Strana 19
The cannon consists of four main parts:
the main assembly (A), the electric trigger (B),
the recoil supressor (C) and the feeder (D).
Overall view of the GSh-23L from the side with the main components identified.
GSh-23 Operation
The weapon's automation is based on the
use of the energy of the extracted powder
gases produced during firing, with the mutual
functional connection of the mechanisms of
both guns.
General arrangement drawing of a weapon with
combined barrels and breech blocks.
Both barrels with breech blocks are housed
in one gun casing. The exhaust gases are
discharged from the firing barrel into the
gas clutch and act through the piston rod on
the bolt carrier and the bolt, which moves
backwards, thereby extracting the empty
cartridge from the chamber and, thanks to
the kinematic connection with the bolt carrier
of the second (combined) barrel, they move
forward and the cartridge is inserted into the
second chamber. The movements of both bolts
are therefore shifted relative to each other by
half the firing cycle. The functional connection
of both bolt mechanisms is ensured by a twin
lever, the ends of which are articulated with
the carriers of both bolts. Each barrel has its
own bolt, which is connected to the carrier by
a connecting rod and an accelerator. The high
rate of fire of the weapon is made possible by
accelerating the bolt using an accelerator that
moves in a shaped groove. This solution also
enables smoother start-up and deceleration,
thus reducing shocks in extreme positions.
The front and rear sliders ensure that the
cartridge is pushed out of the cartridge case
and inserted in front of the cartridge chamber.
The front sliders also flip the firing pin. The
firing pin is held by the main trigger tooth of
the electro-magnetic trigger before it hits
the pin. If the bolt is not locked, the firing
pin is held by the auxiliary trigger tooth.
The gun is supplied with one, disintegrating
cartridge belt with cartridges, which are
moved by the feeder star. This always rotates
in one direction. When one bolt is pushed
back and forth, the feeder star rotates 180°.
The cartridge belt links move in a straight
line in the cartridge link guide. The weapon
is cocked in flight by electro-pyrotechnics
(using PPL pyro cartridges, 3 pieces per), the
trigger (firing of rounds) is electromagnetic,
the actual firing of the primer is mechanical.
An electric sensor is also integrated into the
electromagnetic trigger, which is designed
to signal the readiness of the weapon to fire,
as well as an electric pulse sensor for the
cartridge counter and for recording the rate
of fire.
GSh-23 Specifications:
Main Components and their Function
A
D
B
C
INFO Eduard
19
October 2025
TECHNICS / EQUIPMENT