Soviet anti-tank artillery. Post-war and modern artillery

After the end of the war, in the USSR, anti-tank artillery was armed with: 37-mm airborne guns of the 1944 model, 45-mm anti-tank guns mod. 1937 and arr. 1942, 57-mm anti-tank guns ZiS-2, divisional 76-mm ZiS-3, 100-mm field model 1944 BS-3. German captured 75-mm Pak 40 anti-tank guns were also used. They were purposefully assembled, stored and repaired if necessary.

In the middle of 1944, it was officially put into service. 37 mm ChK-M1 airborne gun.

It was specially designed to equip parachute battalions and motorcycle regiments. The gun weighing 209 kg in combat position allowed air transportation and parachuting. It had good armor penetration for its caliber, which made it possible to hit medium and heavy side armor with a sub-caliber projectile at a short distance. The shells were interchangeable with the 37 mm 61-K anti-aircraft gun. The guns were transported in Willis and GAZ-64 vehicles (one gun per vehicle), as well as in Dodge and GAZ-AA vehicles (two guns per vehicle).

In addition, it was possible to transport the gun on a single-horse cart or sleigh, as well as in a motorcycle sidecar. If necessary, the tool is disassembled into three parts.

The calculation of the gun consisted of four people - the commander, gunner, loader and carrier. When shooting, the calculation takes a prone position. The technical rate of fire reached 25-30 rounds per minute.
Thanks to the original design of the recoil devices, the 37-mm airborne gun model 1944 combined powerful anti-aircraft gun ballistics for its caliber with small dimensions and weight. With armor penetration values ​​close to those of the 45 mm M-42, the ChK-M1 is three times lighter and much smaller in size (much lower line of fire), which greatly facilitated the movement of the gun by crew forces and its camouflage. At the same time, the M-42 also has a number of advantages - the presence of a full-fledged wheel drive, which allows the gun to be towed by a car, the absence of a muzzle brake that unmasks when firing, a more effective fragmentation projectile and a better armor-piercing effect of armor-piercing shells.
The 37 mm ChK-M1 gun was about 5 years late, was adopted and put into production when the war came to an end. Apparently she did not take part in the hostilities. A total of 472 guns were produced.

45-mm anti-tank guns were hopelessly outdated by the end of hostilities, even the presence in the ammunition 45 mm M-42 guns sub-caliber projectile with normal armor penetration at a distance of 500 meters - 81-mm homogeneous armor could not correct the situation. Modern heavy and medium tanks were struck only when firing into the side, from extremely short distances. The active use of these tools up to the very last days wars can be explained by high maneuverability, ease of transportation and camouflage, huge accumulated stocks of ammunition of this caliber, as well as the inability of Soviet industry to provide the troops in the required quantity with higher-performance anti-tank guns.
One way or another, in the active army, the "forty-five" were very popular, only they could move by calculation forces in the combat formations of the advancing infantry, supporting it with fire.

In the late 40s, "forty-five" began to be actively withdrawn from parts and transferred to storage. However, for quite a long period of time they continued to be in service with the Airborne Forces and used as training tools.
A significant number of 45-mm M-42s were transferred to the then allies.

American soldiers from the 5th Cavalry Regiment study the M-42 captured in Korea

"Forty-five" was actively used in the Korean War. In Albania, these guns were in service until the early 90s.

Mass production 57 mm anti-tank gunZiS-2 became possible in 1943, after the necessary metalworking machines were received from the USA. Recovery series production it was difficult - again there were technological problems with the manufacture of barrels, in addition, the plant was heavily loaded with a program for the production of 76-mm divisional and tank guns, which had a number of common nodes with the ZIS-2; under these conditions, the increase in the production of ZIS-2 on the existing equipment could be carried out only by reducing the volume of production of these guns, which was unacceptable. As a result, the first batch of ZIS-2 for state and military tests was released in May 1943, and in the production of these guns, the backlog that had been mothballed at the plant since 1941 was widely used. The mass production of the ZIS-2 was organized by October - November 1943, after the commissioning of new production facilities, provided with equipment supplied under Lend-Lease.

The capabilities of the ZIS-2 made it possible at typical combat distances to confidently hit the 80-mm frontal armor of the most common German medium tanks Pz.IV and StuG III assault self-propelled guns, as well as the side armor of the Pz.VI Tiger tank; at distances less than 500 m was amazed and frontal armor"Tiger".
In terms of the cost and manufacturability of production, combat and service performance, the ZIS-2 became the best Soviet anti-tank gun of the war.
Since the resumption of production, until the end of the war, more than 9,000 guns were delivered to the troops, but this was not enough to fully equip anti-tank units.

Production of the ZiS-2 continued through 1949, after war time about 3500 guns were fired. From 1950 to 1951, only ZIS-2 barrels were produced. Since 1957, the previously released ZIS-2 was upgraded to the ZIS-2N variant with the ability to conduct combat at night through the use of special night sights
In the 1950s, new sub-caliber shells with increased armor penetration were developed for the gun.

In the post-war period, the ZIS-2 was in service with the Soviet army until at least the 1970s, the last case of combat use was recorded in 1968, during a conflict with the PRC on Damansky Island.
ZIS-2 was supplied to a number of countries and took part in several armed conflicts, the first of which was the Korean War.
There is information about the successful use of the ZIS-2 by Egypt in 1956 in battles with the Israelis. Guns of this type were in service with the Chinese army and were produced under license under the Type 55 index. As of 2007, the ZIS-2 was still in service with the armies of Algeria, Guinea, Cuba and Nicaragua.

In the second half of the war, the fighter-anti-tank units were armed with captured German 75 mm anti-tank guns Pak 40. During the offensive operations of 1943-1944, it was captured a large number of guns and their ammunition. Our military appreciated the high performance of these anti-tank guns. At a distance of 500 meters, normal sabot projectile pierced - 154-mm armor.

In 1944, firing tables and operating instructions were issued for the Pak 40 in the USSR.
After the war, the guns were transferred to storage, where they were at least until the mid-60s. Subsequently, some of them were "utilized", and some were transferred to the allies.

A photograph of the RaK-40 guns was taken at a parade in Hanoi in 1960.

In fear of an invasion from the South, several anti-tank artillery battalions were formed as part of the army of North Vietnam, armed with German 75 mm RaK-40 anti-tank guns from the Second World War. Such guns are large quantities were captured in 1945 by the Red Army, and now the Soviet Union has provided them to the Vietnamese people to protect them from possible aggression from the South.

Soviet divisional 76-mm guns were intended for solving a wide range of tasks, primarily fire support for infantry units, suppressing firing points, and destroying light field shelters. However, during the war, divisional artillery guns had to fire on enemy tanks, perhaps even more often than specialized anti-tank guns.

Since 1944, due to a slowdown in the production of 45-mm guns and a shortage of 57-mm ZIS-2 guns, despite insufficient armor penetration for that time divisional 76-mm ZiS-3 became the main anti-tank gun of the Red Army.
In many ways, this was a forced measure. The armor penetration of an armor-piercing projectile, which pierced 75-mm armor at a distance of 300 meters along the normal, was not enough to deal with medium German tanks Pz.IV.
As of 1943 booking heavy tank PzKpfW VI "Tiger" was invulnerable to the ZIS-3 in the frontal projection and weakly vulnerable at distances closer than 300 m in the side projection. Weakly vulnerable in the frontal projection for the ZIS-3 were also the new German tank PzKpfW V "Panther", as well as modernized PzKpfW IV Ausf H and PzKpfW III Ausf M or N; however, all these vehicles were confidently hit from the ZIS-3 to the side.
The introduction of a sub-caliber projectile since 1943 improved the anti-tank capabilities of the ZIS-3, allowing it to confidently hit vertical 80-mm armor at distances closer than 500 m, but 100-mm vertical armor remained unbearable for it.
The relative weakness of the anti-tank capabilities of the ZIS-3 was recognized by the Soviet military leadership, but it was not possible to replace the ZIS-3 in anti-tank units until the end of the war. The situation could be corrected by introducing a cumulative projectile into the ammunition load. But such a projectile was adopted by the ZiS-3 only in the post-war period.

Shortly after the end of the war and the production of over 103,000 guns, the production of the ZiS-3 was discontinued. The gun remained in service for a long time, but by the end of the 40s, it was almost completely withdrawn from anti-tank artillery. This did not prevent the ZiS-3 from spreading very widely around the world and taking part in many local conflicts, including on the territory of the former USSR.

In modern Russian army the remaining serviceable ZIS-3s are often used as salute weapons or in theatrical performances on the theme of the battles of the Great Patriotic War. In particular, these guns are in service with the Separate Fireworks Division under the commandant's office of Moscow, which conducts fireworks on the holidays of February 23 and May 9.

In 1946, the weapon created under the leadership of the chief designer F. F. Petrov was adopted. 85-mm anti-tank gun D-44. This weapon would have been in great demand during the war, but its development was greatly delayed for a number of reasons.
Outwardly, the D-44 strongly resembled the German 75-mm anti-tank Pak 40.

From 1946 to 1954, plant No. 9 (Uralmash) produced 10,918 guns.
D-44s were in service with a separate artillery anti-tank battalion of a motorized rifle or tank regiment (two anti-tank artillery batteries consisting of two fire platoons), 6 pieces per battery (in division 12).

As ammunition, unitary cartridges with high-explosive fragmentation grenades, coil-shaped sub-caliber shells, cumulative and smoke shells are used. The range of a direct shot of the BTS BR-367 at a target with a height of 2 m is 1100 m. At a range of 500 m, this projectile pierces an armor plate 135 mm thick at an angle of 90 °. The initial speed of the BPS BR-365P is 1050 m / s, armor penetration is 110 mm from a distance of 1000 m.

In 1957, night sights were installed on some of the guns, and a self-propelled modification was also developed. SD-44, which could move on the battlefield without a tractor.

The barrel and carriage of the SD-44 were taken from the D-44 with minor changes. So, on one of the frames of the gun, an M-72 engine of the Irbit motorcycle plant with a power of 14 hp was installed, covered with a casing. (4000 rpm) providing a self-propelled speed of up to 25 km / h. Power transmission from the engine was provided through the cardan shaft, differential and axle shafts to both wheels of the gun. The gearbox included in the transmission provided six forward gears and two reverse gears. A seat is also fixed on the bed for one of the numbers of the calculation, which acts as a driver. He has at his disposal a steering mechanism that controls an additional, third, wheel of the gun, mounted at the end of one of the beds. A headlight is installed to illuminate the road at night.

Subsequently, it was decided to use the 85-mm D-44 as a divisional one to replace the ZiS-3, and to assign the fight against tanks to more powerful artillery systems and ATGMs.

In this capacity, the weapon was used in many conflicts, including in the CIS. An extreme case of combat use was noted in the North Caucasus, during the "counter-terrorist operation."

D-44 is still formally in service in the Russian Federation, a number of these guns are in the internal troops and in storage.

On the basis of the D-44, under the leadership of the chief designer F. F. Petrov, a anti-tank 85-mm gun D-48. The main feature of the D-48 anti-tank gun was its exceptionally long barrel. To ensure the maximum muzzle velocity of the projectile, the barrel length was increased to 74 calibers (6 m, 29 cm).
Especially for this gun, new unitary shots were created. An armor-piercing projectile at a distance of 1,000 m pierced armor 150-185 mm thick at an angle of 60 °. A sub-caliber projectile at a distance of 1000 m penetrates homogeneous armor 180-220 mm thick at an angle of 60 °. The maximum firing range of high-explosive fragmentation projectiles weighing 9.66 kg. - 19 km.
From 1955 to 1957, 819 copies of D-48 and D-48N were produced (with night sight APN2-77 or APN3-77).

The guns entered service with individual anti-tank artillery battalions of a tank or motorized rifle regiment. As an anti-tank gun, the D-48 gun quickly became obsolete. In the early 60s of the XX century, tanks with more powerful armor protection appeared in NATO countries. The negative feature of the D-48 was the "exclusive" ammunition, unsuitable for other 85-mm guns. For firing from the D-48, the use of shots from the D-44, KS-1, 85-mm tank and self-propelled guns is also prohibited, this significantly narrowed the scope of the gun.

In the spring of 1943, V.G. Grabin, in his memorandum addressed to Stalin, proposed, along with the resumption of production of the 57-mm ZIS-2, to begin designing a 100-mm cannon with a unitary shot, which was used in naval guns.

A year later, in the spring of 1944 100-mm field gun model 1944 BS-3 was put into production. Due to the presence of a wedge gate with a vertically moving wedge with semi-automatic, the location of vertical and horizontal aiming mechanisms on one side of the gun, as well as the use of unitary shots, the gun's rate of fire is 8-10 rounds per minute. The cannon was fired with unitary cartridges with armor-piercing tracer rounds and high-explosive fragmentation grenades. An armor-piercing tracer with an initial velocity of 895 m/s at a range of 500 m at a meeting angle of 90° pierced armor 160 mm thick. The range of a direct shot was 1080 m.
However, the role of this gun in the fight against enemy tanks is greatly exaggerated. By the time it appeared, the Germans practically did not use tanks massively.

During the war, the BS-3 was produced in small quantities and could not play a big role. At the final stage of the war, 98 BS-3s were given as a means of reinforcing five tank armies. The gun was in service with the light artillery brigades of the 3rd regiment.

As of January 1, 1945, the RGK artillery had 87 BS-3 guns. At the beginning of 1945, in the 9th Guards Army, as part of three rifle corps, one cannon artillery regiment of 20 BS-3s was formed.

Basically, due to the long firing range - 20650 m and a fairly effective high-explosive fragmentation grenade weighing 15.6 kg, the gun was used as a hull gun to fight enemy artillery and suppress distant targets.

The BS-3 had a number of shortcomings that made it difficult to use it as an anti-tank weapon. When firing, the gun jumped heavily, which made the gunner's work unsafe and knocked down the aiming mounts, which, in turn, led to a decrease in the practical pace aimed shooting- qualities for a field anti-tank gun are very important.

The presence of a powerful muzzle brake with a low line of fire and flat trajectories characteristic of firing at armored targets led to the formation of a significant smoke and dust cloud, which unmasked the position and blinded the calculation. The mobility of a gun with a mass of more than 3500 kg left much to be desired, transportation by crew forces on the battlefield was almost impossible.

After the war, the gun was in production until 1951 inclusive, a total of 3816 BS-3 field guns were produced. In the 60s, the guns underwent modernization, this concerned primarily sights and ammunition. Until the early 60s, the BS-3 could penetrate the armor of any Western tank. But with the advent of: M-48A2, Chieftain, M-60 - the situation has changed. New sub-caliber and cumulative projectiles were urgently developed. The next modernization took place in the mid-80s, when the 9M117 Bastion anti-tank guided projectile entered the BS-3 ammunition load.

This weapon was also supplied to other countries, took part in many local conflicts in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, in some of them it is still in service. In Russia, until recently, the BS-3 guns were used as coastal defense weapons in service with the 18th machine gun and artillery division stationed on the Kuril Islands, and a fairly significant number of them are also in storage.

Until the late 60s and early 70s of the last century, anti-tank guns were the main means of fighting tanks. However, with the advent of ATGMs with a semi-automatic guidance system, which only requires keeping the target in the field of view of the sight, the situation has changed in many ways. The military leadership of many countries considered metal-intensive, bulky and expensive anti-tank guns an anachronism. But not in the USSR. In our country, the development and production of anti-tank guns continued in significant numbers. And at a qualitatively new level.

Entered service in 1961 100 mm T-12 smoothbore anti-tank gun, developed in the design bureau of the Yurga Machine-Building Plant No. 75 under the direction of V.Ya. Afanasiev and L.V. Korneev.

The decision to make a smoothbore gun at first glance may seem rather strange; the time for such guns ended almost a hundred years ago. But the creators of the T-12 did not think so.

In a smooth channel, it is possible to make the gas pressure much higher than in a rifled one, and accordingly increase the initial velocity of the projectile.
In a rifled barrel, the rotation of the projectile reduces the armor-piercing effect of the jet of gases and metal during the explosion of a cumulative projectile.
A smooth-bore gun significantly increases the survivability of the barrel - you can not be afraid of the so-called "washing out" of the rifling fields.

The gun channel consists of a chamber and a cylindrical smooth-walled guide part. The chamber is formed by two long and one short (between them) cones. The transition from the chamber to the cylindrical section is a conical slope. The shutter is vertical wedge with spring semi-automatic. Charging is unitary. The carriage for the T-12 was taken from the 85 mm D-48 anti-tank rifled gun.

In the 60s, a more convenient carriage was designed for the T-12 gun. The new system received an index MT-12 (2A29), and in some sources is called the "Rapier". The mass production of the MT-12 went into 1970. As part of the anti-tank artillery battalions motorized rifle divisions The USSR Armed Forces included two anti-tank artillery batteries, consisting of six 100-mm anti-tank guns T-12 (MT-12).

Guns T-12 and MT-12 have the same warhead- a long thin barrel with a length of 60 calibers with a muzzle brake - "salt shaker". Sliding beds are equipped with an additional retractable wheel installed at the coulters. The main difference of the modernized MT-12 model is that it is equipped with a torsion bar suspension, which is blocked during firing to ensure stability.

When rolling the gun manually under the trunk part of the frame, a roller is substituted, which is fastened with a stopper on the left frame. Transportation of T-12 and MT-12 guns is carried out by a regular tractor MT-L or MT-LB. For driving on snow, the LO-7 ski mount was used, which made it possible to fire from skis at elevation angles up to + 16 ° with a rotation angle of up to 54 °, and at an elevation angle of 20 ° with a rotation angle of up to 40 °.

A smooth barrel is much more convenient for firing guided projectiles, although in 1961 this was most likely not thought about yet. To combat armored targets, an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile with a swept warhead with high kinetic energy is used, capable of penetrating armor 215 mm thick at a distance of 1000 meters. The ammunition load includes several types of sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells.

Shot ZUBM-10 with armor-piercing projectile

Shot ZUBK8 with a cumulative projectile

When a special guidance device is installed on the gun, shots with the Kastet anti-tank missile can be used. The missile is controlled by a semi-automatic laser beam, the firing range is from 100 to 4000 m. The missile penetrates armor behind dynamic protection (“reactive armor”) up to 660 mm thick.

Rocket 9M117 and shot ZUBK10-1

For direct fire, the T-12 gun is equipped with a day sight and night sights. With a panoramic sight, it can be used as a field gun from covered positions. There is a modification of the MT-12R gun with a mounted 1A31 "Ruta" guidance radar.

MT-12R with radar 1A31 "Ruta"

The gun was massively in service with the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, was supplied to Algeria, Iraq and Yugoslavia. They took part in military operations in Afghanistan, in the Iran-Iraq war, in armed conflicts in the territories of the former USSR and Yugoslavia. During these armed conflicts, 100-mm anti-tank guns are mainly used not against tanks, but as conventional divisional or corps guns.

MT-12 anti-tank guns continue to be in service in Russia.
According to the press center of the Ministry of Defense, on August 26, 2013, with the help of an accurate shot with a UBK-8 cumulative projectile from the MT-12 "Rapira" cannon of the Yekaterinburg separate motorized rifle brigade of the Central Military District, a fire was extinguished at well No. P23 ​​U1 near Novy Urengoy.

The fire started on August 19 and quickly turned into an uncontrollable fire breaking through the faulty rebar. natural gas. The artillery crew was transferred to Novy Urengoy by a military transport aircraft that took off from Orenburg. At the Shagol airfield, equipment and ammunition were loaded, after which the gunners, under the command of a control officer missile troops and artillery of the Central Military District, Colonel Gennady Mandrichenko, were delivered to the scene. The gun was set for direct fire from a minimum allowable distance of 70 m. The target diameter was 20 cm. The target was successfully hit.

In 1967, Soviet experts came to the conclusion that the T-12 gun “does not provide reliable destruction of the Chieftain tanks and the promising MVT-70. Therefore, in January 1968, OKB-9 (now part of JSC Spetstechnika) was instructed to develop a new, more powerful anti-tank gun with the ballistics of the 125 mm D-81 smoothbore tank gun. The task was difficult to accomplish, since the D-81, having excellent ballistics, gave the strongest return, which was still tolerable for a tank weighing 40 tons. But at field tests, the D-81 fired from a tracked carriage of a 203-mm B-4 howitzer. It is clear that such an anti-tank gun of 17 tons in weight and a maximum speed of 10 km / h was out of the question. Therefore, in the 125-mm gun, the recoil was increased from 340 mm (limited by the dimensions of the tank) to 970 mm and a powerful muzzle brake was introduced. This made it possible to install a 125-mm cannon on a three-bed carriage from a serial 122-mm D-30 howitzer, which allowed circular fire.

The new 125-mm cannon was designed by OKB-9 in two versions: the towed D-13 and the self-propelled SD-13 (“D” is the index of artillery systems designed by V.F. Petrov). The development of the SD-13 was 125-mm smooth-bore anti-tank gun "Sprut-B" (2A-45M). The ballistic data and ammunition of the D-81 tank gun and the 2A-45M anti-tank gun were the same.

The 2A-45M gun had a mechanized system for transferring it from a combat position to a marching one and vice versa, consisting of a hydraulic jack and hydraulic cylinders. With the help of a jack, the carriage was raised to a certain height, necessary for breeding or reducing the beds, and then lowered to the ground. Hydraulic cylinders lift the gun to its maximum clearance, as well as raise and lower the wheels.

Sprut-B is towed by a Ural-4320 vehicle or an MT-LB tractor. In addition, for self-movement on the battlefield, the gun has a special power unit, made on the basis of the MeMZ-967A engine with a hydraulic drive. The engine is located on the right side of the gun under the casing. On the left side of the frame, the driver's seats and the gun control system are installed on self-propelled. Max Speed while on dry dirt roads - 10 km / h, and transportable ammunition - 6 shots; cruising range for fuel - up to 50 km.

The ammunition load of the 125-mm Sprut-B gun includes separate-sleeve-loading shots with cumulative, sub-caliber and high-explosive fragmentation shells, as well as anti-tank missiles. The 125-mm VBK10 round with the BK-14M ​​HEAT projectile can hit tanks of the M60, M48, and Leopard-1A5 types. Shot VBM-17 with a sub-caliber projectile - tanks of the M1 type "Abrams", "Leopard-2", "Merkava MK2". The VOF-36 shot with the OF26 high-explosive fragmentation projectile is designed to destroy manpower, engineering structures and other targets.

In the presence of special guidance equipment 9S53 "Octopus" can fire ZUB K-14 rounds with 9M119 anti-tank missiles, which are semi-automatically controlled by a laser beam, the firing range is from 100 to 4000 m. The mass of the shot is about 24 kg, missiles - 17.2 kg, it pierces armor behind dynamic protection with a thickness of 700-770 mm.

At present, towed anti-tank guns (100- and 125-mm smoothbore) are in service with the countries - the former republics of the USSR, as well as a number of developing countries. The armies of the leading Western countries have long abandoned special anti-tank guns, both towed and self-propelled. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that towed anti-tank guns have a future. The ballistics and ammunition of the 125-mm Sprut-B cannon, unified with the cannons of modern main tanks, are capable of hitting any serial tanks in the world. An important advantage of anti-tank guns over ATGMs is a wider choice of means of destroying tanks and the possibility of hitting them point-blank. In addition, the Sprut-B can also be used as a non-anti-tank weapon. Its OF-26 high-explosive fragmentation projectile is close in ballistic data and in terms of explosive mass to the OF-471 projectile of the 122-mm A-19 corps gun, which became famous in the Great Patriotic War.

According to materials:
http://gods-of-war.pp.ua
http://russian-power.rf/guide/army/ar/d44.shtml
Shirokorad A. B. Encyclopedia of domestic artillery. - Minsk: Harvest, 2000.
Shunkov V.N. Weapons of the Red Army. - Minsk: Harvest, 1999.

106 mm M40 recoilless rifle

Recoilless guns, designed to destroy manpower, firing points and armored vehicles of the enemy, were already used during the Second World War, but they became widespread in the armies of various countries of the world only in the post-war period. Due to their high armor penetration, small size and weight, guns of this type are mainly used in anti-tank units of the troops.

IN Western states The M40 recoilless rifle, adopted by the US Army in 1953, was most widely used. It has a rifled barrel and a piston valve with 4 outlet nozzles. Guidance mechanisms allow you to fire both direct fire using a telescopic sight, and from closed positions using an artillery panorama. For firing at tanks, a 12.7 mm sighting machine gun is mounted on top of the gun. After “hitting” the target with tracer bullets, the calculation opens fire with special cumulative projectiles weighing 7.9 kg each. In addition to them, the M40 ammunition also includes armor-piercing high-explosive (with plastic explosive), high-explosive fragmentation and smoke shells.

The gun carriage is equipped with three sliding beds, one of which is equipped with a wheel, and the other two with folding handles. In the American army, M40 recoilless rifles were often installed on Jeeps and armored personnel carriers. In this case, they were placed on the machines and could conduct a circular fire. Especially for the US Marine Corps, the M50 Ontos tank destroyer was created on the chassis of the M59 amphibious armored personnel carrier. Three M40 guns with a total ammunition capacity of 18 rounds were placed on both sides of the vehicle.

106-mm M40 recoilless rifles are in service with the armies of more than 30 countries of the world. In some states, licensed production of weapons has been established. Pakistan, for example, produced similar recoilless trucks for export, mounting them on jeeps.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: M40

Type: recoilless rifle

Caliber, mm: 106

Weight in combat position, kg: 219

Calculation, people, 3

Muzzle velocity, m/s: 503

Rate of fire, rds / min: 5

Max. firing range, m: 7000

Armor penetration at a distance of 1100 m, mm: 450

Projectile weight, kg: 7.9

155 mm howitzer M198

The use of towed artillery in difficult climatic conditions Vietnam was the reason for ordering a 155-mm howitzer for the American army, which is superior in range and rate of fire to the M114A-1 howitzer. The new weapon was intended for fire support of infantry, airborne and US Marine Corps units. The project was developed by Rock Island Arsenal, which soon produced several prototypes for testing. At the end of the 70s, the howitzer, which received the designation M198, was put into production and is still being produced.

Like other guns of its time, the M198 howitzer has an autofretted monobloc barrel equipped with a two-chamber muzzle brake. Wedge gate, semi-automatic. Hydraulic recoil brake with variable recoil length, hydropneumatic knurler. The aiming of the gun is carried out with the help of hydraulic drives. Luminous capsules with a radioactive substance are mounted in sighting devices to illuminate scales and crosshairs at night. In a combat position, the howitzer is mounted on a pallet, while the wheels are hung out. The gun does not have an auxiliary engine for independent movement, but is transported over long distances by a 5-ton vehicle. If necessary, the M198 can be airlifted by a transport aircraft or a Chinook helicopter. In the stowed position, the howitzer barrel rotates 180 ° and is fixed above the beds.

In terms of ballistic characteristics, the M198 howitzer is standardized with other 155-mm guns of Western countries and can fire all regular 155-mm NATO ammunition. The ammunition load of separate loading shots includes, in addition to conventional ones, nuclear shells, cluster shells equipped with anti-tank or anti-personnel mines, fragmentation and cumulative striking elements, as well as Copperhead guided projectiles with a semi-active laser seeker, in the body of which there is electronic equipment that generates control commands planes of the tail.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: M198

Type: field howitzer

Caliber, mm: 155

Weight in combat position, kg: 6920

Barrel length, calibers: 39

Angle GN, hail: 45

Angle VN, deg: -5; +72

Muzzle velocity, m/s: 827

Rate of fire, rds / min: 4

Max. firing range, m: with a conventional projectile - 22000, with an active-rocket projectile - 30000

Projectile weight, kg: 43.88

In the mid-50s, self-propelled artillery systems took a firm place in the US field artillery. However, America's participation in numerous military conflicts unleashed around the world, and the emergence of socialist countries nuclear weapons caused new requirements for the development of self-propelled guns. For fast airlift to any destination the globe self-propelled guns were supposed to have small size and weight. In order to protect the crew from the damaging factors of nuclear weapons, it was planned to fully armor the vehicles and equip them with filter-ventilation installations. Not last place the list of requirements included overcoming water obstacles by swimming, good cross-country ability of self-propelled guns through the use of a special chassis and an increased sector of horizontal fire through the use of a rotating turret.

In 1961, the US Army received the 155-mm M109 self-propelled gun mount, the body of which was welded from sheets of aluminum armor, which protected the crew from bullets and shrapnel and significantly reduced the weight of the vehicle. The 155-mm howitzer was placed in a rotating turret in the aft part of the hull and was aimed in a vertical plane in the range of angles from -3° to 75°. The maximum firing range of the gun was 14.7 km. A modernized version of the self-propelled howitzer, designated M109A1, appeared in the US Army in the early 70s. It featured a barrel lengthened by 2.44 m, a more effective muzzle brake, improved suspension and an easier loading mechanism. After the introduction of an enhanced charge, the firing range of a conventional projectile increased to 18.1 km, and when using an active-rocket projectile, to 24 km. The ammunition load of 36 separate cap-loading rounds also included nuclear projectiles and M712 Copperhead guided cumulative projectiles with a laser seeker. Subsequent variants of the M109 self-propelled gun were developed with the aim of further increasing the firing range and automating the fire control system. In total, about 4,000 M109 self-propelled gun mounts were manufactured. Currently, they are in service with the armies of more than 25 countries of the world.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: М109А2

Type: self-propelled howitzer

Crew, people: 6

Combat weight, t: 24.95

Length, m: 9.12

Width, m: 3.15

Height, m: 2.8

Armament: 155 mm howitzer, 12.7 mm M2 machine gun

Engine: Detroit Diesel 405 hp

Max. speed, km/h: 56

Power reserve, km: 349

The 175 mm M107 artillery mount entered service with the US Army in 1961 and was developed as a powerful self-propelled gun adapted for air transport. Before loading, it was dismantled: the landing gear was carried on one plane, and the artillery unit on the other.

The basis for the M107 was the T249 universal tracked chassis, which also produced the M110 self-propelled howitzer. In the open fighting compartment, located in the rear of the vehicle, a 175-mm M126 gun was mounted on a pedestal carriage. A screw-on breech with a piston lock was attached to a 10.7 m long barrel, which was a monoblock barrel or a pipe with a replaceable plug-in liner. To facilitate loading, there was a lift and a hydraulically driven rammer. The horizontal pointing angle of the gun was 60°, the vertical pointing angle ranged from -2° to +65°. Guidance mechanisms are hydraulic and manual. The body of the self-propelled gun was welded from armor plates of differential thickness. In its rear part there were two coulters - in a combat position they fell to the ground with the help of a hydraulic drive and ensured the stability of the self-propelled guns when firing at low elevation angles. The ammunition load consisted mainly of separate cartridge-loading shots with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 67 kg.

M107 self-propelled guns received a baptism of fire during the Vietnam War, where the low survivability of the guns was unexpectedly discovered. At the usual rate of 700 shots, the barrels of the guns burned out and became unusable after 300. The rate of fire of the self-propelled guns did not exceed 2 rounds per minute. In the early 70s, the Americans modernized the M107, equipping it with a gun with a new auto-fretted barrel with greater survivability and an improved loading mechanism. Nevertheless, numerous design flaws in the self-propelled guns led to the fact that since 1978, the M107 began to be replaced by the US troops with the M110 self-propelled howitzers. 175-mm self-propelled guns were also delivered to NATO countries and are in service with the armies of Greece, Turkey, Israel and other states.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: M107

Type: self-propelled gun

Crew, people: 5 + 8

Combat weight, t: 28.17

Length, m: 11.25 (with gun forward)

Width, m: 3.15

Armament: 175 mm M126 gun

Max. firing range, m: 32700

Engine: "Detroit diesel" 8V71Р with a power of 405 hp

Max. speed, km/h: 55

Power reserve, km: 730

By the beginning of the war on the Korean Peninsula, the air defense of the US Army had a small number of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns M16 and M19. large-scale fighting showed the high efficiency of machines of this type, which were also used to combat lightly armored enemy armored vehicles. Therefore, the Americans began to develop a new ZSU on a chassis that was popular at that time. light tank M41 Walter Bulldog. Two twin 40-mm automatic guns L / 60 "Bofors" with spring-hydraulic recoil devices were mounted in a rotating tower open from above. For pointing the guns, a manual or hydraulic drive was used, and the vertical aiming angle was in the range from -3 ° to + 85 °. The ammunition consisted of 480 high-explosive and armor-piercing tracer shells placed around the perimeter in the turret, in the overwing boxes and in the bow of the hull. The total rate of fire of the guns reached 240 rounds per minute. The fire control system included an anti-aircraft sight with a calculating device.

Self-propelled guns M42, also known as the "Duster", began to enter the American units in Korea in 1953, being used mainly for the defense of air force bases and other important installations. During operation, significant shortcomings of the self-propelled gun were revealed: due to the lack of a fire control radar, it was ineffective in the fight against high-speed low-flying targets, the carburetor engine limited the cruising range, and the open turret did not protect the crew from air attacks. Effective slant range ZSU firing at air targets was 2000–3000 m.

In 1956, the M42 underwent a modernization process and, after installing a more powerful and economical engine with direct fuel injection, they became designated M42A1. In total, until 1956, American factories produced more than 3,700 40-mm Duster SPAAGs, which were in service with the US National Guard until the early 80s.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: M42

Crew, people: 6

Combat weight, t: 22.45

Length, m: 6.35

Width, m: 3.22

Height, m: 2.84

Armament: two 40 mm L/60 cannons, 7.62 mm machine gun

Engine: "Continental" with a capacity of 500 hp

Maximum speed, km/h: 72

Power reserve, km: 160

81 mm M29 mortar

The 81-mm M29 mortar, put into service in 1951, was developed at the request of the US Army command to increase the firepower of infantry companies. However, the fighting in Vietnam showed that its use did not provide mortar units with sufficient maneuverability during a combat mission. First of all, due to enough heavy weight mortar and a relatively short range of its fire. So, for carrying the M29 in combat conditions, almost the entire calculation was required, as a result of which the wearable ammunition load was reduced from 40 to 18 minutes, which significantly reduced the fire capabilities of the company. In this regard, in the American troops in Vietnam, the 81-mm M29 mortars were gradually replaced by the 60-mm M19 mortars of the Second World War.

The design of the M29 is classic. The mortar consists of a smooth barrel, a two-legged carriage, sights and a base plate with a central rotating assembly that provides circular firing without rearranging the plate. On the outer surface of the barrel there are annular grooves to increase the cooling surface during intensive shooting. The ammunition load includes three types of high-explosive fragmentation mines, two types of smoke mines and an illumination mine. The M374 high-explosive fragmentation mine, specially designed for this mortar, has an increased firing range of up to 4.5 km and a more powerful explosive. The US Army also has a self-propelled version of the 81mm mortar on the chassis of the M113 armored personnel carrier. He received the designation M125A-1. In the early 80s, American units began to replace the M29 with a more modern 60-mm M224 company mortar.

Tactical and technical data

Type: company mortar

Caliber, mm: 81

Weight in combat position, kg: 48

Mine initial speed, m/s: 268

Rate of fire, rds / min: 25–30

Firing range, m: 4730

Mine weight, kg: 3.2–5.1

106.7 mm M30 mortar

The American army, unlike the British, did not abandon the use of heavy mortars, although they, having a mass of more than 300 kg, are too heavy for mortar crews to do with them without vehicles. Therefore, such weapons are usually installed on armored personnel carriers or they fire from them from stationary positions.

The 106.7 mm M30 mortar, adopted by the US Army in 1951, consists of a rifled barrel with a breech, a front support with guidance mechanisms, two shock absorbers, spring recoil devices, a base plate with a rotating central part, a bracket connecting the plate to the front support, and sight. For transportation over short distances by calculation forces or pack animals, the M30 mortar is disassembled into six parts.

At a combat position, a 106.7-mm mortar is served by 5-6 people. Due to the presence of a rotating part of the base plate, it can conduct circular horizontal fire. The composition of the mortar ammunition includes three types of high-explosive fragmentation mines, smoke, chemical and lighting mines. In flight, the mines are spin-stabilized like artillery shells, so they don't need the stabilizers found on regular mines.

Currently, the release of the M30 in the United States has been discontinued, but it still remains a heavy regular mortar in the American army. Weapons were widely exported to various countries world and is still in service with the armies of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Iran, the Netherlands, Norway, Aman, South Korea, Turkey and Zaire.

Tactical and technical data

Designation: M30

Type: heavy mortar

Caliber, mm: 106.7

Weight in combat position, kg: 305

Barrel length, calibers: 14.3

Mine initial speed, m/s: 293

Max, rate of fire, rds / min: 18

Max, firing range, m: 5650

She played one of the most important roles in the defeat of Nazi Germany. An equally important place was given to artillery in ensuring the defense capability. Soviet Union first post-war years.

Direct control, training, education and provision of combat, operational-tactical and special training of command and personnel artillery, the development of plans for the development and improvement of all artillery, as well as providing it with the necessary weapons and military equipment, was entrusted to the Commander of Artillery of the Armed Forces of the USSR.

To implement the tasks assigned to the commander, the following governing bodies were subordinate: the Headquarters of Artillery, the Main Artillery Directorate, the Combat Training Directorate, the Directorate of Artillery Military Educational Institutions and the Personnel Directorate. In addition, the artillery commander was responsible for developing a plan air defense countries and the implementation of measures to prepare the territory USSR to air defense. In this regard, the commander of the country's air defense forces was subordinated to him. Under the leadership of the Commander of Artillery, Marshal of Artillery N.N. Voronov, plans were prepared for the transfer of artillery to peacetime states and artillery weapons of the Soviet Army, the implementation of which began after the completion of the demobilization of the personnel of the army in the field.

After the end of the Great Patriotic War, the artillery of the Soviet Army underwent significant changes. The number of artillery units increased due to the creation of additional formations in rifle corps and divisions. Each of the surviving rifle corps received at its disposal a corps artillery brigade consisting of cannon and howitzer artillery regiments (they were created, among other things, by reorganization from anti-tank ones), as well as a reconnaissance artillery battalion.

In addition, each of the corps included a guards mortar regiment and an anti-aircraft artillery division (later a regiment). Rifle divisions were reinforced with a mortar and howitzer regiment, and the existing artillery regiment became known as a cannon regiment. All these regiments were reduced to an artillery brigade. In addition, each of the divisions received at its disposal 2 more separate artillery divisions - anti-aircraft and self-propelled. In the late 1940s - early 1950s. a number of artillery formations and units were disbanded.

So, most of the directorates of artillery corps, a number of divisions and brigades ceased to exist. The number of regiments also decreased, mainly due to their enlargement. At the same time, about 70% of the units remained (especially anti-aircraft artillery), and part separate brigades and the regiments were reduced or converted into divisions. So, by 1948, 11 cannon divisions were additionally formed from separate regiments and brigades. Changes also took place in the composition of artillery divisions - the number of brigades and regiments decreased, the staff of the division's command and control changed.

Thus, anti-aircraft artillery divisions were transferred from four regiments to three regiments. Many of the compounds have changed numbers and partly composition. Thus, in the first post-war years, the activities of the Commander of Artillery were aimed at improving the organizational and staffing structure of artillery units, which resulted in their disaggregation, as well as the adoption of the latest artillery systems, communications and various vehicles, which contributed to increased mobility and firepower artillery formations ground forces.

S.Yu. Kondratenko

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Soviet anti-aircraft artillery played a very important role in the Great Patriotic War. According to official data, in the course of hostilities, 21,645 aircraft were shot down by ground-based air defense systems of the ground forces, including 4,047 aircraft with anti-aircraft guns of 76 mm caliber or more, and 14,657 aircraft with anti-aircraft guns.
In addition to fighting the enemy, anti-aircraft guns, if necessary, often fired at ground targets. For example, in Battle of Kursk 15 anti-tank artillery divisions of twelve 85-mm anti-aircraft guns took part. This measure, of course, was forced, since anti-aircraft guns were much more expensive, less mobility, and they were harder to camouflage.

The number of anti-aircraft guns during the war continuously increased. The increase in small-caliber anti-aircraft guns was especially significant, so on January 1, 1942, there were about 1,600 37-mm anti-aircraft guns in stock, and on January 1, 1945, there were about 19,800 guns. However, despite the quantitative increase in anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled anti-aircraft installations (ZSU) capable of accompanying and covering were never created in the USSR during the war.
In part, the need for such vehicles was met by the American quadruple 12.7-mm ZSU M17 received under Lend-Lease, which were mounted on the chassis of the M3 half-track armored personnel carrier.

These ZSU proved to be very effective tool protection of tank units and formations on the march from air attack. In addition, M17s were successfully used during the fighting in cities, delivering heavy fire on the upper floors of buildings.

The task of covering the troops on the march was assigned mainly to anti-aircraft machine gun mounts (ZPU) of 7.62-12.7 mm caliber mounted on trucks.

The mass production of the 25-mm 72-K assault rifle, which was put into service in 1940, began only in the second half of the war due to difficulties in mastering mass production. A number of design solutions for the 72-K anti-aircraft gun were borrowed from the 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939 61-K.

Anti-aircraft gun 72-K

The 72-K anti-aircraft guns were intended for air defense at the level of a rifle regiment and in the Red Army occupied an intermediate position between the DShK large-caliber anti-aircraft machine guns and the more powerful 37-mm 61-K anti-aircraft guns. They were also installed on trucks, but in much smaller quantities.

Anti-aircraft gun 72-K in the back of a truck

72-K anti-aircraft guns and twin 94-KM mounts based on them were used against low-flying and diving targets. In terms of the number of issued copies, they were much inferior to 37-mm machine guns.

94-KM installations on trucks

The creation of an anti-aircraft gun of this caliber with clip-on loading does not seem entirely justified. The use of clip loading for a small-caliber anti-aircraft gun greatly reduced the practical rate of fire, slightly surpassing the 37-mm 61-K machine gun in this indicator. But at the same time, it is much inferior to it in range, altitude and the striking effect of the projectile. The production cost of the 25mm 72-K was not much less than that of the 37mm 61-K.
The installation of the rotating part of the gun on an inseparable four-wheeled cart is the object of criticism based on comparison with foreign anti-aircraft guns of a similar class.

However, it should be noted that the 25-mm projectile itself was not bad. At a distance of 500 meters, an armor-piercing projectile weighing 280 grams, with an initial speed of 900 m / s, normally pierced 30-mm armor.

When creating a belt-fed installation, it was quite possible to achieve a high rate of fire, which was done after the war in 25-mm anti-aircraft guns created for the Navy.

With the end of the war in 1945, the production of 72-K was discontinued, however, they continued to be in service until the early 60s, until they were replaced by the 23 mm ZU-23-2.

Much more widespread was the 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun of the 1939 model 61-K, created on the basis of the Swedish 40-mm Bofors gun.

The 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun of the 1939 model is a single-barreled small-caliber automatic anti-aircraft gun on a four-beam carriage with an inseparable four-wheel drive.

The automation of the gun is based on the use of recoil force according to the scheme with a short barrel recoil. All actions necessary for firing a shot (opening the bolt after a shot with the cartridge case extracted, cocking the firing pin, feeding cartridges into the chamber, closing the bolt and lowering the firing pin) are performed automatically. Aiming, aiming the gun and feeding clips with cartridges to the magazine are carried out manually.

According to the manual of the gun service, its main task was to fight against air targets at ranges up to 4 km and at altitudes up to 3 km. If necessary, the gun can also be successfully used for firing at ground targets, including tanks and armored vehicles.

61-K during the Great Patriotic War were the main means of air defense of the Soviet troops in the front line.

During the war years, the industry supplied the Red Army with more than 22,600 37-mm anti-aircraft guns mod. 1939. In addition, at the final stage of the war, the troops began to receive the SU-37 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, created on the basis of the SU-76M self-propelled gun and armed with a 37-mm 61-K anti-aircraft gun.

self-propelled anti-aircraft guns SU-37

In order to increase the density of anti-aircraft fire at the end of the war, the B-47 two-gun installation was developed, which consisted of two 61-K assault rifles on a four-wheeled wagon.

two-gun installation B-47

Despite the fact that the production of 61-K was completed in 1946, they remained in service for a very long time and took part in numerous wars on all continents.

37 mm anti-aircraft guns mod. 1939 were actively used during Korean War both North Korean and Chinese units. According to the results of the application, the gun proved to be positive, but in some cases there was an insufficient firing range. An example is the battle in September 1952 of 36 P-51 aircraft with the 61-K division, as a result of which 8 aircraft were shot down (according to Soviet data), and the losses of the division amounted to one gun and 12 people from the calculations.

In the post-war years, the gun was exported to dozens of countries around the world, in the armies of many of which it is still in service. In addition to the USSR, the gun was produced in Poland, as well as in China under the Type 55 index. In addition, in China, on the basis of the Type 69 tank, a self-propelled twin anti-aircraft gun Type 88.

The 61-K was also actively used during the Vietnam War (in this case, a semi-handicraft twin self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the T-34 tank, known as the Type 63, was used). Used 37-mm gun mod. 1939 and during the Arab-Israeli wars, as well as during various armed conflicts in Africa and other regions of the world.

This anti-aircraft gun is perhaps the most "belligerent", in terms of the number of armed conflicts where it was used. The exact number of aircraft shot down by him is not known, but it can be said that it is much more than that of any other anti-aircraft gun.

The only medium-caliber anti-aircraft gun produced in the USSR in wartime was the 85-mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939
During the war, in 1943, in order to reduce the cost of production and increase the reliability of the gun mechanisms, regardless of the elevation angle, a modernized 85-mm gun mod. 1939 with copier semi-automatic, automatic speed control and simplified units.

In February 1944 this gun, which received the factory index KS-12, went into mass production.

In 1944, the 85-mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1944 (KS -1). It was obtained by imposing a new 85-mm barrel on the carriage of an 85-mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939 The aim of the modernization was to increase the survivability of the barrel and reduce the cost of production. The KS-1 was adopted on July 2, 1945.

anti-aircraft 85-mm gun KS-1

For aiming the gun, according to the POISO data, receiving devices are installed that are connected by synchronous communication with the POISO. The installation of fuses with the help of a fuse installer is carried out according to the data of POISOT or at the command of the commander of the 85 mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1939 was equipped with PUAZO-Z receiving devices, and an 85-mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1944 - POISOT-4A.

Rangefinder calculation POISO-3

At the beginning of 1947, a new 85-mm anti-aircraft gun KS-18 arrived for testing.
The KS-18 gun was a four-wheeled platform weighing 3600 kg with a torsion bar suspension, on which a machine tool with a gun weighing 3300 kg was installed. The gun was equipped with a tray and a rammer shells. Due to the increased barrel length and the use of a more powerful charge, the target engagement area in height was increased from 8 to 12 km. The KS-18 chamber was identical to the 85 mm D-44 anti-tank gun.
The gun was equipped with a synchronous servo drive and receiving devices PUAZO-6.
The KS-18 gun was recommended for use by military anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft artillery of the RVC instead of 85-mm anti-aircraft guns mod. 1939 and arr. 1944

In total, over the years of production, more than 14,000 85-mm anti-aircraft guns of all modifications were produced. In the postwar period, they were in service with anti-aircraft artillery regiments, artillery divisions (brigades), armies and RVC, and corps anti-aircraft artillery regiments (battalions) of military anti-aircraft artillery.

85-mm anti-aircraft guns took an active part in the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, where they performed well. The barrage of these guns often forced American pilots to move to low altitudes, where they came under fire from small-caliber anti-aircraft guns.

Anti-aircraft 85-mm guns were in service in the USSR until the mid-60s, until they were supplanted in the air defense forces by anti-aircraft missile systems.

According to materials:
Shirokorad A. B. Encyclopedia of domestic artillery.
http://www.telenir.net/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_vooruzhenie_1998_07/p6.php