45mm SM-20-ZIF
ZIF-68
Overview
45mm ZIF-68
Forward view of Soviet 45mm ZIF-68 naval anti-aircraft gun on public display.
Source: Andrey! -
© Public domain
1954 for ZIF-68
Soviet Union - TsKB-7
Up to 30 ZIF-68
ZIF-21 (armament on mount)
ZIF-68 (variant for Project 68bis)
Description
Introduction
The 45mm SM-20-ZIF is an early Cold War era Soviet naval anti-aircraft gun. These quadruple 45mm guns were designed to provide a greater range and firepower than World War 2 era Soviet anti-aircraft guns. The SM-20-ZIF proved to be a quantum leap in anti-aircraft firepower, and in turn became quickly obsolete itself.
Design
The SM-20-ZIF is a large gun mount intended to arm destroyers and cruisers. These gun mounts have an impressive range and firepower at the cost of weight and complexity. Four ZIF-21 45mm autocannon are fitted in a central mount. The top row and bottom row have an alternating firing sequence. Each gun is fed by a loading tray, which is manually reloaded by operators on the rear platform. The gunners are seated on either side of the gun mount.
Firepower
The quadruple gun mount has an impressive 540 to 640 rpm cyclic rate of fire. Ammunition types are high explosive and fragmentation. Maximum burst length is about 50 rounds before cooling. The maximum range against surface targets is about 9 km and the maximum altitude is 5 km.
Fire control
The SM-20-ZIF is normally to be employed using central fire control systems fed by the Fut-B radar. Alternatively local fire control is available by means of a collimator sight. Maximum target speed is 300 m/s, making these gun mounts of limited use against supersonic targets. The alternating firing sequence increases dispersion. This proved to increase changes to hit with manual control, but disadvantageous with central fire control at longer ranges.
Users
The SM-20-ZIF was used on several Soviet early Cold War era destroyer designs, with more than 100 gun mounts entering service. The introduction of supersonic aircraft and anti-ship missiles saw the introduction of the AK-230 close-in weapon system. This design proved to be more compact and also more effective as a defensive weapon. The twin 57mm AK-725 introduced less than a decade after the SM-20-ZIF is of similar size and weight, but is more effective against both surface and aerial targets.
Variants
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Side view of a 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft gun on a Soviet destroyer
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
List of variants
Details
Media
45mm ZIF-68
Soviet 45mm ZIF-68 naval anti-aircraft gun on public display.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Artist impression of 45mm SM-20-ZIF internals.
Source: www.navweaps.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Top view of Soviet crew reloading their 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft gun.
Source: www.navsource.narod.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Two 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft guns on a Soviet destroyer
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Soviet crew firing their 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft gun.
Source: www.navsource.narod.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
45mm SM-20-ZIF
US Navy photo of Soviet crews manning their 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft gun.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
45mm SM-20-ZIF
Top view of Soviet crew reloading their 45mm SM-20-ZIF naval anti-aircraft gun.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
37mm V-11
The 45mm SM-20-ZIF was developed as a larger and more capable alternative to the V-11 twin 37mm gun mount.
57mm Bofors M1950
Contemporary Swedish gun mount with similar design philosophy: large caliber fast firing guns at the cost of weight and complexity.
57mm AK-725
The AK-725 is a dual purpose naval gun of similar weight as the SM-20-ZIF. It is more capable against both surface and aerial targets.