ZSU-57-2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (May 2008) |
| ZSU-57-2 (Ob'yekt 500) | |
|---|---|
 Ex-Syrian or ex-Egyptian ZSU-57-2 SPAAG captured by Israeli Army. Yad la-Shiryon Museum in Latrun, Israel, 2005. |
|
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin |  Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1955 - present (before the beginning of 1970s in USSR) |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | See Service history and Combat history |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1947 - 1954[1] |
| Manufacturer | Omsk Works No. 174 named for the October Revolution |
| Produced | 1957 - 1960[1][2] |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 28.1 tonnes[3][4] |
| Length | 8.46 m with gun in forward position (6.22 m hull only)[4][5] |
| Width | 3.27 m[5] |
| Height | 2.75 m (to a canvas top)[2] |
| Crew | 6 (commander, driver, gunner, sight adjuster and two loaders) |
|
|
|
| Armor | 8-13 mm of welded rolled steel[3] |
| Primary armament |
2 x 57 mm L/76.6 S-60 anti-aircraft autocannons (57 mm S-68 twin automatic anti-aircraft gun), 300 rounds[3] |
| Engine | V-54, 12-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water-cooled 38.88 liter diesel 520 hp (388 kW) at 2,000 rpm[4] |
| Power/weight | 18.5 hp/tonne (13.81 kW/tonne) |
| Suspension | individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers of the first and last road wheels |
| Ground clearance | 425 mm[3] |
| Fuel capacity | 830 l (including two externally-mounted fuel tanks, 95 l each)[3] |
| Operational range |
420 km (road), 320 km (off-road)[3][5] |
| Speed | 50 km/h (31 mph)[3][4] |
The ZSU-57-2 was a Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun armed with two 57 mm autocannons. ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная Самоходная Установка), meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". It was the first mass produced Soviet SPAAG.
Contents |
[edit] History
The experiences of bombing raids and strafing runs on tank columns made it clear that an AA vehicle that could provide the tank column with anti-aircraft protection will be necessary on a future battlefield. Such vehicles were used even in the late battles of World War I. The first known SPAAG was developed by Germans and was essentially an AA gun on a truck. Allies have captured at least one of those vehicles and supplied it to the Dutch. Russians built wheeled armoured SPAAGs based on Russo-Balt, Austin and Peerless trucks during the World War I. Later, the Soviets have developed at least seven different wheeled SPAAGs of such kind. One of these was the GAZ-AA truck armed with the M1931 quad AA machine gun mount which consisted of four 7.62 mm M1910 Maxim heavy machine guns, there was also a twin machine gun version. Other truck based SPAAGs developed by Soviets included the GAZ-AA truck armed with 76.2 mm AA gun, ZiS-12 truck armed with 37 mm AA autocannon, GAZ-AAA truck armed with 37 mm AA autocannon, YaG-10 three-axle truck armed with 76.2 mm AA gun, ZiS-6 three-axle truck armed with 20 mm AA autocannon and ZiS-42 half truck armed with 37 mm AA autocannon. Even though those vehicles could be used as SPAAGs they couldn't keep up in rough terrain with tank columns leaving them defenseless against German diving bombers. Experimental Soviet tracked SPAAGs include SU-6 (T-26 chassis, 76.2 mm M1931 (3K) AA gun, 4 were built in 1937), SU-8 (T-28 chassis, 76.2 mm M1931 (3K) AA gun, 1 prototype was built in 1935) and several light SPAAGs based on T-60/T-70 chassis and armed with 37 mm M1939 (61-K) AA gun (SU-72, 1942; SU-11, 1942; ZSU-37 of Works No. 38, 1944). The first Soviet production SPAAG that could keep up with tank columns was ZSU-37 based on SU-76M chassis and armed with 37 mm L/63 M1939 (61-K) automatic AA gun in a rotatory open turret. The vehicle entered production in February 1945 and was produced to 1948. Only 12 vehicles out of a total of 75 were built before the end of the war, they formed experimental self-propelled AA artillery battalion. However none of them ever took part in the fights mostly because the Luftwaffe wasn't as active anymore. ZSU-37 was first shown publicly during the military parade in Moscow on 7 November, 1946. Because the ZSU-37 was based on the SU-76M it also had all of its drawbacks including the gun compartment which had no roof. To protect the crew from rain and snow the gun compartment could be covert with tarpaulin however the gun couldn't be fully elevated when this was done. Nevertheless, ZSU-37 was considered a quite effective SPAAG for its time. The vehicle was equipped with an automatic collimating site of distance-type, a stereo rangefinder and aiming mechanisms with two rates of angular motion (traverse mechanism had foot switch of rates). Cyclic rate of fire was 120 to 130 rounds per minute. Practical rate of fire was about 50 to 60 rounds per minute, combat vertical range of fire was 2500 m (maximal vertical range was up to 6500 m).[6][7] After the World War II it became clear that the low rate of fire and firepower of a single 37 mm AA gun wasn't effective against high-speed low altitude targets. Also SPAAGs based on light tank chassis had quite low maneuverability in difficult terrain, off-road speed and range in comparison with medium tanks and SPGs.
For several years there wasn't any new project for a SPAAG in USSR except mass produced ZTPU-2 (2 x 14.5 mm KPV heavy machine guns mounted on BTR-40 and BTR-152 armoured personnel carriers). The need for such a vehicle was apparent after World War II since the new potential enemy - United States of America - had vast and well equipped air forces which gained lots of valuable experience in many battles against Luftwaffe, Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. The fact that a flawed vehicles like ZSU-37, ZTPU-2, Lend-Lease M15A1 and M17 were most common out of a small number of SPAAGs in service with the Soviet Army made it apparent that in eventual confrontation unless Soviets would have the air superiority, Soviet tank columns would be decimated in the very early stages of war putting them in a very hard tactical position giving the number of investments the USSR gave to its armoured forces. However after the new T-54 medium tank entered production and active service with the Soviet Army, the ZSU-57-2 (Ob'yekt 500) was designed for anti-aircraft defense of tank and motorized rifle units while they're on the move and while they're stationary. Design bureau of the Research Institute No. 58 (former Central Artillery Design Bureau) under the supervision of V. G. Grabin started the development of 57 mm S-68 twin automatic anti-aircraft gun based on two 57 mm S-60 AA autocannons in spring 1947, S-68 could be mounted on wheeled carriage as well as on track chassis. The final design project of ZSU-57-2 was finished in autumn 1948. Prototypes of ZSU-57-2 were tested and improved between 1950 and 1953: the first ZSU-57-2 prototype was built in June 1950 and the second one in December 1950. Official trials of the new SPAAG, weighting 26.172 tonnes, were performed between 27 January and 15 March, 1951. After successful official trials, six more prototypes were built. They were slightly improved and had an increased ammunition load. The final trials were performed in 1954 because of long-continued development of S-68 twin AA autocanon. The vehicle entered service of the Soviet Army on 14 February, 1955 according to the Resolution No. 216-131 of the Council of Ministers of USSR. Mass production of ZSU-57-2 started in 1957 only when first 249 57 mm S-68 twin automatic AA guns were produced by Artillery Works No. 946 (about 5300 S-68 AA guns were produced)[1] ZSU-57-2 was first shown publicly during the military parade in Moscow on 7 November, 1957.
[edit] Description
Basing on the past experiences with SPAAG designs Soviets designed a vehicle that used a modified T-54 medium tank chassis without one roadwheel and armed with a recoil-operated, air-cooled S-68 twin automatic AA canon (developed by V. G. Grabin's team in the Research Institute No. 58 (NII-58), it consists of two 57 mm L/76.6 S-60 AA guns) in a new large open-topped, box type welded turret. The guns elevated from -5° to +85° at 20° per second, and the turret could traverse 360° at 36° per second with the use of electrohydraulic drive. The vehicle consists of three compartments: driver's, fighting and engine.
The transmission is located in the rear part of the hull and consists of a change gear quadrant, a multiplate main clutch of metallic contact, manual gearbox with five forward gears, two planetary steering gears and two final drive groups. The vehicle chassis has four twin rubber tired roadwheels, rear drive sprocket with detachable sprocket rings (lantern-wheel gear) and idler wheel per side. The first and last roadwheels have a hydraulic shock absorber. The track is 580 mm wide and has 90 links. The vehicle can cross 0.8 m high vertical obstacles, 2.7 m wide trenches, 1.4 m fording depth and climb 30° gradients.[3]
The cannon was capable of firing up to 210-240 FRAG-T (Fragmentation-Tracer), FRAG-HE (Fragmentation-High Explosive), AP-T (Armour-Piercing-Tracer) or APC-T (Armour-Piercing Capped-Tracer) rounds per minute from two barrels, with a sustained combat rate of fire of around 110-140 rounds per minute from two barrels. Muzzle velocity is 1000 m/s. Each clip has 5 rounds weighted 6.6 kg each. Maximum horizontal range of fire reached 12,000 m (with maximum effective range is around 4 km / 2.5 mi) and maximum altitude 8,800 m (maximum effective altitude is around 4,500 m / 14,750 ft). FRAG-T and FRAG-HE rounds have safety-destructor for 12-16 s. According to the statistical data of Air Defense Research Institute No. 2 direct hit of a single 57 mm shell caused destruction of a jet fighter or an attack aircraft. The vehicle carried 300 rounds of ammunition (176 rounds in clips inside the turret, 72 rounds in clips in the nose part of the hull, 52 separate rounds in special compartments under rotatory turret floor). Empty shell casings and clips were emptied into a metal basket on the back of the turret via a conveyor. ZSU-57-2 is equipped with an automatic anti-aircraft sight of plotter type.
ZSU-57-2 is equipped with the 10RT-26E radio set (range 7-20 km) and the TPU-4-47 intercom system. Open turret has a clasp canvas cover with 13 plexiglass windows.
Even though the vehicle doesn't have most of ZSU-37's flaws it does have few flaws of its own. The most apparent one is the lack of the roof on the turret. This makes it almost defenseless against attacks from above. It also makes it hard to operate the gun while in difficult conditions like rain or snow. Also because the turret didn't have a roof, the vehicle could not be operated in NBC conditions. This flaw was later nullified by Serbians and Bosnians in their ZSU-57-2 which had improvised overhead armour protection. The vehicle had optical mechanical computing reflex sight as fire control system. It didn't have a radar therefore the vehicle could not be successfully used during night and only the driver had night vision equipment.
[edit] Service history
The first ZSU-57-2 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1955 and remained in production until 1960. A number of Soviet tank regimets received ZSU-57-2 (one regimental anti-aircraft battery consisted of 4 SPAAG) but many tank regiments continued to use ZTPU-2 wheeled SPAAGs (BTR-40A and BTR-152A) instead as not so many ZSU-57-2 SPAAG were produced. The anti-aircraft performance of the ZSU-57-2, however, was quickly found to be unsatisfactory and obsolete despite of powerful guns so it wasn't very popular in the Soviet Army. Its simple fire control system and manual clips loading was not good enough, the rate of fire not high enough and the turret traverse not fast enough to effectively intercept attack jet aircraft at low altitudes (it must be noted that its Western counterpart, the M42 Duster armed with the famous Bofors 40 mm gun, had similar problems). ZSU-57-2 didn't have radar and couldn't fire on the move also. The anti-aircraft fire efficiency of a battery of ZSU-57-2 was even lower than of a battery of towed 57 mm S-60 autocannons controlled by PUAZO-6 anti-aircraft artillery director with SON-9 gun locator or by RPK-1 "Vaza" radar facility. Before the beginning of 1970 Soviet ZSU-57-2 SPAAGs were completelly replaced with much more effective ZSU-23-4 Shilka, which had a radar and was armed with smaller caliber and greater rate of fire 4 x 23 mm autocannons.
Since the replacement with more modern ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" SPAAG started in 1960s ZSU-57-2 SPAAG began to be exported to 5 other Warsaw Pact members: Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany. Czechoslovakia imported one ZSU-57-2 for testing but refused it. The vehicle was also sold to countries that were befriended with USSR: Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Syria. North Vietnam and North Korea probably got them for free as military assistance. People's Republic of China did not import the system from the USSR in 1950s, but acquired it from Iraq in the early 1980s. To meet Iraq's production order, NORICO attempted to manufacture a copy with the improved amphibious chassis of Type 69-II main battle tank produced by IMFMW (Inner Mongoolia First Machinery Works, the only tank manufacturer in China). Several Type 80 SPAAGs were tested by the PLA.
ZSU-57-2 saw action for the first time in the Vietnam War, in use by Vietnam People's Army and was used during and after the Easter Offensive in 1972 as well as during the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975.[8] South Vietname also used ZSU-57-2 (captured) in combats. Iran used ZSU-57-2 SPAAGs in the Iran-Iraq War, those SPAAGs were used in several Middle East military conflicts also. Like many other self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, it was often used against ground targets (use of Syrian ZSU-57-2 during the 1982 Lebanon War). For the last time ZSU-57-2 SPAAGs were used in combats in March 1999 during dealing with the NATO air raids against Yugoslavia.
The vehicle is probably still in service with Cuba and North Korea as those countries are using a lot of mostly obsolete equipment as almost no country wants to sell weapons to them aside from USSR/Russia.
[edit] Combat history
- 1959 - 1975 Vietnam War
- 1967 Six-Day War
- 1973 Yom Kippur War
- 1980 - 1988 Iran-Iraq War
- 1982 1982 Lebanon War
- 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
[edit] Variants
.JPG/180px-ZSU-57-2_(Serb).JPG)
- ZSU-57-2 - Original Soviet air-defense vehicle based on modified lightweight T-54 medium tank chassis and massproduced from 1957 to 1960. The first two prototypes built in 1950 weighted 26.172 tonnes, had less amount of ammunition (252 rounds), more thin armour (8-10 mm) and antennae mounted on top rear of turret right-hand side.[1]
- ZSU-57-2 with modernized S-68A gun. Entered service of the Soviet Army in 1955 also.
- ZSU-57-2 with the turret mounted on Chinese Type 59 (copy of T-54A) tank chassis. Used by North Korea.
- ZSU-57-2 with a machine gun mounted to the front of the turret. Used by Finland. [9]
- ZSU-57-2 with hanging flap type fronts to catwalks. Used by Cuba. [9]
- ZSU-57-2 with improvised overhead armour protection to protect the gun compartment from attacks from above, rain and snow. It also has an ammo crate serving as additional passive armour. Used by Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Type 80 - It has the same turret as the ZSU-57-2 mounted on an improved amphibious chassis of Type 69-II Chinese main battle tank.
[edit] Operators
Algeria -
Angola - 40
Bulgaria -
Cuba - 25[9]
Egypt - About 50 (40 in 2003)
Ethiopia -
Finland - 12[9]
Hungary - [9]
Bosnia and Herzegovina - [10] (in service of Republika Srpska Armed Forces)
Iran - 100[9]
North Korea - 250
People's Republic of China - As Type 80
Romania -
Somalia -
Syria -
Vietnam - 200[1]
[edit] Former operators
Czechoslovakia - Imported one ZSU-57-2 for testing but refused it.
Croatia - 2 captured from JNA, later scarped.
East Germany - Passed on to the unified German state.
Iraq - Most probably remained in service with Iraqi Army until 2003. The Iraqis also assembled single S-60 AA gun to old T-55 hulls. The New Iraqi Army doesn't use these vehicles and the only SPAAGs it uses are BRDM-2 armoured scout cars armed with ZPU-2 twin 14.5 mm KPV antiaircraft heavy machine guns instead of a turret (See BRDM-2 for details).
Israel - Captured some ZSU-57-2 from Egyptians or Syrians. It remains unknown if they saw any kind of service with Israeli Army like T-54, T-55 and T-62 tanks, BTR-152 APCs and BMP-1 IFVs. However one was given to the Yad la-Shiryon Museum and another one was given to Batey ha-Osef museum in Tel Aviv, Israel.
North Vietnam - Passed on to the successor state.[8]
Poland - Bought 129 ZSU-57-2 from USSR between 1957-1961[11]
Serbia and Montenegro - 36 ZSU-57-2. Scrapped during 2003.[12]- Soviet Union - Replaced with ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" in the beginning of 1970s, training units used ZSU-57-2 till the end of 1970s at least
West Germany/ Germany - Taken from GDR's army, all scrapped or sold to other countries.
Yugoslavia - 60? ZSU-57-2. Passed on to successor states.
Yugoslavia - 36 ZSU-57-2 (54 in 1999). Withdrawn.
[edit] See also
- ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" - The successor of ZSU-57-2
- M42 Duster - Comparable US SPAAG
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e ЗЕНИТНАЯ САМОХОДНАЯ УСТАНОВКА ЗСУ-57-2
- ^ a b http://egvqe-6.info/index-19.html
- ^ a b c d e f g h ЗЕНИТНАЯ САМОХОДНАЯ УСТАНОВКА ЗСУ-57-2
- ^ a b c d "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"
- ^ a b c Зенитная самоходная установка ЗСУ-57-2
- ^ A.G. Solyankin, M.V. Pavlov, I.V. Pavlov, I.G. Zheltov. Otechestvennye Bronirovannye Mashiny, XX vek. Tom 2, 1941-1945 (Native Armoured Vehicles, XX century. Volume 2, 1941-1945), Moscow, Eksprint, 2005. ISBN 5-94038-074-3
- ^ M. Svirin. Samokhodki Stalina. Istoriya Sovetskoy SAU 1919-1945 ("Self-propelled Guns of Stalin. The History of Soviet SPGs 1919-1945"), Moscow, EKSMO. ISBN 978-5-699-20527-1
- ^ a b "North Vietnamese Armor"
- ^ a b c d e f "JED The Military Equipment Directory"
- ^ The Centre for SouthEast European Studies
- ^ Nowa Technika Wojskowa, 2006, No.4, pp.64-71
- ^ http://members.lycos.co.uk/oklop/zsu57.htm
[edit] External links
- Globalsecurity.org
- Gulflink.osd.mil
- fas.org
- Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide
- In Russian. Information and illustrations
- In Russian. Information and photos
- In Russian. Development history of ZSU-57-2 and photos of a first prototype
| Soviet and post-Soviet armoured fighting vehicles after World War II | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| List of armoured fighting vehicles by country | ||||||||||||||||||||||
