R-23
Text translation - page 101: (see below)
Revolver cannons A.A. Richtera
The first and only revolver-type air cannon in service in the USSR was the 23mm R-23 cannon, developed in OKB-16 under the leadership of A.A. Richter.
R-23 (factory index 261P) intended for the defensive armament of bombers and its construction scheme ensured a minimum effect of air current on the barrel of the cannon in the transverse position. Therefore, the total length of the cannon was made equal to the length of the barrel. The charge chambers are separated from the grooved part of the barrel and connected to a block which rotates about an axis parallel to the axis of the barrel. The use of such a block made it possible to place the ammunition belt in front of one of the ammunition chambers without obstructing the barrel, to make the insertion of the ammunition by its (Translation of the text - page 102) in the opposite direction to the firing direction and ejection of cartridges in the firing direction. The total length of the weapon thus became equal to the length of the grooved part of the barrel, the ammunition chamber and the electric firing system.
The design scheme took into account the interaction of the cannon mechanisms with the ammunition belt, ammunition and fired cartridge, which ensured comparable simplicity of its design, manufacture, training and use. This was achieved by using three autonomous gas engines, acting (Translation of the text - page 103) directly on the cartridge belt, the cartridge case and the fired cartridge case.
In doing so, the engine piston and the ammunition belt moved transversely to the axis of the barrel, and the block of ammunition chambers rotated in a plane parallel to the axis of the barrel, eliminating the effect of the longitudinal oscillations of the cannon during firing on automatic operation.
The conclusion is wedge-shaped, with a vertically lowered wedge and a semi-automatic mechanical (word in parentheses untranslatable - & lt; копирново & gt; - copy ???) type.
Sealing of the contact with the barrel of the ammunition chambers was achieved by an insert-seal in an assembly located at the inlet to the channel of the barrel, the sealing insert being pressed against the ammunition chamber block when firing with gas pressure in the opposite direction.
The cannon was fixed in the firing position at two points, while the front node was caught behind the drawbar rod. The automation worked with the help of three autonomous gas engines.
This unique cannon also had unique ammunition. The length of the cartridge case (260mm) is equal to the total length of the cartridge case, so the bullet is located inside the cartridge case.
R-23 cannon parameters
Caliber, mm ....................... 23x260
Missile travel length, mm ............ 1222
Number of grooves ...................... 12
Groove depth, mm .................. 0.35
Groove width, mm .................. 4.0 + 0.3
Pitch of grooves at the mouth (grooving with variable pitch), calibers ............... 27
Recoil force, kg ........... up to 4500
Maximum length, mm
cannon recoil ................... 20
cannon pre-slip ................. 12
Cannon dimensions, mm
length ............................ 1468
width ............................ 170
height ............................ 165
Cannon weight, kg .............. 58.5
Initial velocity of the projectile, m/s .. 850-860
Firing rate, rpm ........ 2500
Cannon life, ext. ......... 3000
Pyrotechnic re-tensioning, with the help of a DZ-P pyramid cartridge.
(Translation of text - page 104)
The design of the hub had its advantages and disadvantages. The weight of the ammunition was very high, and most importantly, the ammunition of the R-23 was not interchangeable with the ammunition of other Soviet air cannons. At the same time, it was in the period 1960 - 1980 that the existence of several types of 23mm rounds in the armament of VVS was constantly the subject of criticism.
Initially, the R-23 cannon was used with two types of combat rounds - with the same OFZ missiles, the difference was only in the lighter used: V-23 - warhead with delay and VD-23 - bottom
Parameters of 23mm rounds for R-23 cannon
Hub type ................... 23-OFZ-G-R ... 23-OFZ-D-R
Mass of charge, g .............. 513 .......... 505
Hub length (ie, cartridge case), mm ..... 260 ..........260
Filling weight, g ............... 65 ........... 65
Missile weight, g ............... 173 ............ 168
Mass of explosive, g .............. 18 ............. 18
Missile length, mm ................. 102 ............. 102
Lighter type ................... V-23 ............. VD-23
The cartridge case is steel, weighing 256g, later it was increased to 270 grams. Electric match EKV-23A.
The cannons of the first series could be fired with doses of 10-20 shots, and after 125 shots, a break of 15-20 minutes was required.
Cannons with reinforced retractor ?, produced by plant No.500, allowed shooting in the air in batches of doses of 50-60 shots, and after (Translation of text - page 105) 125 shots needed a break to 15-20 minutes. With such a mode, the wear of the barrel and other parts could begin after only 500 shots - that is, after consuming the entire firing range of the Tu-22. (translator's note - it means that in such a firing mode, the life of the cannon was terminated after 500 shots)
Production of the first 261P cannons began at Plant No.235 in 1957. Initially, the cannons were produced in small series. In the years 1970-1971, the Tula plant produced 22 pieces per year. In 1959, the R-23 cannon passed state tests and in 1962-1963 flight tests on the Tu-22. (end of text is missing)
Text translation - page 101: (see below)
Revolver cannons A.A. Richtera
The first and only revolver-type air cannon in service in the USSR was the 23mm R-23 cannon, developed in OKB-16 under the leadership of A.A. Richter.
R-23 (factory index 261P) intended for the defensive armament of bombers and its construction scheme ensured a minimum effect of air current on the barrel of the cannon in the transverse position. Therefore, the total length of the cannon was made equal to the length of the barrel. The charge chambers are separated from the grooved part of the barrel and connected to a block which rotates about an axis parallel to the axis of the barrel. The use of such a block made it possible to place the ammunition belt in front of one of the ammunition chambers without obstructing the barrel, to make the insertion of the ammunition by its (Translation of the text - page 102) in the opposite direction to the firing direction and ejection of cartridges in the firing direction. The total length of the weapon thus became equal to the length of the grooved part of the barrel, the ammunition chamber and the electric firing system.
The design scheme took into account the interaction of the cannon mechanisms with the ammunition belt, ammunition and fired cartridge, which ensured comparable simplicity of its design, manufacture, training and use. This was achieved by using three autonomous gas engines, acting (Translation of the text - page 103) directly on the cartridge belt, the cartridge case and the fired cartridge case.
In doing so, the engine piston and the ammunition belt moved transversely to the axis of the barrel, and the block of ammunition chambers rotated in a plane parallel to the axis of the barrel, eliminating the effect of the longitudinal oscillations of the cannon during firing on automatic operation.
The conclusion is wedge-shaped, with a vertically lowered wedge and a semi-automatic mechanical (word in parentheses untranslatable - & lt; копирново & gt; - copy ???) type.
Sealing of the contact with the barrel of the ammunition chambers was achieved by an insert-seal in an assembly located at the inlet to the channel of the barrel, the sealing insert being pressed against the ammunition chamber block when firing with gas pressure in the opposite direction.
The cannon was fixed in the firing position at two points, while the front node was caught behind the drawbar rod. The automation worked with the help of three autonomous gas engines.
This unique cannon also had unique ammunition. The length of the cartridge case (260mm) is equal to the total length of the cartridge case, so the bullet is located inside the cartridge case.
R-23 cannon parameters
Caliber, mm ....................... 23x260
Missile travel length, mm ............ 1222
Number of grooves ...................... 12
Groove depth, mm .................. 0.35
Groove width, mm .................. 4.0 + 0.3
Pitch of grooves at the mouth (grooving with variable pitch), calibers ............... 27
Recoil force, kg ........... up to 4500
Maximum length, mm
cannon recoil ................... 20
cannon pre-slip ................. 12
Cannon dimensions, mm
length ............................ 1468
width ............................ 170
height ............................ 165
Cannon weight, kg .............. 58.5
Initial velocity of the projectile, m/s .. 850-860
Firing rate, rpm ........ 2500
Cannon life, ext. ......... 3000
Pyrotechnic re-tensioning, with the help of a DZ-P pyramid cartridge.
(Translation of text - page 104)
The design of the hub had its advantages and disadvantages. The weight of the ammunition was very high, and most importantly, the ammunition of the R-23 was not interchangeable with the ammunition of other Soviet air cannons. At the same time, it was in the period 1960 - 1980 that the existence of several types of 23mm rounds in the armament of VVS was constantly the subject of criticism.
Initially, the R-23 cannon was used with two types of combat rounds - with the same OFZ missiles, the difference was only in the lighter used: V-23 - warhead with delay and VD-23 - bottom
Parameters of 23mm rounds for R-23 cannon
Hub type ................... 23-OFZ-G-R ... 23-OFZ-D-R
Mass of charge, g .............. 513 .......... 505
Hub length (ie, cartridge case), mm ..... 260 ..........260
Filling weight, g ............... 65 ........... 65
Missile weight, g ............... 173 ............ 168
Mass of explosive, g .............. 18 ............. 18
Missile length, mm ................. 102 ............. 102
Lighter type ................... V-23 ............. VD-23
The cartridge case is steel, weighing 256g, later it was increased to 270 grams. Electric match EKV-23A.
The cannons of the first series could be fired with doses of 10-20 shots, and after 125 shots, a break of 15-20 minutes was required.
Cannons with reinforced retractor ?, produced by plant No.500, allowed shooting in the air in batches of doses of 50-60 shots, and after (Translation of text - page 105) 125 shots needed a break to 15-20 minutes. With such a mode, the wear of the barrel and other parts could begin after only 500 shots - that is, after consuming the entire firing range of the Tu-22. (translator's note - it means that in such a firing mode, the life of the cannon was terminated after 500 shots)
Production of the first 261P cannons began at Plant No.235 in 1957. Initially, the cannons were produced in small series. In the years 1970-1971, the Tula plant produced 22 pieces per year. In 1959, the R-23 cannon passed state tests and in 1962-1963 flight tests on the Tu-22. (end of text is missing)