Mesbah 1 anti aircraft artillery system uses 4 Iranian built Russian ZU-23-2 (i.e. 4x2 barrels) installed on a rotatable mount (chassis & electric system of a Oerlikon twin 35mm gun). Each autocannon has its own feed magazine and ammo box (i.e. 8 ammo boxes on the mount).The system uses Radar and IR/Optical sensors (seperate trailer mount) to find its target automatically.
Weight (indicative):
- A complete ZU-23-2 mount weighs 950kg (excl. ammunition). 4x 950 = 3,800 kg.
- A Bofors 40L70 single gun mount weighs 5,000kg.
A complete Oerlikon twin 35mm gun mount with carriage, ammunition and standard accessories weighs 6,700 kg (238-280 rounds at 1.565 kg per round = 372 - 438 kg).
- The seperate FCU will easily weigh another 1-2 tons.
- Mesbah-1 system (incl FC) will easily weigh 4.5-5.5 tons.
Dimensions of Oerlikon 35mm mount (consider this max. dimensions for Mesbah 1)
- Length, 7.8 m travelling; 8.83 m firing
Width, 2.26 m travelling; 4.49 m firing
Height, 2.6 m travelling; 1.72 m firing
Rate of fire: 4000 rpm (higher rate probably possible, but limited to conserve ammo usage)
Maximum firing range 4 km
Effective firing range 2.5 km
Munition: 23×152mm Belted
Round Length 236 mm
Mass Total 455 g
Cartridge Case Length 152 mm
Projectile Diameter 23 mm
Rim Diameter 33 mm
Projectile Mass 185 g
Muzzle velocity 970 m/s
Ammo types and explosive weights
HE Impact 19.6 g RDX/Alum
HE-T Impact 16.3 g RDX/Alum + 3.5 s tracer
HEI Impact 19.6 g RDX/Alum
HEI-T Impact 16.3 g RDX/Alum + 3.5 s tracer
API Base delay 5 g TNT/Alum + incendiary
API-T Base delay 5 g TNT/Alum + incend + red tracer
TP ballistic match with HE for training and testing
TP- T like TP except that round is fitted with tracer
http://www.ordtech-industries.com/2products/ZU-23/23x152NG.html
4000 x 0.0163kg = 65.2kg explosive on target per minute
4000 x 0.0196kg = 78.4kg explosive on target per minute
How about the "heavy, massive & expensive"
Fajr-27?
Oto Melara 76/62 Compact naval gun mount (including magazine and munitions hoist)
- without ammunition: 7,439 kg ( pf which Gun Weight [tube and liner] is 765 kg)
- with ammunition and off-mount components: 8,520 kg
Ammunition stowage per gun: 80 ready rounds on mount
Rate Of Fire Compact: 80 - 85 rounds per minute in automatic mode (100 with retrofit kit).
Elevation: -15 / +85 degrees, at 35 degrees per second
Train: unlimited (uses a slip ring), at 60 degrees per second
Max. Possible range (@ 45 degrees):
- 5 km w. DART (antimissile round w. Strales gun system only)
- 16.0 km w. 6.5 kg SAPOM w. Super Rapid gun only
- 18.4 km w. 6.296 kg HE-MOM and HE-PF-OM w. Compact gun
- 20.0 km w. 6.6 kg SAPOMER w. Super Rapid gun only
- 40.0 km w. Volcano only
Max.
Effective Range: 8.0 km
Max.
Effective Altitude (AAA @ 85 degrees): 4.0km
Cartridge: 76.2 mm x 635.5 mm
Weight of Complete Round All except Vulcano: 12.34 kg
Projectile Types and Weights Compact, all types: 6.296 kg
Propellant Charge HE: 3.56 kg
Bursting Charge HE: 0.75 kg
Muzzle Velocity: 914 - 925 mps
85 x 0.75 kg = 63.75 kg on target per minute (excluding weight of tungsten cubes used as penetrators in MOM-type rounds)
Conclusions:
- Not a whole lot of system weigh and volume difference.
- Similar amount of explosive on targert per minute
- Fajr-27 gives better range and versatility (ammo types)
- proximity fused 76mm munition has heavier, more destructive fragments upon bursting (greater effectiveness).