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Oerlikon GDF-D03 35mm 'Escorter' Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system (mid 1980s project)
A project with a futuristic design that would organically look in the movie "Aliens", Bondarchuk is resting!
By the beginning of the eighties, the Swiss-made Oerlikon GDF-001 anti-aircraft artillery mount was quite widespread. The system with two automatic cannons of 35 mm caliber ensured the defeat of low-altitude targets in the near zone and was suitable for equipping military air defense. Nevertheless, the towed anti-aircraft system had insufficient mobility, which seriously limited its performance in real combat conditions. To improve the characteristics of the GDF-001 installation, it was decided to create on its basis a self-propelled vehicle called the Escorter 35.
In the new machine, it was proposed to use existing components that could simplify and speed up the construction of anti-aircraft self-propelled guns. For example, it is for this reason that the basic version of the Escorter 35 received a wheeled chassis created by the German company Hydrokrane.
The basis of the ZSU Escorter 35 was a chassis with a 4x4 wheel arrangement. In front of the base vehicle, there was a three-seater cab with driver and commander jobs. In addition, when moving the machine to a new position, an operator of anti-aircraft systems could be in the cockpit. During firing, the cockpit could move forward and downward, increasing the permissible guidance angles. In the middle of the chassis there was a platform for the installation of an artillery unit, in the stern there was an engine-transmission compartment. The Escorter 35 self-propelled gun received a 455 hp diesel engine. The cockpit, artillery module and engine compartment were protected by bulletproof armor.
An interesting feature of the chassis used was the design of the wheeled chassis. All four wheels, mounted on an independent hydropneumatic suspension, were not only driven, but also steered. The control mechanisms made it possible to deflect the front and rear wheels in different directions, due to which the minimum turning radius reached 6.2 m with a vehicle length of 8.5 m.With the simultaneous rotation of all wheels in one direction, the anti-aircraft self-propelled gun could move at an angle to its longitudinal axis. The crew could adjust the tire pressure depending on the road conditions.
The prototype of the Escorter 35 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was built in 1984-85. The presentation of the project took place in 1985. The advertising materials mentioned the high combat characteristics of the new complex, as well as its relatively low cost. In particular, the Escorter 35 was compared with other modern systems of a similar purpose with an understandable result. It is known that one of the Middle Eastern countries became interested in the new anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. In 1986, the prototype was delivered to this country for testing at the site of a potential customer. The results of these tests are unknown, but the contract for the supply of new anti-aircraft systems was never signed.
A project with a futuristic design that would organically look in the movie "Aliens", Bondarchuk is resting!
By the beginning of the eighties, the Swiss-made Oerlikon GDF-001 anti-aircraft artillery mount was quite widespread. The system with two automatic cannons of 35 mm caliber ensured the defeat of low-altitude targets in the near zone and was suitable for equipping military air defense. Nevertheless, the towed anti-aircraft system had insufficient mobility, which seriously limited its performance in real combat conditions. To improve the characteristics of the GDF-001 installation, it was decided to create on its basis a self-propelled vehicle called the Escorter 35.
In the new machine, it was proposed to use existing components that could simplify and speed up the construction of anti-aircraft self-propelled guns. For example, it is for this reason that the basic version of the Escorter 35 received a wheeled chassis created by the German company Hydrokrane.
The basis of the ZSU Escorter 35 was a chassis with a 4x4 wheel arrangement. In front of the base vehicle, there was a three-seater cab with driver and commander jobs. In addition, when moving the machine to a new position, an operator of anti-aircraft systems could be in the cockpit. During firing, the cockpit could move forward and downward, increasing the permissible guidance angles. In the middle of the chassis there was a platform for the installation of an artillery unit, in the stern there was an engine-transmission compartment. The Escorter 35 self-propelled gun received a 455 hp diesel engine. The cockpit, artillery module and engine compartment were protected by bulletproof armor.
An interesting feature of the chassis used was the design of the wheeled chassis. All four wheels, mounted on an independent hydropneumatic suspension, were not only driven, but also steered. The control mechanisms made it possible to deflect the front and rear wheels in different directions, due to which the minimum turning radius reached 6.2 m with a vehicle length of 8.5 m.With the simultaneous rotation of all wheels in one direction, the anti-aircraft self-propelled gun could move at an angle to its longitudinal axis. The crew could adjust the tire pressure depending on the road conditions.
The prototype of the Escorter 35 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was built in 1984-85. The presentation of the project took place in 1985. The advertising materials mentioned the high combat characteristics of the new complex, as well as its relatively low cost. In particular, the Escorter 35 was compared with other modern systems of a similar purpose with an understandable result. It is known that one of the Middle Eastern countries became interested in the new anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. In 1986, the prototype was delivered to this country for testing at the site of a potential customer. The results of these tests are unknown, but the contract for the supply of new anti-aircraft systems was never signed.
