The bane of NATO ground attack aircraft during the Cold War, the ZSU-23-4 is a SPAA system consisting of four radar-aimed 23mm autocannon mounted on a tracked chassis. The “Shilka” entered service in 1965 and rapidly spread throughout Soviet client states and the Middle East and Africa. The advent of reliable mobile SAM launchers in the 1970s and '80s diminished its role in air defense, but it remains in use around the world, particularly in forces without the technical capacity to maintain missile systems. In addition, Russian experiences in Chechnya sparked a renewed interest in its use for urban fighting, as its guns' high maximum elevation enables them to hit nearby buildings' upper stories that are inaccessible to tanks and IFVs.

The ZSU-23-4 has a distinctive appearance, with a large, boxy turret squatting atop its hull. The driver is seated in the hull's forward section while the gunner, commander, and radar operator's stations are in the turret. The radar's large dish is mounted at the top rear of the turret, though it can fold flat for transport. The vehicle is lightly armored, sufficient only for stopping shell fragments and small arms.

Special Rules: The ZSU-23-4's quad autocannon fire as a single attack. For attack and damage purposes, multiply the number of rounds fired in a burst by the number of functioning autocannon (i.e. a vehicle with three working guns actually fires 18 rounds when using a B6 rate of fire). For each attack at the highest rate of fire, roll 1d20; on a 20, one of the firing cannons jams. Clearing a jam is an operational action for the commander or gunner.

Twilight: 2013 Service History: ZSU-23-4s were present in virtually every major mechanized engagement in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. As air power gradually disappeared over the first half of 2012, many were reassigned to infantry or armor support, particularly in forces expecting urban combat. Many disabled ZSU-23-4s have been stripped of their weapons, which many combatants prize for use as gun truck armament. The few that remain fully functional have received field-expedient armor upgrades of debatable effectiveness.

Barter Value: GG375,000

Street Price: $750,000

Configuration: Turreted

Suspension: Trk

Crew: 4 (driver, commander, gunner, radar operator)

Cargo: 350 kg

Weight: 20.5 tons

Travel Speed: 17/10 km/hr

Combat Speed: 47/28 m

Fuel: 520 L (D)

Fuel Cons: 58 L/hr

Maintenance: 26

Armor: HF 6, HS 5, HR 5; TF 44, TS 4, TR 4; Susp 14

Equipment

Armament: 4x 2A7 autocannon (good stabilization).

Ammo: 2,000 rounds of belted 23mm.

Comm: IFF receiver; military vehicular radio.

Sensors: Headlights; night vision system (D, C); Mag-3 telescopic gunsights (C, G); air search and fire control control radar (RO).

Aux: NBC defense system.