Gryazew-Schipunow GSch-6-23
The GRYAZEV-SHIPUNOV GSH-6-23 ( GRAY index 9A768 ) is a sechsläufige Gatling gun in caliber 23 mm, at the time of the Cold War in the Soviet Union was developed. To this day, the powerful weapon is used in some Russian fighter aircraft , mostly as the modernized GSch-6-23M variant .
The GSch-6-23 differs from most US multi-barreled cannons mainly in that it has no external drive, but is a gas pressure loader . This means that it does not draw any energy from the on-board systems. The start-up time of the barrel rotation up to the maximum rate of fire is shorter than with an external drive - this is a clear advantage in aerial combat, in which as many projectiles as possible should be brought to the target in a short time.
The cartridges used are 23 × 115 mm AM 23, which are fed with or without a belt. The electric ignition of the weapon works with a 27 V direct current system. The cannon has ten pyrotechnic cartridges in order to be able to reload the weapon in the event of failure and to eject the unfired cartridge.
The maximum theoretical cadence of the GSch-6-23 is one of the highest in the world at 9,000 and 10,000 rounds per minute. The rate of fire is limited for tactical reasons, since the cumulative length of the bursts would be very short with the ammunition supply carried. The not for the dogfight designed MiG-31 carries, for example, only 260 shot that would have consumed in less than two seconds.
The GSch-6-23 was used, for example, in the Su-24 ( NATO code name Fencer ) and in the MiG-31 ( Foxhound ). Part of the weapon is also built into the SPPU-6 weapon container , in which the barrel can be moved 45 ° down, left and right.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Type | six-barreled Gatling cannon |
| caliber | 23 × 115 mm |
| function | Gas pressure charger , electric ignition |
| length | 1.4 m |
| Weight (complete) | 73-76 kg |
| cadence | 9,000-10,000 rounds per minute (≈ 167 rounds per second) |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m / s |
| Bullet weight | Tank fire: 176 g; Explosion: 184 g |
literature
- Anthony G. Williams: Rapid Fire. Airlife UK, August 2000.
Web links
- Izhmash ( Memento from July 31, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) (Russian)