ZU-23-2 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barrel gun
 
 
ZU-23 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft 23mm twin gun technical data sheet specifications information description pictures photos images identification intelligence Russia Russian army
 
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Description
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Russian-made towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled automatic cannon. At the end of World War II, the standard anti-aircraft gun was the ZPU series, armed with a 14.5 mm machine gun. ZU-23-2 was developed in the late 1950s. It was designed to engage low-flying targets at a range of 2.5 km as well as armored vehicles at a range of 2 km and for direct defense of troops and strategic locations against air assault usually conducted by helicopters and low-flying airplanes. During the Invasion of Grenada in October 1983, a ZU-23-2 shut down an American helicopter. ZU-23-2 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1960. 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 MT-LB multi-purpose tracked APCs. Specially modified three-legged ZU-23-2 is used in BTR-DG based airborne SPAAG. Cheap, easy to operate and still effective, the ZU-23-2 is still used by the Russian Army and by more than 20 other armies in the world.
 
Variants :
- ZU-23M: a modernized version
- ZUR-23-2S "Jod": Polish variant with electro-optical sight and two missile launcher Strela-2M
- ZUR-23-2KG "Jodek-G": Polish version with CKE-2 night/day sight with laser rangefinder and two missile launcher
- ZU-23-2M "Wrobel": Polish naval variant
- ZU-23-2MR "Wrobel-II": Polish naval variant with Strela-2M capability
- Hibneryt: Polish variant, ZU-23-2 system mounted on the rear of Star 266 truck
- ZU-23-2M2 "Vlara": Czech modernizeed variant
- 23 ltk 95: Finnish upgraded variant
- SAKO 23mm M87/M74/M77/M80/M85:Finnish naval version
- Type 85: Local Chinese production of ZU-23-2
 
Technical data
 
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Armament
The ZU-23-2 is armed with two 2A14 23 mm autocannons on a small trailer which can be converted into a stationary mount for firing the guns. While in this position the wheels are moved aside. The autocannon can be prepared for firing from the march position in 30 seconds and in an emergency situation, it can be fired from the traveling position. Each of the 23 mm barrels is provided with a flash suppressor, and a handle is mounted on top of each barrel to enable it to be changed quickly. The anti-aircraft gun system is able to engage low-flying targets at a range of 2.5 km as well as armored vehicles at a range of 2 km and for direct defense of troops and strategic locations against air assault usually conducted by helicopters and low-flying airplanes.
Ammunitions
Two types of fixed ammunitions are fired by the ZU-23-2, namely armour-piercing-incendiary-tracer (API-T) and high-explosive incendiary-tracer (HEI-T). The ammo is fed by a conveyor belt from two ammunition boxes. Each of the ammunition boxes is located on the side of the twin autocannon and each carries 50 rounds. The fumes created by firing the weapon are partially removed through the side openings in the barrels.[
Mobility
ZU-23-2 can be towed by a number of different vehicles. The ZU-23-2 was normally towed by light vehicles such as the 4x4 GAZ-69. The carriage has two rubber-tired road wheels. In the firing position, these wheels are raised off the ground and the carriage is supported on three screw-type leveling jacks.
Accessories
The ZU-23-2 is aimed and fired manually, with the help of the ZAP-23 optical-mechanical sight which uses manually entered target data to provide limited automatic aiming. It also has a straight-tube telescope for use against ground targets such as infantry as well as unarmored or lightly armored vehicles.
 
Specifications
 
Armament
Two 23 mm gun
Country users
Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Cap Verde, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Hungary, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Type
Anti-aicraft twin autocanon
Calibre
23 mm
Crew
5 soldiers
Weight
950 kg
Engagement range

2,000 - 2,500 m ground
1,500 - 2,000 m
air
7,000 m maximum
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Elevation
+90° / -10°
Traverse
360°
Dimensions
Length, 4,57 m; Width, 2,88 m; Height, 1,22 m
 
Details view
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ZU-23 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft 23mm twin gun technical data sheet specifications information description pictures photos images identification intelligence Russia Russian army
ZU-23 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft 23mm twin gun technical data sheet specifications information description pictures photos images identification intelligence Russia Russian army
   
ZU-23 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft 23mm twin gun technical data sheet specifications information description pictures photos images identification intelligence Russia Russian army ZU-23 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft 23mm twin gun technical data sheet specifications information description pictures photos images identification intelligence Russia Russian army
 
Pictures
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