Since the late 1960s, the primary short-range air defence weapon in all mechanised formations of the Soviet Army was the ZSU-23-4 Shilka. Based on the chassis of the PT-76 light tank, it had a spacious hull and turret of welded steel, with four water-cooled ZU-23 23mm calibre guns, with a cyclic rate of fire of 800 to 1,000 rounds per minute. The vehicle carried a total of 2,000 rounds of ammunition (500 for each barrel), including armour piercing, incendiary, and high explosive incendiary. The maximum effective range was 2,500 metres (2,734 yards) and aiming was aided by a fire control radar. The crew consisted of four: commander, gunner, loader, and driver, and a battery of four was assigned to every tank or motor rifle regiment. In Afghanistan, Shilkas soon proved a powerful fire-support vehicle, capable of pouring immense volumes of shells upon ground targets and with the ability to elevate the guns to high angles being particularly useful in the valleys and gorges of Afghanistan. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)