Automatic anti-aircraft machine guns used to be the best, most efficient way to defend against low-flying airplanes. Nowadays, however, anti-aircraft missiles are considered to be a better way to go, because of how common fast attack jets have become. But now the automatic anti-aircraft machine guns are becoming more important again, because of the presence of suicide-drones.
Triple barrel version of the Zastava M55. Image credit: Srđan Popović via Wikimedia (CC BY SA 4.0)
During the Second World War, low-flying planes were relatively easy targets. Of course, these planes with piston engines were still quick and highly manoeuvrable, but automatic machine guns were definitely an effective way to combat them. Especially since better ways were not there yet.
However, once the world entered the jet era, automatic anti-aircraft guns simply didn’t cut it. So-called MANPADS, shoulder-launched rockets are just a more effective weapon. That is why many of the anti-aircraft guns that are still in use today were developed a long time ago.
For example, the Zastava M55 first entered service with the Yugoslavian forces in 1955. However, even then it was not entirely new, because it was actually developed from Hispano-Suiza HS.804 20mm L/70 anti-aircraft autocannon. But now the Zastava M55 is a very important weapon in Ukraine.
Ukraine is constantly defending itself against mass drone attacks. 20-40 or even more Shahed-136 drones are buzzing in the Ukrainian sky every night. While they are relatively small, they are capable of causing huge damage, especially if they target critical infrastructure, such as transformers, hospitals, and railroads.
Taking a Shahed-136 down is not too difficult, but there are so many of them that they can overwhelm conventional air defenses. And so shooting them down with the Zastava M55 or other old-school autocannons is a good way to go.
Ukraine received a small number of towed Zastava M55 guns from Slovakia in 2022. It is a 20 mm calibre gas-operated autocannon, capable of firing up to 2,250 shots per minute (although 700 rounds per minute is a more practical pace).
Ready to fight, the Zastava M55 weighs just over one tonne – it is light enough to be loaded onto a truck bed or even some larger pickup trucks. Or, it can be even lighter if it has only one barrel.
Its effective firing range is about 2 kilometres, when the target is in the air. If it is aimed at some ground target, it can effectively engage the enemy 2.5 kilometres away. In theory, the maximum horizontal firing range of the Zastava M55 can be as much as 5.5 kilometres.
The Zastava M55 is just one of many old-school large calibre anti-aircraft machine guns used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These guns work great against drone attacks, because they cover a large area in the sky, are quick and reliable. It is likely that many countries are looking into these Shahed-136 attacks and begin to think about acquiring some old-school anti-aircraft guns that were pretty much obsolete not too long ago.
Written by Povilas M.
Sources: ArmyInform, Wikipedia