The ZU-23-2 is one of the important weapon systems of the last 60 years. This anti-aircraft
gun, which has fought nearly every corner of the world, takes its name from the initials
of Zenitnaya Ustanovka, which means anti-aircraft mount, and its bore diameter, and the number
of its barrel. But, everybody respects it as a fearsome ground support weapon, not an
air defence system. Now, we are investigating the ZU-23-2 and its many derivatives.
Please don't forget to subscribe to our channel, before we start and give us a thumbs up if
you like our video. To be notified of our new video, please click the bell button. Also,
now you can click the join button to support our channel.
In the last 60 years, we can only mention a few conflicts, which the ZU-23-2 did not
involve. Other than the Eastern Block countries, the countries with close relations with the
West, and even some NATO members have used it. Yet, the ZU-23-2 has left its mark as
a highly effective ground support weapon rather than a fearsome anti-aircraft gun. Many users
have developed the towed and self-propelled variants of the ZU-23-2.
The jet era paved the way for the development of this legendary system.
After the Second World War, the USSR had three different types of anti-aircraft guns.
The first type was big, whose mission definition was to deal with the bombers, which flew at
high altitudes. The 85mm KS-12, 100mm KS-19, and 130mm KS-30 had a very low turret turning
rate and rate of fire. They were not effective against jet fighters.
The 37mm M1939 and 57mm S-60 were developed against fighters and attackers. But, their
turret turning rate and rate of fire were also low against the jet.
The 12.7mm and 14.5mm light anti-aircraft guns had a high turret turning rate and rate
of fire, but their effective ranges and altitudes were not sufficient.
So, in 1954, the Soviet Army demanded the development of a new anti-aircraft gun. The
23mm round was the most suitable choice. KBP Instrument Design Bureau developed the
twin-barrel ZU-14 prototype in 1955, which was followed by the single-barrel ZU1-1 prototype
one year later. After extensive field trials, the Soviet Army
chose the ZU-14, which had a carriage with four wheels. But, it was heavy. So, the twin-barrel
turret was mounted on a new carriage with two wheels in addition to some improvements.
The result was satisfactory. So, the serial production of the new anti-aircraft gun, now
called ZU-23-2, began in 1960. It became operational in the same year.
The ZU-23-2 became popular in the Eastern Block instantly. Approximately 140,000 units
have been produced in the Soviet Union. Some other countries, which had good relations
with Moscow, produced the gun under licence. Also, they developed their variants. Many
others copied it. Thanks to this big production number, today, we can see the ZU-23-2 almost
everywhere. Due to the success of the 23mm gun and ammunition,
the USSR also developed the legendary ZSU-23-4 Shilka.
Many users have mounted the gun onto the various vehicles and produced improvised self-propelled
anti-aircraft gun variants. The original production variant of the ZU-23-2
has a crew of five-person. Its barrel length is 2.01 metres. The weight in firing position
with ammunition is 950 kilograms. In the travelling position, the ZU-23-2 has a length of 4.57
metres, a width of 1,83 metres, and a height of 1.87 metres. The barrel can elevate between
-10 degrees to +90 degrees. The turret can turn 360 degrees. The theoretical rate of
fire of the ZU-23-2 is 800 to 1,000 rounds per minute for each barrel. Its effective
range is 2,500 metres. The anti-aircraft gun can be effective against the targets, which
can fly at an altitude of over 2,000 metres. In the firing position, the wheels of the
carriage of the ZU-23-2 are raised off the ground. The weapon is stabilized on its triangular
platform, which has three screw-type levelling jacks. This process usually takes 30 seconds.
In an emergency, the ZU-23-2 can fire in the travelling position.
The cannons are gas-operated and have a vertical sliding wedge breech mechanism.
Each 50-round ammunition box is located on the side of each quick-change barrel, which
has flash suppressors. The barrels are changed after every 100 shots.
Generally, the hot dismantled barrels are cooled down inside a water drum.
Due to the time for barrel change and cooling down processes, the ZU-23-2's practical rate
of fire is 200 rounds per minute for each barrel.
The life of a standard barrel is 8,000 shots. But, many users have upgraded their ZU-23-2
with more durable barrels. For example, Russia is now using the new barrels
with a life of 10,000 shots. Its maximum range is 7,000 metres horizontally
and 5,100 metres vertically. The BZT armour-piercing munition of the ZU-23-2
can penetrate 25 millimetres of steel armour at a range of 500 metres and 10 millimetres
of steel armour at a range of 1,000 metres. Also, in 2008, Poland introduced a 23mm armour-piercing
discarding sabot-tracer munition, which can penetrate 30 millimetres of steel armour at
a range of 1,000 metres. The ZU-23-2 is operated manually. It cannot
be operated with accompanying fire control systems. The gun has a conventional aiming
device. So, it is effective in only clear weather.
Many users, Such as Finland, Greece, Iran, and Poland, have upgraded their ZU-23-2s with
electromechanical driving mechanisms and more advanced electro-optic aiming devices. So,
these upgraded variants can be used with the fire control system. Also, they have gained
all-weather engagement capability. We should add that the 90-degree barrel elevation
angle is problematic for fire control computers. Because the tangent 90 is undefined, no computer
can calculate the firing data at this angle. Poland also developed local variants of the
ZU-23-2, called ZUR-23-2. These variants are coupled with Strela 2M, whose NATO reporting
name is SA-7 Grail, or PZR Grom short-range missile.
The 6x6 Star 266 truck-mounted variant of the ZUR-23-2 is the Hibneryt.
The Type 85 is the Chinese copy of the ZU-23-2. Besides, China developed a reverse engineering
variant, named Type 87. This towed model has 25mm cannons and 40-round ammunition boxes.
The Type 87 has also been mounted onto 6x6 trucks and the YW-531 tracked armoured vehicle.
Furthermore, China is using a 4x4 based variant of the gun for special operations.
The Sedad is the Iranian reverse-engineering variant of the ZU-23-2. This remotely controlled
model has an advanced electro-optic sight. Iran has mounted the gun onto the BTR-60 and
the Lynx armoured vehicles. Yet, the Iranian most fascinating reverse-engineering
variant is the Mesbah 1. This eight-barrel anti-aircraft gun is a hybrid of the ZU-23-2
and GDF. Iran also developed a truck-mounted variant
of the Mesbah 1. Due to time limitations, we cannot mention
all self-propelled variants of the ZU-23-2. Yet, we will talk about some major ones.
Since the 1960s, the ZU-23-2 has been mounted on various trucks and pickups, such as the
ZIL-131, Ural-4320, GAZ-66, Toyota Land Cruiser, TPK 420 VCT, and VLRA.
The Russian Airborne Forces are still using the BMD-based BTR-ZD.
We can also see the ZU-23-2 on some other tracked armoured vehicles, such as the Boragh,
M113, BMP-1, and Khatim. Yet, the most preferred tracked platform is
the MT-LB. Also, some countries, such as Cuba and Nicaragua,
are using the BTR-60-mount variants. As a NATO member, Greece has an interesting
position in these efforts. The Hellenic Army conducted some trials with modified BMP-1
with ZU-23-2 in Chios Island. It is interesting because both the vehicle and the gun are Soviet-made.
We cannot reach the data whether this self-propelled anti-aircraft gun has been taken into service.
In the South of Africa, the ZU-23-2 has a different story.
During the war in Angola and South-West Africa, Cuba developed the Paquito. This KrAZ-255B
6x6 truck-based MRAP had been fitted with the ZU-23-2 for ground fire support.
Also, the South Africans were very impressed with the ZU-23-2.
During the war, at first, they developed the Ystervark, which was a 20mm gun mounted Buffel
MRAP variant. But, the performance of neither the vehicle nor the gun was satisfactory.
So, South Africa mounted the captured ZU-23-2s onto the 6x6 mine-protected SAMIL 100 trucks.
In 1992, the new system, called Bosvark, became operational. Later, it was re-named Zumlac.
The ZU-23-2 of the Zumlac can be worked together with the Mk II data transmission interface
and Mk 11 data transmission device. So, it can be operated by using data coming from
radar, fire control units, and optical sensors with a laser rangefinder. There is an auxiliary
power unit on the vehicle for turret driving. Also, Denel developed the advanced 23mm munition
for the Zumlac. Namibia has also equipped some of its Wer’wulf
Mk 2 MRAPs with the ZU-23-2. Let's take a look at some rare examples of
the self-propelled variant of the ZU-23-2. After the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian
Federation in 2014, Ukraine began to use many improvised systems as an urgent solution.
One of them is the BTS-4 armoured recovery vehicle-mounted ZU-23-2.
To provide air defence for amphibious operations, Vietnam has mounted the gun onto the PTS-M
tracked amphibious transport vehicle. We can also see the ZU-23-2 and its derivatives
on the many naval vessels. It may be the most shocking use of the ZU-23-2
as a sniper weapon. Both the Ukrainian and the separatists in the country developed such
guns. Actually, the combat use of the ZU-23-2 for
air defence duties was not impressive. It was always an important threat for aircraft
and helicopters, but the gun has never been a decisive system in combat.
The US sources estimated that more than 80 per cent of the US aircraft and helicopters
shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire were hit by the ZU-23-2. But, even the rate is high,
the number of aircraft, which the ZU-23-2 shot down, is too low.
In other wars, such as Iran-Iraq War and the 1991 Gulf War, the ZU-23-2s were extensively
used. But, there are no trustable records that show how successful they were in these
wars. Yet, it is certain that the ZU-23-2 could not affect the result.
However, the ZU-23-2 has always been a respected adversary for ground fire support duties.
The gun protected Soviet convoys in Afghanistan. Its high elevation angle of barrels and rate
of fire was the biggest problem for the Mujahideen attacking from the top of mountains and cliffs.
As a fearful ground support vehicle, the ZU-23-2 proved itself in Lebanon. So, some US officers
claimed that its use for this purpose was against the laws of war. However, this claim
remained a controversial issue in the US Armed Forces.
Since the 1970s, almost all non-conventional fighting groups in the Middle East and Africa
have used the ZU-23-2s on pickups. This is currently one of the biggest problems
of modern regular armies. A pickup-mounted ZU-23-2 is cheap, fast, and
lethal. It is perfect for terrorist and guerilla groups.
Many modern armoured vehicles cannot easily pursue it. Also, their armours are vulnerable
against 23mm kinetic-energy rounds. The unmanned aerial vehicles are effective
against the pickup trucks with the ZU-23-2 to some degree. But, they are expensive to
procure and operate. The manned aircraft and helicopters are even
more expensive. Because of these reasons, today, many countries
are working on new vehicles and concepts. In this perspective, we can say that the ZU-23-2
is one of the weapon systems that define the criteria of current and future warfare concepts.
We can mention anti-aircraft guns, which have left their marks in history. But, it is no
exaggeration to say that together with the German 88mm and the Swedish 40mm guns, the
23mm ZU-23-2 is among the top three most influential anti-aircraft guns. It is undoubtedly a legend
in its class. Thanks for watching our video. And please
don't forget to subscribe to our channel and give us a thumbs up if you liked our video.
To be notified of our new videos, please click the bell button. Also, you can now click the
join button to support our channel.