23×115mm

The 23×115mm round is used in Soviet (USSR)/Russian/CIS aircraft autocannon. Although superseded by the 30×165mm round the Russian Air Force still uses it in the GSh-23L (in the aircraft's tail turrets and in the UPK-23-250 gun pod) and the GSh-6-23 (in the Su-24). This round still serves in many countries and is widely available. The projectile weight is 175 grams.

23×115mm
23×115mm shells used in NR-23 cannon on the Il-28
Type	Autocannon, Antiaircraft
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	c.1944-present
Used by	USSR, various former Eastern Bloc countries
Production history
Designer	OKB-16
Designed	1943
Specifications
Parent case	14.5×114mm
Case type	Rimless, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter	23 mm (0.91 in)
Neck diameter	24 mm (0.94 in)
Shoulder diameter	26.26 mm (1.034 in)
Base diameter	26.95 mm (1.061 in)
Rim diameter	26.95 mm (1.061 in)
Case length	115 mm (4.5 in)
Overall length	204 mm (8.0 in)
Maximum pressure	294.3 MPA
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 175 g (2,701 gr) HEI 740 m/s (2,400 ft/s) 47,900 J (35,300 ft⋅lbf)

History

The round was derived from the 14.5×114mm round by necking it out to 23 mm.^[1] The original rounds used a lower power charge of 33 g of sw 4/7 powder and achieved 690 m/s at a maximum pressure of 294.3 MPa. In 1954 an improved ammunition was introduced, featuring better projectile design and ballistic properties. The newer rounds have a powder charge to achieve 720 m/s.^[2]

Weapon platforms

• Nudelman-Suranov NS-23, used in the An-2, Il-10, Il-22, La-9, La-11, La-15, MiG-9, Yak-7, Yak-9U, Yak-15, Yak-17, and Yak-23 fighters; and in the Mi-2US, Mi-2URN, and Mi-2URP helicopters.
• Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23, used in the MiG-15, MiG-17, and La-15 fighters.
• Afanasev Makarov AM-23, used in the Tu-16, Tu-95, Il-54 bombers; and in the An-8, An-12, Il-76 transports.
• Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23, used in the MiG-21, MiG-23, SOKO J-22 Orao, HAL Tejas, and IAR 93 fighters; in the Tu-22M and Tu-95 bombers; in the Mi-24V, Mi-24VP, Mi-24VM, Mi-24VN, Mi-24VU, Mi-35, Mi-35M, Mi-35O, and W-3WA Sokół helicopters; and in the Il-76 transport; and in UPK-23-250 and SPPU-22 gun pods.
• Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23, used in the Su-15, Su-24, MiG-31, and early versions of the MiG-27 fighters.

See also

• 23×152mm, one variant used in the VYa-23 on the Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft, and a different variant in the later Soviet anti-aircraft autocannon series (ZSU-23-4, ZU-23, etc.)

References

Notes

1. Shirokorad, Aleksandr (1999). История авиационного вооружения (in Russian). Минск: Харвест. pp. 135–137. ISBN 985-433-695-6.
2. Koll, Christian. "23x115 23mm NR/NS and GSh aircraft cannons". The Russian Ammunition Page. Retrieved 7 Dec 2012.

Sources

• Koll, Christian (2009). Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Austria: Koll. p. 131. ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9.

External links

• An example of three 23mm NS/NR series cartridges
• Quarry.co.uk Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
• Airforce.ru