AK-230
AK-230 is a Soviet fully automatic naval twin 30 mm gun. Its primary function is anti-aircraft. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar. AK-230 is probably the most popular gun of its class in the world[citation needed], mounted on big warships as well as small crafts. About 1450 guns were produced in the USSR and about 300 were produced in China as the Type 69. It was succeeded by the more powerful AK-630 from the mid to late 1970s.
Development
Development of the weapon began during the 1950s with the first trail weapon fitted to the Osa class of fast attack missile boats and Shershen class torpedo boats. The weapon was officially accepted into service in 1969.
Description
The weapon consists of two stabilized NN-30 30 mm water-cooled four chamber revolver cannons, which are mounted inside a riveted steel turret. The gun mechanism is driven by the recoilling barrel (recoil-operated revolver gun). The guns each weigh 155 kg and have barrels 1930 mm long, and a total length of 2670 mm. The barrels are rifled with 12 grooves. The guns each have a rate of fire of 1,000 round per minute, they are fed by independent 500 round belts of ammunition.
The rounds are electrically fired, propellent gasses are used to eject the spent shells and belt links into a space between the magazine and the hull. Ballistic maximum range for the weapon is about 6.7 km - but realistic ranges for engaging air targets are quoted as between 2.5 and 4 km.
The weapon is remote directed, typically by a fire-control system linked to either a Drum Tilt or Muff Cobb radar systems.
Ammunition
The AK-230 fires specially developed 30x210B 30 mm ammunition that is electrically primed. Two rounds were developed, a high explosive round with an impact fuze, and an armour piercing round. The Chinese Type 69 fires only a locally produced version of the high explosive round. Ammunition is also produced in Romania and Serbia.
| Type | HE | AP-T |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | OF-83D | BR-83 |
| Weight | ||
| Round | 1.13 kg | 1.12 kg |
| Projectile | 0.27 kg | 0.35 kg |
| Explosive content | 30 g of A-IX-2 |
- |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,050 m/s | |
Specifications
- Calibre: 30 mm
- Traverse: +180 to -180 degrees at 35 degrees/sec
- Elevation: -12 to +87 degrees at 50 degrees/sec
- Mounting weight: 1857 kg to 1905 kg
- Rate of fire: 2,000 rpm (system)
- Gun Weight: 343.9 lbs. (156 kg)
- Gun Length oa: 84.25 in (2.140 m)
- Bore Length: 74.69 in (1.897 m)
- Rifling Length: 71.06 in (1.805 m)
- Grooves: 12
- Chamber Volume: 13.49 in3 (0.221 dm3)
- Rate Of Fire: over 1,000 rounds per minute cyclic
Variants
- AK-230 A type - For ships with 220 V DC power systems.
- AK-230 B type - For ships with 380 V AC power systems.
- AK-230M - Less magnetized version for minesweepers (380 V AC).
- Type 69 - Chinese version, total weight 3,600 kg. Shells are ejected outside of the turret. 50 degrees/second traverse.
References
- Jane's Naval Weapon Systems Issue Thirty Three
- Navy Weapons.com
- The Russian ammunition page
- Koll, Christian (2009). Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Austria: Koll. p. 323. ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9.
