Name: 23 × 152B mm
Availability: InStock

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Northern Africa

Egypt

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Africa

Southern Asia

Iran

Eastern Europe

Bulgaria

Poland

Western Europe

Switzerland

<h2>Synonyms</h2><p>23 × 152B; 23 mm Soviet VYa</p><h2>Armament</h2><p>ZU-23 and ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft guns; Mvlkov-Yarzev VYa-23 aircraft guns; subcalibre devices.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The 23 × 151 mm cartridge was developed in 1940 for the VYa aircraft cannon, a weapon widely adopted by the Soviet Air Force, notably in the Ilyushin Il-2 `Stormovik' ground-attack fighter. The VYa cannon was replaced by other types, but the basic cartridge was adapted for the ZU-23 cannon, which first appeared as an aircraft gun but is now used solely as an air defence ground gun. The ZSU-23, as the ground gun is known, and its self-propelled variant the ZSU-23-4 , were both widely distributed throughout the former Warsaw Pact and many other countries. In 1993 it was revealed that the South African Defence Force (SADF, now the SANDF) had acquired numbers of ZU-23 weapons during the Angolan conflict, and that these had been assimilated into South African service as self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. As a result, manufacture of the appropriate ammunition now takes place in South Africa . Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG of Switzerland introduced a 23 × 152B FAPDS-T round during 1997. It is understood that this round forms part of a 23 mm ZSU-23 air defence gun upgrade package proposed by Sako of Finland .</p><h2>Description</h2><p>The case is rimless, belted, bottlenecked and of brass or, more usually, steel. While dimensionally similar, ammunition for the VYa and ZU-23 guns is not functionally interchangeable. Cartridges for the VYa gun had brass cases and a screwed-in percussion primer. Those for the ZU-23 use steel cases and an extended-tube KV-3 primer which is pressed in and cannot be removed. Brass or steel cases are manufactured for the subcalibre training device for tank guns. The following are the most commonly encountered types of this ammunition: HEI: Also known as HEFI. The projectile consists of a steel shell filled with AIX-2 explosive ignited by a PD MG-25 nose fuze. The projectile has a copper drive band. The steel case contains approximately 77 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form ignited by a KV-3 primer to provide an initial muzzle velocity of 970 to 980 m/s. This provides an effective horizontal range of 2,500 m or 1,500 m in altitude. HEI-T: Also known as HEFI-T. As HEI but with tracer burning for at least 5 seconds. API-T: Solid steel projectile body with steel ballistic cap and tracer assembly in the base. The steel case contains approximately 76 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form ignited by a KV-3 primer to provide an initial muzzle velocity of 970 to 980 m/s. This provides an effective horizontal range of 2,500 m or 1,500 m in altitude. The tracer burns for at least 5 seconds. The projectile can penetrate 10 mm of armour, assuming an impact angle of 30º and an impact velocity of 530 m/s. TP-T: As HEI-T but the projectile is filled with an inert mixture. Subcalibre AP-T: Intended for use with a subcalibre barrel insert intended for low-cost gunnery training. The round closely resembles that for the API-T but has a silver tip painted on the nose and the propellant charge is reduced to 73 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form. The slightly reduced propellant charge in the brass or steel case results in a muzzle velocity of  910 m/s and the round weight is 447 g. Horizontal range is 1,800 m. Blank: This cartridge consists of the steel case only with the mouth crimped over. The contents are 35 g of VTJ powder ignited by a KV-3 primer.</p><p>BULGARIA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Arsenal</p><p>Type: HEI-T: Round weight 450 g; projectile 188.5 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>HEI-T Inert: Training round identical to HEI-T, except for inert warhead. Round weight 449 g;</p><p>Projectile weight, 188.5 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>API-T: Round weight 450 g; projectile 190 g; MV  970 m/s</p><p>TP-T: Round weight 450 g; projectile 188.5 g; MV  970 m/s</p><p>Subcalibre: Round weight 447 g; projectile 190 g;  MV 910 m/s</p><p>Blank: Steel case containing 35 g of VTJ powder</p><p>EGYPT</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Maasara Company for Engineering</p><p>Type: HE-I-T: Probably based on the Serbian HE-I-T round; no details</p><p>AP-I-T: Probably based on the Serbian AP-I-T round; no details</p><p>Subcalibre: Solid shot, with tracer and ballistic cap; brass case with screwed-in primer. No details of</p><p>performance. For use in tank gun subcalibre insert barrels</p><p>IRAN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Ammunition Industries Organisation</p><p>Type: HE-AP-I: In spite of the Iranian designation, this appears to be a conventional HE-I shell with</p><p>nose impact fuze. It also has a red tracer. MV 970 m/s</p><p>POLAND</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Zaklady Metalowe Mesko</p><p>Type: HEI-T BZT: Projectile weight 188.5 g; MV  970 m/s</p><p>RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND ASSOCIATED STATES (CIS)</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Kemerovo Mechanical Plant</p><p>Type: AP-I-T: Steel shell and ballistic cap with copper rotating band; 175 g; Mv 970 m/s</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>State arsenals</p><p>Type: HE-I-T OZT: Steel shell filled 18 g HE; copper driving band. Mk 25 nose impact fuze; 183 g;</p><p>MV  970 to 990 m/s</p><p>AP-I BZ: Steel-pointed shell with alloy ballistic cap filled with incendiary mixture; 192 g; MV 1,000</p><p>m/s</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>PRIBOR</p><p>Type: HEI-T: Known as HEFI-T. See text</p><p>HEI: Known as HEFI. See text</p><p>AP-T: See text</p><p>SOUTH AFRICA</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Denel (Pty) Ltd ( PMP )</p><p>Type: HEI: Steel shell loaded Hexal P30 and with soft iron driving band, steel case, Boxer primed,</p><p>self-destruction 5 to 12 seconds; nose impact fuze; 187 g; MV 975 m/s</p><p>APC-I-T: Steel shot with ballistic cap, incendiary filling inside the cap, soft iron driving band, base</p><p>tracer to 5 seconds minimum; steel case, Boxer primed; 187 g; 975 m/s; penetration 50 mm</p><p>SAPHEI: Base fuzed; under development</p><p>SWITZERLAND</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG</p><p>Type: FAPDS-T PMA 276: Subcalibre, frangible armour-piercing discarding sabot with tracer.</p><p>Tungsten alloy penetrator with integral plastic moulded ballistic cap and tracer, with full plastic</p><p>moulded discarding sabot; 150 g; MV 1,180 m/s</p><p>YUGOSLAVIA , FEDERAL REPUBLIC</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Yugoimport SDPR</p><p>Type: HE: Steel shell loaded 19.6 g RDX/Aluminium; nose impact fuze; 190 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>HE-T: Steel shell loaded 16.3 g RDX/Aluminium, with tracer in rear and heat relay giving</p><p>self-destruction after 3.5 seconds; nose impact fuze; 190 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>HE-I: Steel shell loaded 19.6 g RDX/Aluminium; nose impact fuze; 182 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>HE-I-T: Steel shell loaded 16.3 g RDX/Aluminium, with tracer in rear and heat relay giving</p><p>self-destruction after 3.5 seconds; nose impact fuze; 190 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>AP-I: Steel-pointed shell loaded 5 g TNT/Aluminium with incendiary filling in ballistic cap; base delay</p><p>fuze; 190 g; MV 970 m/s</p><p>AP-I-T: As for AP-I but with red tracer; 190 g; MV  970 m/s</p><p>TP: HE shell body, empty; dummy fuze; 182 g; MV  970 m/s</p><p>TP-T: HE-T shell body, forward section empty, rear section red tracer; dummy fuze; 190 g; MV 970</p><p>m/s</p>

The case is rimless, belted, bottlenecked and of brass or, more usually, steel. While dimensionally similar, ammunition for the VYa and ZU-23 guns is not functionally interchangeable. Cartridges for the VYa gun had brass cases and a screwed-in percussion primer. Those for the ZU-23 use steel cases and an extended-tube KV-3 primer which is pressed in and cannot be removed. Brass or steel cases are manufactured for the subcalibre training device for tank guns. The following are the most commonly encountered types of this ammunition: HEI: Also known as HEFI. The projectile consists of a steel shell filled with AIX-2 explosive ignited by a PD MG-25 nose fuze. The projectile has a copper drive band. The steel case contains approximately 77 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form ignited by a KV-3 primer to provide an initial muzzle velocity of 970 to 980 m/s. This provides an effective horizontal range of 2,500 m or 1,500 m in altitude. HEI-T: Also known as HEFI-T. As HEI but with tracer burning for at least 5 seconds.

API-T: Solid steel projectile body with steel ballistic cap and tracer assembly in the base. The steel case contains approximately 76 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form ignited by a KV-3 primer to provide an initial muzzle velocity of 970 to 980 m/s. The tracer burns for at least 5 seconds. The projectile can penetrate 10 mm of armour, assuming an impact angle of 30º and an impact velocity of 530 m/s. TP-T: As HEI-T but the projectile is filled with an inert mixture. Subcalibre AP-T: Intended for use with a subcalibre barrel insert intended for low-cost gunnery training. The round closely resembles that for the API-T but has a silver tip painted on the nose and the propellant charge is reduced to 73 g of 5/7 CFL propellant in powder form. The slightly reduced propellant charge in the brass or steel case results in a muzzle velocity of 910 m/s and the round weight is 447 g. Horizontal range is 1,800 m. Blank: This cartridge consists of the steel case only with the mouth crimped over. The contents are 35 g of VTJ powder ignited by a KV-3 primer.

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23 × 152B mm

23 × 152B mm

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