Marines use Shilka SPAAG to destroy ground targets

Ukrainian servicemen of the air defense unit have shared how the ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun works against enemy ground targets in the Donetsk region.

According to the military, in the conditions of the present-day Russian-Ukrainian war, the Soviet-era Shilka gun has proven itself quite well, so it can still remain in service.

The commander of the anti-aircraft division of one of the separate brigades of the marines with the callsign “Filin” said that the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were effectively using Shilka guns against Russian combat equipment and infantry, ArmiyaInform reports.

“Of all our available anti-aircraft weapon systems, we use the Shilka most often. It destroys air targets very well. However, we often use it on ground targets, such light armored vehicles, infantry, etc. One combat mission on it means no less than 10 destroyed Russians,” says the division commander.

He notes that the design of the Shilka weapon is very similar to the ZU-23-2, while is much more effective. Its rate of fire is bigger due to the fact that Shilka uses liquid cooling of gun barrels. The anti-aircraft gun has 4 barrels of 23 mm caliber with each being able to work separately or simultaneously.

According to the military, during the operation of all the barrels one full set of ammunition is used up in less than 4 minutes, which amounts to 2,000 shells.

“Due to the creation of a high density of fire, Shilka is considered to be a powerful anti-aircraft weapon system. It can easily destroy lightly armored ground targets. There are also cases when my soldiers hit the tank. Once, it quite calmly removed the tank’s protection, and then the armor-piercing shells did their job,” adds the commander.

For ground purposes, the three person crew operates. The operator needs to follow the trail of tracer ammunition. It is emphasized that in such cases the first round is always for aiming purposes, and then the weapons operator works precisely on the specified target.

The military assures that Shilka can be used at night, together with a night vision device.

To work on air targets, a radar system is mounted on the vehicle, which detects and accompanies targets. Through commands to the calculation device, the SPAAG can work automatically.

ZSU-23-4 Shilka is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun designed for a close air defense covering of ground troops, destruction of aerial targets flying with speed up to 450 m/s, at distance of up to 2,500 meters and with altitude up to 1,500 meters, as well as ground targets at a distance of up to 2,000 meters from the stationary position, a shortstop and in motion.

Ukrainian air defense has been reinforced with Polish ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled guns. A photo of this SPAAG with a characteristic Polish camouflage was published on social media.