ZU-23-2

Infobox Weapon
name=ZU-23


caption=A ZU-23 on display at Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
origin=USSR
type=Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery
is_artillery=yes
service=1960 - present
used_by=See Operators section
design_date=Late 1950s
production_date=1960 - ? (out of production)
variants=See Variants section
spec_label=ZU-23
weight=0.95 tonnes (2,094 lbs)
length=4.57 m (15 ft)
width=2.88 m (9.44 ft)
height=1.22 m (4 ft)
crew=6
traverse=360°

The ZU-23, better known as ZU-23-2, is a towed Soviet short-range air defense cannon. ZU stands for "Zenitnaya Ustanovka" - anti-aircraft mount.

Description and history

ZU-23-2 was developed in late 1950s and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1960. It mounts two 2A14 23 mm autocannons on a small trailer which can be converted into a stationary mount for firing the guns. The cannon can be prepared for firing from the march position in 30 seconds and in emergency can be fired from traveling position. The weapon is aimed and fired manually, with the help of a ZAP-23 optical-mechanical sight which uses manually entered target data to provide some automatic aiming. It also has a straight-tube telescope for use against ground targets such as troops and lightly armoured vehicles.

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

Development of this weapon into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) lead to the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. ZU-23-2 is often mounted on trucks for use in both anti-aircraft and fire support roles. It can also be mounted on the roof of the BTR-D airborne vehicle.

Cheap, easy to operate and reasonably effective, the ZU-23-2 is still used by the Russian Army and by more than 20 other armies. The Finnish military nickname for the weapon is "Sergei". There are also non-ex-Soviet produced versions of the weapon. One example is the Polish ZUR-23-2TG, which has improved sights and is armed with "Grom" missiles in addition to the autocannons. Another is the Finnish 23 ItK 95, which is often vehicle mounted, like a technical. Fact|date=March 2007

Variants

*ZU-23 - Original Soviet variant.
*ZU-23M - Upgraded Soviet variant. Has new targeting system (which includes laser rangefinder, television channel, optical mechanic device, can be reinforced with thermo location channel and a television system for usage at night) and electromechanic turn system.
*ZU-23-2S JOD - Polish version additionally armed with "Strela-2M" missiles ( [http://pvo.guns.ru/images/poland/zur-23-2s_.jpgpicture] ).
*ZU-23-2M - Polish naval version ( [http://pvo.guns.ru/images/poland/zu-23-2mr_.jpgpicture] ).
*ZUR-23-2TG - Polish version additionally armed with "Grom" missiles ( [http://pvo.guns.ru/expo/mspo2002.htm pictures] ).
*23 ItK 95 - Finnish upgrade ( [http://www.ilmatorjuntaupseeriyhdistys.fi/lohtaja/sergei_95_600.jpgpicture] ).
*Type 85 Chinese built version of the ZU-23-2 with Twin-23mm guns ( [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/antiaircraft/type85towed23mm_01.asp picture] ).
*Type 87 Chinese upgraded version with Twin-25mm guns ( [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/antiaircraft/type87towed25mm_01.asp picture] ).

General characteristics

*Overall dimensions in firing position
**Length: 4.57 m (15 ft)
**Width: 2.88 m (9.44 ft)
**Height: 1.22 m (4 ft)
*Weight: 0.95 tonnes (2,094 lbs)
*Armament: two 2A14 Afanasyev-Yakushev 23x115mm (.90 in) autocannons
*Barrel length: 2 m (6.5 ft)/ 87.3 calibers
*Muzzle velocity: 970 m/s (3,182 fps)
*Projectile weight: 178 g (6.27 oz)
*Rate of fire
**Cyclic: 2,000 rounds per minute
**Practical: 400 rounds per minute
*Effective range: 2-2.5 km (1.24-1.55 mi)
*Effective altitude: 1,500-2,000 m (4,921-6,562 ft)
*Ammunition
** BZT Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer (API-T) rounds
** OFZ High Explosive Incendiary Tracer (HEI-T) rounds
*Crew: 6

Operators

*AFG - 5000
*ALG - 60
*ARM
*BAN
*BIH - 19
*BUL - 128
*CAM
*CHN - Type 85, Type 87
*CPV - 8
*CUB
*EGY - 220 as Nile and Sinai SP AA Systems and 350 upgraded with radar guidance ZU-23-2
*EST - 98
*ETH - 10
*FIN - 1100
*GAB - 24
*GEO - 200
*GRE - 523
*GNB - 16
*IND - 800
*IDN
*IRN
*IRQ - until 2003, current situation unknown
*HUN
*LAO - 2
*LBN
*LBY - 450
*MAR - 160
*MOZ - 150
*NAM - 12
*NIC - 20
*NGA - 20
*PAK - 10
*PER - 30
*POL - 408
*RUS
*SRB
*SRI
*TAN - 40
*UGA - 5
*UKR
*VIE
*YEM - 200
*ZIM - 5

Former Operators

*USSR - Passed on to the successor states.

External links

* [http://www.thetankmaster.com/ENGLISH/AFV/ZU23.asp ZU-23 - TWIN MOUNT 23 mm AA Guns – Walk around photos]
* [http://www.enemyforces.com/artillery/zu23.htm Enemyforces.com]
* [http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/irfna/irfna_refs/n28en030/airdef.html Gulflink]
* [http://pvo.guns.ru/zu23/zu23_chechnya.htm Photo gallery at pvo.guns.ru]
* [http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/00124_en.dsp Finnish army presentation of the ZU-23-2, or 23 ItK 61, nicknamed "Sergei"]
* [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/antiaircraft/type85towed23mm.asp Type 85 Twin-23mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery]
* [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/antiaircraft/type87towed25mm.asp Type 87 Twin-25mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery]