Air defense / Anti-aircraft guns / ZPU
ZPU
General Facts
- TYPE
Towed anti-aircraft gun - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
Type 56 (Chinese production ZPU-4)
Type 58 (Chinese production ZPU-2) - DESIGNED
Mid 1940's - DESIGNER
Unknown - PRODUCTION
1946 - ? - PRODUCERS
China
North Korea
USSR - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Effective against ground targets
Can be mounted on a vehicle
Limited prodution costs
Parts and ammunition commonality with vehicle mounted weapons
Ineffective against jet fighters
Limited range
Clear weather only
Low quality fire control
Introduction
The ZPU is a towed anti-aircraft cannon of Soviet origin. It was developed in the mid 1940's and introduced immediately after World War 2. The ZPU series was produced in large quantities. During the early stages of the Cold War it was a simple but potent anti-aircraft weapon, but was soon replaced by more capable anti-aircraft weapons. The ZPU remains in widespread use, mainly in third world countries, due to its simplicity and effectiveness against ground targets.
Layout
The ZPU series consists of three anti-aircraft guns. All three weapons are based on the 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and follow the same design principles. The ZPU series are simple systems that are based on a wheeled platform that is stabilized by jacks in the firing position and mounts a turntable with one or more KPVT and is operated by a single person. Although similar in principle, the single barrel ZPU-1 is much smaller and lighter than the four barrel ZPU-4. Since only simple sights are provided the ZPU is a clear weather system only with a limited chance to hit fast moving targets.
Firepower
The KPVT fires the 14.5x114mm round at a cyclic rate of fire of 600 rpm. The ZPU-2 and ZPU-4 have a larger volume of fire since they mount 2 and 4 KPVT respectively. The maximum effective anti-aircraft range is only 1.4 km, although its slant range is about 5 km. The ZPU is very effective against ground targets due to its volume of fire and ability to pierce the armor of most Cold War era armored personnel carriers.
Mobility
The ZPU series is very mobile due to their limited weight and size. They can be manhandled over short distances and may be towed by light vehicles. The mobility has been further improved by mounting the ZPU on various jeeps and light trucks. Special mounts with two or four guns were fitted to the BTR-40 and BTR-152 armored personnel carriers.
The ZPU was common in the USSR and Eastern Europe during the early stages of the Cold War. In the USSR and Eastern Europe the ZPU was replaced by newer anti-aircraft guns and hardly any remain during the later stages of the Cold War. Many systems were exported to Asia, Africa and the Middle East and remain in widespread use, mainly for use against ground targets.
ZPU-1
The ZPU-1 is a single gun mount for the 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun. It is the smallest version of the ZPU series. It consists of a small chassis with three outriggers that supports a single KPVT heavy machine gun, an ammunition box, rudimentary sights and a seat for its sole operator. It is towed by a jeep or carried by a light truck.
- Specifications:
- ZPU-1
| Type | Towed anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 on weapon, 4 in total |
| Ordnance | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun |
| Elevation | -8 to +88°, manual |
| Traverse | 360°, manual |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm cyclic, 150 rpm practical |
|---|---|
| Range | 1.4 km vs aircraft |
| Carriage | 2 wheel carriage with three outriggers, 4.5 x 16 tires, 1.38 m track, 0.28 m ground clearance |
| Weight | 413 kg |
| Length | 3.44 m (travelling) |
| Width | 1.62 m (travelling) |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.34 m (travelling) |
| Towing vehicle | 4x4 jeep or light truck |
| Speed | ? |
| Remarks | - |
ZPU-2 (early)
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The ZPU-2is a larger weapon than the ZPU-1 and is fitted with two 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine guns. The ZPU-2 has been produced in two versions. The early version is larger an heavier than the later version. The early version of the ZPU-2 has two large wheels which are removed when in the firing position. The two KPVT are mounted side by side and
- Specifications:
- ZPU-2 (early)
| Type | Towed anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 on weapon, 5 in total |
| Ordnance | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun (2x) |
| Elevation | -7 to +90°, manual |
| Traverse | 360°, manual |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm cyclic (per barrel), 1.200 rpm combined, 300 rpm practical |
|---|---|
| Range | 1.4 km vs aircraft |
| Carriage | 2 wheel carriage with three outriggers, 6.5 x 20 tires |
| Weight | 639 kg (firing position), 994 kg (travelling) |
| Length | 3.54 m (travelling) |
| Width | 1.92 m (travelling) |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.83 m (travelling) |
| Towing vehicle | 4x4 light truck |
| Speed | ? |
| Remarks | - |
ZPU-2 (late)
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The late production model of the ZPU-2 is much ligher due to the use of a ligher chassis, smaller wheels and a single tow bar. It can be identified by its smaller wheels and mudguards and the ammunition boxes are mounted sideways. In the firing position the wheels are raised and not removed. The late model is the most common version of the ZPU-2 and has been produced under license in China as the Type 58
- Specifications:
- ZPU-2 (late)
| Type | Towed anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 on weapon, 5 in total |
| Ordnance | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun (2x) |
| Elevation | -15 to +85°, manual |
| Traverse | 360°, manual |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm cyclic (per barrel), 1.200 rpm combined, 300 rpm practical |
|---|---|
| Range | 1.4 km vs aircraft |
| Carriage | 2 wheel carriage with three outriggers, 1.1 m track, 0.27 m ground clearance |
| Weight | 621 kg (firing position), 649 kg (travelling) |
| Length | 3.87 m (travelling) |
| Width | 1.37 m (travelling) |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.10 m (travelling) |
| Towing vehicle | 4x4 jeep or light truck |
| Speed | ? |
| Remarks | - |
ZPU-4
The ZPU-4 is the largest version of the ZPU series. It is based on a four wheel chassis and is supported by four jacks when in the firing position. Four 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine guns are fitted, which are operated by a single person. The large volume of fire and stable firing platform make it the most effective version. It has been produced under license in China as the Type 56.
- Specifications:
- ZPU-4
| Type | Towed anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 on weapon, 5 in total |
| Ordnance | 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun (4x) |
| Elevation | -10 to +90°, manual |
| Traverse | 360°, manual |
| Rate of fire | 600 rpm cyclic (per barrel), 2.400 rpm combined, 600 rpm practical |
|---|---|
| Range | 1.4 km vs aircraft |
| Carriage | 4 wheel carriage with three outriggers, 6.5 x 20 tires, 1.38 m track, 0.28 m ground clearance |
| Weight | 1.810 kg |
| Length | 4.53 m (travelling) |
| Width | 1.72 m (travelling) |
|---|---|
| Height | 2.13 m (travelling) |
| Towing vehicle | 4x4 light truck |
| Speed | ? |
| Remarks | - |
BTR-40A & BTR-152A
Many ZPU anti-aircraft have also been mounted on various vehicles. Nowadays the ZPU-1 and ZPU-2 are commonly found mounted on a pickup truck, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser. In the early stages of the Cold War the BTR-40 and BTR-152 armored personnel carriers served as chassis for a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the ZPU series. The ZTPU-2 twin mount has been fitted on the BTR-40A and BTR-152A. The four gun ZTPU-4 mount was also fitted to the BTR-152A.
14.5mm KPVT
The 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun is the weapon that is mounted on all versions of the ZPU series.
