SHILKA ZSU - 23 - 4 M  SELF PROPELLED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN SYSTEM

The Shilka anti-aircraft system consists of a light tank chassis, not dissimilar to the PT-76, upon which is  mounted a 360 traversable turret housing 4 AZP-23 mm cannons which have an elevation of plus 85 and a depression of -4 degrees.  The Shilka has three compartments in its all-welded steel hull driving at the front, fighting in the centre with an engine bay at the rear containing the DG 4M - 1 gas turbine motor, together with the vehicle's transmission system.  Suspension is by torsion bar connected to which are six single rubber tyred road wheels four of which have hydraulic shock absorbers.

The system's main armament is 4 AZP-23 mm cannons.  These are gas operated with water-cooled barrels.  The guns are locked onto the targets by a fire control system consisting of a radar, a sighting device, a computer and stabilisation  units.  The gun dish radar operates in the J Band performing search detection and tracking functions and the Shilka can engage targets whilst it is moving.  The four cannons are fired either singly or in pairs in a circular fashion.  Each cannon fires bursts of between three and thirty rounds giving the system an overall rate of fire of 800 to 1000 rounds per minute. 

The Shilka is highly versatile and can engage both surface and aerial targets.  The four man crew of the Shilka consists of the commander, the driver, the gunner and the radar operator.  The Shilka has seen action in the Middle East, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Angola, the Iran/Iraq war and the Gulf war.

SPECIFICATIONS

CREW4TRANSMISSIONmanual with 5 forward
COMBAT WEIGHT20,500kg and 1 reverse gears
POWER-TO-WEIGHTSUSPENSIONtorsion bar
    RATIO20 hp/tonneELECTRICAL SYSTEM24 V
GROUND PRESSURE0.69 kg/cmARMAMENT4 x 23 mm cannon
LENGTH6.54 mSMOKE-LAYING
WIDTH2.95 mEQUIPMENTnone
HEIGHTAMMUNITION2000
with radar3.8 mGUN CONTROL
without radar2.25 mEQUIPMENT
FIRING HEIGHTTurret power controlpowered/manual
    (lower guns)1.83 mby commanderyes
GROUND CLEARANCE0.4 mby gunneryes
TRACK2.67 mGun Elevation/depression+85 /-4
TRACK WIDTH360 mmTurret traverse360
LENGTH OF TRACKARMOUR
     ON GROUND3.8 mGlacis plate15 mm at 55
MAX ROAD SPEED44 km/hHull sides15 mm
FUEL CAPACITY250 litresHull rear10 mm
MAX RANGE450 kmTurret front9.2 mm at 15
FUEL CONSUMPTION0.96 litreTurret sides9.2 mm
FORDING1.07 mTurret rear9.2 mm
GRADIENT60%
SIDE SLOPE30%
VERTICAL OBSTACLE1.1 m
TRENCH2.8 m
ENGINEmodel V-6R  6-cylinder in-line
water-cooled diesel developing 280 bhp
