Gryazev-Schipunow GSch-6-30
The GRYAZEV-SHIPUNOV GSH-6-30 ( Russian Грязев-Шипунов ГШ-6-30 ) is a 30 mm automatic cannon , as the Gatling gun is designed with six tubes. It was developed in the Soviet Union in the early 1970s and has been used as on-board armament for combat aircraft since 1975 . The GRAU index is 9А621 . It is similar in structure to the Grjasew-Schipunow GSch-6-23 .
history
In the 1960s, a light naval gun was sought for the Soviet navy . The potential of the Gatling weapon of US origin, with its extremely high rate of fire, was known for the defense against approaching anti-ship missiles, and from 1963 onwards it developed its own 30 mm Gatling cannon with six tubes, the AO-13 . The weapon was used in naval combat turrets such as the AK-630 .
As part of the standardization of weapons and ammunition in the Russian army, air force and navy, the AO-13 was redesigned for use in combat aircraft from 1970 . The dimensions of the AO-13 were slightly reduced, the pipes shortened and the water cooling system removed. The resulting weapon was called GSch-6-30 .
For test purposes, the GSch-6-30 was installed in a MiG-23BN in the fuselage behind the nose landing gear in the middle on a lowerable mount, exactly there like the previously used Grjasew-Schipunow GSch-6-23. However, the tube bundle was not covered, which led to good cooling and easy maintenance of the weapon. Structural reinforcements in the MiG-23 were required to use the much more powerful GSch-6-30. The weapon was regularly used in the MiG-27 as a ground attack weapon , where it was mounted in a gondola below the fuselage. In both aircraft, there were sometimes considerable problems with the heavy weapon and the very high recoil force of 5,500 kp (approx. 54 kN ) (see GAU-8 Avenger with 4,082 kp / 40 kN). During the first test flight with the weapon in a MiG-27, the complete avionics of the aircraft failed after the first 25 shots, due to the strong vibrations. During later flights there was structural damage to the airframe, the cover of the nose landing gear broke off and the ammunition feed failed. In addition, the electronics failed again. To counteract these effects, the GSch-6-30 was adjusted downwards at an angle of 1 ° 13 '. In this version, the weapon was put into service in 1975.
technology
The GSch-6-30 was a six - barrel gas pressure-operated Gatling cannon with a caliber of 30 × 165 mm . In contrast to the American Gatling cannons, such as B. the GAU-8 / A Avenger , the GSch-6-30 is therefore self-propelled and not externally powered. This manifests itself in a lower weight of the weapon and in a higher cadence (especially in the first second after the weapon is fired). In addition, the GSch-6-30 does not use any on-board energy from the aircraft. A disadvantage is the very complex mechanics of the gas pressure charging mechanism, which is subject to very high thermal and mechanical loads. Corrosion was also a problem with GSch-6-30. The weapon had to be cleaned after each firing and generally every 15 to 20 days.
commitment
Despite the improvements in the attachment of the weapon in the airframe, serious incidents occurred at least three times up to 1988 in which a MiG-27 without nose landing gear had to make an emergency landing because the firing of the GSch-6-30 had damaged the casing of the nose landing gear and it did not was to extend more. Together with the enormous cadence , the GSch-6-30 was a very powerful automatic cannon. However, the tactical range of use was limited due to the high consumption of ammunition and the heavy projectiles, so that it was only used in a few aircraft.
Technical specifications
- Type: six-barreled Gatling cannon
- Caliber: 30 mm
- Drive: gas pressure charger
- Rate of fire: 5,550–6,000 rounds / min (≈ 100 rounds per second)
- Weight: 149 kg
- Length: 1878 mm
- Width: 252 mm
- Height: 285 mm
- Ammunition: 30 × 165 mm
- Ignition: electric
- Muzzle velocity: 845 m / s (3042 km / h)
- Recoil force: 5,500 kg
Web links
- The Soviet GSh-6-30 aircraft cannon (English)