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{{More footnotes|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox weapon {{Infobox weapon
| name = Volkov Yartsev VYa-23 | name = Volkov Yartsev VYa-23
| image = ] | image = VYa-23 cannon Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseo.JPG
| caption = | image_size = 300
| origin = {{Flag|Soviet Union}} | caption = VYa-23 cannon
| origin = ]
| type = Aircraft ] | type = Aircraft ]
<!-- Type selection --> <!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged = y | is_ranged = y
| is_explosive =y | is_explosive =y
| is_artillery = | is_artillery =
<!-- Service history --> <!-- Service history -->
| service = 1941–? | service = 1941–?
| used_by ={{Flag|Soviet Union}} | used_by = ]
| wars = ] | wars = ]
<!-- Production history --> <!-- Production history -->
| designer = ] and ] | designer = ] and ]
| design_date = 1940–41 | design_date = 1940–41
| manufacturer = | manufacturer =
| unit_cost = | unit_cost =
| production_date = | production_date =
| number = 64,655 | number = 64,655
| variants = | variants =
<!-- General specifications --> <!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label = | spec_label =
| weight = {{Convert|68|kg|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{Convert|62.8|kg|0|abbr=on}}
| length = {{Convert|2.15|m|0}} | length = {{Convert|2.147|m|0}}
| part_length = {{Convert|1.66|m|0}} | part_length = {{Convert|1.65|m|0}}
| width = | width =
| height = | height =
| diameter = | diameter =
| crew = | crew =
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge = 23x152mmB | cartridge = ]
| cartridge_weight = | cartridge_weight =
| caliber = {{Convert|23|mm|0|abbr=on}} | caliber = {{Convert|23|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| barrels = | barrels = 1
| action = | action =
| rate = 550–650 rounds/min | rate =600–650 rounds/min
| velocity = {{Convert|905|m/s|0|abbr=on}} | velocity = {{Convert|905|m/s|0|abbr=on}}
| range = | range =
| max_range = | max_range =
| feed = | feed =
| sights = | sights =
<!-- Explosive specifications --> <!-- Explosive specifications -->
| filling = | filling =
| filling_weight = | filling_weight =
| detonation = | detonation =
| yield = | yield =
}} }}

'''Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23''' (Волков-Ярцев ВЯ-23) is a {{Convert|23|mm|abbr=on}} ] used on ] aircraft during ]. The '''Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23''' (Волков-Ярцев ВЯ-23) is a {{Convert|23|mm|abbr=on}} ], used on ] aircraft during ].


==Development== ==Development==
In ], ] and ] created an ] called '''TKB-201''' for the new 23 mm round. It was intended to be the primary weapon of the ] ground attack aircraft. The original intention was to create a gun capable of penetrating German tank armour. In ], ] and ] created an ], called '''TKB-201''' for the new 23&nbsp;mm round. It was intended to be the primary weapon of the ] ground attack aircraft. The original intention was to create a gun capable of penetrating German ] armour.


Due to unavailability of Il-2, the first airborne testing was performed using a German ] heavy fighter. After testing on Il-2 in ], TKB-201 was accepted into service as '''VYa-23'''. A total of 64,655 VYa-23 were built. Due to unavailability of Il-2, the first airborne testing was performed using a ] heavy fighter sold by Germany in 1940. After testing on Il-2 in ], TKB-201 was accepted into service as '''VYa-23'''. A total of 64,655 VYa-23 were built.


==Description== ==Description==
The VYa-23 is a gas-operated belt-fed autocannon with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute - a high rate of fire for the caliber at the time. The gun was 2.140 metres long, and weighed 68 kg. Its main disadvantages are powerful recoil and very abrupt functioning of the firing and reloading mechanisms which decreased service life and often caused jamming that could not be fixed in mid-air. The VYa-23 is a gas-operated belt-fed autocannon with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute - a high rate of fire for the caliber at the time. The gun was 2.140 metres long, and weighed 68&nbsp;kg. Its main disadvantages are powerful recoil and very abrupt functioning of the firing and reloading mechanisms which decreased service life and often caused jamming that could not be fixed in mid-air.


According to a US intelligence report, the VYa-23 used an upscaled version of the ] mechanism.<ref>Chinn, p. 96</ref>
⚫ In spite of the large round, the VYa-23 proved to be a disappointment in its intended anti-tank role. Light German tanks could be defeated from the side or rear only, with front armor of all tanks impervious. Medium tanks could be defeated if hit into the top of the turret or the engine compartment from under 400 m (1,300 ft) in a greater than 40-degree dive -- a very difficult maneuvre in Il-2 even under the most ideal conditions compounded by the difficulty of aiming at a small target.


'''Ammunition''' ==Ammunition==
] ]
A powerful new ] cartridge was specifically developed for the VYa. The same caliber was later used also in the post-war towed ] and self-propelled ] 23mm AA guns. The later AA guns ammo differs in loading and primer however, and are thus not interchangeable with the post-war AA gun ammunition.<ref name="AWilliams">"Williams, Anthony G: An introduction to collecting 23-28mm cartridges. http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm</ref> The ammunition is externally easily recognizable: VYa ammunition has brass cases, while post-war AA ammunition has steel cases.<ref name="AWilliams">"Williams, Anthony G: An introduction to collecting 23-28mm cartridges. http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm</ref> A powerful new ] cartridge was specifically developed for the VYa. The same caliber was later used also in the post-war towed ] and self-propelled ] 23mm AA guns. However, the ammunition for this later AA gun has a different powder charge and primer, and is thus not interchangeable.<ref name="AWilliams">"Williams, Anthony G: An introduction to collecting 23-28mm cartridges. http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202090611/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm |date=2 February 2016 }}</ref> The ammunition is externally easily recognizable: VYa ammunition has brass cases, while post-war AA ammunition has steel cases.<ref name="AWilliams"/>


The ammunition for VYa consisted of fragmentation-incendiary, fragmentation-incendiary-tracer, and armor piercing-incendiary rounds. The total weight and filling of HE rounds were more than twice that of the 20 mm ammunition used by the ] and ] cannons. The armor-piercing round could penetrate 25 mm (1 in) of armor at 400 m (1,300 ft). The main characteristics of VYa ammunition according to Christian Koll's Russian Ammunition site<ref name="rusammo">"Russian Ammunition Page, http://www.russianammo.org</ref> are listed in the table below: The ammunition for VYa included fragmentation-incendiary, fragmentation-incendiary-tracer, and armor-piercing-incendiary rounds. The total weight and filling of HE rounds were more than twice that of the 20&nbsp;mm ammunition used by the ] and ] cannons. The armor-piercing round could penetrate 25&nbsp;mm (1&nbsp;in) of armor at 400 m (1,300&nbsp;ft). The main characteristics of VYa ammunition according to Christian Koll's Russian Ammunition site<ref name="rusammo">"Russian Ammunition Page, http://www.russianammo.org</ref> are listed in the table below:


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
!width="80"| Designation !width="80"| Designation
!width="60"| Type !width="60"| Type
Line 74: Line 77:
! Muzzle Velocity ! Muzzle Velocity
! Description ! Description
|- |-
| BZ || API || style="text-align:center;"| 196..198 | BZ || ] || style="text-align:center;"| 196..198
| style="text-align:center;"| none | style="text-align:center;"| none
| style="text-align:center;"| 905 || 68g hard steel core and incendiary in the windshield cap. Two types with different caps (aluminium and swaged steel) are found. Penetration 25 mm RHA at 400 m and perpendicular impact. | style="text-align:center;"| 905 || 68g hard steel core and incendiary in the windshield cap. Two types with different caps (aluminium and swaged steel) are found. Penetration 25&nbsp;mm RHA at 400 m and perpendicular impact.
|- |-
| OZ || HEI || style="text-align:center;"| 198 | OZ || ] || style="text-align:center;"| 198
| style="text-align:center;"| 15 (RDX/Al/wax) | style="text-align:center;"| 15 (RDX/Al/wax)
| style="text-align:center;"| 905 || HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze. | style="text-align:center;"| 905 || HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze.
|- |-
| OZT || HEI-T || style="text-align:center;"| 190 | OZT || ] || style="text-align:center;"| 190
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 (RDX/Al/wax) | style="text-align:center;"| 12 (RDX/Al/wax)
| style="text-align:center;"| 905 || HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze and a reduced HE charge due to the space taken by the tracer. | style="text-align:center;"| 905 || HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze and a reduced HE charge due to the space taken by the tracer.
|- |-
| PUT || TP-T || style="text-align:center;"| 198 | PUT || ] || style="text-align:center;"| 198
| style="text-align:center;"| none | style="text-align:center;"| none
| style="text-align:center;"| 905 || Practice round with tracer, based on the OZT but with a dummy fuze and inert filling in HE cavity. | style="text-align:center;"| 905 || Practice round with tracer, based on the OZT but with a dummy fuze and inert filling in HE cavity.
|} |}


== Production ==
'''Aircraft'''
A total of 64,655 VYa-23 were produced.<ref name="Shirokograd, p. 115">Shirokograd, p. 115</ref> Soviet archives give the following known production numbers by year:<ref name="Shirokograd, p. 115"/>
* 1942 — 13,420
* 1943 — 16,430
* 1944 — 22,820
* 1945 — 873
* 1946 — 2,002
* 1947 — 1,247


== Service ==
The VYa-23 cannon was mounted on ] and ] ground attack aircraft on ] fighter aircraft and on the experimental ] long range fighter aircraft. The VYa-23 cannon was mounted on ] and ] ground attack aircraft, on ] and ] fighter aircraft, and on the experimental ] long range fighter aircraft.<ref></ref>

⚫ In spite of the large round, the VYa-23 proved to be a disappointment in its intended anti-tank role. Light German tanks could be defeated from the side or rear only, with front armor of all tanks impervious. Medium tanks could be defeated if hit into the top of the turret or the engine compartment from under 400 m (1,300&nbsp;ft) in a greater than 40-degree dive—a very difficult maneuver in Il-2 even under the most ideal conditions compounded by the difficulty of aiming at a small target.


==See also== ==See also==
'''Related developments:''' '''Related developments:'''
* ], the VYa-23's successor which replaced it on the IL-10 and in other applications

'''Similar weapons:''' '''Similar weapons:'''
* 2A14 cannons in ] * 2A14 cannons in ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
Line 106: Line 119:
* ] cannon * ] cannon
* ] cannon * ] cannon
* ] cannon
* ] cannon


==References== ==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
* Широкоград А.Б. (2001) ''История авиационного вооружения'' Харвест (Shirokograd A.B. (2001) ''Istorya aviatsionnogo vooruzhenia'' Harvest. ISBN 985-433-695-6) (''History of aircraft armament'') * Широкоград А.Б. (2001) ''История авиационного вооружения'' Харвест (Shirokograd A.B. (2001) ''Istorya aviatsionnogo vooruzhenia'' Harvest. {{ISBN|985-433-695-6}}) (''History of aircraft armament'')
*{{cite book *{{cite book
| last = Koll | last = Koll
| first = Christian | first = Christian
| authorlink = | authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm | title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
| publisher = Koll | publisher = Koll
Line 122: Line 134:
| location = Austria | location = Austria
| url = http://www.russianammo.org | url = http://www.russianammo.org
| doi = | doi =
| id = ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9 | isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9
| page = 181 }} | page = 181 }}
* Chinn, George M. ''The Machine Gun''. Vol II, Part VII. US Department of the Navy, 1952
* . 31 May 2004

==External links==
{{Commons category|VYa-23}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726020237/http://rusarchives.ru/projects/victory65/pages/13_34.htm |date=26 July 2018 }}
*


{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}
]
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 6 August 2023

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Aircraft autocannon
Volkov Yartsev VYa-23
VYa-23 cannon
TypeAircraft autocannon
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1941–?
Used bySoviet Union
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerA.A. Volkov and S.A. Yartsev
Designed1940–41
No. built64,655
Specifications
Mass62.8 kg (138 lb)
Length2.147 metres (7 ft 1 in)
Barrel length1.65 metres (5 ft 5 in)
Cartridge23x152mmB
Caliber23 mm (1 in)
Barrels1
Rate of fire600–650 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity905 m/s (2,969 ft/s)

The Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 (Волков-Ярцев ВЯ-23) is a 23 mm (0.91 in) autocannon, used on Soviet aircraft during World War II.

Development

In 1940, A.A. Volkov and S.A. Yartsev created an autocannon, called TKB-201 for the new 23 mm round. It was intended to be the primary weapon of the Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft. The original intention was to create a gun capable of penetrating German tank armour.

Due to unavailability of Il-2, the first airborne testing was performed using a Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter sold by Germany in 1940. After testing on Il-2 in 1941, TKB-201 was accepted into service as VYa-23. A total of 64,655 VYa-23 were built.

Description

The VYa-23 is a gas-operated belt-fed autocannon with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute - a high rate of fire for the caliber at the time. The gun was 2.140 metres long, and weighed 68 kg. Its main disadvantages are powerful recoil and very abrupt functioning of the firing and reloading mechanisms which decreased service life and often caused jamming that could not be fixed in mid-air.

According to a US intelligence report, the VYa-23 used an upscaled version of the Berezin UB mechanism.

Ammunition

Cartridge from VYa-23

A powerful new 23×152mm cartridge was specifically developed for the VYa. The same caliber was later used also in the post-war towed ZU-23 and self-propelled ZSU-23-4 23mm AA guns. However, the ammunition for this later AA gun has a different powder charge and primer, and is thus not interchangeable. The ammunition is externally easily recognizable: VYa ammunition has brass cases, while post-war AA ammunition has steel cases.

The ammunition for VYa included fragmentation-incendiary, fragmentation-incendiary-tracer, and armor-piercing-incendiary rounds. The total weight and filling of HE rounds were more than twice that of the 20 mm ammunition used by the ShVAK and Berezin B-20 cannons. The armor-piercing round could penetrate 25 mm (1 in) of armor at 400 m (1,300 ft). The main characteristics of VYa ammunition according to Christian Koll's Russian Ammunition site are listed in the table below:

Designation Type Projectile Weight Bursting charge Muzzle Velocity Description
BZ API 196..198 none 905 68g hard steel core and incendiary in the windshield cap. Two types with different caps (aluminium and swaged steel) are found. Penetration 25 mm RHA at 400 m and perpendicular impact.
OZ HEI 198 15 (RDX/Al/wax) 905 HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze.
OZT HEI-T 190 12 (RDX/Al/wax) 905 HE incendiary round with a K-20 or DV nose fuze and a reduced HE charge due to the space taken by the tracer.
PUT TP-T 198 none 905 Practice round with tracer, based on the OZT but with a dummy fuze and inert filling in HE cavity.

Production

A total of 64,655 VYa-23 were produced. Soviet archives give the following known production numbers by year:

  • 1942 — 13,420
  • 1943 — 16,430
  • 1944 — 22,820
  • 1945 — 873
  • 1946 — 2,002
  • 1947 — 1,247

Service

The VYa-23 cannon was mounted on Il-2 and Il-10 ground attack aircraft, on LaGG-3 and Yak-9 fighter aircraft, and on the experimental Mikoyan-Gurevich DIS long range fighter aircraft.

In spite of the large round, the VYa-23 proved to be a disappointment in its intended anti-tank role. Light German tanks could be defeated from the side or rear only, with front armor of all tanks impervious. Medium tanks could be defeated if hit into the top of the turret or the engine compartment from under 400 m (1,300 ft) in a greater than 40-degree dive—a very difficult maneuver in Il-2 even under the most ideal conditions compounded by the difficulty of aiming at a small target.

See also

Related developments:

Similar weapons:

References

Notes
  1. Chinn, p. 96
  2. ^ "Williams, Anthony G: An introduction to collecting 23-28mm cartridges. http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/collecting%2023-28mm.htm Archived 2 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Russian Ammunition Page, http://www.russianammo.org
  4. ^ Shirokograd, p. 115
  5. A LaGG-3 in Japan
Bibliography

External links

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