(USSR)

Notes: One of the most common naval weapons, this automatic twin 30mm gun was installed on almost every East Bloc warship built between the mid-1960s and late 1970s, from large missile cruisers down to small harbour patrol launches. It was also retrofitted to many older ships, such as the Sverdlov class heavy cruisers. It is cheap, simple, and easy to maintain.

The system itself consists of two 4-chamber 30mm revolvers, enclosed in a riveted steel turret. Operation is electric; the gun is compatible with both 220V and 380V power supplies. A low-magnetic version is also available for minesweepers. Aiming is via either “Drum Tilt” or “Muff Cobb” radars, or manually in an emergency.

Although the USSR switched production to the AK-630 gatling in 1975, the AK-230 remains in worldwide service and due to it’s simplicity, will carry on well into the 21^st century.

China reverse-engineered the weapon as the Type 69. The Chinese model differs in that empty shell casings are ejected out of the turret. China, North Korea, Romania, and Serbia license-manufacture ammunition belts.