ZPU
| ZPU anti-aircraft gun | |
|---|---|
14.5x114mm | |
| Caliber | 14.5 mm |
| Barrels | 1-4 |
| Action | Short recoil operation |
| Effective firing range | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| Maximum firing range | 8 km (5.0 mi) |
| Feed system | 150 round belt each |
The ZPU (
Quadruple-barreled (ZPU-4), double-barreled (ZPU-2 and ZU-2), and single-barreled (ZPU-1) versions of the weapon exist.
Precursor
The first dedicated Soviet mount for anti-aircraft machine guns was developed around 1928 by Fedor Tokarev and was adopted for service in 1931. It was a base for mounting up to four 7.62 mm PM M1910 (Russian Maxim) guns. This was also called a ZPU, although the name М-4 was also assigned to it. It served the Soviet armed forces in all major conflicts until 1945.[1] 12.7 mm DShK 1938 was used an anti-aircraft weapon it was mounted on pintle and tripod mounts, and on a triple mount on the GAZ-AA truck. Late in the war, it was mounted on the cupolas of IS-2 tanks and ISU-152 self-propelled guns. As an infantry heavy support weapon it used a two-wheeled trolley which unfolded into a tripod for anti-aircraft use.
Description
Development of the ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 began in 1945, with development of the ZPU-1 starting in 1947. All three were accepted into service in 1949. Improved optical predicting gunsights were developed for the system in the 1950s.
All weapons in the ZPU series have air-cooled quick-change barrels and can fire a variety of ammunition including API (B32), API (BS41), API-T (BZT) and I-T (ZP) projectiles. Each barrel has a maximum rate of fire of around 600 rounds per minute, though this is practically limited to about 150 rounds per minute.
The quad-barrel ZPU-4 uses a four-wheel carriage similar to that once used by the obsolete 25 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun M1940. In firing position, the weapon is lowered onto firing jacks. It can be brought in and out of action in about 15 to 20 seconds, and can be fired with the wheels in the traveling position if needed.
The double-barrel ZPU-2 was built in two different versions; the early model has large mud guards and two wheels that are removed in the firing position, and the late model has wheels that fold and are raised from the ground in the firing position.
ZPU-2 turned out to be too heavy for the
The single-barrel ZPU-1 is carried on a two-wheeled carriage and can be broken down into several 80-kilogram pieces for transport over rough ground.
Versions of the weapon are built in China, North Korea and Romania.
History
The series was used during the
During the
The ZPU has seen widespread use by both sides in the
In North Korea, ZPU systems have been modified to be able to be directed by a MR-104 "Drum Tilt", where the guns are shown to be fired without personnel manning them.[6]
During the
Czech company Excalibur Army developed the MR-2 Viktor mobile gun air defense system consisting of a ZPU-2 equipped with day/night sights mounted on a pickup truck chassis upgraded with a reinforced suspension and modified body. The Viktor was supplied to Ukraine in late 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine to combat low-altitude aerial targets, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles.[8]
Ammunition
- API (BS.41): Full metal jacket bullet round with a tungsten carbide core. Projectile weight is 64.4 g (2.27 oz) and muzzle velocity is 1000 metres per second (3,281 ft/s). Armor-penetration at 500 m (550 yd) is 32 mm (1.3 in) of RHA at 90 degrees.[9]
- API-T (BZT): Full metal jacket round with a steel core. Projectile weight is 59.56 g (2.101 oz) and muzzle velocity is 1,005 m/s (3,297 ft/s). Tracer burns to at least 2,000 m (2,200 yd).
- I-T (ZP): "Instantaneous Incendiary" bullet with internal fuze, incendiary in tip, tracer container in base. Projectile weight is 60.0 g (2.12 oz).
Rounds are also produced by Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Poland, and Romania.
Variants
.jpg)
- ZPU-4
- ZPU-2
- Type 58: Chinese-built version.[10]
- PKM-2: Polish-built version.
- ZU-2
- ZPU-1
- Type 75 and Type 75-1: Chinese built-versions.[10]
- BTR-40A SPAAG: A BTR-40 APC with a ZPU-2 gun mounted in the rear. Entered service in 1950.
- BTR-152A SPAAG: A BTR-152 with a ZPU-2 mounted in the rear. Entered service in 1952.
Specifications
| Model | ZPU-1 | ZPU-2 | ZU-2 | ZPU-4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrels | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Weight (travelling) | 413 kg (910 lb) |
994 kg (2,191 lb) |
649 kg (1,430 lb) |
1,810 kg (3,990 lb) |
| Weight (firing) | 413 kg (910 lb) |
639 kg (1,408 lb) |
621 kg (1,369 lb) |
1,810 kg (3,990 lb) |
| Length (travel) | 3.44 m (11 ft 3 in) |
3.54 m (11 ft 7 in) |
3.87 m (12 ft 8 in) |
4.53 m (14 ft 10 in) |
| Width (travel) | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) |
1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
1.37 m (4 ft 6 in) |
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Height (travel) | 1.34 m (4 ft 5 in) |
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)) |
1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) |
2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) |
| Elevation | +88 °/−8 ° | +90 °/−7 ° | +85 °/−15 ° | +90 °/−10 ° |
| Traverse | 360 ° | |||
| Maximum range | 8,000 m (8,750 yds) | |||
| Maximum altitude | 5,000 m (16,400 ft) | |||
| Effective altitude | 1,400 m (4,590 ft) | |||
| Ammunition (rounds) | 1,200 | 2,400 | 4,800 | |
| Crew | 4 | 5 | ||
Operators
Afghanistan[11]
Albania - 336
Algeria – 100 (40 ZPU-4 and 60 ZPU-2)[12]
Angola[12]
Bangladesh Type-56[13]
Benin[14]
Bulgaria[14]
Burkina Faso[15]
Burundi – 15[12]
Cambodia
Cameroon - 18[16]
Cape Verde - 18[17]
Chad[18]
China[14]
Congo-Brazzaville[19]
Congo-Kinshasa - 12[20]
Croatia
Cuba[14]
Cyprus
Czechoslovakia[14]
Djibouti
East Germany − Used by the Combat Groups of the Working Class[21]
East Timor
Egypt[14]
Ethiopia[14]
Gabon[22]
Ghana - 4+[23]
Guinea[14]
Guinea-Bissau[14]
Hungary[14]
Iran
Iraq[14]
Islamic State[24]
Israel
Kenya
Laos[14]
Latvia – 2[12]
Lebanon
Libya[14]
Madagascar – 50[25]
Malawi – 40[12]
Mali[14]
Malta – 50[12]
Mauritania – 12[12]
Mongolia[14]
Morocco – 19[12]
Mozambique[14]
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal – 36[12]
Nicaragua[14]
North Korea[14]
Pakistan[14]
Panama[14]- People's Defense Units (YPG): ZPU-4[26]
Poland[14]
Qatar – ZPU-2[27]
Romania[14]
Russia
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – ZPU-2 and ZPU-4[28]
São Tomé and Príncipe[14]
Seychelles[14]
Somalia[14]
South Africa[29]
Soviet Union[14]
Sri Lanka
Sudan[14]
Syria[14]
Tanzania – 21[12]
Togo – 38[12]
Transnistria
Uganda[14]
Ukraine[7]
Vietnam[14]
Yemen – ZPU-1, ZPU-2 and ZPU-4[30]
Yugoslavia
Zambia[14]
Zimbabwe – 36[12]
Wars
The ZPU served in several conflicts:
- Korean War
- Invasion of Panama
- Vietnam War
- Yom Kippur War
- Rhodesian Bush War
- Western Sahara War
- Angolan Civil War
- Cambodian Civil War
- Lebanese Civil War
- Soviet–Afghan War
- South African Border War
- Somali Civil War
- Gulf War
- Georgian Civil War
- South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
- First Chechen War
- Second Congo War[31]
- Second Chechen War
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Iraq War (2003-2011)
- 2006 Lebanon War
- Russo-Georgian War
- First Libyan Civil War
- Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile[32]
- Syrian Civil War
- Second Libyan Civil War
- War in Donbass
- Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
- Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
Gallery
 |
 |
 |
See also
References
- ISBN 978-5-699-31622-9.
- ISBN 962-361-613-9.
- ^ "Rebels down Libyan aircraft as world leaders discuss next move". arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ Neville 2018, p. 34.
- ISBN 9781472822512.
- ^ Oryx. "A Visual Guide to North Korea's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
- ^ a b Ferguson & Jenzen-Jones 2014, p. 54.
- ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas (26 May 2023). "IDET 2023: Excalibur Army Viktor light air-defence vehicles supplied to Ukraine". Janes Information Services. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023.
- ^ "ZPU-4 14.5 mm quadruple guns anti-aircraft technical data sheet specifications information UK - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ^ a b c d Gander, Terry J. (4 May 2001). "14.5 mm KPV heavy machine gun". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 3732–3734.
- ISBN 978-0-415-45308-0. Archivedfrom the original on 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Military Balance 2017
- ^ "TENDER NOTICE" (PDF). dgdp.gov.bd. Directorate General of Defence Purchase. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 212.
- ^ Cherisey, Erwan de (July 2019). "El batallón de infantería "Badenya" de Burkina Faso en Mali - Noticias Defensa En abierto". Revista Defensa (in Spanish) (495–496).
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 454.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 455.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 457.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 458.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 461.
- ^ "PKM-2 Polish 14.5mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Gun". ODIN - OE Data Integration Network. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 467.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 469.
- France Soir (in French). 25 October 2018. Archivedfrom the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021, p. 473.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (29 October 2021). "Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria". Oryx Blog.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (6 March 2021). "Qatar's Purchase of BP-12A SRBMs: A Guppy Sprouts Teeth". Oryx Blog.
- ISBN 978-1-912866-29-8.
- ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (20 September 2015). "The Oryx Handbook of Pre-war Yemeni Fighting Vehicles". Oryx.
- ISBN 978-1-920143-84-8.
- ^ "SPLA-N weapons and equipment, South Kordofan, December 2012" (PDF). HSBA Arms and Ammunition Tracing Desk. Small Arms Survey: 8. February 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
- Jane's Land Based Air Defence 2005–2006. ISBN 0-7106-2697-5.
- Koll, Christian (2009). Soviet Cannon: A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Austria: Koll. p. 98. ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9.
- ISBN 9781032012278.
- Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (November 2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014 (PDF) (Report). Australia: Armament Research Services (ARES). ISBN 978-0-9924624-3-7. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- Cullen, Tony; ISBN 978-0-7106-0979-3. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
External links
- ZPU-1 single barrel anti-aircraft gun data sheet
- ZPU-2 anti-aircraft 14.5 mm twin guns data sheet
- http://en.rcamuseum.com/our-collection/zpu-4-anti-aircraft-gun-14-yugo
- ZPU-4 anti-aircraft 14.5 mm quadruple guns data sheet
- Video: ZPU-1 (single-barreled 14.5) being fired in Afghanistan
- Video: ZPU-2 (14.5) being fired in Syria from a technical