C-23 – Soviet cannon caliber of 180 mm

Despite the fact that the 180-mm gun was the C-23 for the first time replaced in 1955 year, the story of its creation is still hazy. Most likely, C-23 - a naval gun or cannon coastal defenses, transformed into a land of large-caliber artillery system of long-range. For many years in the West about the gun C-23 has been known so little, that it passed under the designation "203-mm sample cannon 1955 of the year".

Only when during one of the armed conflict in the Middle East, the samples C-23 were captured, It revealed, that in fact it is the caliber 180 mm.
C-23 - is bulky and heavy gun; its weight in firing position is almost 21,5 tons. Form long barrel 48 caliber and location chock mechanism indicate the origin of the naval guns; massive gate is equipped with a screw mechanism, but the muzzle bremsstrahlung "salt shaker", undoubtedly, land. no shield; the barrel is mounted on a massive gun carriage with sliding supports to. When towing, the front moves on a separate wheel pair; to tow, usually, used heavy crawler tractor. When firing the wheels are hung with a jack, lifting tray. In the stowed position C-barrel 23 moves back to the frame; front ramp with dual solid rubber tires.

Standard ammunition type C-23 is a high-explosive shell weight 88 kg, of which 10 kg accounts for the explosive. The maximum firing range is so shell 30 400 m, but using rocket-assisted projectile with a smaller explosive charge shot range comes to 43 800 m. Among other types of ammunition used - concrete shell wallpaper, intended for destruction and other long-term fortification structures. C-23 using caps with different power propelling charge.
As it appears, 180-mm gun S-23 was never released in large quantities, and now it is almost completely withdrawn from service in the armies of the CIS countries. At one time a tool is exported to countries such, how India and Syria, but accurate data on, whether it has in Iraq, no.

The performance characteristics of gun S-23

Photo gun S-23

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