ZU-23-2

ZU-23-2
A ZU-23-2
TypeTowed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin autocannon
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1960–present
Used bySee Operators section
WarsAngolan Civil War
South African Border War
United States invasion of Grenada
Lebanese Civil War
Soviet–Afghan War
Western Sahara War[1]
Somali Civil War
Iran–Iraq War
Operation Praying Mantis
Gulf War
First Chechen War
Second Chechen War
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Georgian Civil War
South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
2006 Lebanon Conflict
Russo-Georgian War
First Libyan Civil War
Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile[2]
Syrian Civil War[3]
Northern Mali conflict[4]
Russo-Ukrainian War
War in Donbas
Second Libyan Civil War
Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)[3]
Tigray War
Russian invasion of Ukraine
War in Amhara
Production history
DesignerKBP Instrument Design Bureau
DesignedLate 1950s
Produced1960–present [1]
VariantsSee Variants and upgrades
Specifications (ZU-23-2)
Mass0.95 tonnes (2,094 lbs)
Length4.57 m (10 ft)
Barrel length2.008 m (79.1 in) (87.3 calibers)
Width2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height1.22 m (4 ft)
Crew2 (gunner and commander)

Shell23x152B
Caliber23 mm
Barrels2
ActionGas operated
Elevation−10° to +90°[5]
Traverse360°
Rate of fire2000 rpm cyclic, 400 rpm practical (per cannon)
Effective firing range2.5 km (2 mi) effective range
Feed system2x 50 round belt

The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23×152mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная Установка) – anti-aircraft mount. The GRAU index is 2A13.[6]

  1. ^ Francesco Palmas (2012). "Il contenzioso del sahara occidentale fra passato e presente" (PDF). Informazioni della Difesa (in Italian). No. 4. pp. 50–59.
  2. ^ "SPLA-N weapons and equipment, South Kordofan, December 2012" (PDF). HSBA Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk. Small Arms Survey: 8. February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b Neville, Leigh (19 April 2018). Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great Toyota War to modern Special Forces. New Vanguard 257. Osprey Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 9781472822512.
  4. ^ Rebel Forces in Northern Mali: Documented weapons, ammunition and related materiel, April 2012-March 2013 (PDF) (Report). Conflict Armament Research and Small Arms Survey. April 2013.
  5. ^ Foss, Christopher (1977). Jane's Pocket Book of Towed Artillery. New York: Collier. p. 221. ISBN 0-02-080600-0. OCLC 911907988.
  6. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's – IHS". articles.janes.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.

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