Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" anti-aircraft self-propelled guns have been used for several decades to combat ground targets. In this capacity, they were used during the stay in Afghanistan of the Soviet 40th army, as well as during the Iran-Iraq War. Moreover, these combat vehicles served on both sides of the front.
The Syrian army received about four hundred such combat vehicles from the USSR and almost from the very beginning of the civil war, self-propelled guns began to be used for fire support.
Four 23 mm guns have a maximum firing range of 2000 m and easily cope with lightly armored targets such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, cars and enemy manpower. The rate of fire is up to 1000 rounds per minute per barrel. Ammunition - 2000 shells.
Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
The main drawback of these machines is relatively thin armor. However, the Syrian military independently improved the security characteristics. So, in the elite 4th armored Division, they were turned into real mobile fortresses - anti-cumulative grids, chains with steel balls and steel boxes with filler were mounted, radar stations that had become unnecessary were dismantled.
In another elite unit, the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard of Syria, they also refined the "Shilka", but in a slightly different way. They began to install solid armored plates located at an angle in the front upper part of the hull, on the turret, sides and stern.
Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
Image Source: Photo: Bravery2004
The experience of using such equipment has generally confirmed the effectiveness of both options and has significantly reduced the loss of personnel.
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