VYa-23 (23 mm)

Description

The 23 mm VYa-23 (short for Volkov-Yartsev 23) is a Soviet aircraft autocannon used mainly in the Ilyushin 2 series of attack aircraft. It was developed in 1940 with the purpose of piercing through German armour.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• IL-2 (1942)
• ▀IL-2 (1942)
• IL-2M (1943)
• IL-2M type 3
• IL-2M "Avenger"
• IL-10
• Su-6
• Su-6 (AM-42) (Modification)

General info

The VYa-23 has a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute, considered high for its time and for its calibre. Thanks to its calibre, it can pierce through the roof of most tanks from the top, making it capable of disabling or destroying most light tanks and self propelled anti-air vehicles. However, the development of the VYa was not continued due to its low anti-tank capacity. For this purpose, the IL-2 would be fit with the 37 mm NS-37.

Available ammunition

• Default: FI-T · AP-I
• Universal: FI · FI-T · AP-I
• Armored targets: AP-I · AP-I · AP-I · FI-T

Penetration statistics
Belts	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Default	37	35	25	22	18	14
Universal	37	35	25	22	18	14
Armored targets	37	35	25	22	18	14

Comparison with analogues

The VYa 23 is one of the best Soviet anti-tank cannons. Although other autocannons from the Soviet Union have similar calibres and are more prevalent, they do not share similar penetration. The Soviet SH-37, NS-37, and NS-45 cannons have a higher penetration with similar damage at the cost of a lower rate of fire. Only two automatic cannons, the German 30 mm MK-103 and 15 mm MG151, surpass the VYa both in terms of penetration and in rate of fire.

Usage in battles

In ground mixed battles, it can be used to support tanks by destroying motors or fuel tanks as well as destroy light tanks and SPAAs. In air realistic battles, it can easily destroy light pillboxes by aiming to the top of them making them a great threat to the enemy, as well as any soft ground targets (AA emplacement, artillery position, MG nest).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High rate of fire
• Good penetration
• Good damage to light and open-topped tanks
• High damage against planes

Cons:

• Can run out of ammo very quickly
• Can get jammed easily

History

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Media

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See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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