The absence of a ZSU in the air defense of troops is one of the saddest moments in the history of the Red Army. After the end of the Second World War, in the USSR, she seriously took up the correction of errors. The most famous ZSU in the world was the Soviet ZSU-23-4 “Shilka”, but few people know that it had a stronger brother, the ZSU-37-2 “Yenisei”.
On April 17, 1957, the Council of Ministers adopts Resolution No. 426-211 on the development of new rapid-fire self-propelled anti-aircraft guns "Shilka" and "Yenisei" with radar guidance systems. This was our response to the adoption of the M42A1 ZSU in the United States.
Formally, Shilka and Yenisei were not competitors, since Shilka was developed to provide
Air defense of motorized rifle regiments to engage targets at altitudes up to 1500 m, and "Yenisei" - for air defense of tank regiments and divisions, and operated at altitudes up to 3000 m.
For the ZSU-37-2, OKB-43 developed a 37-mm twin anti-aircraft gun "Angara". It used two 500P assault rifles developed at OKB-16. "Angara" had a belt feed system, a liquid cooling system for automatic machines and tracking electro-hydraulic drives.
But in the future, it was planned to replace them with purely electric drives. Guidance drive systems were developed by: TsNII 173 GKOT of Moscow (now TsNII AG) - on power tracking drives of guidance; and the Kovrov branch of TsNII-173 (now VNII Signal) - to stabilize the line of sight and the line of fire.
The Angara was guided using the Baikal anti-jamming radar and instrument complex, created at NII-20 GKRE (Kuntsevo village). RPK "Baikal" worked in the centimeter wavelength range (about 3 cm).
Looking ahead, I will say that during the tests it turned out that neither the Tobol on the Shilka, nor the Baikal on the Yenisei can independently efficiently search for an air target. Therefore, even in the decree of the Council of Ministers No. 426-211 of April 17, 1957, it was envisaged to create and submit for state tests in the second quarter of 1960 a mobile complex of the Ob radar to control the ZSU.
The Ob complex included the Neva command vehicle with the Irtysh target designation radar and the Baikal RPK located in the Yenisei ZSU. The Ob complex was supposed to control the fire of six to eight ZSUs. By a resolution of the Council of Ministers of July 4, 1959, work on the Ob was stopped in order to speed up the development of the Krug anti-aircraft missile system.
The chassis for the Yenisei was designed at the Uralmash design bureau under the leadership of G. S. Efimov on the chassis of the SU-100P self-propelled gun. Its production was planned to be deployed at the Lipetsk Tractor Plant.
ZSU "Shilka" and "Yenisei" were tested in parallel, albeit according to different test programs.
The Yenisei had a range and ceiling close to the ZSU-57-2, and, according to the conclusion of the State Testing Commission, “provided cover for tank forces in all types of combat, that is, air attack weapons against tank forces mainly operate at altitudes up to 3000 m..
Normal firing mode (tank) - a continuous burst of up to 150 rounds per barrel, then a break of 30 seconds (air cooling) and repeating the cycle until the ammunition is used up.
During the tests, it was found that one ZSU "Yenisei" is superior in efficiency to a six-gun battery of 57-mm S-60 cannons and a battery of four ZSU-57-2.
During the tests, the ZSU "Yenisei" provided firing in motion on virgin soil at a speed of 20-25 km / h. When driving along a tank track (at the range) at a speed of 8-10 km / h, the firing accuracy was 25% lower than from the spot. The firing accuracy of the Angara cannon is 2-2.5 times higher than that of the S-60 cannon.
During the state tests, 6266 shots were fired from the Angara cannon. Two delays and four breakdowns were noted, which amounted to 0.08% of delays and 0.06% of breakdowns from the number of shots fired, which is less than permissible in terms of tactical and technical requirements. During the tests, the SDU (equipment for protection against passive interference) malfunctioned. The chassis showed good maneuverability.
RPK "Baikal" on tests functioned satisfactorily and showed the following results:
- limit of work on target speed - up to 660 m / s at altitudes of more than 300 m and 415 m / s at altitudes of 100-300 m;
- the average detection range of the MiG-17 aircraft in sector 30 without target designation is 18 km. The maximum tracking range of the MiG-17 is 20 km;
- maximum speed of target tracking vertically
- 40 deg / s, horizontally - 60 deg / s. Time of transfer to combat readiness from the preliminary mode
readiness - 10-15 s.
Based on the test results of the Yenisei air defense system, it was proposed to use it to protect the Krug and Kub army anti-aircraft missile systems, since the Yenisei effective firing zone covered the dead zone of these air defense systems.
After the end of the state tests of "Shilka" and "Yenisei", the state commission reviewed the comparative characteristics of both ZSU and issued an opinion on them.
Here are some excerpts from the commission's conclusion:
- "Shilka" and "Yenisei" are equipped with a radar system and provide fire day and night in any weather.
- The weight of the Yenisei is 28 tons, which is unacceptable for arming motorized rifle units and the Airborne Forces.
- When firing at the MiG-17 and Il-28 at an altitude of 200 and 500 m, the Shilka is 2 and 1.5 times more effective than the Yenisei, respectively.
The Yenisei is intended for air defense of tank regiments and tank divisions for the following reasons:
- Tank subunits and formations operate mainly in isolation from the main group of forces. "Yenisei" provides support for tanks at all stages of the battle, on the march and on the field, provides effective fire at altitudes up to 3000 m and ranges up to 4500 m. This installation practically excludes accurate bombing of tanks, which Shilka cannot provide.
- There are quite powerful high-explosive and armor-piercing shells, "Yenisei" can conduct more effective self-defense firing at ground targets when following tank forces in battle formations.
Unification of new ZSU with products in serial production:
For "Shilka" - 23-mm machine gun and shots for it are in serial production. The tracked base SU-85 is manufactured at MMZ.
Regarding the Yenisei, the PKK is unified in modules with the Krug system, in the tracked base - with the SU-1 PLO, for the production of which 2-3 plants are preparing.
As in the excerpts from the test reports and the commission's conclusion, as well as in other documents, there is no clear justification for the priority of Shilka over the Yenisei. Even their cost was comparable:
"Shilka" - 300 thousand rubles. and "Yenisei" - 400 thousand rubles.
The commission recommended that both ZSUs be adopted. But by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of September 5, 1962, No. 925-401, one "Shilka" was adopted, and on September 20 of the same year, an order from the State Committee for Defense of the Russian Federation to stop work on the "Yenisei" followed. According to some information, to refuse work on the "Yenisei" NS. Khrushchev was convinced by his son Sergei. An indirect proof of the delicacy of the situation was that two days after the closure of work on the Yenisei, an order from the State Committee for the Defense Industry of Ukraine appeared on the same bonuses for the organizations working on the Yenisei and Shilka.
Tactical and technical data
Caliber, mm 37
Number of machines 2
Angara art part index
Machine type 500P
Projectile weight, kg 0, 733
The initial velocity of the projectile, m / s 1010
Ammunition, rds. 540
Total weight of machines, kg 2900
Altitude range of effective fire, m 100 - 3000
Slant range of fire at anti-aircraft targets, m 4500
Maximum speed of an air target, m / s 660
Firing range at ground targets, m 5000
Rate of fire, rds / min 1048
The length of the maximum burst of one machine gun, rds. 150
RPK type "Baikal"
Detection range of MiG-17 type targets, m 18000
Range of automatic tracking of a MiG-17 type target, m 20,000
RPK limits of target speed, m / s 660/414
HV angle of the gun, deg. -1 - +85
Angle of the gun, deg. 360
Chassis type object 123
Combat weight of ZSU, t 27, 5
Installation dimensions:
- length, mm 6460
- width, mm 3100
Chassis engine power, h.p. 400
Maximum travel speed, km / h 60
Crew, people 4
Control system and guidance - radar sighting system 1A11 "Baikal" with radar 1RL34 and television-optical sighting device developed by NII-20 GKRE. It is unified in terms of equipment modules with the equipment of the Krug air defense missile system. According to the results of acceptance tests of the prototype (completed on August 10, 1961), it was noted that the equipment for protection against passive interference was not debugged. When working on low-flying targets, the accuracy of the RLPK is higher than that of the SON-9A radar.
The detection range of a target of the MiG-17 type is average in a sector of 30 degrees - 18 km
The maximum tracking range of a MiG-17 type target is 20 km
Target tracking speed vertically - up to 40 deg / s
Maximum target speed:
- 660 m / s at a flight altitude of more than 300 m
- 415 m / s at a flight altitude of 100-300 m
Time of transfer to combat readiness from the preliminary readiness mode - 10-15 seconds
Time of continuous operation without changing parameters - 8 hours
MTBF radar - 25 hours (based on the results of state tests)
MTBF RLPK - 15 hours (based on the results of state tests, TTT requirements - 30 hours)
Shooting at nazmny targets in motion is possible when using a television-optical sight, on the spot - using a backup sight and hydraulic drives.
State recognition equipment "Silicon-2M".
Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 426-211 of April 17, 1957 provided for the creation of a mobile radar complex for target detection and target designation "Ob" with the transfer of the complex for testing in April-June 1960. The "Ob" complex included the command vehicle "Neva" with a target designation radar "Irtysh" with a connected RPK "Baikal" ZSU. The Ob complex was supposed to control the fire of 6-8 ZSU Yenisei. The development of the Ob complex was discontinued by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated July 4, 1959.
Wavelength range - centimeter (approx. 3 cm)
Chassis - tracked 6-roller "Object 119" developed by the design bureau of the Uralmash plant, chief designer - G. S. Efimov. The chassis was created on the basis of the SU-100PM chassis (product 105M). The serial production of the chassis was supposed to be carried out at the Lipetsk Tractor Plant. Suspension - individual torsion bar with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers on the front and rear nodes.
Track rollers - 12 x 630 mm diameter
Carrier rollers - 6 x 250 mm diameter
Engine - diesel V-54-105 with a power of 400 hp.
Reservation - bulletproof (protection of the ammunition loadings from 7.62 mm B-32 bullets from a distance of 400 m was provided).
Installation length - 6460 mm
Installation width - 3100 mm
Track - 2660 mm
Base - 4325 mm
Installation weight:
- 25500 kg (according to TTT)
- 27500 kg
Travel speed on the highway - 60 km / h
Travel speed when firing at an air target - 20-25 km / h
Average speed:
- on a dry dirt road - 33.3 km / h (during state tests, fuel consumption 158 liters per 100 km)
- on a dirty dirt road - 27.5 km / h (during state tests, fuel consumption 237 liters per 100 km)
- on a dry tank track - 15.1 km / h (during state tests, fuel consumption 230 liters per 100 km)
Cruising range (fuel):
- 310 km (on a dry dirt road)
- 210 km (on a dirty dirt road or on a dry tank track)
Overcoming obstacles:
Rise - up to 28 degrees
Descent - up to 28 degrees
Funnel - diameter 4-6 m, depth 1.4-1.5 m
Artillery unit - twin cannon installation 2A12 "Angara" developed by OKB-43 with 2A11 / 500P assault rifles with belt feed developed by OKB-16 (chief designer - A. E. Nudelman). Serial production of 500P automatic machines - Izhevsk plant.
Barrel cooling system - liquid
Power drives - 2E4, electrohydraulic (it was planned to subsequently replace them with electrical ones) developed by TsNII-173 GKOT, the developer of the stabilization system is the Kovrov branch of TsNII-173 GKOT (now VNII "Signal").
Angles of vertical guidance - from -1 +85 degrees
Horizontal guidance angles - 360 degrees
Horizontal aiming speed of the gun - 0.6 deg / rev (manual drive, TTT - 1-1.5 deg / rev)
Machine weight - 2900 kg
Initial speed - 1010 m / s
Direct shot range - 1200 m
Slanting range for air targets - 4500 m
Firing range at ground targets - 5000 m
The height of the defeat - 100-3000 m
Maximum target speed - 660 m / s
Rate of fire - 1048 rds / min
Continuous burst - 150 rounds / barrel (firing mode "normal" with a break after a burst of 30 seconds with air cooling)
Delays (based on test results) - 0.08%
Breakdowns (based on test results) - 0, 06%
The probability of hitting a target of the MiG-17 type at a speed of 250 m / s at different altitudes (obtained by calculating the errors that were adopted by the developer for the serial manufacturer):
Target flight altitude Probability of defeat (%%)
200 m 15
500 m 25
1000 m 39
1500 m 42
2000 m 38
3000 m 30
3000 m 60-75 battery in 3-4 ZSU
Normal armor penetration at different ranges:
Range Armor Penetration (mm)
500 50
1000 35
1500 30
2000 25
According to the test results, the defeat of ground armored targets was ensured with 50 mm armor at a distance of up to 100 m and 40 mm armor at a distance of up to 500 m at an angle of encounter between a projectile and armor of 60-90 degrees. Effective fire was recommended to be conducted in bursts of 3-5 rounds. at a distance of no more than 600-700 m.
During the tests, it was found that the ZSU-37-2, when firing a burst of 140 shells at a target of the Il-28 type, one ZSU in the near zone and four ZSU in the far zone at a target flight altitude of 2000-3000 m in combat effectiveness is equivalent to a battery of six 57 mm S-60 cannons with PUAZO-6-60 and SON-9 with a consumption of 264 rounds, and surpasses the battery in 4 ZSU-57-2. ZSU "Shilka" is more effective than "Yenisei" when firing at a target of the MiG-17 type at altitudes of 200 and 500 m, respectively, 2 and 1.5 times.
The firing accuracy when moving on a tank range at a speed of 8-10 km / h is 25% lower than when firing from a standstill. The firing accuracy is 2-2.5 times higher than that of the S-68 cannon.
The cost of the ZSU-37-2 is 400,000 rubles (in 1961 prices)
Ammunition: 540 rds. (600 shots on TTT). The 500P submachine guns were the original 37-mm submachine guns and were incompatible with other 37-mm cannons in terms of ammunition (except for the serially produced Shkval ZU - the 37-mm Shkval quad anti-aircraft gun, 4 500P submachine guns. Shkval was developed by OKB-43, and after its liquidation - TsKB-34. Cannon "Shkval" was adopted for mass production by Resolution CM No. 116-49 dated 09.02.1959, Automatic machine 500P was manufactured by Izhevsk plant, and the gun - by factory No. 525. Production of gun "Shkval" was discontinued by Resolution of CM N ^ 156-57 dated 1960-11-02).
- high-explosive fragmentation tracer
Mass - 733 gr
- armor-piercing projectile
Equipment: power supply was provided by a gas turbine electric generator developed by NAMI, ensuring quick readiness for operation at low temperatures; there is no anti-nuclear protection for the crew. Radio station - R-113. Night observation devices for the commander and driver - TKN-1 and TVN-2.
Modifications:
ZSU-37-2 / object 119 - factory model (1959)
ZSU-37-2 modified - modifications to the design of the installation began in 1962, the chassis was changed with the addition of a 7th roller, a new fine-link track with an RMSh and a track pitch of 110 mm was used, the hull was changed. The set of documentation has been deposited.
Distance between the centers of the leading rollers - 6195 mm
Base - 4705 mm
ZSU object 130 - technical design of ZSU developed by OKB-3 of the Uralmash plant, chief designer - P. P. Vasiliev. The project was completed in 1960. The engine-transmission compartment of the ZSU was unified with the T-54 and T-55 tanks. The location of the engine is transverse. The prototype was not built.
