set up. It should also be added that the car provided a minimum level of comfort for the crew.
However, all of the above disadvantages are leveled out the highest level reliability anti-aircraft guns complex. If they were correctly assembled and installed, and the cooling system was filled with water according to the standards, then the likelihood of failure or failure during shooting was practically eliminated.
Even today, the Shilka can pose a serious danger to enemy planes and helicopters, unless, of course, they fly too high.
Specifications
Below are the performance characteristics of the ZSU-23-4 “Shilka”.
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