The 180 mm gun S-23 (Russian: 180-мм пушка С-23) was a Soviet heavy gun of Cold War era. It was developed in the early 1950s, with the design based on naval guns. Its first public appearance was the 1955 May Day parade in Moscow.[1] For some time, it was believed in the West that the S-23 was actually a 203mm weapon, and as a result it was often referred to as the 203 mm M1955 gun howitzer. However, after an example was captured in the Middle East during the 1970s this misconception was dispelled.[3][2]
The S-23 was designed by NII-58 as part of a new series of heavy artillery systems consisting of the following types:
the 180 mm gun S-23;
a 210 mm howitzer S-23-I a.k.a. S-33;
a 280 mm mortar S-23-II a.k.a. S-43 and
a 203 mm gun howitzer S-23-IV.
All were to be based on the same carriage. The order to start series production was given but after the production of seven S-23s (GRAU index: 52-P-572), one S-33 and one S-43 by PO "Barrikady" in 1955 the project was cancelled.[4] The seven guns remained in service until 1967 and were regularly shown during the annual May Day parades, being towed by AT-T artillery tractors. At the request of Syria, who needed a large-calibre gun system, the project was shortly revived at the end of the 1960s and twelve more S-23 guns were produced in 1971, as well as the new VOF28 round with RAP projectile OF43. The other rounds were the VF-572 with HE projectile F-572 and the VG-572 with concrete-piercing projectile G-572.[5]
Operational history
The West assumed that the S-23 was issued within the Soviet Army at a ratio of 12 weapons per heavy artillery brigade. It was exported to Syria and some sources suggest that it might have been exported to other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Iraq, and likely the Indian Army.[2] The howitzer is believed to be seeing use by the Syrian Army in the Syrian Civil War.
Yom Kippur War
180mm S-23 guns were deployed to forward positions as part of the Syrian Army's General Staff reserve during the Yom Kippur War. In the opening day of the war, they shelled Mount Canaan, an intelligence base near Safed, and Mahanayim airfield. This early shelling succeeded in disrupting Israeli intelligence installations and communications.[6]
^Asher, Dani (2014). Inside Israel's Northern Command: The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border (2016 US ed.). Lexington, Kentucky: University of Kentucky Press. ISBN978-0-8131-6766-4. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
^Rabin. "114 Statement in the Knesset by Defense Minister Rabin on the Situation in Lebanon- 29 November 1989". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
^Asher, Jerry (1987). Duel for the Golan: The 100-hour Battle that Saved Israel. Pacifica Military History. p. 51. ISBN09-3555-3-52-5.
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(in Russian)
S-23 series at RussianArms.ru (in Russian)
January 06, 2023
russian, мм, пушка, soviet, heavy, cold, developed, early, 1950s, with, design, based, naval, guns, first, public, appearance, 1955, parade, moscow, some, time, believed, west, that, actually, 203mm, weapon, result, often, referred, m1955, howitzer, however, a. The 180 mm gun S 23 Russian 180 mm pushka S 23 was a Soviet heavy gun of Cold War era It was developed in the early 1950s with the design based on naval guns Its first public appearance was the 1955 May Day parade in Moscow 1 For some time it was believed in the West that the S 23 was actually a 203mm weapon and as a result it was often referred to as the 203 mm M1955 gun howitzer However after an example was captured in the Middle East during the 1970s this misconception was dispelled 3 2 180 mm gun S 23S 23 in Beyt ha Totchan Museum Zikhron Ya akov TypeHeavy gunPlace of originSoviet UnionService historyIn service1955 presentUsed byBulgariaSoviet UnionSyriaWarsYom Kippur WarLebanese Civil WarIran Iraq WarSyrian Civil WarProduction historyDesignerNII 58Designed1945 1955ManufacturerOAO PO Barrikady VolgogradProduced1955 1971SpecificationsMass21 450 kg 47 290 lb Length10 48 m 34 ft 5 in Barrel length8 8 m 28 ft 10 in L 49Width2 99 m 9 ft 10 in Height2 62 m 8 ft 7 in 1 Crew16 1 ShellHigh Explosive Nuclear capable 1 Caliber180 mm 7 1 in Breechinterrupted screwCarriagesplit trailElevation 2 to 50 Traverse44 Rate of fire1 rpm maximum 1 round every two minutes sustained 1 Muzzle velocity850 m s 2 800 ft s 2 Effective firing range30 4 km 18 9 mi 1 Maximum firing range43 8 km 27 2 mi with RAP 1 SightsS 85 mechanical sight PG 1M panoramic sight and MVShP direct sight Contents 1 Design history 2 Operational history 2 1 Yom Kippur War 2 2 Lebanese Civil War 3 Operators 3 1 Current operators 3 2 Former operators 4 Photo gallery 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksDesign history EditThe S 23 was designed by NII 58 as part of a new series of heavy artillery systems consisting of the following types the 180 mm gun S 23 a 210 mm howitzer S 23 I a k a S 33 a 280 mm mortar S 23 II a k a S 43 and a 203 mm gun howitzer S 23 IV All were to be based on the same carriage The order to start series production was given but after the production of seven S 23s GRAU index 52 P 572 one S 33 and one S 43 by PO Barrikady in 1955 the project was cancelled 4 The seven guns remained in service until 1967 and were regularly shown during the annual May Day parades being towed by AT T artillery tractors At the request of Syria who needed a large calibre gun system the project was shortly revived at the end of the 1960s and twelve more S 23 guns were produced in 1971 as well as the new VOF28 round with RAP projectile OF43 The other rounds were the VF 572 with HE projectile F 572 and the VG 572 with concrete piercing projectile G 572 5 Operational history EditThe West assumed that the S 23 was issued within the Soviet Army at a ratio of 12 weapons per heavy artillery brigade It was exported to Syria and some sources suggest that it might have been exported to other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Iraq and likely the Indian Army 2 The howitzer is believed to be seeing use by the Syrian Army in the Syrian Civil War Yom Kippur War Edit 180mm S 23 guns were deployed to forward positions as part of the Syrian Army s General Staff reserve during the Yom Kippur War In the opening day of the war they shelled Mount Canaan an intelligence base near Safed and Mahanayim airfield This early shelling succeeded in disrupting Israeli intelligence installations and communications 6 Lebanese Civil War Edit During the Lebanese Civil War Syrian Army 180mm guns and 240mm mortars shelled East Beirut in 1989 as part of an offensive to dislodge Christian faction leader Michel Aoun inflicting over 900 casualties 7 Operators Edit Map with S23 operators in blue and former operators in red Current operators Edit Syria 36 originally in one heavy artillery brigade source claim 10 20 remaining 8 Former operators Edit Bulgaria Egypt India Iraq Russia Somalia Soviet Union Passed on to successor states Photo gallery Edit S 23 in the Cairo Citadel Egypt S 23s in traveling configuration towed with AT T heavy artillery tractors on a May Day parade in Moscow 1964 Right side view of an S 23 S 23 in the museum for signals troops and artillery St Petersburg References Edit a b c d e f g Margiotta Franklin D 1997 Brassey s Encyclopedia of Land Forces and Warfare Potomac Books ISBN 978 1 57488 087 8 a b c 180 mm ammunition for Russian S 23 gun Field artillery Janes Defense Website Retrieved 3 June 2011 180mm S 23 Weaponsystems net Shirokograd A B 2000 Entsiklopediya otechestvennoj artillerii Harvest S 23 52 P 572 180 mm pushka Asher Dani 2014 Inside Israel s Northern Command The Yom Kippur War on the Syrian Border 2016 US ed Lexington Kentucky University of Kentucky Press ISBN 978 0 8131 6766 4 Retrieved 31 March 2016 Rabin 114 Statement in the Knesset by Defense Minister Rabin on the Situation in Lebanon 29 November 1989 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retrieved 31 March 2016 Asher Jerry 1987 Duel for the Golan The 100 hour Battle that Saved Israel Pacifica Military History p 51 ISBN 09 3555 3 52 5 Sources EditShirokograd A B 2000 Entsiklopediya otechestvennoj artillerii Harvest External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to S 23 180 mm gun S 23 at Mega km ru in Russian S 23 series at RussianArms ru in Russian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 180 mm gun S 23 amp oldid 1123804865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
