Volume 8 Issue 93

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Richard Hook der of British Land Forces during the
Falklands campaign.

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II

G
llodernT ed
Anti-Aircrcrft
Utbclpons
Cheaper, easier to maintain and more flexible than their self-
propelled counterparts, towed anti'aircraft ga ns nonetheless
employ solthisticated tracking and. fire control systems'
making them a serious threat to groud attack airctaft .
Since aircraft first appeared over the battlefleld, anti-aircraft weapons
have been devetoped and employed in an effort to stop them. Durtng
World War II a variety of anii-aircraft guns ranging in calibre from
i2.7-mm machine-gnrns up to 120-mm guns were employed by the major
powers in an effort to combat air attacks, By the end of the war bombers
','rere flying higher and faster, and it was realized that anti-aircraft gnrns,
even with proximity-fused ammunition and compiex radar fire-control
systems, were incapable of stopping them,
The major powers, namely the UK, USA and USSR, soon started to
jevelop surface-to-air missiles such as the Bloodhound, Nike-Hercules
and SA-2 'Gurdehne'which could successfully intercept aircraft flylng
-.-ery fast and very high, Thrs forced the aircraft to adopt new tactrcs and
-;r very low to escape the surface-to-air missiles and radar systems.
Most countries today employ a mix oiguns and missiles to defend their
::rward units. In the major powers these are normally self-propelled
'.';eapons such as the Soviet 23-mm ZSU-23-4 or the West German twin
:--mm Gepard, Many countrtes do, however, use towed anti aircraft
tit
\
;\
TheOerlikon 35-mm GDF system isused by over 20
countiles. Recent operators include the RAF, which has just
formed a unit touse theOerlikons capturedin the Falklands.
Argentine Oerlikons shot down four Harriers and at least two
o{ their own aircraft during the conflict.
Qluns on a large scale as these are not only much cheaper than the-:
self-propelled counterparts but are easier to maintain and operate. i:-
most cases, moreover, they can be rapidly transported by alrcraii c:
helicopter to where they are most needed, Towed antr-aircraft guns ar=
also widely used to defend static areas such as supply dumps, arrfieics
and command centres. In these cases they are often integrated into a:
overall air-defence system,
The Middle East campaigns of 1973, the Vietnam conflict and mcr:
recently the Falklands campaign have proved that the light antr-atrcr=
gmn is a real complement to mrssiles: not only has it a qutcker reac::::-
trme in many situations, but it is also highly elfective in the ground-::-
ground role
The Rheinmetall 20-mm anti-aircraft gun is fitted with the Italian Galileo P56
computing sight.Thegunner uses a joysticktoelevate and trarerse theEruns
and an analogue computer calculates the lead anEr,les necessa ry to hit the
target aircraft.
-=::+
'L a
'-'h,€
ffi )"ffil* FK z}-Zligrht anti-aircraft sun
The 20-mm EK 20-2 light anti-aircraft
gnrn mountinq was
developed to meet
the rather special requirements of the
Norwegdan armed forces and certain
units of the West German army. The
Rheinmetall twin 2O-mm light anti-
aircraft gmn is widely used by the West
German army, but its weight of 2160 kg
(4,762 lb) is too great to permrt the
type's use by arrborne and mountain
units. The FK 20-2 weighs only 620 kg
(1,367 lb) in its travelling configuration
and can be qurckly disassembled to
allow transport by pack ammals,
Companies involved in the desrgn
and development of the FK 20-2 tn-
cluded A./S Kongsberg Vappenfabrrkk
of Norway Rheinmetall of West Ger-
many, Hispano-Suiza of Switzerland T he 20 -mm F K 2 0 - 2 anti-aircraft gu n cannon as the twin 20-mm
(since taken over by Oerlikon-Biihrle) is a joint development between Rheinmetall system used by the West
and Kern, the last responsible for the Norway andWestGermany and uses German army and air force.
siqht. the same 20-mm MK 20 Rh 202
The FK 20-2 is fitted with the Rhein-
metall 20-mm MK 20 Rh 202 cannon as have the optical sight mounted be- the rear and one on each side, The FK This 20-mm FK 20-2 anti-aircraft gun
installed in the twin 2O-mm mount used tween them. The latter has a maEi- 20-2 rs a clear-wearher syslem only in the firing position clearly shows
by the West German army and air nificatron of x 1,5 for enqaginq aerial wrlh no capabrlrty lor radar conlrol the two magazineq one eacft stde of
force. The gmnner can flre either single targets and x5 for enqaginqt ground Other anti-aircraft systems used by the the barrel holdingTs rounds of
shots or bursts, the cannon havrng a larges T1.^ sighr has rwo eyepleces: Norwegian army include the Amer- ready-use ammunition. The grunner
cyclic rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per the upper cne rs used when the gmnner ican 12.7-mm (0.5-in) quadruple has a dual sight which enables him to
minute, A total of 160 rounds of ready- is seated ,.;hlie the lower one is used machine-gmn Bofors RBS-70 surface- track both aerial and ground targets
use ammunition is provided; of these, when the grunner rs engaging qround to-arr missile system and Bofors 40-mm easily.
150 are normally anti-arrcraft ammuni- targets frcm the much safer prone U60 and U70 towed antt-aircraft gmns,
tion and the remaining 10 armour- positlon T,- :he foonl of the gunner is a The 20-mm Rheinmetal MK 20 Rh Dimensions: length travelling 4, 00 m
piercing for the engagement of small sileld. but rn peace this is often 202 cannon is also used by the Norwe- (13 ft 1.5 in); widthtravelling LBO m
armoured vehicles On each side of removed ic save welght gian army, installed in a one-man (6 ft 1.2 in); heighttravellinq2,20m(7 fi
the cannon rs a box of 75 rounds of The svsrem rs normally mounted on Swedish turret mounted on M113 26in)
ammunition (high explosive rncendi- a f!'Jo-lyheeled carnaqfe that can be armoured personnel carriers. Elevation: +83"/-8"
arylHEI or high explosive incendiary- towed i:1' anv hetht 4x4 cross-country Traverse:360'
tracer/HEl-T), while above the cannon vehtcle 'rhrch also carries the three- Specification Rangres: maximum horizontal 6000 m
is a box of l0 rounds of armour- man cre'i and a supply of ready-use FK20-2 (6, 562 yards); maximum vertical
piercinq drscarding sabot-tracer arTrmuntiton. Calibre:20 mm (0,79 in) 4500 m ( 14,764 ft); effective vertical
(APDS-T). Traverse and elevation are In lhe i:-rg posirion the weapon is Weights: travellinq 620 kq ( 1,367 lb) 2000 m (6,562 ft)
manual via two hand wheels, which supponed cn three outdggers, one at firins440 kq (970 lb) Crew:3(lonmount)
]TALY

B 40-mm 40L70 anti-aircraft gun

For many years the Breda company of
Brescia has been involved in the de-
sign and productron of a wide range of
weapons for both naval and qround
forces. One of its most lmportant naval
weapons rs the Compact Twin 40 mm
U70 Type 70 Naval Mount, which rs
already in servrce with over 20 navres
and used rn conjunction wrth an Orron
radar to provide a close defence sys-
tem against both arrcraft and air- or Italian Breda 40L70 Field Mounting is
sea-launched anti-ship missiles. The essentially a naval anti-aircraft and
company realized lhal rhis weoporl anfi-rnrisrTe system, installed on a
aiso had an army application for the four-wheeled carriage for army use.
defence of hrgh-value tarqrets such as Venezuela has recently taken
arrfields command posts, oi1 installa delivery of I B 40L70 Field Mountings,
trons and so on. The 40-mm Breda which it uses in conjunction with the
40L70 mount is now in seniice wrth Dutch HSA Flycatcher radar.
Venezuela, which already has the ori-
ginal naval rns-allation ir servce on
board its sx'Lupo' class frigates, The
40L70 cannot be used alone as rt has no
flre-controi system, but a wide range of
fire-control systems is available from a
number of manufacturers a typrcal
equipment being the Dutch Hollandse
Signaalappartean Flycatcher, When
used in conjunctron with the Flycatch-
er the complete system is known as the
Guardian, A typical flre unrt consrsts of two on each side on outrigqters. high capacity high explosive (HCHE), ammunitron (in clips of four rounds) is
two 40-mm 40L70s, one Flycatcher Turret traverse and weapon eleva- high explosive-tracer (HE-T), armour- provided under the turret, and the
flre-controi system, and generators. tton are electrrc at a maxlmum traverse piercing capped{racer (APC-T) and empty cartridge cases are ejected out-
The twin 40-mm 40L70 mount is speed of 90'per second, The mount target practice. To enqage aertal side the forward part of the turret.
essentially the standard naval turret in- has two 4O-mm 7O-calibre Bofors gmns targets such as helicopters, aircraft When firing the turret is unmanned,
stalled on a four-wheeled carrrage. ln which have a cyclic rate of fire of 300 and missiles the PFHE round would be beinq controlled by the operator in the
lhe flrrng posrrion the sysrem ts sup- rounds per barrel per minute, used as it produces over 2,400 frag- flre-control centre,
ported on six jacks that are adjustable Ammunition is identical to that used in ments of which some 600 are tunqsten For many years Breda has been pro-
to sult the different ground conditions; the famous Bofors L/70 antr-aircraft gun pellets, which can penetrate 14 mm ducing the Bofors 40-mm L/70 anti-
one jack is located at each end of the and includes proximity-fused pre- (0.55 in) of aluminium aircraft gun under licence, including
carriage, and the other four are placed fragmented high explosive (PFHE), A total of 444 rounds of 40-mm the towed system. To increase the rate

1842
Breda 40-mm 40L70 antiaircraft grun (continued)
of hre of the latter weapon Breda has
designed an automatic feeding device
which increases cyclic rate offire from
240 to 300 rounds per minute, wrth.a
total of 144 rounds carned for ready
use.
More recently Breda has developed
to the prototype stage a twin 3O-mm
towed anti-aircraft gun whrch uses the
West German 30-mm Mauser Model F
gun, which has a cyclic rate of fire of
BOO rounds per gun per mrnute, Each
barrel has 250 rounds of ready-use
ammunition, The system is fltted with
the ltalian Galileo P75D optronic fire-
control system and a on-carrrage pow-
er unit,
Specification
Breda 40-mm 40L?0
Calibre: 40 mm ( 1,57 in)
Weights: travelling without
ISRAEL
tg
-
20-mm TCM-20 ligrht anti-aircraft gun
For some years Israel used the old
American M55 trailer-mounted 12.7-
mm (0.S-in) quadruple light anti-
aircraft gun system, but they realized
that it had a very short range The
RAMPTA Structures and Systems Divi-
sion of Israel Aircraft Industries then
modernized the system as the 20-mm
TCM-20 to meet the requirements of
the lsraeli Air Defence Command and,
following tnals with prototype systems,
lhe type was accepted for service in
time to be used in combat during the
1970 'War of Attrition', when it is
claimed to have shot down lO aircraft
in 10 engragements, It was also used
during the Yom Kippur War, when it is
credited with shootinq down some 60
per cent of enemy aucraft downed by
air defences, the remaining 40 per
cent being shot down by other anti-
arcraft guns and HAWK surface{o-air
missiles. In the 1982 invasion of the
Lebanon the TCM-20 was used not
only to shoot down Syrian aircraft and
helicopters but also in urban fighting
and to enqage qround targets The
TCM-20 was offered on the export
market at an early date and is now in
servrce with at least six countries apart
foom Israel.
The TCM-20 is the M55 with the four
12.7-mm M2 HB Browning heavy
machine-guns replaced by two Hispa-
no-Suiza HS 404 cannon with a cyclic
rate of fire of 650 to 700 rounds per
minute, but a practical rate offlre of i50
rounds per minute. Each barrel has a
quick-change drum maqazrne that
holds 60 rounds of ready-use ammuni-
tron. The gunner aims the cannon with
an MIB reflex sight, Turret traverse
and weapon elevation are electric,
'rith onboard power provided by two
12-volt batterres mounted at the rear of
the carriage; the batteries are kept
charged by an auxiliary power unit, ln
the flring position the wheels are nor-
mally removed and the carriage is
supported on three levelling jacks.
The basic model is normally tbwed
by any 4x4 light vehicle, although
Israel also has in service a self-
propelled model based on the M3
series halftrack There is no provision
:or all-weather fire control, although
-varning of the exact direction of
approach by enemy aircraft can be
given by an Israeli-designed EL/M
2 106 point-defence alertingr radar.
More recently RAMPTA Structures
Modern Towed Anti-Aircraft Weapons
ammunition 9900 kg (21,826 1b);
travel[ng with ammunition 10966 kg
(24, r76 rb)
Dimensions: length travelling 8,03 m
(26 ft 4,9 tn); width travelling 3,20 m
(10 ft 6 in); height travelling 3,65 m
(1 I ft I 1,7 in)
Elevation: +85"/-13"
Traverse:360"
Ranges: maximum horizontal 12500 m
( I 3, 670 yards); maximum vertical
8700 m (28,543 ft); effective vertical
4000 m (13,123 ft)
The Breda 40-mm 40L70 Field
Mounting has a total of 444 rounds ot
ammunition ready for immediate
use. When the weapon is firing no
crewmen are ptesent as the guns are
aimed and fired by remote control by
the Flycatcher fire conttol system.
This TCM-20 twin 20-mm light anti-
aircraft gun in the tiring position has
jacks lowered to the ground to
provide a more stable firing
platform. Thr's sysfem ri essentially
the old American M55 with its four
12.7-mm (0.19-calibre) MZ HB
machine-guns replaced by two
20-mmcannon.
and Systems has developed a new sys-
tem called the TCM Mk 3, which
appears to be srmrlar in concept to the
origdnal TCM but can be fltted with a
variety of different weapons in the 20-
mm to 25-mm class, the example
shown in l9B3 being fitted with 23-mm
cannon as used in the Soviet ZU-23
towed anti-aircraft qun system. In
addition to the same MIB optical siqht
as installed on the orlginal TCM-20 the
TCM Mk 3 is beinq offered with a Star-
Iiqht siqht with a magmflcation of x4
for night operations and a fire-control
system that includes a laser rangefin-
der and computerized sigrht,
Specification
TCM-20
Calibre:20 mm (0,79 in)
Weights: travelling 1350 kq (2,976 lb)
Dimensions: Iength travelling 3 27 m
(10 ft8,7 in); widthtravellinq 1.70 m
(5 ft6.9 in); heighttravelling 1.63 m(5 ft
4.2tn)
Elevation: +90'/-10"
Traverse:360'
Ranges: maximum horizontal 5700 m
(6, 234 yards); maximum vertical At present there are twoversions of mounted on the rear of an M3
4500 m (14,764 ft); effective vertical the I sraeli TCM-20 twin 20 mm anti- halftracked vehicle. The system was
1200 m (3,937 ft) aircraft gun system: tawed and self- used tor the first time during the so-
Crew:4 propelled, with the latter being called War of Attrition in I 97 0.
 fE iil:;* Tarasque lisht anti-aircraft sun
The 20-mm Tarasgue light anti-arrcraft
qtun entered service with the French
army severai years ago under the de-
signation Type 53 T2 It is armed with
the 20-mm M693 cannon (the standard
weapon of its type in the French army),
which is also installed in the AMX-1OP
mechanized infantry combat vehicle
and the AMX-30 main battle tank,
The Tarasque light anti-aircraft gmn
is carried on a two-wheeled carriage
that can be towed by a liqht 4x4 vehi-
cle such as the M20i or Land Rover,
The weapon can be brougtht rnto ac-
tion by two men rn about 15 seconds:
on arrLval al lhe selected fning posiilon
the Iocking pin retaining the rear foot is
removed and the mount slewed
through 90" to place the other two feet
in contact with the Qround; the car-
riage is then removed and the mount
supported on the three feet.
Only one man is required to operate
the Tarasque qrn, the other two men
acting as ammunition handlers or air-
craft spotters, The gn-rnner rs seated on
the left side of the mount and moves in
elevatron with the 20-mm cannon.
Elevation and traverse are hydraulic,
though manual controls are provided
for emergency use. Maxrmum traverse
speed rs 40" per secono ano maximum
eievation speed is 80" per second.
The 20-mm M693 is a dual-feed can-
non and has a cyclic rate of flre of 740
rounds per minute, The gunner flres
the cannon by pressing down his right
foot, and can flre single aimed shots or
bursts, A total of 140 rounds of ready-
use ammunition is carried, of which 100
are normally high explosive (HE) or
high explosive incendiary (HEI) for en-
gaging aerial targets, and 40 of
YUGOSLAVIA
E
Ii[J 20-mm M55A2 light anti-aircraft gun
In recent years the Yugroslav defence
industry has desrgned and placed in
production a number of 20-mm light
anti-aircraft gnrns, all of which use the
same basic Hispano-Suiza 20-mm HSS-
804 7O-calibre barrel which is pro-
duced under licence in Yugoslavia,
The 2011 mm M75 rs the most un-
sophisticated weapon in the family,
and has a single barrel with the gnrnner
sitting on a seat at the rear of the mount,
Elevation and traverse are manual,
and the gmnner aims the cannon at air-
craft targets by means of an M73 reflex
sight while a sight wrth a magniflcatron
of x3.B is used to engage ground
targets, The cannon is normally fed
from a drum holding 60 rounds of
ammunition, but there is also a box
type magazine that holds 10 rounds of
ammunition; the latter is normally used
for API, API-T and AP-T, while the
I 844
armour-piercinq discardinq sabot
(APDS) for engagrngr armoured
targets. The latter round will penetrate
20 mm (0,79 rn) of armour at an tnci-
dence of 0" at a ranqe of 1000 m ( 1,094
yards)
The gunner has an anti-arrcraft stght
with a magnification of x I and
ground to qround sigrht with a mag-
nficatron of xS
The Tarasque can also be installed,
less rts carriage, in the rear of cross-
country vehrcles such as the TRM 2000
4x4 trxck: this grves the weapon qrea-
ter cross-country mobility as well as
enabling it to open flre as soon as the
vehicle comes to a halt,
The French air force uses the twin
20-nm Cerbdre hght anti-aircraft gun
to provrde close protection for the Cro-
tale surface-to-air mrssile systems pro-
tecting its arr bases The Cerbere, also
knonm as the Type 76 T2, rs essentlally
the West German Rheinmetall twrn 20-
mm [qht antr-aircraft qrun with its on-
ginal MK 20 Rh 202 cannon replaced
by the French GIAT M693 cannon.
Currently berng tested for use wtth the
Cerbere is the DALDO target indica-
tor helmet in ths system the'gun com-
mander, situated away from the Cer-
bdre, constantly scans the sky for a
target. Once a hostile tarqlet has been
selected the commander presses
button and the Cerbdre mount is auto-
matically lard onto the target in eleva-
tion and traverse, thus savtngvaluable
seconds in target acqulsltron,
More recently GIAT has developed
a twin 20-mm light antr-aircraft gun sys-
tem as a private venture, Desiqrnated
Type 53 T4 thrs weiqhs 2500 kg
(5,512 lb), and is thus much heavier
drum maqazine is used for the anti-
aircraft rounds (HEI and HEI-T). The
ammumtion used by this qun is identic-
al to that used rn other weapons of this
family.
The 2013 mm M55A4 BI has a car-
riage and sighting system similar to
that of the Oer[kon-Bilhrle GAI-DOI
Iigrht anti-aircraft gmn, and each of the
three barreis has a 60-round drum
magazine. The gunner sits on a seat at
the rear of the mount and power for
the hydrau[c e]evation and traverse
system is provided by a Wankel en-
gdne mounted under the gunner's seat,
Maxrmum traverse and elevation rates
are 80" per second,
Sighting is effected by an Italian
Galileo P56 sight with a maqniflcatron
of x 1 for use against arrcraft and x 4 for
use against ground tarqets, Each ofthe
20-mm cannon has a cyclic rate of flre
a
TheGIAT 20-mmTarasque light anti-
aircraft gun can also be carried in the
rear of trucks such as this Renault
TRM 2000 (4x4) for greater cross-
than the Cerbere or Tarasque It has
a hydraulic elevation and traverse and
150 rounds of ready-use ammunttton
for each of the 2O-mm cannon.
Specification
Tarasque
Calibre: 20 mm (0,79 in)
Weights: r ravelltng wrth ammu n' I
jon
840 ks (1,852 lb); firinerwith
ammunition 660 kq ( 1,455 ]b)
of 700 rounds per mrnute, and the gnrn-
ner fires lhe cannon by depressing a
foot pedal, For transportation the
mount is carrred on a small two wheel
carriage which in the firing position is
supported on four outriggers
The 20i3 mm M55A2 is very similar
to the M55A4 B I system, but has a diffe-
rent sight and manua] elevatron and
traverse, The gnrnner is seated at the
reat and has two handwheels (one for
elevation and one for traverse), and
fires the cannon by pressing a foot
pedal, The gn-rnner is provided with a
sight for target tracking, but has to in-
sert key data (for example target
range and speed) manually to ensure a
hrt,
All of these 20-mm cannon are basi-
cally clear-weather systems with no
provrsion for radar flre control. They
are also offered for export, and sales
One ofthe features of theFrench
20-mm Tarasque light anti-aircraft
gunis thatit can be towed by a light
vehicle such as the M20 I (4x 4). The
20-mm M693 cannon has dual feed,
so enabling thegunner tochange
from one type of ammunition to
another to engage different types of
target.
country mobility. This gun is now in
wjde-sca/e use with the French army
and is also offered for export, as are
most French weapons today.
Dimensions: Iength travelling 4. 15 m
(13 ft7,4 in); widthtravelling 1.90 m
(6 ft2.B in); heighttravellinq 1,70 m(5 ft
6,9 in)
Elevation: +83'/-8"
Traverse:360o
Ranges: maximum honzontal 6000 m
(6562 yards); maximum vertical 4500 m
( 14,764 ft); effective vertical 2000 m
(6,562 ft)
Crew:3(lonmount)
have been made to a number of coun-
tries rncludinq Cyprus and Mozambi-
que,
Specification
M55A2
Calibre:20 mm (0.79 in)
Weights: Iravelling (wuh ammun irion)
1100 kq (2,425 lb); firins (without
ammunition) 970 kq (2, l3B lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 4,30 m
(14 ft 1.3 in); wrdthtravelling 1.27 m
(4 ft 2 in); heighi travelhns 1,47 m(4 tI
9.9 in)
Eievation: +83'/ 5"
Traverse:360"
Ranges: maxrmum horizontal 5500 m
(6, 0 I 5 yards); effective horizontal
2500 m (2,734 yards); maximum
vertical 4000 m (13,123 ft); effective
vertical 2000 m (6,562 ft)
Crew: 6 (l onmount)
Low-level Rctdcr
Towed anti-aircraftguns depend on low-Ievel radar for their
efficiency; radar systems alert the batteries to the presence of
hostile aircraftand direct theguns when the enemyis
engaged. Today, systems sucft as Super Fledermaus are being
superseded by extremely sophisticated equipment like the
Swiss Contraves Skyguard.

Most anti-alrcraft guns are fitted wth simple optical sights to enable.them to
engage both g roun-d and alr targets. The latter is, of cou rse, the main objective of
thdtdweO an"ti aircraft gun, bu1 in the highly mobile type of warfare envisaged
today, there will doubti-ess be occasions when the towed anti-aircraft gun will
have to engage ground targets in order to survive.
To enabl6 a-erial targets to be engaged more effectively two drstlnct aids are
now avarlable. rn thelorms of an alerting radar and a fire-control system.
The alerting radar can be a tripod-, container- or vehicle-based system that is
deployed fair"ly near the gun position. This continuously searches,the sky for
airbrait and hi-licopters, altnough the latter are particularly difficult to detect
when tney are novering very near tr-e grou'rd. Orce a possible taJget comes
witnin range oI the radar it appears on tne radar opera-tor's screen Some o' lhe
more com-plex alerting radais have an rdentlficatlon frrend or foe (lFF) system
which enables the radar operator quickly to confirm if the target s friendly.or
hostile lf it is f riendly no aition is taken, but if it is conf irmed as hostlle the radar
operatcr nforms the anti-aircraft gun best posit oned to engage the t-arg-et of the
approxrmate speed. height and dlrection of approach of the aircraft. The light
anti-aircraft gun rs then pbinting in the general drrection of the target as it comes
into vrew.
One of the more complex systems of this type ls the Swedlsh Ericsson Glraffe
search radar, which was olginally developed to meet the requirements of the
Swedish army f or use with tlie Bof ors RBS-70 su rf ace-to-ai r missile system The
Giraffe radar system consists of a container which can be carried on top of a
wide range of iross-country vehicles, tracked and wheeled. Mounted on top of
the cont;rner is the radar on a hydraulic arm that can be raised to a height of
about 12 m (39.4 ft) to improve its surveillance capabllities. The radar operators
are seated inslde the container, and once aircraft are confirmed as hostile
RBS-70 misslle launchers are allocated to each lndividualtarget. Target informa-
tion can be transmitted to the RBS-70 launchers up to 5 km {3.1 miles) away
f rom the Giraffe radar unit. Each RBS-70 unit has a target data receiver whtch
can slew the RBS-70 launcher towards the target and inform the m ssile oper-
ator when the aircraft is withtn range. The Giraff e radar system js used by at least The Swedish Ericsson Giraffe search radar was developed for use with the
seven countries and can control Iight antt-aircraft guns as well as missrles Bofor s RB S - 7 0 s urf ace - to - air mjssi/e, b u f ls a/s o u s e d to contr o I lig ht AA g u n s.
One of the most comprehensrve anti-aircraft f ire-control systems available. n From the back of the truck the operators can transmit target information to AA
the world today is the swiss Contraves Skyguard, successor to the earJier units up to 5 km (3 miles) away.
Contraves Super Fledermaus system used by some 20 countries The Skyguard
frrecontrol systemisrnounted nafullyair-conditionedtrailerwhichcanalsobe Targets are first tracked by the pulse-doppler search radar mounted on top :'
carried on a tracked (e.g. M548) or wheeled chassls for greater cross-country the container and then by the tracking radar or the TV tracking system, the lai.:-
mobility. Although used-mainly with anti-a rcraft guns such as the Oerlikon twin being of considerable use in an ECM (electronic counter measures) envirc'-
35-mm series, tie Skyguard can also be used w th missiles such as the Sparrow meni. lnsrde the container is the control console, which can be operated by I's.
or a combination of guns and missiles. one man, the computer and the data transmission system, which transr'- ::
inf ormation to the mrssiles or anti-aircraft gun. One Skygua rd f ire-control syste --
Experience has demonstrated that a complementary defence of guns and typically controls two 35-mm Oerlikon towed anti-aircraft guns. Ttre lalter ha,:
missiles provides the most effective protection against hostile aircraft' The lust three rnen to keep the guns supplied with ammunition. The Skygua':
enemy ii forced low by the missile threat and thenengaged by the-guns' Here, f ire-control systern not only aims the gun accurately at the target but also ma<::

Skygiard provides fire control information forbofh mtssiles and 35-mm them open fire when the target is within range, and also selects the numbe- :'
OerlikonAAguns. rounds fired to ensure that the target ts destroyed.

ll
 E 561;# Mffi rght anti-aircrart sun
Czechoslovakia had an excellent gnrn-
making capability well before World
War II, and this was subsequently
taken over by the Germans, After the
end of the war Czechoslovakia con-
tinued to desiqn and burld weapons
such as the 30-mm M53 light anti-
arrcraft gmn which it strll uses in place
of the Soviet 23-mm ZU-23, The Czech
weapon is heavier and has a slower
rate of flre, but it does have a more
effective range than the ZU-23 In addi-
tion to being used by Czechoslovakia,
it is also used by Cuba, Romania, Viet-
nam and Yugoslavia, There is also a
self-propelled model called the M53/
59, whtch is mounted on a modtfied
and armoured Praga V3S 6x6 truck
chassis, An unusual feature of the M53/
59 is that the twrn 3O-mm weapons can
be removed from the vehicle and
placed on the ground for ease of con-
cealment while the truck rs driven
away and camouflaged, The M53/59 is
fed from vertical magazines holding 50
rounds, while the M53 is led horizontal-
ly in lO-round clips,
The M53 system is mounted on a
four-wheeled carrrage, no shreld
being provided for the four man crew,
To provide a more stable flring plat-
form in action, the wheels are raised off
the ground and the carnage is sup-
ported by fourjacks one on each side
on outriggers and one at each end,
The weapons are gras-operated,
each having a cyclic rate of flre of 450
to 500 rounds per minute though the
practical rate of flre is only 100 rounds
per minute, Ammunition is fed to each
barrel in clips, and two types of
ammunition are available, both having
a muzzle velocrty of 1000 m (3,281 ft)
per second these are high explosive
rncendrary (HLl) and armour-piercrng
incendiary (API) for use aqarnst
armoured vehicles, The latter round
will penetrate 55mm (2, 17in) of
m [i-** ZtJ-H3ligrht anti-aircraft sun
For many years after the end of World
War II the standard hght anti-arrcraft
gmn of the Soviet army was the ZPU
series of 14.S-mm (0.57-in) weapons
using the Vladimirov KPV heavy
machine-gun, which even today is in-
stalled in turets mounted on a number
of Soviet armoured vehicles includrngr
the BRDM-2, BTR-60PB and 0T-64,
There are three basic models of the
ZPU, the ZPU-1, ZPU-\ and ZPU-4, the
numeral referrinqt to the number of
barrels. Althouqh withdrawn from
frontline servrce with the Soviet army
some years aqo. rhe ZPU serres re-
mains in service with about 40 coun-
tries around the world.
In the 1960s the ZPU series was re-
placed in the Sovret army by thezU^z3
twin 23-mm towed anti-aircraft gun
system whrch is no longer rn front-line
Soviet use, so far as rs known, having
been replaced by surface-to-air mis-
srles. At divisional level the last users
were the airborne or airborne rrfle dr-
visions which each had a total of 24
systems, four in each of the three air-
borne rifle regiments and 12 in the di-
visional artillery element. The weapon
is still used by some 20 countrres,
howevet, and was even encountered
by United States forces durrngr their
invasion of Grenada in October 1983,
when ZU-23 and ZPU series liqht anti-
aircraft quns downed a number of
I 846
armour at a range of500 m (547 yards).
The main drawback of the M53 liqht
anti-aircraft gun is that, like the Soviet
ZU-23, it is limited to clear-weather op-
erations as there is no provisron for
radar or off-carriage fire-control,
Czechosiovakia developed two
other anti-aircraft weapons in the
period after World War II although as
far as it is known nerther remains in
front line service with the Czech
forces, These are the 12,7-mm (0,5-in)
M53 quadruple anti-aircraft machine-
gnrn, and a 57-mm antr-aircraft gun, The
M53 is'a two-wheeled carriage fitted
with four Soviet DShKM machine-guns, Twin 30-mm M53 weapons are towed with practical rate of fire being 100
each fed from a drum holding 50 by a PragaV3S 6x6 truck. rounds per barrel per minute. The
rounds of ammunition, This weapon Ammunition is fed to each of the 30- M53 has no radarsysfem, so rs
has an effective anti-aircraft range of mm barrels in clips of l0 rounds, limited in its engagements.
1000m (1,094 yards) and is normally
towed by a GA-69 4x4 truck whrch
also carries its crew and a small
amount of ready-use ammunition, The
57-mm anti-aircraft qun was used by
the Czech army in place of the Soviet
57-mm 5-60 and has a hiqher rate of
fire, being fed with three- rather than
four-round clips of ammunition, lt is re-
ported that this weapon was exported
to a few countries including.Cuba,
Guinea and Mali
Specification
M53
Calibre: 30 mm (1,18 in)
Weights: travellinqr 2100 kg (4,630 Ib);
firiis 1750 ks (3 B5B Ib)
Dimensions: length travelling 7,587 m
(24fi ),0.7 in); width travelling 1,758m
(5ft 9,2in); height travelling 1.575m
(5 ft
in) 2
Elevation: +85"410"
Traverse: 360'
Ranges: maximum horizontal 9700 m
(10,608 yards); maximum vertical The Czech twin 30-mm M53 light addition to this towed model there is
6300 m (20,669ft); effective vertical anti-aircraft gun js usedhere to also a self- propelled version called
3000 m (9,843 ft) defend a 'Bar Lock' air defence radar the M53/ 59, mounted on a 6 x 6 Praga
Crew: 4 installation against air attack. In V 3 S armou r ed lruck chassis-
American helicopters, In Afghanistan the Soviet equivalent of the Land Rov- A Soviet-built 23-mm ZU-23 light anti-
the Soviets have mounted a number oi er. The carriage has two rubber-tyred aircraftgun of the EastGerman army
ZU-23s on the rear of trucks to provrde road wheels: in the firing position seen jn the firing position, showing
r's
suppressive ground-to-Qtround frre these wheels are raised offthe ground the box of50 rounds ofready-use
when convoys are attacked by gruerril- and the carriage rs supported on three ammunition for each barrel. The
las, screw-type levelling jacks. Each of the ZU-23 has been seen in Afghanistan
The ZU-23 is normally towed by a 23-mm barrels is provided with a flash mounted on the rear of cross-country
liqht vehrcle such as the 4x4 GA,Z-69 suppressor, and a handle is mounted trucks.
23-mmZU -23 light anti-aircraft gun (continued)
on top of each barel to enable rt to
changed quickly Each barrel has
box ol 50 rourds of ready-use ammuni-
tion, and thouqh a cyclic rate of fire of
800 to 1,000 rounds per minute is possi-
ble, the practical rate of flre rs
rounds per minute. Two types of fixed
ammunrtron are frred by the ZU-23:
armour-piercing incendiary-tracer
(API-T) and high explosive incendi-
ary-tracer (HEI-T), the former beinqr
useci to engage armoured vehicles
and the latter to enqaqe aircraft. Both
projectiles have a muzzle velocrty of
970 m (3,182 ft) per second, and the
API-T projectile will penetrate 25 mm
(0.98 in) of armour at a range of 500 m
(547 yards), The mounting has no pro
vision for off-carriaqe frre control. The
23-mm cannon of the ZU-23 are also
used in the famous 23-mm ZSU-23-4
self-propelled antr-aircraft gun sys-
tem, although in this applicatron the
weapons are water-cooled to enable a
higher rate of flre to be achieved,
HT-** 5-60 anti-aircraft gun
The 57-mm (2,24-rn) 5-60 anti-aircraft
entered service with the Soviet
gn-rn
army after the end of World War II as
the replacement for the 37-mm M1939
liqht anti-aircraft Qrun; thrs was the
Soviet equivalent of the famous Bofors
4O-mm L/60 weapon used in large
numbers by the American and Bntrsh
armies during the war. Until very re
cently each tank division and moto-
rized rrfle division in the Soviet army
had an antr aircra't regrmenl eqLip
ped with the 5-60. Each regiment had
four batteries each with srx qluns, each
battery havrnq two three-qtun platoons,
Each battery had a SON-9/SON-94
'Frre Can flre-control radar, while at
regdmental HQ were two 'Flat Face'
target-acquisition radars. More re-
cently the 'Flap Wheel'radar has been
used wuh the S 60 systemn
The 5-60 is still used by some 30
countries especially in Afrrca, the
Middle East and the Far East, and fea-
tures rn the inventory of most Warsaw
Pact countries In the Sovret army it has
been replaced in many front line units
by the SA-B Gecko surface-to-ait mis-
sile (SAM), whrch in addition to beinq a
much more eflective all-weather sys-
tem can be ready for action within
seconds China has built a model ofthe
5-60 under the designation Type 59,
while the ZSU-57-2 self-propelled antr-
arrcraft gun system uses the same
ammunition as the 5-60
The 5-60 can be towed by a variety
of vehicles including 6x6 trucks such
as the Ural 375D or the AT-L iight
tracked artillery tractors. The weapon
can engage anti-aircraft targets with rts
wheels in contact wrth the ground but
it is much more accurate wtth its
wheels raised off the qround and the
carriage supported by four screw
jacks one on each side on ou riqoers
and one at each end, Optical sights are
fitted for the engagement of both
ground and aenal targets, Four modes
of operation are available flrstly
manual wrth the crew operating hand-
wheels for elevation and traverse;
secondly power-assisted with the
handwheels operated by the crews
but assisted by a servo motor; thrrdly,
remotely'conLrolled by a Puazo series
director and zero indicator; and fourth-
Iy, fully automatic and remotely-
Modern Towed Anti-Aircraft Weapons
be More recently Egypt has been test-
a ing two versions of the Ml13 armoured
personnel carrier with twin 23-mm
antr-aircraft guns mounted on the rool
while Israel has captured a number of
200 BTR- 152 6 x 6 armoured personnel car-
riers from the PLO wrth a ZU-23
mounted in the rear,
Specification
zu-23
Calibre: 23 mm (0.91 in)
Weights: travelhnq 950 kg (2,094 ib);
firing 950 kq (2,094 lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 4,57 m
(15 ft0 in); widthtraveiling 1.83 m(6 ft
0 rn;, heighttravelhng LB7 m(6 ft
1.6 in)
Elevation: +90'/-10"
Traverse:360'
Ranges: maximum horizontal 7000 m
(7, 655 yards); maximum vertical
5 100 m ( 16,732 ft); effective vertical Although no longer in large-sca,le use still highly effective, and a number
2500 m (8,202 ft) with the SovietUnion the twin 23-mm were used against American forces
Crew: 5 ZU-23 light anti-aircraft gun system is during the invasion of G renada.
controlled by a director and zero rn-
dicator, plus radar. In each case
ammunition is loaded in four-round
clips by ammunition feeders, one clip
beinq in the feed tray to the left of the
breech and another clip on the mount
itseil Three types of flxed ammunition
can be fired by the 5-60, all of which
have a muzzle velocity of 1000 m
(3,28 I ft) per secondr two types offrag-
mentatron tracer (FRAG-T) and
armour-piercrng capped-tracers
(APC-T), The latter will penetrate
96 mm (3.7B in) of armour at a range of
1000m (1,094 yards) The 5-60 has a
cyclic rate of flre of 105 to 120 rounds
per minute and a practical rate of frre
of 70 rounds per minute.
Specification
s-60
Calibre:57 mm(2.24 in)
Weights: travellinq 4660 kg ( 10,274 lb);
firins4500 kq (9,921 lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 8,50 m
(27 ft 10.6 rn); widthtravelling2.0S4 m
(6 ft 8.9 in); heiqht travelling2.3T m(7 fI
Right: The 57 -mm S- 60 anti- aircraft
gun is highly effective when used
together with the PUAZO- 6/ 60
director and the SON-9 / SON-94 radar,
which is called'Fire Can' by NATO. In
1985 lraq was using the 5-60 together
with a low-light-level television
system to engage Iranian aircraft.
9.3 in)
Elevation: +857-4'
Traverse:360'
Ranges: maxrmum horzonral - Z- . . :--.
(13. 123 yards ); maxrmum ve:..:=
BB0O m (28.871 1t;, efteclrve . e:'-:=
withopticalsights4OOO m(13 -21 -
effective vertrcal with off-cal-a::
control 6000 m (19,685 ft)
Crew: B
For many years the 57 -mm S -60 was
one of the standard towed anti-
aircraft guns of the Soviet army and
was issued on the scale of 24 gtns
per division. This 5-60 is of the
Egryptian army and is in the travelling
position, being towed by a 6x 6 trucft.
In the Soviet army its replacement is
theSA-8.
m Tiio-** I$-I9 anti-aircraft sun
One of the standard antraircraft guns
World War II
of the Soviet army during
was the B5-mm (3,35-in) M1939, re-
placed in production by the M1944
which had a lonqer barrel and fired
ammunition with higher muzzle veloc
ity for increased ranqe, In 19BS the
M1939 and M1944 are still used by
almost 20 countries, although in the
Warsaw Pact they have been replaced
by surface-to-air missrles. After the
end of the war the Soviet Union intro-
duced two new towed anti-aircraft
gn-rns, the 100-mm (3.94-in) KS-I9 and
the 130-mm (5.12-in) KS-30; by 1985
neither of these remained in front-line
service with the Sovret Union, although
some 20 countries stlll use the KS-19
and two or three the much heavier KS-
30. China has built the KS- 19 under the
designation Type 59.
The KS-19 is normally towed by an
AT-S medium or AT-T heavy full-
tracked artillery tractor, which also
carries the l5-man crew and a small
quantity of ready-use ammunition. The
weapon is mounted on a two-axle car-
riaqe, and in the flnng positron the ax-
Ies are raised off the grround and the
carriage is supported by four screw
jacks one on each side on ourriggers
and one ar each erd ol rhe carrrage.
When travellinq the mount is traversed
to the rear and the barrel rs held in
position by a lock.
The KS-19 fires ammunition ol the
fixed type which is loaded in single
rounds from the left; to increase its rate
of flre, the weapon is fltted with a sing-
ie-round loadinq tray, automatic fuse
ffi Ti.Z-** M55 lisht anti-aircraft sun
The 12,7-mm (0,S-rn) M55 quadruple
anti-alrcraft gun system was de-
veloped in World War II by the
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and by
the time production was completed in
1953 some 10,000 systems had been
built, In addition to berngr used during
World War I1 the M55 was used by the
United States forces rn both Korea and
South Vietnam In the latter conflrct it
was used in the ground hre-support
role to break up mass attacks by Viet
Cong on American supply bases and
camps. Some M55 systems were also
put on the rear of trucks and armour
plated for use in the convoy escort
role, In the US Army the M55 was re-
placed from the late 1960s by the 20-
mm Ml67 Vulcan towed anti-aircraft
still used by almost
qnrn system, but it is
20 countries all over the world. More
recently Israel has developed from lhe
M55 the TCM 20 anti-arrcraft gun sys-
tem which has two 20-mm cannon in
place of the four 12.7-mm (0 S-in)
machine-guns of the origrnal. The
Brazilian company LYSAM has carried
out a modernization of the M55 for the
Brazilian army and has also fitted two
20-mm cannon rn place ofthe four 12,7-
mm machine-gmns.
The M55 system consrsts essentially
of two parts the M45C mount and the
M20 trarler, The former is an armoured
mount wrth a seat for the gnrnner and
also contains an integral electric pow-
er unit whrch rn turn is run from two
6-volt batteries. Mounted on each side
of the mount are two 12.7-mm M2 HB
machine-giuns, each of which is led
from a belt contarning 210 rounds of
ready-use ammumtion, The machine-
Qnrns are fully automatic and have a moved
I 848
The Soviet 100-mm KS- 19 anti-aircraft gunwas introduced some 40 years ago, butinWarsaw Pact countries has
long been replaced in front-line sewice by missi/es such as fhe SA-2'Guideline'. TheKS-19 is, however, still in
widespreaduse in both theMiddle and Far East.
setter and a power rammer. A well- range of 1000 m (1,094 yards), Specification
trarneo crew can achieve a maxlmum Antr-aircraft targets can be enqaged KS-19
rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute, with the sigrhts installed on the KS-19, Calibre: 100 mm (3 94 in)
Like most heavy-calbre anti-aircraft but better results are obtained with the Weight: travellrnq 9550 kg (2 t 054 lb)
weapons the KS-19 was desrgned as a PUAZO-6/19 director and the SON-9/ Dimensions: length traveiling 9.45 m
dual-role (anti-aircraft and anti tank) SON-9A (NATO reporting name 'Fire (31 ft 0 in); widthtravelling 2,35 m (7 ft
gun. Three types of ammunition, all Can') fire-control radar system, in most 8.5 in); height travelling 2.201 m (7 ft
with a muzzle velocity of 900 m countries the KS-19 is used to defend 2.7 rn)
per second, are available for
(2,953 ft) strategic rather than tactical targets, Elevation: +85"/ 3"
the anti-aircraft role high explosive, and the weapon can be tied into an Traverse:360'
high explosive fragmentation and fraqr- overail arr-defence system. Lighter Ranges: maxrmum horrzontal2 i000 m
mentation. T\ruo rounds are available anti aircraft guns, such as the 57-mm (22,966 yards); maximum vertical with
for the anti-tank role AP-T (armour- 5-60, are used by fleld armies as they limefuse 12700 m(41 667 ft): max.mum
piercinq tracer) and APC T (armour- are easier to move about. The KS-19 vertical with proximity fuse 15000 m
piercrng capped tracer)t the flrst of has been used in action during the Ko- (49,213 ft), effectivevertical 13700 m
these has amuzzle velocity of m
1,000 rean War, the many wars in the Middle (44,948 ft)
(3,281 ft) per second and can pene- East, and also by North Vietnam Crew: l5
trate lB5 mm (7.28 in) of armour at a against Amencan aircraft
cyclic rate of flre of 450 to 550 rounds During World War II two self- Specification
per barrel per minute, though the propelled models of the M55 were M55
practical rate of flre is 150 rounds per butlt and some of these strll rematn rn Calibre: 12,7 mm (0.5 in)
barrel per mrnute. Types of ammunt- service in South America and else- Weights: travelling l33B kq (2,950 lb);
tion that can be fired by the M2 where. The Ml6 was based on the M3 flrins 975 kq (2, 150 1b)
machrne-guns include armour- halftrack, while the Mi7 was based on Dimensions: length travelling 2.89 m
piercrng (AP;, armour-prerclng In- the M5 halftrack. (9 ft 5.8 in); widthtravelling2.09 m (6 ft
cendrary (API) armour-prercing in- 10,3 in); heighttravellinq 1,606 m(5 ft
cendiary-tracer (API-T), rncendiary An American M55 quad I 2.7 -mm 3.2 in)
standard ball and training, (0. 5 0-calibre) anti-aircraft gun Elevation: +907-10'
Turret traverse and weapon eleva- sysfem is sftourn mounted in the rear Traverse:360'
tlon are electric at a rate of 60" per of anM35 (6x6) truck.Inaddition to Ranges: effective horizontal lSOO m
second, the gmnner using a pair of con- being used for the anti-aircraft role, (1,640 yards); effective vertical 1O0O m
trol handles whrch also accommodate il las a/so been used in the ground (3,281ft)
the triggers. The weapons continue to fire support role. Crew: 4
fire as long as there is suffrcient
ammunition left and the triggers are
depressed. The M55 is a clear-
weather system only and the gunner
has a standard MIB reflex sight to hrs
fron thatproiects a qraTrcule rmage on
an inclined qlass plate The graticule
image consists of four concentric crr-
cles. each correspondrng ro various
aircraft speeds, and three dots on a
vertical line in the centre ofthe field of
view that are used to determine line of
sight and compensate for gravity pull
on the projectile.
The M20 two-wheeled trailer can be
towed by a light vehicie but not at
speeds above 16km/h (10mph), and
for this reason the M55 is normally car-
ried in the rear of a 6 x 6 truck such as
the American M35. The weapon can
be flred irom the truck or unloaded
onto the ground wrth the aid of two
channels, one of which is carried on
each side of the truck. On the qround
the M55 is supported by three jacks
(one at the front and two at the rear)
and the small road wheels are re-
Americcn lighf AA Guns in
fhe 2lSt Centur! f':;,,1g:'i"5$R,,T#gpf?iu'triliht:Ii,l,lfffrpffi
With renewed emphasis on rapid deployment divisions, the P^"^lXT":tg?Ilf9^?j^4^40 9t
1,000 rounds perminute t6 conserve ammun i c^

_u!!,rmyis curieiuyseetcinsirepraVer;entror the,M.t6T Jl3r1:-il:'riil[:'.lj::[jr',""?,tA:e,[:,.tfln €J!fr?;:iA%lL"r'^]yr%;,;i

Vulcansystem,itsonlytowedanti-aircraftgun,asse/f- lnfanrryFghrin"gt;hicr;inoir-luuSHl]urinecotpJLnv-zs Atorat of TbTrouncs
propelled AA guns like DIVAD can be transported by air only of ammunition can be carried, and would normally be a mix of types to enac :
byisingmass-ivetransportaircraft.Oneobviousaniwer both iii.i:q 9l?1111?i,s,:l: t".qe e1gqs.e!:
ioutdEetgpuygnexiiitingruroieanlivntryqunbut,.as._ ,".',3,i4'T?.$"??3R33iii3:;tl?",35*i,?L,3X"i,.:Ty:i,iJJjT;:"S'13[.?
usuat'theusderenceindustryisseekinstonilthegapitsett'
il,?.'Jl?g.?-:i'$l:n:::,sTetLZl:li*:tsetrull:n-mp:#li :
Today the only towed light antr-aircraft gun in service with the US Army is the
General Electric 20 mm M167 Vulcan, which entered service in '1 967. This Boeing Avenger
weapon, likertsseltpropelledccunterpart,theM'l 63,hasnobad-orall-weather Boeing has, as a private venture, developed a missile system called ir.e
by
capability and lacks range. While the M163 is to be replaced in regular units Avengerwhich has already been tested bythe gth Infantry Division, which ac:s
the twin 40-mm Sgt York Division Air Defense Gun (or DIVAD as it is more as a test bed formation for much of the equipment earmarked Jor Cen::a
commonly known), no decision has been taken on replacement of the M 167 Command and the new light divisions. The Avenler is a Hummer chassis fite:
Vulcan, which is used by the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne with a turret for eight General Dynamics Stinger missiles in the ready-to-laun:^
Division (Air units.
Assault), as well as by reserve position. During inital trials this has proved to be a highly effective systerr.
The recent decision to form a number of new light divisions capable of rapid
deployment f rom the United States to any part of the world by transport aircraft AMCTAC Setter
such as the Lockheed C-5, C 141 and C-l 30 has led to a number of companies The U S Army M issile Command and Tan k Automotive Command unveileo :.e
putting forward proposals for anti-aircraft weapons for these divisions. One of Setter air-defence system in 1984. This consists of an AM General Hun r.e-
the,early proposals was for a single barrel 40-mm system from Ford4erospace with a roof-top turret armed not only with eight Stinger missiles but also s r
and Cj]mmunications Corporation, which is currently building the DIVAD^ sys- nine-round pods of high-velocity rockets whrch are-highly effective agairst
tem.Thisseemstohavebeen.discountedalreadyasb^eingtootreavy Some aircraft,helicoptersanolightarmouredvehicles.Theroc[etbhaveavelo|iq*o.
manufacturers are proposing existing weapons, such as Oerlikon-Brlhrle 25-mm about 1500 m \4,921 ft) per second and an effective range of about 12OO -
Diana' whire others are propos ng new svstems
LADS 8,.'Jo?#[t;]"t ilif":s'i:ffr:B:i: f:':xJ#:.?"t3fi?::,,yihi*i-::
GE GE LADS is that it is a complete system in itself, thie latter requiring anotne-
One of the more interesting systems being proposed is the GE LADS, or vehicle to tow it.
General Electric Lightweight Air Defense System, which is a further develop-
ment of the private-venture GEMAG 25. The GE LADS system is mounted on a
f ou r-wheeled carriage which can be towed by light 4 x 4 vehicles such as the AM Currently being developed by General Electric, the GEMAG 25+ Air Defence
General HMMWV Hummer or carried underneath the Sikorsky UH-60 Black SystemcombinesaZ1-mmGAIl-|2/lJgunandStingersurface-to-airmissiles.
Hawk helicopter, already in service in some numbers. Thegunhasadualfeed,enablingittoswitchfromfiringanti-aircraft
The system is operated by one man, who sits in a fully-enclosed cabin on the ammunitiontoarmour-piercingloundsforgroundtargetswithoutchanging
leftside.MountedattherearisaFrenchDassaultsurveillanceradarwhichcan belts.Thefirecontrotsystemallowsforall-ieatherus6,providingtargei -
the acquisitionouttoll km(7mi\es).
detect and track two targets at a maximum range of 11 km (6.84 miles). lf

"J

,Q. a,
Ml5TzO-mmVulccn
lighf qnti - circ rotll gun

The UnitedStates Army uses the 2)-mmVulcan air defence system in two
basic configurations , the M I 67 towed and the M I 63 self-propelled on a
nodified M I I 3 full-tracked armoured personnel carrier chassis. Both are
essentially a clear-weather system, with a range-only radar being fitted on the
ight side of the electric turret. The gunner can select two rates of fire: I ,000
rounds per minute for engaging ground targets, or 3,000 per minute for
engaging aerialtargets.The M167 isissuedon fiesca/e of 48 per airborne
and air mobile division.
Nosing purposefully skyvvard, the six barrels of an M I 67 give no hint of the
awesome power theVulcanis capable of unleashing. Atmaximum rate of fire.
some 50 rounds (which can be high explosive, HE incendiary, atmou*
piercing or tracer) are being launched each second, with an extremely high
muzzlevelocity (close to 1100 m/3,600 ftper second).
ffi [b-** Vulcan light anti-aircraft gun
In the early 1960s the General Electric The 20-mmMI67 Vulcan light air defencesystemwas developed byGeneral
Company developed two anti-aircraft Electric to meet the requirements of the United States Army and entered
qnln systems to meet the requirements service in I967. Turret traverse and gun elevation is electric.
of the US Army. Both of these used the
same 20 mm cannon developed from
the M61 series installed in high speed
fighter aircraft such as the Lockheed
F-104 Starfiqhter. After trials with both
systems at Fort Bliss, Texas (home of
US Army air defence), both weapons
were accepted for service, The self-
propelled system mounted on a mod-
ifled Ml13 series armoured personnei
carrier chassis, is called the Mi63 and
was the replacement for the 40 mm
M42 Duster self-propelled anti-aircraft
gun, The towed model, calied the
MI67, was the repiacement for the
12.7-mm (0.S-in) M55 quadruple
machine-gun system deveioped in
World War IL
lhe M167 is strll in front-lire service
with the US Army, where it is em-
pioyed with airborne and airmobile di-
visions, Each of these formations has
one air-defence battalion with a batta-
Iion headquarters and four batteries,
Each of the latter has a battery head-
quarters and three flringr platoons each
with four M167 systems. Although the
self-propelled M163 is to be replaced
in the regular army by the twin 40-mm tion are electric recharqinq being
DIVAD, no decisron has been taken on carried out by a grenerator installed on
what will replace the M167 whrch has the forward part ofthe carriage. Turret
limited range and no all-weather capa- traverse rate is 60'per second and
bility, weapon elevation rate is 45' per
The M167lowlevel arr defence sys- second,
tem consists of a two-wheeled car- The flre-control system on the M167
riage on which rs mounted an electrr- consists of a range-only radar on the
cally-powered turret containing the rrght side ofthe mount, a sight current
20-mm MI68 Vulcan cannon, the link- generalor and a gyro Jead-computtng
ed-feed ammunitron system and the sight.
fire controls. The M167 is normally towed by an
The M16B Vulcan cannon has six M7l5 4x4 ligiht truck and can also be
barrels and two rates of fire, 1,000 and slung under a helicopter. In addrtion to
3 000 rounds per minute. The slower beinq used by the US Army, the M167
late is normally used agarnst giround is also used by a number ofother coun-
:rgets, whrle the hrgher rate is re- tries includinq Belgium, Ecuador,
served for aerial tarqets, To conserve Israel, Jordan, Morocco, North Yemen,
ammunition the gunner can select Saudi Arabia Somalia South Korea (6 ft 6 in); height travelling 2.038 m (6 ft It is generally accepted that the 20-
bursts of i0 30, 60 or lO0 rounds from and Sudan. 8.2 in) mm Vulcan anti- aircraft gun system
-.:le total of 300 or 500 ready-use rounds Elevation: +80"/ 5" has very limited capabilities. The
provided, Ammunition is of the fixed Specification Traverse:360' M I 67 self-propelled model will be
:.pe and includes armour-piercing- Vulcan Ranges: maximum horizontal6000 m rcplaced by the 40 -mm DIVAD, while
:acer (AP-T), higrh explosive incendr- Calibre: 20 mm (0,79 in) (6, 562 yards); effective horizontal the towedM163 willprobably be
a:y (HEI) and high explosive incendi- Weights:travellinq lSBB kg (3,501 1b); 2200 m (2,406 yards); maximum replaced by a 25-mm gunor anew
ary-tracer (HE1-T), as well as the usual firins 1565 kg (3,450 lb) vertical 4500 m ( 14 764 ft); effective system combining a 25-mm gun and
:aining rounds Dimensions: length travelling 4.906 m vertical 1200 m (3 937 ft) lhe Strngrermrssile.
Tlrret traverse and weapon eleva- ( 16 ft 1 1 in); width travellins I 98 m Crew: 4-5 (l onmount)

E Hil[ifi[etall 20-mm twin lisht anti-aircraft sun

-:e Rheinmetall 20-mm light anti-
::craft gun was developed to meet the
::quirements of the West German
::illstry of defence by the Rhetnmetall
-:npary o' Diisseldorf. The mounl Ls
:rred wrth two examples of the MK 20
: r- 202 ?A-mm cannon which is the
s-andard weapon rn rts class tn the
-,','est
German army: it is also installed
-:- :he Marder mechanized tnfantry
::mbat vehicle in a two-man power-
:perated turret; it arms the Wiesel
--ght arrportable armoured vehtcle trailer that can be towed by a light
',',':ich has recently been ordered into vehicle such as a Mercedes-Benz Un-
p::ductron for West German airborne imog 4 x 4 truck The gn-rnner is seated
-r:sr and rt is fitted in a two-man turret at the rear of the mount and aims the
::, ihe Luchs BxB amphibious twin cannon using an ltalian Galtleo
llnoured car, The cannon is also in- P56 computrnq sight which has an
:-=lled on a s.ngle mounl lor varioLs optical sight with a magnification of x 5,
:a;al applications, and the Italians an electronrc analogue computer for
:-a-.-e installed the cannon rn the FIAT/ calculatinq the lead angles required to
I -C Melara 6616 4x4 armoured car. hrt aenal targets, a joystick for eleva- AWest German Rheinmetall twin 20-mm light anti-aircraft gun is seen in the
i:s 20-mm twin light anti-aircraft tion and traverse and a panel for in- firing position, showing the gunner's seat at the rear with the ltalian Galileo
l:-i: system is carried on a two-wheel serting target rnformatton. P56 sightto his immediate front.
Rheinmetall 20-mm twin Iight antiaircraft gun (continued)

Elevation and traverse are hyd-
raultc, maxrmum traverse speed being
80" per second and maximum eleva-
tton speed 48' per second, power for
these functions being obtained lrom an
air-cooled two-stroke petrol engrne
mounted under the gunner's seat
The cannon are gas-operated and
iully automatic, the gunner firing them
rra a foot-operated pedal that is f,tted
,.nth a safety device. The gunner can
seiect erther srngle shots or full auto-
rnatrc with either barrel or both
.ogether. The cannon have a cyclic
:ate of flre of 2 000 rounds per barrel
:el mLnule and each cannon is pro-
-;ided with an ammunition box contaln-
.:.q 27a rounds ol 'xed ammunrtLon.
.-nother 10 rounds beinqr in the flexibie
'=ed sys,em lhat connecls -he ammuni-
-on boxes with the qun Types of
rmmunition that can be frred include
rrmour-piercrnq discardrnq sabot-
:acer (APDS-T). arhour-piercing in
:3ndrary{racer (API-T), high explo-
:-;e incendrary (HEI), high explosive
-::cendiary-tracer (HEi-T), and various
training rounds. The APDS-T has a TheRheinmetall20-mmMK
muzzle velocrty of 1150 m (3 773 ft) per
second
In lhe hrrng position the weapon is
supported on three outriqgers, The
system rs essentially a clear-weather
type, although it can be integrated into
an overall defence system. In addition
to being used by the West German
armed forces it rs also used by Arqenti
na, Greece, Indonesia and Portuqtal, it
was used by Argentina in the Falk-
lands to defend Port Stanley airfield,
To meet the requirements ol the
Norwegian armed forces Hispano
Surza and A./S Kongsberg Vappenfab-
rrkk designed and built a single-mount
antr-aircraft qun called the FK 20-2
whrch uses the same 20 mm cannon as
the Rheinmetall twin 20-mm mount.
This is used by the West German and
Nonvegdan armres. In the future all of
the 2O-mm cannon of West Germany
are expected to be replaced by the
Mauser Model E 25-mm cannon which
was selected over the Rheinmetall Rh
205 25-mm cannon several years ago.
20 Rh 202
cannon is used in this twin anti-
aircraftgun mount, theMarder MICV
and the Luchs (B t 8) reconnaissance
vehicle. All of these guns will
probably be replaced by the new
Mauser ModelE cannon,with longer
range and improved ammunition.
Specification
Rheinmetall 20-mm mounting
Calibre: 20 mm (0.79 in)
Weights: travelling 2 160 kq (4,762 lb);
firins 1640 kq (3,6 t6 lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 5.035 m
( 16 ft 6 2 in); width travellins 2 36 m
(7 ftB,9 in), heighttravellng2,075 m
(6 ft 9.7 in)
Elevation: +B 1.6"/,3 5"
Traverse:360'
Ranges: maximum horizontal6O00 m
(6,562 yards); maximum vertical
4500 m (14 764 ft); effective vertrcal
2000 m (6 562 ft)
Crew: 4-5 (but only I on mount)

SW TZERLAND

Oerlikon 20-mm GAI-BO I ligrht anti-aircraft gun

,re Oerlikon-Buhrie 20-mm GAI-BOI
--ght anii-arrcraft qun was originally
:alled the l0 ILa/STG, the STG stand-
::g.for the actual cannon, which was
s:bsequently called the KAB-001
For many years Oerlikon-Birhrle
:ow called Machine Tool Works Oerli-
<on-Biirhle and based rn Zurich, was in
:ompetition with Hispano-Suiza which
also built an extensive ranqe of hght
=rti-atrcraft weapons and treir assocj
:Led ammunrtion. In 1972 Hrspano-
Sriza was taken over by Oerlikon-
liihrle and some of the former's
-,';eapons were subsequently inte-
Iated into the Oerlikon range The
-:5-6664 hvin 20-mm weapon became
:e GAI-DO1, the 20-mm HS-639-B 3, I
:ecame the GAI-CO1, the HS-639-B
- I became the GAI-CO3 whiie the HS-
i39-BS became the GAI-CO4, By i9B4
J of these had been phased out of
:loductron although they remained rn
::rvice with many countries; for exam-
lie the GAI-COI is used by both Chile
-:d South Africa,
The 20-mm GAI-BOl was the light-
:st Oerlikon-Biirhle weapon offered,
=lihough it too has now been phased
.it of sewice. It does, however, re-
::.aLn in use wirh many counrries rn-
:ludrng Austria, South Africa, Spain
.rd Switzerland. To provrde greater
robility some countries have fitted the
-,',-eaponin the rear of cross-country
';ehrcles; for example, Austria has the
xeapon on the rear of the Steyr 6x6
'.ehrcie wrlh ready-use ammunition
:arried to the rear of the cab. The main
Crawback of systems such as the GAi-
3O1 is that they rely on manua] con-
rols for elevation and traverse and
--herefore some operators flnd it drf-
icult to track higrh-speed aircraft; no
provrsion is made ior radar fire control.
Such systems do offer the advantagre of
beinq very light and can be disassem-
bled into smaller parts for transpofia-
:ron in rough terrain where heavier
'reapons cannot be employed.
For travelling the GAI-BOI is car-
:red on a small two-wheeled carriage
:owed behind a light truck The
','reapon can be brought rnro action
-n
about 20 seconds, and is then sup-
eorted on its outriqqers.
For manyyears the 20-mm GAI-BOI
was the lightest in the extensive
range of light anti-aircraft guns built
by Oerlikon-Bdhrle. Traverse and
elevation is manual, and drums of 20
or 50 rounds of ammunition can be
fitted or a box holding justeight
rounds.
AnOerlikon-Bihrle
20-mmGAI-BOI anti
aircraft gun is seen in
the firing position.
Akey feature
of thisweaponisitsvery
lightweight, and it can be
brought into action by its
two-man crew in about 20
seconds.
The 20-mm cannon has a cycirc rate
offire of 1,000 rounds per minute, and
the gunner can select either single
shot or full automatic fire. Three types
of magazine are available for this
weapon: 50- and 3O-round drums, and
an eiqht-round box The former two
are normally used for anti-arrcraft
ammunition while the latter is for
armour-piercing ammunition. The iol-
lowing types of ammunrtron can be
fired by thts cannon arrour-pie"cirg-
tracer (AP T), high explosive incendi-
ary-tracer (HEI-T) high explosive rn-
cendrary (HEI) semi-armour-prercing
high explosive rncendiary-tracer
(SAPHEI T), seml armour piercing
high explosrve incendiary (SAPHEI),
and trarning Specification Elevation: +85"/ 5'
The cannon is elevated by the gun- GAI-BOI Traverse:360'
ner turning a handle, whLle traverse is Calibre: 20 mm (0.79 in) Ranges:maximumhorizonrai: -, :
obtained using the gunner's feet. An Weights:travelling 547 kq (1 206 lb); (6,234 yards); effectrve 22CC r- Z ! -:
unusual feature of this weapon is that firins 405 kg (893 lb) yards); maximum vertrcal 45i I :,
the gnrnner can also enEtaqe ground Dimensions: Ienglh travelling 3 B5 m (14,764 ft); effectivevertrcai -:1, :,
targets from the prone position rn this (12 ft7,6 in); wrdthtravellinq i,55 m (4,921ft)
mode traverse is limited to 60' and (5 ft I in); height travelling 2.50 m (B ft Crew: 3 (l onmount)
elevatron from -5' to +25". 2.4 tn)
ffimmmffi-s ffiffimE m# ffigwwts
T o.n.r"o decf .Ffai'r cu agra ins f [/S al:" rcids fh e
lf erd.Lr ffi e tn am tese "r"ns f al/e d lft c wzorJej's
,":eawes$ co.leeen fraffon of anff-aire:aff
gru.ris, am d sooir a dded Sprnef -supru/f eef
.54-3 surlae.e-do-air ira;'sslles lo lft ese
,de/e::ccs.
he US air oifensrve a_qarnst North Vieinam -o,ras
il
ca.iled Operatrcn F.olLng Thunder it lastecl lor
more than seven years in an on aqain ofi aqarn
lashron, pursued in vacrllating manner by a
tlVashrnqton leadership uncertain oi atms
rbjeclives ald methods Bul lhe name cf the
o r il. r '-t. . Jn or g, ' ino .t'
,rcrn an old gospel hymn, seemed to reflecl lhe
i::
..:.i _':::r' :l t la?:a::,
'macho eqotism,tvhich chr,iractelizes tilcircal
arnatols the -world over ll'he hymn is calecl
'How Great 'ihou Art'
As 'Rolhng Thunder' progressed by f,is and
siarts the US Arr Force arrd |Ja.;y arrcre,rris
needed a1l the conficlence Lhey coulci mLislr-:i
As a result of the American polcy ol graduai-
rsrn ('escalaiion or qraduated respor-rse') ihe
North Vretnarnese hacl ampJe opportunrty to
increase their air deience network and absorb
rralua.ble tactlcal lessons The r:esult rras one oi
the best delencleC preces ol geography orL the
planei
I{ crth V ietnames€ EURfie.r. s man f*he-rrSovlef -
suppLied 57-mm S-60 anti-aircraff gun, vwfit f,he
ammunitian rnember an the riqhl rea,Cy tr:
resupply the feed tray with anath.er r:li|: a{ laur
rouncjs. Tfte5-60ftas optical siEhts. hut rsnormaJ.ly
usee{ rn conjunction
':rith ar, a{f-carriage cerrlroJ
sj'sfem'
a:: .:aj
l'he ii,:st L;S arlltio 1'..lorlh i,ir::lnarri
si::i.L<r:s
\,\i-Ale lalllcherl il
LLiq-r':L 1954 ibliorir,-rng ihe
conticrreisiirl Tonkirt Ouii ilcic-Leni !lt eati'y
i965 the i\ior:h Vretnarriese had r:irrei-r I fOlt
Lnnr lc l0{l-mil (ii.9I r1l 3yr iate sLrirrilri:i ihe
number haii lri;,rr:c ;.,Lrrl lllr ilr,er erLd lj I95ti
there niere bei'r,reel i !0[] a.nr:i 7,it0Ll c-:uirs oi
gieaten rhar. 20 lrrii ,,alble lr i'.Iolih Viein:,rar
f'evr' oi ilieSe ciirns rrieir: rar-iar cont,:olleci
but they clrri nrt neell. t'r be Ihe lighle; ca[r:re
vi/eapons ,rete lL:eo.le:n',];r r:nol:tle alLcl i:oLLlil bi-r
tcvried io nelrr sites iriiil, rela,j-,.e ?ai3e irr-r:a-
col:rceraiii a ilon'iv :..,.s l: o I i.irlr. o I Iila a :-Lr:r rl i-- !r1
i
centrartron arncl i'ire i.i:;i:rp1rre.
OrigrnalL-'r rnost oi !re l\hrri (;.nil ar. ciair arLi.
lery) crev-rs rir e,:i: r,'oirn leera::r lr aLl iire i-rrrnt-;:r
army anci aii foice r3lLi .iic;.- lJarssaai r-,iL irr---ri
kncvriledge anci d.octirl-- iir llre \toiifl !re.
nafilese ano It ,.,'!at! a retlai|rely SLrni:rie ia:r.
Servrcrng an ariillerli piece rs al.nosi a mechii
nical proces:; Ii requries a. Eooci cleal oi c,o-
ordinatton anong ihc quncr--rrri rrrcrmbcls i,.t,:
inarrmr.rrr elCciency -5ut ihe skrils r--cgru,:ed aie
alinost elenenialy Wrrh pr:a.circ,- ihe eiiiciel
cl/ le-'ei is kepi hic,rh
: .. . t..:4.:--:t;:-1-:; :.._.
.r.:-.:..;:i?+ : -J:. + ::..a-:.
..aaa: ...4a .a:':.'. ..
1 .:.-:;....::: .. t. - .:. . .. :1 .:
 The North Vietnamese perfected the anti-
r.rcraft Qlunner s art ihough in truth it was more
::rence than art It r,vas possible to compute
'.'.th mathematical precisron the amount of ex-
,:iosive per second required in a column of air
:: render an object flying through that column
.latistically vulnerable The Communrsts' sec-
rr-fire technrque was excellent and they
-culd fill a 13-km" (S-sqL;are mrle) column with
:rurderous flak irom 1000 to 6000 m (3 280 to
i 685 ft)
Aircraft are not meant io duel with quns.
::nall arms and AAA accounted for by far the
.rreatest portion of infliqiht losses du.nng lhe
'.-retnam
War e,len computrng unknown
rir.ises in the equation Among US Navy air-
r:ii losses to qlunfire arnounted to 58 per cent
-, iotal losses on combat missions includrng 77
-:r cent of shootdowns where the cause was
-;:nnitely knornrn,
Small arms and flak took an even greater
::-atrve toll of US Marrne Corps and Air Force
,,anes, This was due partlally to the fact that
r --:h services flew a great deal more over
:':uih Vleinam and Laos whele the only
-:emy threat was gunflre most ol the time, but
re llgures are still dauntrng: 73 per cent of all
losses over Indo-China Admittedlrg, not all
were lets lhe US Navy toll represented
casualtres in the spectrum from the Rockwell
OV- i0 to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 while the
USAF- s losses ranged from the lrttle Cessna O- I
BrrdDogto the biq hulkingRepublic F-i05. But
neither the MiGs nor SAMs posed anythlng like
as serlous a threat as the thick ciusters of AAA
batteries in 'Route Pack Srx around Hanoi anci
Harphong,
The first SA-2 site was detected south east of
Hanor in April 1965 and the Sovrets announced
the fact to tiie world in May Yet despile this
hard rntelhgence, no action was taken agarnst
SANT batlerles until several had been com-
pleted. T'he USA lost tts firsl warplane to the
new threat on 24 July, when a USAF Ir-4C was
shot down, The flrst counterblows came three
days later some three months after the mrssiles
were known avarlable to the North Viet-
namese,
The SA 2 'Guidehne missile had been rn
servrce for at least eight years at thrs trme, It
was a v\.ell-tested, combat proven medlum-
range weapon propelled by a booster rocket Above: The Sovief-suppliedSA -2 'Gu:ce.:: :
which burned for about five seconds aft-or surface-to-air missi,le rras used in large : ::: : =:
launch The sustainer took over lollowrng boos by N or th Vie tnames e and succeeded,'-n .s,i : : :.. .

-SAF and 64 per cent of all 'Leather:neck' air-
-:ali losses were definrtely to guns
In absolute terms these flqures translated to
. : :ghly I ,600 fixed-wing aircraft shot down by
::::a11 arms or AAA from the total 2,300 combat
ter separation and provrded another
20
seconds ol burn, which translated rnto a slant
range oi about 50 km (3 L miles) and a cerling of
some lB0O0 m (59 055 ft)
down some American aircraft, including !^: )
strategic bombers. It proved more effect:-. : ::
forcing tactical aircraft to fly much lot.,er. ,'. :.:: -
anti-aircraft guns could engage them.

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 Nestled in the SAM's nose was a 130-kq (287-
lb) warhead which could be fused for contact,
proxrmrty or command detonation, If the mis-
sile exploded within roughly I00 m (328 it) of an
aircraft it could cause lethal damage, A detona-
tion inside 60 m (197 ft) almost certatnly meant
a k1ll
The key to beatrng the SAMs was early sight-
rng. For that reason, tactical aviators learned to
avoid hugging cloud decks since the missiles
could pop up through an undercast, homing on
an aircraft completely unseen. In reasonable
.,rieather the telltale dustcloud indtcating a
iaunch was the best visual cue, quickly fol-
lowed by the streaming whrte irail of the
second stagte,
But the missile was an aircraft, and ihe SA-2's
smal1 wings could not managie the g of a hard
:urn when approachlng detonation range.
Therefore, smart pilots always turned in two
planes simultaneously to compound the prob-
lems inflicted on the missile's tracking, A bar-
rel-roll type turn was optimum,
For all the pubhcity accorded SAMs during
'-he war, they inflicted relatively few actuai los-
ses, Little more than 200 aircraft are known to
have been shot down by SAMs beiween 1965
and 1972, of which about 120 were USAF
machrnes, But regardless of numbers, SAMs
played a constant and prominent role in dictat-
-ng the conduct of strikes rnto North Vietnam
Aircraft inbound to worthwhile targets in 'Route
Package Four' and 'Route Package Six' were
'-rsually wrthin the envelopes of 30 or more SAM
siies, By 1972 there were some 300 sites
--irroughoui the country, as far south as the De-
Zone between North and South
=lirtarized
-.rretnam,
with ll0 of them in and around the
:{anoi-Haiphong area alone,
-aaa
The missiles complemented the guns ex-
ceedingly wel1, By being forced into evasive
action to defeat the SAMs, aircraft were usually
drawn to the lower levels where gunfi.re be-
came effective, With radar control and track-
ing, the North Vietnamese air-defence system
benefited from long experience and American
'rules of engagement',
For instance, once ii became known that US
fliers were prohibited from striking targets rn
or near civiiian or populated areas, those
locales became ideal battery sites, Guns and/
or SAMs were sited on or near 'neutral' mer-
chant vessels, on hospital roofs and even in the
Hanoi soccer stadium.
Aside from the inevitable bombing errors,
much damage was inflicted in downtown Hanoi
from shells or SAMs falllng to earth. Shell spiln-
ters or dud rounds were one thing; runaway
SAMs at ground level were anotherl But the
North Vietnamese seldom missed a chance to
show such destruction as the handiwork of
'Yankee air pirates'.
To combat the AAA and SAMs, sPecial
weapons and aviators were sent to South East
Asia, Among US Air Force tactical wings were
the fabled 'Wild Weasels' flytng two-seat F-
105Fs, while McDonnell Douglas A-4 Sky-
hawks served a similar purpose on 'lron Hand'
duty from aircraft-carriers in the Tonkrn Guif,
The procedures were approximateiy similar
for both US Air Force and Navy fliers. The SAM
suppressors flew with or ahead of the strike
group, waitrng for an enemy radar to come 'up'
and scan the formation Communist radar oper-
ators became cagey, knowing that if they scan-
ned very long they rnvited disasier, Conse
quently, an electronic cat-and-mouse game
evolved, with airborne and ground operators
A North Vietnamese 57 -mm 5-60 anti- aircraft gun
engages American aircraft carrying out a bombing
raid. The air defences around Hanoiwere so dense
that American pilots renamed it Dodge City. These
gun positions were well camouflaged and very
difficult to spotfrom the air.
trying to outwit one another,
Ila SAM or AAA battery shiited from scan to
tracking mode, the suppressor turned toward
the immediate threat, gained lock-on, and fired
a missrle, This was the AGM-45 Shrike or, from
1968 onwards, the bigger and longer-ranged
AGM-78 Homing on emissions from the enemy
'Fan Song'or'Fire Can'radars, the Shrrkes and
Standard ARMs (Anti-Radiation Missiles) rm-
posed a penalty for threateninet US formations
Nor were missiles the only threat, Aircralt
such as the F-105, Vought F-8 Crusader and
even the lrttle A-4 armed with 20-mm cannon
could and did put radar sites out of business,
In the end, it was not missiles or guns which
deleated the North Vietnamese air-deience
net, Rather, it was mines which closed
Harphong and other ports through which North
Vietnam received the bulk of its war-making
supplies, By the autumn of 1972, when the
blockade had been ln effect for several
months, North Vietnam's arsenals were de-
pleted, According to one unofficial source,
there were perhaps fewer than two dozen
SAMs ]eft in the country when the Paris
Accords were signed rn January 1973, Mean-
whlle, aviators accustomed to pushlng through
walls of 57- 85- and IOO-mm flak found little
more than 20- and 37-mm weapons to oppose
them,
The ring around Hanoi had been broken,
 SW TZERLAND

Oerlikon 20-mm GAI-DO I light anti-aircraft gun

The Oerlikon-Biirhle twin 20-mm GAI-
DOI light anti-aircrafl gun was origi-
nally designed and built by Hispano-
Suiza under the designation HS-6664,
andwas the most sophisticated 20-mm
weapon in the company's range, The
main advantages of the GAI-DOI over
the other 20-mm light anti-aircraft guns
manufactured by the company were
powered elevation and traverse,
new sight, and two rather than one 20-
ITIm Cannon,
The system is frtted with two 20-mm
KAD series cannon with a cyclic rate of
ire of 1,000 rounds per minute per bar-
:el Each barrel is provided with a box
:ragazine that holds 120 rounds offixed
:r-nmunition. The gunner can select
:ither slngle shots, rapid single shot,
bursts or full automatic frre, The
ammunition flred by the GAI-COI is
-ientical to that of the GAI-BO1,
The gunner rs provided with
s:ield, and mounted under the gmn-
:e/s seat is the Wankel engine which
:rcndes hydraulic power for cannon
:levation and mount traverse, max-
-::-urn elevation speed beingt 48" per
second and maximum traverse speed
:1" per second, As with all powered
1]-ti-aircraft guns, manual controls are
!lcl'rded for emerqencyuse. The gmn-
:-:r also has an ltalian Gallleo P56 sight
-,';:lch is identical to that installed on
:-= Rheinmetall twin 20-mm light anti-
gmn used by the West German
=craft forces. This allows the qunner
=med
:: engage ground and aertal targets
;--th a high hit probability,
ln the flring confign-ration the GAI-
131 is supported on three adjustable
-:ei. and for transpofiation rt ts carrted
::- two-wheeled carriaqe towed by a
a 1800 ks(3,968 ]b); firinswith
-frt truck. From its travelllng posiiion
:e weapon can be brought into action
:'.-its crew in less than one minute.
The basic GAI-DO1 light anti-
gun is a clear-weather system,
=:raJt
therefore hmited to daylight use;
--d
:- conditions of low cloud its effective-
-=-:ss is much reduced. The weapon
:.:r. however, be used in conjunction
',';-,h the Contraves (ltaly) LPD-20
s:arch radar, which would provide the
;:r with target informatron such as
:lge and speed,
Oerhkon-Biirhle did offer a 25-mm
anti-aircraft gmn called the GBI-AOI
with a srngle 25-mm KBA series can-
non on a one-man mount with manual
eievation and traverse, A feature ofthis
weapon was that the dual-feed cannon
was provided with two boxes of
ammunition each containing 40
rounds, one holding armour-piercing
a discardinq sabot-tracer (APDS-T)
ammunition for engagrng Iight
armoured vehicles, and the other with
high explosive incendtary-tracer
(HEI-T) for engaqdng aerial targtets,
Thrs weapon is no lonQter offered and is
nor knov,n to have enlered servLce in
any quantity. In its place Oerlikon-
Birhle rs now offering the much im-
proved Diana twrn 25-mm light anti-
arcraft Enrn.
a
This Oerlikon-Btihrle twin 20-mm is a clear-weather system, although a
GAI -DO 1 light anti-aircraft gun in the radar such as the Contraves LPD-ZA
firing position shows theWankel could be used to provide early
engine under the gunner's seat. This warning to a number of guns.
Specification
CAI-DOI
Calibre: 20 mm (0,79 in)
Weights: travelling with ammunition
ammumtion 1330 kg (2,932 lb)
Dimensions: Iength travelling 4,59 m
(15 ft0.7 in); widthtravelling i.86 m
(6 ft 1.2 in); herqht travelling 2.34 m (7 ft
Elevation: +81"/-3"
Traverse:360'
Ranqes: maxrmum horizontal 5700 m
(6, 234 yards); effective horizontal
2200 m (2, 406 y ards) ; maximum An Oerlikon-Bfihrle 20-mm GAI -DO I of ready-use ammunition. The
vertical 4500 m (14,764 ft); effective twin light anti-aircraft gun in firing gunner aims theweapon using an
position. Mounted each side of the ItalianGalileoPS6 sighting and an
verrical 1500 m (4,921 ft)
Crew: 5 (l onmount) 20-mm cannon is a box of I 20 rounds aiming unit containing a computer.

SWITZERLAND

Oerlikon 25-mm Diana light anti-aircraft gun

-:e Swiss company Oerlikon-Bitrhle
:-arufactures a wide range of 20-mm
=::C 35-mm towed anti-aircraft gun sys-
but some years aqo realized that
=ms,
:ere was a gap between the most
:.:phisticated 20-mm system (the twin
3AI-DO]) and the twin 35-mm GDF
s:rres, To bridqte this gap the company
:as
--ghtdeveloped thegun twin 25-mm Diana
anti-aircraft system, which
:-as the company designation of the
GBF series,
The Diana weighs only 2100kg
:630 lb) complete wtth ammunition,
::abling it to be transported quickly
by helicopters such as the A6rospa-
-ale Puma or SikorsVWestland Sea
Cngrto where it is needed, The system
'. normally towed behind a light vehi-
:ie on rts two-wheeled carriage. In the
::rnq position the wheels are ratsed off
:.e ground and the carriage is suP-
pcrted on three hydraulic jacks (one at
-:e front and two at the rear) which can
:= adjusted to suit varyinq ground con-
itrons,
So far two versions of the Diana are
being offered, the GBF-AOA and the
GBF-BOB, The flrst of these is armed
with twin 25 mm KBA cannon, which is
alreaciy used by lour NATO countries
installed in armoured vehicles and has
a cyclic rate of frre of 570 rounds per
barrel per minute. The 25-mm KBA
fires five different types of ammunitionl
high explosive incendiary-tracer
(HEI-T), semi-armour-piercing high
explosive incendiary shell with tracer
(SAPHEI-T), target practice with trac-
er (TP-T), armour-piercing discarding
sabot-tracer (APDS-T), and armout-
piercing practice{racer (APP-T), The
HEI-T is used to enqage aerial tarqets
while the APDS-T round is used
agtainst ground targets and will pene-
trate 25 (0.98 in) of armour at an
mm
angle of 30' at a range of 2000 m (2, 187
yaiOs), The GBF-AOA rs fltted with the
Italian P75 Galileo sight,
The GBF-BOB has the Oerlikon KBB
cannon which is also used on the Sea This Oerlikon-Biihrle Diana twin 25- cannon has a dual-teed system
Zenith navai anti-missile defence sys- mm light anti-aircraft gun systemin enabling thegunner toswitch from
tem. The KBB has a longer barrel than the firing position shows thewheels one typeof ammunition to another to
the KBA, and fires ammunition with a raised clear of the grround. Each engage either ground or air targets.
Oerlikon 25-mm Diana liqht anti-aircraft gmn (continued)

higher muzzle velocity and therefore

grreater target penetration. The GBF-
BOB also has the Contraves Gun King
sight whlch was first installed on the The Oerlikon-Biihrle Diana twin 2 5-
35-mm GDF series of anti-aircraft gnrn, mm light anti-aircraft gun has been
This features an optical sight with a introduced by the company to
magniflcation of xS and a 12' field of bridge the gap between its 20-mm
view, night sight, laser rangefinder and 35 -mm weapons. D iana can be
with a range of 5000 m (5,468 yards) to quickly brought into action and has
an accuracy of + 5 m (5,46 yards), and a rapid elevation and traverse, thanks
digital computer, Both the GBF-AOA to its on-board auxiliary power unit.
and GBF-BOB have powered eleva-
tion and traverse to allow high-speed
targets to be tracked: maximum
traverse speed is 80" per second and
maximum elevatron speed is 48" per
second,
The Diana can also be used in con-
junction with the Contraves Sky Guard
trailer-mounted fire-control system
(originally designed for use with the
Oerlikon GDF twin 35-mm cannon),
which carries out both target suweill-
ance and tracking, The Contraves
Alerter radar can provide the grunner
with the range and speed of the
approaching target so the weapons
are already laid in the general direc- Specification Dimensions: length travelling 4,295 m Ranges:maximum horizontal 6000 m
tion of the tarqet as it appears, Diana (i4 ft 1,1 in); widthtravelling2, 10 m (6, 562 yards); effectrve horizontal

As of early l9B5 four prototypes ol Calibre: 25 mm (0,98 in) (6 ft 10,7 in); height travelling 2. 13 m 3000 m (3,281yards); maximum
the Diana had been burlt with a turret Weights: without ammunition 1725 kg (6ft11,9in) vertical 5000 m (16,404 ft); effective
suitable for installation on armoured (3,803 lb); withammunition2lO0 kg Elevation: +85"/-5' vertical 2500 m (8,202 ft)
vehicles, (4,630]b) Traverse:360' Crew: 4-5 ( I on mount)

Oerlikon 35-mm GDF anti-aircraft gun

In the late1950s the Swiss company
Oerhkon-Biihrle developed a twin 35-
mm towed anti-aircraft gnrn called the
IZLAI353, which today is more com-
monly known as the GDF series, Since
thrs entered productron in the early
1960s over 1,600 weapons have been
built for sale to at least 20 countries,
Known operators of the GDF series in-
clude Argentina, Austria, Brazil,
Cameroun, Finland, Greece, Japan,
South Africa, Spain and Switzerland.
Early rn l9BS it was announced that the
British Royal Air Force Reqiment was
to form a new air-defence squadron
equipped with the GDF twin 35-mm
system to protect the Nimrod AEW
base at Waddrngton, Lincolnshire.
These GDF anti-aircraft guns were
captured during I9B2 in the Falklands,
where they had been used by Argenti-
na to defend Port Stanley airfleld in
conjunction with Rheinmetall twin 20-
mm light anti-aircraft qnrns and Euro-
mrssile Roland surface{o-air misstles.
It rs believed that the Arqentine GDFs
shot down four British Aerospace Har-
rrer aircraft and at least two Argentine
afcraft as wel],
The GDF twin 35-mm anti-aircraft
gun system is mounted on a four-
wheeled carriage, In the firing position
the wheels are raised clear of the
Qrrourd and supported on four jacks,
one at each end and one on each srde
on outriqqers. Weapon elevation and
traverse are electro-hydraulic,
traverse speed berng a maximum of
l l2'per second and elevatton a max-
imum of 56' per second,
Srnce its introduction the GDF has
been constantly modernized and
many of these modifications are now
available in kit form to enable purchas-
ers ofolder weapons to bring them up
lo the latest productron standard. For
example the basrc weapon is fitted
wrth a Ferranti sight but this can be
replaced by the new Contraves Gun
King mim-sight which also includes a
laser rangefinder,
The GDF series is armed with twin
35-mm KDB automatic cannon which
have a cyclic rate of fire of 550 rounds
per barrel per minute, The barrels are
each fitted with a muzzle brake, and
can be fitted with muzzle velocity-
measuring equipment whtch feeds in-
formation to the flre-control system, A
total of ll2 rounds of ready-use
ammunition is carried, with a further
126 rounds hetd in reserve on the
mount. Each barrel has 56 rounds of
ready-use ammunition rn clips of seven
rounds, Ammunitron fired is of the
fixed type and includes higth explosive
incendiary{racer (HEI-T), high explo-
srve incendiary (HEI), semi-armour-
piercing high explosive incendiary-
tracer (SAPHEI-T) and practice
rounds,
The basic GDF is a clear-weather
system only, but most countries prefer
to use it in conjunction with a fire-
control system, Thrs was originally the
Contraves Super Fledermaus, but this
has been replaced in production bY
the much more effectlve Contraves
Skygnrard system. A typical GDF bat-
tery consists of two GDF twin 35-mm
anti-arrcraft guns, two generators and
a single Skygnrard flre-control system.
Speciflcation
GDF
Calibre:35 mm (1,38 in)
Weights: travelling (with ammunition)
6700 ks (14,77 I lb); travelling (without
ammunition) 6300 kg (l3,BB9 lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 7.80 m
(25 ft 7. 1 in); width travelIing2.26 m
(7 ft 5 in); hergrht travellinq 2,60 m (B ft
6,4 in)
Elevation: +92'/-5"
Twin 35-mm GDF anti-aircratt gun in
travelling mode.When in firing
position the carriage is raised clear
of the ground and supported on four
ou triggers. Tirs syslem rs mosl
effective when used with a fire
control system such as ffteSwiss
Contraves Skyguard.
Although designed primarily for use
in the anti-aircraft role, the Oerlikon-
Biihrle twin 35-mm GDF anti-aircraft
grun sysfem rs a lso highly effective in
the ground role , and was thus used
by theArgentine army againstthe
British in the I982 Falklands conflict.
Traverse:360"
Ranges: maximum horizontal 9500 m
( 10, 389 yards); maximum vertical
6000 m (l9,685 ft)i effectrve vertical
4000 m (13,123 ft)
Crew:3 (onmount)

858
TheBofors
7 ne reputatian of the swedish company Bafors was esfab/jsfte d over s0 years ago
'",':th the 4a-mmLl6a,whichwaswidelyusedrn wortdwarll;today ovei iacoiiiries
-se jfssuccessor, the 40-mmLl70. stillonly aclearweather system, albeitavery
scprtrsficated one, ithas nowbeen developedinto the all-weather B)FI system,
::corporating multi-sensor fire control and high performance tracking systems.
- ..::e is little doubt that the Bofors 40,mrn anti-
,.,::rait gun is the most famous weapon of its
:-: in the v'rorld, and it has been anci is used
1
= lrmies and navres ol mdnv countries
. A-r Force has even rns alled a 4O-mm
--S
:: -,un in one oir'sspecral
Lockheed C-130
.. ---n errcratl o engaqe groud largets
- .. :liren' productron model ol the Bofors
::rr Li70 towed anti-aircrait qun is essential-
le-r wea:her sys crlt Bu' lodays fie.d
- ,-,-:s lace attack from aircraft and helicopiers
' :;n fiy in almos: any wea'her and from a
- , of raclica. missrle syslems. The Bolors
' . :'. r'70 weapon carr oe made much mo'e
::ir,ze by the addition of a fire-control sys-
'- - r'v{any
-.. cl which there are a nurnber on the mar-
of these can be used vrith the Bofors
. . her antr-aircrafl guns and rncluoe r'-e
.-::r Contraves Super Fledermaus and ri:cre
- -.:. Skyouard and rhe Hol."rds^ S.rro;l-,r -
.,':.en l lvcatcher
llfbrs has developed its o","vr lire,c::,.r:.
s:em for the Bofors Li70 called tie :,!:_
-:crs Optronic Fire-Conirc: Ins:r';:::::..
..-'h in ils basic rorn l - ,- : .'.'-: .. - ..
.. -L consisls e.;ser'. - .. .' .--- : .,, -
:: B lowed qlr. o t..i_ ...' . -' -..
: range oi the targel to 'he I-: -- '
, ir-;:ji cerformance tracking systems.
;-r is firing the compuier c::.-:
..: alm-oll position o! fi1ccr-: - c:'.',-er supply unit, IVlountecl over the elevating
I The laser rangefinder a::
then swrtched off to prevent errors by the oper-
ator when the weapon is being flred, The day
srght has o maqnrhcation ol x7 whire the nrglLt
srgh has a maqn-hcaljon of x8, The lalrer er-
ables targets to r,e observed al a maximum
range of about 7 km (4 35 miles) under good
conditions, The optical target indicator is
another useful ald wrth the BOFI system This rs
positroneC near ihe gun and when the operator
sees a iargei he qurckly lines up the pistol type
drm / tLr- he -rge' and -hen pu.ls rne trigger
whereupon aimlng information {iom the syn-
:hrc. . .--e arq^' indicaror are Lransmilied
directll,, .o :he gun by rneans of a cable. Mean-
,r:hile a ,anp lrghts up on the gun fire,control
sJ.st3m and a buzzer sounds. The operator then
r:sses a buiton for target indtcation and the
. :. . . :- : t:ai.7 slews onto the rarget in borh
:-:" a::cl-i and traverse The gun crew then
.:::.:s .re iarQret as normal, The optical tarOet
- r oi partrcular use in picking lp agility and fixed lrequency .;.'t :. i,l -.
.al:i::: iiat appear sudcienly. The British target indicatron).
-'.- .-_ --.'s^ Dynamics RapLer towed system The trackinq radar fulfils ih: -,.-_ ,:.
- j-. a s-milar device r,thich has been tions designai jon and a --:_ -_..
-, *:- rc rmprcve the kill probability of the sys data from the fire conLro: :-,-: -
:::- :-., a considerable degree.
All-weather BOFI system
.re all-vreather BOFI system ts the most
.: crr;s:lcated version of the Bofors L/70 series.
.:,i 9rr'es the system not only an all-weather
-..i* --.'r aircrafr. helcoptersano mis
dQo.TlS
s--:s but also multi-sensor fire control and two
Ii: BOFI tracking radar comprises three
:a-i
::a-i unrts.
uniis. tnethe
he radar transcelver,
transceiver, the drsplay
disnlav
^:--:
..'"'iih indicator
icator and radar controls, un,i
and tir"
the
r:ass is the radar transceiver unrt which is
The Bofors 4a-mm Ll70 is one of the mosi',',':ce..'
used anti-aircraft guns in the worlci roaa:
C ons tant d eve lopm e n t, e s p e c i a I ly t n a tr,::-i ;.: I : j :.:
and fire controlsystems, ftas enabled it !. re:'...:.
Izighly effective even though its bas;c des:Ei.: ;. ,: --
about 40 years old.
algned with the axis ol the :c.:,-
the display unit is mounted ,r- .:.: , :
cabrn on lhe lef' srde cf r. *.- .--
power supply untt is located .: :..: - -..
the moulrt The lrequenc, -o -.-- -
cerver has two modes ot oFei. -. ..
.
1ng oftaroets and transfer oi ai,,,,= =- -
Targel acqurs;rron rs s ar.=I i .,-
target indication button on the cce:-.,:
whereby the position ol ihe .ar:=
nared 1o the lrackrnq radar f:. . i. -
lion area is centred arounC ::.: ::
positlon and the operator cali c:rt=
at any trme during the accursi.:::_ i,:...-
When a target is detecteci ',rtz :.-,-:..-
mar:caJly swrrches over Io il-.e ': :' .
and a lamp indicatrng smocih:r3tj,.:-t _
on. Durrng lrackrng 'he ccn-,c - : -' ..
fire-control system computes ,h: ::- -: - .
in elevation and traverse basec :
range and angular lrackino qr __.
Iarqe:. The operator can s rper . .. " .
the radar scope and when tr; -.,.'
rupled by enemy jamm-nq or '. :. - -
is masked by ground clutter. rneit::r .- -
(based on lhe laresr rargar so?- j ..
ned out Ar any trme 'he oper . : .
over Io the normal Oprrontc :, I j
track-nqunder lair wearher. :: ' . . ..
also at any tlme interrupt the ira:<-::r -- - ,
acqursirron by ouncnrno he - - ,'
ton,
Latein J984themanufacture r :::.:,,, :', -' .
another verslon ol the Boitis . -. ,
led Trinity. This rs a modulai. s.-: : .. ..:
c-udes the qur ammunrL.:- ..
fire-conlrol system and cor. t=
ship- and land-based appllcar:::. .- ..
role it would be mounted .: -. : jj
wheeled 1e.g Br8; chossrs': r :
rhan the current towed sysrer-- - ..-
gun and its ammunition is alsc -:::r ... .-
American DIVAD se i-pl i - .: -
=
.
gmn system,
This is the gunner's position on the lef t siie .: ::3
carriage.The basic40-mm Ll70 Bofors gun:s a
clearweather system, but anumber of compar,:es
including Bofors itself, now offer various fire
control systems to give the weapon an al!-weat!.e:
capability which js noraz essen tjal.
 40-mm Bofors L/70 anti-aircraft gun
3'.-er 50 years ago the Bofors company
:erreloped a 40-mm towed anti-
:-:cra-ft gun which within a few years
became world famous, This had a 60-
:albre barrel (resulting in the stan-
jard appellation Bofors 40 mm U60)
aird had a cyclic rate of fire of 120
:cunds per minute, This weapon was
,,,idely used during World War II and
,'.as manulactured under licence in
nany countries including the USA (as
ihe Ml), the UK (the Mk 1), Hungary,
Itaiy and Poland Even in l9BS the
',',eapon remains in tronl-line service
',vith more than 10 countries.
After the end of World War II a
r:ruch-improved 40-mm light anti-
arrcraft gun was developed by Bofors,
and this entered service in 195 I as the
40-mm Bofors U70, In addition to hav-
ng a longrer 70-calibre barrel, the new
-xeapon had a rate of fire rncreased to
3C0 rounds per minute (cyclic), This
iigher fire rate was achieved by ram-
nng the new round during run-out
:nd ejecting the empty cartrldge
:ases forward of the mount towards the
end of recoil, Initially two models of the
3ofors 40-mm U70 were offered, these
i:eing designated the Bofors L/70 Mod-
el A and Bofors U70 Model B. The
llodel A relied on an external source
-ir power whrle the Model B had its
:',\'n generator mounted towards the
:cnt of the carriage,
I he basic Bo{ors U7O has a six-man
:rew, of whom four are on the carriage
a: all times: the elevation and traverse
-a;rers are seated one on each side of
--a3 mount, while two ammunition feed-
:ls are placed one on each side at the
The Bofors grun has been primarilY
designed to engage aerial targets
but can also be used with deadlY
effect against ground tatgets,
inclu ding armou r ed pe rsonne I
carriers with their thin armour.
Whenengaging the latter an armour-
p ier cing c apped- tracer (APC -T)
round is normally used.
rear, Ammunition is fed to the weapon
in clips oi tour rounds and an ammunt-
tion tray above the weapon can hold 26
rounds of ready-use ammunitron, At
the rear ofthe mount, one on each side,
are ready-use racks that hold 96
rounds of ammunition,
Weapon elevation and mount
traverse are electro-hydraulic, with
manual controis for emergency use.
Maximum elevation speed is 45'Per
second and maximum traverse sPeed
is 85" per second.
Ammunition development is a con-
tinuous process at Bofors and today
five basic rounds are available for the
Bofors U70 anti-aircraft gun in tts land
and numerous naval applications. AII
ammunition frred by the gun rs of the
fixed type. The flve types are Pre-
fraqmented high explosrve (PFHE),
high-capacrty high explosive (HCHE),
Right: The 40-mm L70 Bofors gun has
a cyclic rate of fire of 300 rounds per
minute, but practical rate of fire is
lower. The ammunition is fed to the
gun in clips of four rounds, with the
empty cartridge cases being ejected
under the forward part of the mounL
Amaximumof 26 rounds of
ammunition are for ready use.
high explosive-tracer (HE-T), armour-
prercing capped-tracer (APC-T), and
training. Additional details of the
Bofors V70 ammunltion and its associ-
ated fire-control systems are given
elsewhere,
In the firinq position the wheels are
raised clear ofthe gnound and the car
nage is supported on four jacks, one at
each end of the carriage and one on
each side on outriggers.
The Bofors L/70 has been made
under licence in a number ofcountries
includinq the UK, Italy, Spain, India,
West Germany and the Netherlands, It
is normally towed by a 4x4 or 6x6
truck, which also carries the crew and
supply of ready-use ammunition. in
some countries, for example the UK
and West Germany, the Bofors U70
has now been replaced by missiles
such as Rapier or Roland. Neverthe-
Below left: Projectile for the Bofors
40 - mm P FHE (p re-fr agm ente d high-
explosive) round firedby the 40-mm
L70 grun,whichhas a proximity fuse
for g:reater effect.
TheSwedish Bofors 40-mmL70 anti-
aircraft gun is shown in the travelling
position. This is the Model B with an
auxiliary power unit mounted on the
rear of the carriage, enabling the
weapon to be runwithout any
external power source and to be
brought into action much faster.
less, with an uplo-date fire-controi
system, the Bofors U70 remains a high-
ly effective weapon system,
Specification
Bofors U70
Calibre:40 mm (1,57 rn)
Weights: travelling (with generator)
5150 kg (11,354 ]b); travelling (wrthout
generator) 4800 kg ( 10,582 lb)
Dimensions: length travelling 7 29 m
(23 ft 1 1 in); width travellins 2,25 m(7 fr
4,6 in); height travelling 2.349 m (7 ft
8.5 in)
Elevation: -90'/ 4"
Traverse:360'
Ranges: maximum horizontal i2500 m
( I 3, 670 yards); maxrmum vertical
B70O m (28,543 ft); effective verttcal
4000 m (13,123 ft)
Crew: 6 (4 onmount)
Below: Cross-section of the new
B ofor s, 40 - mm PF HE ( preJr agmente d
high-explosive) round, with the fuse
on the right and high-explosive
content on left.
Armed Forces of the World

SovietAir Forces
Part 2
The Soviet aviation component most closely match-
ing a Western air force is the Voyenno-Vozdushnyye
Sily (V-VS), in which are included Long-Range Avia-
tion (the strategic bomber arm), Transport Aviation
and Frontal Aviation (F R). Of these three, the roles of
the f irst two are self-explanatory, but the FA (Fronto-
vaya Aviatsiya) is a specially balanced force worthy
of detailed study.
Whereas some of the world's principal air forces
have fought.hard to distance themselves from the
army from which they sprang, the V-VS has re-
mained closely allied with ground elements of the
armed forces. Nowhere is that harmony better illus-
:rated than in the FA, which rs attuned to the support
'equirements of the Red Army in battle.
FA units are assigned to the five Air Armies allo-
lated to Theatres of Military Operations together
,vith air-defence (Voyska PVO), transport and bom-
:er squadrons. Until 1981, '1 6 Frontal Air Armies
trAAs) constituted FA and were assigned to the
-eningrad, Baltic, Belorussian, Moscow, Car-
:athian, Odessa, Kiev, Transcaucasian, Central
+sian, Siberlan, Transbaikal and Far East Military
):stricts, plus the Soviet forces in East Germany, can switch rapldly f rom role to role according to the TheWest has had many chances to inspect the
trcland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. (The North tactical situation. Three main functions may be den- M ikoy an-Gurevich MiG-Z3MF'F logger- G' during
laucasus, Turkestan, Ural and Volga Military Dis- tified: air defence (meaning over the battlefield, and its trips to Finland and France. These sk are
:'cts had no Frontal Air Armies.) leaving other units to protect the homeland); air backedup by anAntonov An-12 in quasi-civil
ln the recent regrouping of air forces to facilitate preparation (known as interdiction in the West); and colours (despite the tail gun turret). MiG-Z3s are
rapidly replacing the MiG-2I in Soviet units.
-ore rapld war mobilization, the FAAs have been air support (attacks on the battlefield) n addition,
-:olaced by Air Forces of Military Districts (AFMDs). squadrons can be detailed to undertake tactical re-
:r AFMD now combines all aviation units in its area connaissance and provide electronic countermea- The more sparsely-defended South-Vt,:..='-
:rcept bomber and transport elements, but is sures with appropriate aircraft. TMO demands 1 ,250 aicraft, but relativell, 'e,.,
=-=
;:nerally similar ln function to the disbanded FAA. In ln the past dozen years, the FA has changed allocated to the frozen wastes of the Norin-,',:=.='-
"'.artime, between three and five AFMDs would be dramatically f rom a purely tactical force to one with TMO. The Southern area has 850 tactica : -:-=-:
.:tached to one of the 13 Theatres of Military Opera- the potential for offensive operations beyond the whilst the Far East TMO (last of the f ive cc-: - =- ..
: :ns, such as the Western TMO, which faces NATO immediate bounds of the battlefield In total, it com- Theatres) operates an up-to-date force c' ? - -.'- '
- Central Europe. Air Forces comprise Divisions prises some 6.000 aircraft disposed according to the craft. The potential adversary here s -.:,- -
) viziya) with subsidiary Regiments (Polka) of three strategic situatlon. Thus, in the area bordering Euro- although relations with the fellow Corr-- - =
:i:uadTons (Eskadriliya) of 15 aircraft each, the last- pean NATO members, three Theatres of Military China have been turbulent enough fc',,',:' ::- -,
-entioned including two or three operatlonal train Operations include the major share of air assets, led gency plans to have been made.
:'S. by the Western TMO (NATO's central front) with lnthe pastdecade, the FA hasexpanc:: -:':: -:
,intil the advent of recent, multi-role aircrbft, divi- 2,850 aircraft, over 90 per cent of them modern of action following introduction (fro- l=:=-:--
: :ns were assigned a specific task, but now they types. '1974) of thepotentSukhoi Su-24'Fer-::- l.=-r_ _

are in service w:th regiments based a: : '.

via), at Chernyakhovsk (Soviet Balt'c.
': :,---":--
stanlinov and Gorodok (Ul, rainsl, a: -=* : - : , - '
Germany, from 1979) and in the ='- :.- --=
'Fencer', aided by variable-geomet^, ,'. -:: -r: :
hi-lo-hi combat radius of 1800 <m - -l- - =.
whencarrying2000 kg (4,409 lb)o:r,'.:::--. .-- -
the lo-lo-hi mode can reach the a -: :. :' :.--
Anglia, plus those of north wesl ='z':: ,- : - _
='
Italy, from its home bases.
Theimpactof the'Fencer'nasL==^ :':'--' - :'
modern Soviet fig"::' :=. :-=: '_-
it is the first
ground attack and the first to ca.^, . ,..
=::, -: : :
temsofficer(naside-by sidesea: :::.: - j - :':
that of ils nearest NATO equ r: -.' -.
-:- - :
Dynamics F-'l 'l 1). ln addit or '.:=^-.
-
=. :!- .- :' -
attack radar, it has a terrain-avc o:- :: : . :.: -
laser ranger and marked targe: s=:. :-.-:- : - .:
liverordnancewithanaccuracvc'aa -'!- - =
weathers. When usedforshort ra':: ::--:. --: .

Soviet reconnaJssance assets iest on sp,eca-:!-

equipped MiG-2 I s and 23s, and in the l,!:G - 2 : I
These are two MiG-Z1R'Foxbat-D s'',,;k:c: :"-::,-
=
large S LAR ( s i d e - lo o ki n g a ir b orn e ra'a-',r ;: :i e - ;::
side of the nose. Under the NATO codeia.i::e c:
'Ram-M', theSoviets are believed ta b'e pu:c::_::
TR- I type high- altitu de spy plane.
 \:> PerSS
Armed Forces of the World Soviet Air Forces ru
-ay carry a formidable load of up to 8000 kg
-
7,637 Ib).
i-laving learned lessons from the various small-
scale wars of the past 20 years (such as those in the
Middle East),. the FA is placing emphasis on the
attainment of local air superiority in order that strike
and attack aircrait may go about their business un-
hindered. ln this area, some 900 MiG-23 'Flogger
B,'Gs' are supported in part by an equal (but dimi-
nishing) number of late-generation MiG-2'1 'Fishbed
J/l(L/Ns', which are also employed in air support.
The 'Floggers', similar to those in the Voyska PVO
use, have internal cannon and AA-7 and AA-B air-to-
air missiles.
Less visible than thls armoury, but of no lesser
importance, is the training given to air-superiority
pilots in the FA. The past five years have witnessed
an increase in experimentation with new tactics and
the development of training for several missions
new to the Soviet forces: fighter escorts, ECM
(electronic countermeasures) escort, manoeuvring
air combat, independent search missi'ons and air
accompaniment of ground forces. More emphasis
has been placed on dissimilar air combat training
(possibly even with 'aggressor' squadrons) and
multi-event tralning sorties. Such will encourage but its lo-lo-lo range of 360 km (225 miles) is a usef ul N ow an ageing design, the T u polev Tu - 2 2' B lind er'
f lexibility of tactics to exploit a changing battle situa- asset. is still in limited service both as a reconnar'ssance
tion and the more efficient use of multl-role aircraft. Reconnaissance is provided by MiG-21 'Fishbed- bomber andon maritime reconnarsance dufies. /f
is thought that'BLinders' have been used for level-
For air support and secondary interdiction, the Hs' and MiG-25 'Foxbat-B/Ds', perhaps assisted by
bombing attacks on guerrilla strongholds in
Sukhoi Su-17 'Fitter' and MiG-27 'Flogger' are em- a few remaining Yakovlev Yak-28 'Brewer-Ds'. Dedi- Afghanistan, and Libya has used her aitcraft in
ployed, about 800 and 650 respectively serving in cated ECM and Elint (electronic intelligence- angeroverChad.
the FA. Typical of the Soviet.penchant for adapta- gathering) is performed by a handful of 'Brewer-Es'
tion, the MiG-27 is a simplif ied MiG-23 which trades and Antonov An-l 2 'Cub-Cs', although large num- deployment has been to evaluate methods of close
speed for simplicity and increased payload. lts lo-lo- bers of combat aircraft are detailed to operate ln the liaison with armed helicopters, something already
lo radius of action with a typical load of four 500-kg electronlc jamming role. practised by the USAF Thunderbolt.
(1,102-lb) bombs and two self-defence AA-2 AAMs ln at least one (and possibly another) new area, The second new FA aircraft could be an equiva-
is 385 km (240 miles). the FA is receiving aircraft which parallel those re- lent to the Lockheed TR-1 , presently only identified
A further illustration of Soviet trends is found in cently added to the NATO armoury for tactical war- by the provisional NATO code name 'Ram-M'. This
the Su-'17, which is a varlable-geometry adaptation fare in a European environment. A parallel to Fair- aircraft would undertake stand-off radar and infra-
of the earlier Su-7. A few Su-7 'Fitter-As' may serve child's A-10 Thunderbolt ll is to be f.ound in the red surveillance of the battlefield and relay its
in low-threat areas, but the type's indifferent load- Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot', in that both are rugged findings to ground commanders for rapid exploita-
carrying capability has been greatly improved in the close-support jet aircraft. The Soviet aircraft has no tion.
Su-l 7 'FitterC' and derivatives. Like its MiG-27 less than 10 underwing stores attachment points, Even before helicopters are consldered, the
companion, it lacks all-weather penetrative avionics, together with a heavy-caiibre, Gatling-type cannon assets of the Frontovaya Aviatsiya indicate that it is a
in the belly. and an operational radius of some well-equipped force optimized for conventional and
480 km (300 miles) whilst carrying 4535 (10,000 lb) limited nuclear warfare. By dint of hard work and
Bearing a similarity to the MiG-27 on account of its of stores. careful acquisition of Western technology (using
downward-tapering nose (for ground attack The 'Frogfoot' entered limited operational service overt and covert means), the Soviet Union has
duties), the MiG-238N'Flogger-H' still bears the in Afghanistan during 1982, where it is used for brought its tactical forces close to the level of their
variable-geometry intakes of the air defence Western counterparts and instituted training which
versions. This version has been supp/ied to the air attacks against guerrilla strongholds, and now
farces of Bulgaria, C zechoslovakia, Poland and equips FA regiments in Bulgaria and elsewhere. will eventually permit the full potential of versatile
India. One of its associated missions during the Afghan new equipment to be realized.