14.5mm ANTIAIRCRAFT HEAVY MACHINEGUNS

14.5mm antiaircraft heavy machinequn ZPU-1
14.5mm antiaircraft heavy machinegun ZPU-2 (early model)
14.5mm antiaircraft heavy machinequn ZPU-2 (late model)
14.5mm antiaircraft heavy machinegun ZPU-4

The single and multiple mounts of the ZPU series all use the basic 14.5mm Vladimirov (KPV) heavy machinegun which is also found mounted in various armored vehicles in both the ground and antiaircraft rotes.

The ZPU-1 is a single towed weapon which is now obsolete in the Soviet Army. The light two-wheeled carriage is somewhat similar to the late model ZPU-2, although the tires are smaller. The single ammunition box is to the right of the quick-change barrel. Although not used in the Warsaw Pact countries today, the ZPU-1 has been identified in Southeast Asia and in the Middle East.

The twin ZPU-2 has appeared on two different two-wheeled carriages. The earlier model has larger fenders and a double tubular tow bar. In firing position the crew removes the wheels, and the weapon rests on a three-point platform. The later model, which is tighter in weight, has smaller fenders, a lighter single tow bar, and a tower silhouette. When in firing position the wheels are raised, but not removed. A very similar carriage is used for the twin 23mm automatic antiaircraft gun ZU-23, although the ammunition boxes, barrels and flashhiders are distinctly different. The ZPU-2 is no longer found in first tine Soviet units, although it is still used as a close-in defense weapon for certain airfields. It is used by some Warsaw Pact armies and by security elements such as the East German Workers' militia. The Chinese Communist-produced ZPU-2 is referred to as the Type 58, the individual KPV machineguns as the Type 56.

The quad ZPU-4 uses a four-wheel carriage similar to that once used by the obsolete 25mm automatic antiaircraft gun M1940. In firing position the weapon is lowered onto firing jacks. The ZPU-4 is still used widely within the Warsaw Pact, although in many units it has been replaced by the newer and more powerful twin 23mm automatic antiaircraft gun ZU-23.

14.5 mm ANTIAIRCRAFT HEAVY MACHINEGUNS		ZPU-1	Early ZPU-2	Late ZPU-2	ZPU-4
Caliber	mm	14.5	14.5	14.5	14.5
Length of barrel		1348	1348	1348	1348
Length of machinegun w/flashhider	mm	2007	2007	2007	2007
Weight in firing position	kg	413	639	621	1810
Weiqht in travel position	kg	413	994	649	1810
Length in travel position	mm	3440	3536	3871	4633
Width in travel position	mm	1620	1920	1372	1859
Height in travel position	mm	1340	1830	1097	2286
Track	mm	1384		1100	1641
Clearance	mm	280		270	458
Tire size		4.50x16	6.50x20	6.50x20	6.50x20
Height of axis of bore 0°	mm	635	800		1020
Elevation	°	+88	+90	+85	+90
Depression	°	8	-3	-15	8.5
Traverse	°	360	360	360	360
Rate of fire per barrel
cyclic	rpm	600	600	600	600
practical	rpm	150	150	150	150
Feed
Projectile weight:  API	g	64.4	64.4	64.4	64.4
Muzzle velocity:   API	m.s	1000	1000	1000	1000
Maxi muni-range:  horizontal	m	8000	8000	8000	8000
vertical	m	5000	5000	5000	5000
Effective AA range	m	1400	1400	1400	1400
Pointblank range:  API	m
2m high target
Armor penetration:   API	mm	32	32	32	32
0°/500nm
Crew		4	5	5	5
Unit of fire	rds	1200	2400	2400	4800