Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU 57 2. Use in combat

When did the Great End Patriotic War, the euphoria subsided a little, and workdays began. The analysis of the war began. Gaining military experience and understanding it.

So, it was precisely the comprehension of the experience gained during the war that showed the complete inconsistency of the existing in the Red Army military air defense. In general, everything with our air defense was very bad, and smart people who had fought came to the conclusion that something had to be done in this situation.

Tankers especially asked for protection from aviation. A tank is a very tasty target both in those years and today, by the way. And his priority is precisely that of a tank. Quite big. And the tank brigade of the second half of the 40s relied on only an anti-aircraft machine-gun company.

This is 48 personnel and 9 DShK machine guns. For 65 tanks and 146 trucks, I note. According to states No. 010/500 - 010/506 (November 1943). Anti-aircraft guns separate tank brigade It wasn't supposed to be at all. An ugly arrangement, of course.

But even in the divisional structure there were negligible air defense assets. And they were equipped mainly with towed 37-mm 61-K or 25-mm 72-K anti-aircraft guns, which still had to be deployed and prepared for battle before repelling the raid.

Practice has shown that there was and could not have been a more tasty morsel for German aviation during the Great Patriotic War than a unit on the march.

At the same time, the enemy was armed with enough large number self-propelled air defense systems, the main difference from towed ones was that they were ready to open fire without any additional training.

If you carefully study the issue, then the Red Army had mobile air defense systems. On trucks.

On the one hand, it’s cheap and cheerful, on the other – complete absence any protection from enemy aircraft. Not the best best deal, given that the Germans have, albeit lightly, armored mobile air defense systems.

The current situation had to be corrected by adopting an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun capable of firing on the move, keeping up with tanks on the march. And the installation would have to have a sufficient caliber to effectively destroy enemy bombers and armored attack aircraft.

The first serial ZSU created in the USSR was the ZSU-37, armed with a 37-mm 61-K cannon. Conditionally serial, since its production was limited to 75 vehicles produced in 1945, which on the scale of the Red Army was not even a drop in the ocean.

A more serious application was the 57-mm S-60 automatic cannon, developed in the design bureau of V. G. Grabin. The gun was a success, but in its original version it still had the same drawback - low mobility. Therefore, already in 1947, even before the S-60 was put into service, the development of its twin version began under the designation S-68, intended for arming a self-propelled gun.

For the new ZSU, a chassis was created based on the T-54 medium tank. New self-propelled gun received the factory designation “product 500” and the army ZSU-57-2 and was put into service after comprehensive tests carried out in 1950.

The ZSU was produced at plant No. 174 in Omsk from 1955 to 1960, a total of 857 units were produced.

The ZSU crew consisted of six people:
- driver mechanic. Placed in the frontal part of the hull on the left;
- gunner;
- gunner-sight installer;
- loading the right and left guns (2 people);
- installation commander.

The place of the mechanical driver in the ZSU

Apart from the driver, all crew members were housed in an open turret.

The body of the ZSU-57-2 is welded, made of armor plates 8-13 mm thick. The turret was rotating, welded, and was located in the central part of the hull on a ball bearing. The rear armor plate was removable.

In the stowed position, the tower could be covered with a tarpaulin awning.

The crew positions were located as follows: in front on the left - the left gun loader, behind him in the center of the turret - the gunner, to the right of the gunner was the sight installer, in front on the right - the loader of the right gun, behind in the center of the turret - workplace ZSU commander.

Sight installer's location

Top view from the gunner's seat

View from the loader's position

Manual aiming mechanism. Not for the weak!

A sleeve collector was attached to the rear plate of the turret.

The automatic operation of the gun was based on the principle of using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The gun had a monoblock barrel, a piston sliding bolt, a hydraulic recoil brake, a spring knurl and was equipped with muzzle brake.

Vertical (−5...+85°) and horizontal guidance were carried out using electro-hydraulic drives powered by an electric motor.

The horizontal guidance speed was 30°, vertical guidance - 20° per second.

In the event of a failure of the electric drive, the possibility of manual aiming remained: the vehicle commander was responsible for horizontal guidance, and the gunner was responsible for vertical guidance. This was a very problematic action, since in this case the commander and gunner must have physical training significantly above average.

The guns are fed by clips, from box magazines for 4 rounds. The practical rate of fire was 100-120 rounds per minute per barrel, but the maximum duration of continuous firing was no more than 40-50 shots, after which the barrels needed to be cooled.

The ammunition load of the ZSU-57-2 was 300 unitary rounds, of which 176 in 44 magazines were placed in stowage in the turret, 72 in 18 magazines were located in the bow of the hull, and another 52 rounds not loaded into clips were placed under the floor of the turret.

In general, the combat effectiveness of the ZSU-57-2 depended on the qualifications of the crew and the training of the platoon commander and was not too high. This was primarily due to the lack of radar in the guidance system. Effective lethal fire could only be carried out while stopping; firing “on the move” at air targets was not provided for at all.

Comparative effectiveness The firing rate of the ZSU-57-2 was significantly lower than that of a battery of S-60 guns of similar design, since the latter had PUAZO-6 with SON-9, and later the RPK-1 “Vaza” radar instrument system.

However, the strong point of using the ZSU-57-2 was constant readiness to open fire, no dependence on the tug, the presence of armor protection for the crew.

ZSU-57-2 were used in Vietnam War, in the conflicts between Israel and Syria and Egypt in 1967 and 1973, as well as in the Iran-Iraq War. Due to the relatively low rate of fire and the lack of automated radar guidance devices, this vehicle was not very effective.

In April 2014, video footage of the use of ZSU-57-2 by the Syrian army in battles in the vicinity of Damascus appeared.

However, when assessing the effectiveness of the ZSU-57-2, it is worth mentioning not only the disadvantages. Yes, the low rate of fire and the lack of automated radar guidance and tracking devices are undoubtedly weak side. However, when accompanying tanks, the ZSU-57 could take on more than just the role of an air defense system.

It is also worth considering the fact that the ZSU was not the only means of air defense of a tank regiment, for example, but a means of collective air defense against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4000 m, since altitudes up to 1000 m were covered by DShK/DShKM anti-aircraft machine guns, of which the tank regiment had as many as armored vehicles. The effectiveness is not very high, but, nevertheless, a certain resistance to enemy aircraft could be provided.

On the other hand, in conflicts where the ZSU-57 took part, the armies that used the installation were well aware of the low effectiveness of the ZSU as an air defense weapon.

But the installation showed itself well in the role of self-propelled guns accompanying tanks, or, in other words, modern language, BMPT. And in this regard, the ZSU-57-2 was, perhaps, more effective than an air defense weapon. At least on the battlefields there were very few armored targets capable of withstanding a hit from the BR-281U armor-piercing projectile, which from a distance of 1000 m, flying out of the barrels at a speed of 1000 m/s, confidently penetrated up to 100 mm of armor.

The ZSU-57-2 still left a certain mark on our military as a testing platform. Which was followed by both “Shilka”, “Tunguska” and “Pantsir”, as well as the BMPT and BMOP projects currently being implemented.

These legendary tanks have been in combat service for 70 years.

These formidable, ultra-reliable, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate vehicles have become the standard of world tank building - even NATO strategists calculated the power of their tank troops in the "fifty-five", which were the first in the world to be equipped with an anti-nuclear protection system and capable of conducting fighting in a nuclear war.

Except Soviet Army, the T-54 and its “most advanced modification” the T-55 were in service in 67 countries and fought on all continents - from the suppression of the Hungarian uprising of 1956 to the defeat of Georgia in 2008, from Vietnam and Afghanistan to Yugoslavia and the Storm in desert", from the Arab-Israeli, Indo-Pakistani, Cambodian, Vietnamese-Chinese, Iran-Iraq and Lebanese wars to Angola, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Chad, from Transnistria, Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Libya and Syria.

In the new book by a leading armor historian you will find comprehensive information about the famous T-54/55, which earned the title “TANK SOLDIER”.

The COLOR collector's edition is illustrated with hundreds of exclusive drawings, side panels and photographs.

Anti-aircraft self-propelled gun ZSU-57-2

In 1947, at NII-58 under the leadership of V.G. Grabina began designing a twin 57-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun S-68, intended for installation on a tracked chassis created on the basis of units of the T-54 medium tank. In the self-propelled version, the vehicle received the factory name - “product 500”, and the army name - ZSU-57-2. Comprehensive tests of the ZSU-57-2 were carried out in 1950, and were put into service in 1955. Its serial production was carried out at plant No. 174 in Omsk from 1955 to the end of 1959. The plant of the Ministry of Heavy Engineering in Krasnoyarsk was also engaged in assembling cars.

ZSU-57-2 was a lightly armored ( maximum thickness armor did not exceed 13 mm) a tracked vehicle with a rotating turret open on top, providing all-round anti-aircraft fire from automatic cannons. To install them, there was an embrasure in the front part. The rear wall of the turret was made removable, which made it easier to install the gun. In the stowed position, the upper cutout of the tower was covered with a folding canvas awning with 13 plexiglass viewing windows. To collect spent cartridges and clips fed by the gun conveyor through a window in the rear wall, a cartridge collector was installed outside the rear of the turret. There were five seats in the turret: in front - the left loading machine gun; behind him (in the middle) is the gunner; behind, to the right of the gunner's seat - the sight installer; to the right of the gun in front is the loading right machine gun; at the rear, symmetrically with the seat of the gunner - the commander of the vehicle. When firing, the loaders' seats were removed, placed on a suspended floor and secured with clips.

The twin 57-mm S-68 automatic cannon consisted of two S-60 type assault rifles that had the same design, with the parts of the right machine gun being a mirror image of the parts of the left one. The machines were connected to each other into a single block by cradles. It was balanced by weights attached to the cradles and secured in the machine using two axles. Vertical and horizontal guidance of the S-68 gun was carried out by an electro-hydraulic drive. The gun mount was installed on the bottom of the turret. It consisted of a body with a bracket, a mechanism for mounting the gun in a traveling manner and a conveyor. The lifting mechanism was located on the left side of the machine and had two drives: electro-hydraulic (with continuously adjustable guidance speed) and manual. The gun sight is automatic, anti-aircraft, construction type; was intended to solve the problem of determining the meeting point of a projectile with a target when firing. To do this, the following initial data were previously determined and installed on the sight: target speed, heading angle and slant range.

The speed of the target was determined by the type of aircraft, the heading angle - by the apparent direction of movement of the target, the range to the target - by eye or using a range finder.

When using the electric-hydraulic drive, two crew members worked with the sight: the gunner aimed the gun in the azimuth and elevation of the target; The sight installer set the initial data of the sight - speed, heading angle and range, and, if necessary, the dive or pitching angle. When using a manual guidance drive, three crew members worked with the sight: the vehicle commander aimed the gun in azimuth, the gunner aimed at the target elevation, and the sight installer set the initial sight data.

The total rate of fire was 200–240 rounds/min, initial speed projectile - 1000 m/s. Maximum firing range: vertical - 8800 m, horizontal - 12,000 m. Pointing angles ranged from -5° to +85°. Vertical guidance speed - 20 degrees/s, horizontal - 30 degrees/s.

The ZSU-57-2 ammunition consisted of 300 unitary cannon rounds located in special ammunition racks in the turret and hull. The main part of the ammunition (248 rounds) was loaded into clips before being loaded into the vehicle and placed in the turret (176 rounds) and the bow of the hull (72 rounds). Part of the ammunition (52 rounds) was not loaded into clips and was placed in special compartments under the rotating floor. Shots with armor-piercing shells loaded into clips were placed in the rear of the turret to the right and left of the gun mounting. The supply of clips was carried out by the loader manually.

Power point, transmission and all chassis components were borrowed from the T-54 tank, but the number of road wheels on board was reduced from five to four. The combat weight of the vehicle was 28 tons. Maximum speed movement - 50 km/h.

Relatively few ZSU-57-2 anti-aircraft self-propelled guns were produced - 867 units. They entered service with a number of tank regiments, where they were required to have one battery of four ZSUs.

The ZSU-57-2 had a number of disadvantages - a low rate of fire, manual clip loading, and the inability to fire on the move. The fire efficiency of the ZSU-57-2 battery was even lower than the batteries of towed 57-mm S-60 cannons, controlled from PUAZO-6 with SON-9, and then from the RPK-1 “Vaza” radar instrument system. After all, when shooting at jet aircraft at low and ultra-low altitudes and determining the speed of the target “by aircraft type” and the range to the target “by eye or using a rangefinder”, the probability of a hit is extremely low. Apparently due to these shortcomings, the Secular Army from the beginning of the 1960s began to gradually get rid of not very successful combat vehicles. IN different times they were sold or transferred in order military assistance armies of friendly countries: East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Cuba, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, North Korea, Angola, Syria, Egypt, Finland, Iraq and Iran.

The ZSU-57-2 received its baptism of fire in the Vietnam War, and they fought on the territory of both North and South Vietnam. ZSU-57-2 took part in combat operations in the Middle East, as well as in the Iran-Iraq war. Apparently in last time ZSUs of this type were used in combat in March 1999 during the repelling of NATO air raids on the territory of Yugoslavia.

When the Great Patriotic War ended, the euphoria subsided a little, and everyday work began. The analysis of the war began. Gaining military experience and understanding it.

So, it was precisely the comprehension of the experience gained during the war that showed the complete inconsistency of the military air defense available in the Red Army. In general, everything with our air defense was very bad, and smart people who had fought came to the conclusion that something had to be done in this situation.

This is 48 personnel and 9 DShK machine guns. For 65 tanks and 146 trucks, I note. According to states No. 010/500 - 010/506 (November 1943). The separate tank brigade was not provided with anti-aircraft guns at all. An ugly arrangement, of course.

Practice has shown that there was and could not have been a more tasty morsel for German aviation during the Great Patriotic War than a unit on the march.

At the same time, the enemy was armed with a fairly large number of self-propelled air defense systems; the main difference from towed ones was that they were ready to open fire without any additional preparation.

If you carefully study the issue, then the Red Army had mobile air defense systems. On trucks.

On the one hand, it’s cheap and cheerful, on the other, there is a complete lack of any protection from enemy aircraft. Not the best scenario, given that the Germans have, albeit lightly, armored mobile air defense systems.

For the new ZSU, a chassis was created based on the T-54 medium tank. The new self-propelled gun received the factory designation “product 500” and the army ZSU-57-2 and was put into service after comprehensive tests carried out in 1950.

The ZSU was produced at plant No. 174 in Omsk from 1955 to 1960, a total of 857 units were produced.

The place of the mechanical driver in the ZSU

Apart from the driver, all crew members were housed in an open turret.

In the stowed position, the tower could be covered with a tarpaulin awning.

The crew members' workplaces were located like this: in front on the left - the left gun loader, behind him in the center of the turret - the gunner, to the right of the gunner was the sight installer, in front on the right - the right gun loader, behind in the center of the turret - the workstation of the ZSU commander.

Sight installer's location 13

Top view from the gunner's position.

View from the loader's position.

Manual aiming mechanism. Not for the weak!

A sleeve collector was attached to the rear plate of the turret.

Vertical (−5...+85°) and horizontal guidance were carried out using electro-hydraulic drives powered by an electric motor.

The horizontal guidance speed was 30°, vertical guidance - 20° per second.

The comparative firing efficiency of the ZSU-57-2 was significantly lower than that of a battery of S-60 guns of similar design, since the latter had PUAZO-6 with SON-9, and later the RPK-1 “Vaza” radar instrument system.

However, the strong point of using the ZSU-57-2 was its constant readiness to open fire, lack of dependence on the tug, and the presence of armor protection for the crew.

ZSU-57-2 were used in the Vietnam War, in the conflicts between Israel and Syria and Egypt in 1967 and 1973, as well as in the Iran-Iraq War. Due to the relatively low rate of fire and the lack of automated radar guidance devices, this vehicle was not very effective.

In April 2014, video footage of the use of ZSU-57-2 by the Syrian army in battles in the vicinity of Damascus appeared.

However, when assessing the effectiveness of the ZSU-57-2, it is worth mentioning not only the disadvantages. Yes, the low rate of fire and the lack of automated radar guidance and tracking devices are undoubtedly a weakness. However, when accompanying tanks, the ZSU-57 could take on more than just the role of an air defense system.

On the other hand, in conflicts where the ZSU-57 took part, the armies that used the installation were well aware of the low effectiveness of the ZSU as an air defense weapon.

But the installation performed well in the role of self-propelled guns accompanying tanks, or, in modern terms, BMPT. And in this regard, the ZSU-57-2 was, perhaps, more effective than an air defense weapon. At least on the battlefields there were very few armored targets capable of withstanding a hit from the BR-281U armor-piercing projectile, which from a distance of 1000 m, flying out of the barrels at a speed of 1000 m/s, confidently penetrated up to 100 mm of armor.

ZSU-57-2 still left a certain mark on our military history as a testing platform. Which was followed by both “Shilka”, “Tunguska” and “Pantsir”, as well as the BMPT and BMOP projects currently being implemented.

Main Features

Briefly

Details

7.7 / 7.7 / 7.7 BR

6 people Crew

103% Visibility

forehead / side / stern Booking

13 / 15 / 10 housings

15 / 13 / 13 towers

Mobility

28.0 tons Weight

992 l/s 520 l/s Engine power

35 hp/t 19 hp/t specific

54 km/h forward
8 km/h back50 km/h forward
7 km/h back Speed

Armament

296 rounds of ammunition

2.0 / 2.6 sec recharge

4 shells clip size

120 shots/min rate of fire

5° / 85° UVN

Economy

Description

Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 short paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of creation and combat use machine, as well as about its striking features and application in the game. Insert screenshots of the car in different camouflages. If a novice player does not remember the names of the techniques well, he will immediately understand what we are talking about.

Main Features

Armor protection and survivability

Tell us about armor protection. Mark the most protected and most vulnerable areas. Assess the layout of components and assemblies, as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armor protection adequate, does the layout contribute to survivability in battle?

If necessary, use a visual template to indicate the most protected and vulnerable areas of the armor.

Mobility

Armament

Main weapon

Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main weapon. Evaluate its effectiveness in battle based on its reload speed, ballistics, and damage potential. Don't forget about the rate of fire on distributed targets: how quickly the gun can lock onto one target, fire a shot at it, and lock on to the next target. Add a link to the main article on the weapon: ((main|Name of weapon))

Describe the ammunition available for the main gun. Give recommendations on their use and on filling the ammunition stowage.

Additional weapon

Some tanks are armed with multiple guns located in one or more turrets. Evaluate the auxiliary tool and give advice on its use. If there are no additional weapons, remove this subsection.

Describe the ammunition available for the secondary weapon. Give recommendations on their use and on filling the ammunition stowage.

Machine gun weapons

Directional and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight aircraft, they are also effective against lightly armored vehicles. Evaluate machine gun weapons and give recommendations for their use.

Use in combat

Describe the techniques of playing on a car, features of use in a team and tips on tactics. Refrain from creating a “guide” - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Tell us about the most dangerous opponents and give recommendations on how to fight them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Flaws:

Historical background

Tell us about the history of the creation and combat use of the vehicle. If historical background If it turns out big, put it in a separate article and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end.