AK-230
Encyclopedia
AK-230 is a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 fully automatic naval twin 30 mm gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...

. Its primary function is anti-aircraft. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

. AK-230 is probably the most popular gun of its class in the world, mounted on big warships as well as small crafts. About 1450 guns were produced in the USSR and about 300 were produced in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 as the Type 69. It was succeeded by the more powerful AK-630
AK-630
The AK-630 is a Soviet fully automatic naval close-in weapon system based on a six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other...

 from the mid to late 1970s.

Development

Development of the weapon began during the 1950s with the first trail weapon fitted to the Osa class of fast attack missile boats and Shershen class torpedo boats. The weapon was officially accepted into service in 1969.

Description

The weapon consists of two stabilized NN-30 30 mm water-cooled four chamber revolver cannon
Revolver cannon
A revolver cannon is a type of autocannon commonly used as an aircraft gun. It uses a cylinder with multiple chambers, like those of a revolver handgun, to speed up the loading-firing-ejection cycle. Some examples are also power-driven, to further speed the loading process, but this is by no means...

s, which are mounted inside a riveted steel turret. The gun mechanism is driven by the recoilling barrel (recoil-operated revolver gun). The guns each weigh 155 kg and have barrels 1930 mm long, and a total length of 2670 mm. The barrels are rifled with 12 grooves. The guns each have a rate of fire of 1,000 round per minute, they are fed by independent 500 round belts of ammunition.

The rounds are electrically fired, propellent gasses are used to eject the spent shells and belt links into a space between the magazine and the hull. Ballistic maximum range for the weapon is about 6.7 km - but realistic ranges for engaging air targets are quoted as between 2.5 and 4 km.

The weapon is remote directed, typically by a fire-control system linked to either a Drum Tilt or Muff Cobb radar systems.

Ammunition

The AK-230 fires specially developed 30x210B 30 mm ammunition that is electrically primed. Two rounds were developed, a high explosive round with an impact fuze, and an armour piercing round. The Chinese Type 69 fires only a locally produced version of the high explosive round. Ammunition is also produced in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

 and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

.
Type HE AP-T
Designation OF-83D BR-83
Weight
Round 1.13 kg 1.12 kg
Projectile 0.27 kg 0.35 kg
Explosive content 30 g of
A-IX-2
A-IX-2
A-IX-2 is a Russian explosive used in modern Russian military shells. It consists of 73% RDX with 23% aluminum powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax....

 
-
Muzzle velocity 1,050 m/s

Specifications

  • Calibre: 30 mm
  • Traverse: +180 to -180 degrees at 35 degree/s
  • Elevation: -12 to +87 degrees at 50 degree/s
  • Mounting weight: 1857 kg to 1905 kg
  • Rate of fire: 2,000 rpm (system)
  • Gun Weight: 343.9 lbs. (156 kg)
  • Gun Length oa: 84.25 in (2.140 m)
  • Bore Length: 74.69 in (1.897 m)
  • Rifling Length: 71.06 in (1.805 m)
  • Grooves: 12
  • Chamber Volume: 13.49 in3 (0.221 dm3)
  • Rate Of Fire: over 1,000 rounds per minute cyclic

Variants

  • AK-230 A type - For ships with 220 V DC
    Direct current
    Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...

     power systems.
  • AK-230 B type - For ships with 380 V AC
    Alternating current
    In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....

    power systems.
  • AK-230M - Less magnetized version for minesweepers (380 V AC).
  • Type 69 - Chinese version, total weight 3,600 kg. Shells are ejected outside of the turret. 50 degree/second traverse.
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