Tank Armaments

85-мм танковые пушки С-53 и ЗИС-С-53

2005-09-21T21:21:15Z

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85-мм танковая пушка С-50

2005-09-21T21:20:35Z

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85mm S-31 Tank Gun

2005-09-21T21:11:31Z

Usage:

Production tanks: no.
Experimental tanks: KV-1S, JS-85.

Simultaneously with the work on the 85mm tank gun S-18, the TsAKB developed yet another variant of the 85mm tank gun. This weapon, given the nomenclature S-31, was designed for mounting on the heavy tanks KV-1S and JS, for which reason two separate variants were created - one with a standard ballistic of the 85mm Anti-Aircraft Gun (muzzle velocity of 790-800 m/s), the other with a higher ballistic (muzzle velocity of 920-950 m/s).

The model with the higher muzzle velocity was developed for mounting in the JS-4 tank in place of the 107mm ZIS-6. Manufacture and trials conducted by Factory #92. In comparison to the S-18, this weapon was simpler and better made. However this weapon, with its higher muzzle velocity, required a new round with a larger case to be developed. Because of poor communications and a delay of the decision, they began to fulfill this order only at the middle of October, 1943, which had been planned to be fulfilled by October 1, 1943. Due to this problem, all of the research on the high-velocity 85mm Tank Gun S-31 was put aside.

In the summer of 1943, a comparative trials were conducted on four separate tanks: JS-85 with S-18 gun and JS-85 with D-5 Tank Gun, KV-1S with S-18 tank gun and KV-1S with D-5 tank gun. Trials demonstrated that more effectiveness could be wrung out of the D-5 gun, and it was this, which was mounted on the final versions.

S-31 GUN SPECIFICATION
Parameter	Value
Calibre, mm	85
Bore lenght, clb	?
Weight of pendulous elements, kg	?
Weight of recoil elements, kg	?
Normal recoil length, mm	?
Max. recoil length, mm	?
Ammunition	fixed
Ballistic	85mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Model 1939
Practical ROF, shot/min.	?

AMMUNITION FOR THE D-5, S-18, S-31, S-53, ZIS-S-53 GUNS
SHELL		PROJECTILE					PROPELLANT CHARGE
Index	Weight, kg	Index	Weight, kg	Length, clb	Weight of a charge, gram	Fuse	Index	Weight, kg
HIGH EXPLOSIVE, FRAGMENTATION
UO-365	15.95	O-365	9.2	3.4	0.646	T-5	G-365	2.48
UO-365K	16.3	O-365K	9.54	3.4	0.646	KTM-1, KTM-1-U	G-365	2.5
UO-365KV	14.95	O-365KV	9.54	4.1	0.67	V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N	G-365	2.6
UO-365G	14.95	O-365G	9.54	4.1	0.741	KTM-1-O', KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367*	14.95	O-367	9.54	4	0.703-0.741	KTM-1	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367A*	14.95	O-367A**	9.54	4.2	0.67	KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367AV*	14.95	O-367AV**	9.54	4.1	0.67	V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
O'I^-367AG*	14.95	O-367AG**	9.54	4.1	0.67	KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
ARMOR PIERCING
UBR-365	16	BR-365	9.2	4.3	0.164	MD-5, MD-7	G-365	2.48-2.6
UBR-365K	16	BR-365K	9.2	3.1	0.048	MD-8	G-365	2.48-2.6
UBR-367*	16	BR-367	9.2	3.64	0.044	MD-8, DBR-2	G-365	2.63
ARMOR PIERCING SUB-CALIBER (HVAP)
UBR-365P	11.42	BR-365P	4.99	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5-2.85
UBR-367P*	11.72	BR-367P	5.3	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5
UPBR-367*	11.72	PBR-367	5.3	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5
SHAPED-CHARGE ANTI-TANK (HEAT)
UBK-367*	14.95	BK-367 (BK-367M)	9.25	7	0.994	GKN	G-365	1.3
ZBK2* (ZBK2M)	14.95	BK2****	7.351	7	0.935	GPV-1, GPV-2	G-365	1.3
CANISTER AND SHRAPNEL
n/a
INCENDIARY
n/a
SMOKE
UD-1	16.3	D-2	9.54	4.1	-	KTM-1-U	G-365	2.6
UD-2	14.95	D-2	9.54	4.1	-	KTM-1-U	G-365	1.5-1.8
UD-367	15.65	D-367²	10.07	4	-	KTM-2	G-365	1.5-1.8

* Developed after the end of WW2;
** Case made of cast iron;
*** Ballisctic capped;
**** Fin-stabilised.

Sources: "Artillerijskoye Vooruzhevie Sovetskikh Tankov 1940-1945" Armada-Vertical, #4, 1999

85mm S-18 Tank Gun

2005-09-21T21:10:52Z

Usage:

Production tanks and SP-Guns: none.
Experimental SP-Guns: SU-85-I, SU-85-IV

The first Soviet 85mm tank gun was introduced in 1939. It was mounted experimentally on the T-28 and KV series tanks, but was dropped from production for a number of reasons. In late 1941 and early 1942, Soviet engineers independently designed numerous variants of the 85mm tank gun, however, it was at this time the opinion of the NKV and NKTP that this was not a practical avenue of investigation due to the greater cost of existing 85mm ammunition over similar 76mm ammunition, also there was no 85 mm HE projectile developed but only a fragmentation.

In 1943, after Germany introduced two new tanks (PzKpfw VI Tiger and PzKpfw V Panther) to the battlefield, and insufficient effectiveness of the explosion power of the 76mm against field fortification, and interest in the 85mm weapons was reinvigorated. Projects outlined in 1941-1942 but not realized were revived. The most advanced was developed in "Kalinin" Factory #8 but it used a type of muzzle brake which considered to be inappropriate for a tank gun.

In connection with this, TsAKB began development of a project to create a new tank gun. In the winter of 1942-1943 it was completed using the S-18 tank gun, approved by the NKV, and in March, 1943, Factory #9 built two prototype models (due to the fact that the TsAKB had no production capability available at this time). Production of the gun commenced slowly, and when they were finally ready for testing, it became clear that the gun shared the design problems of previous models. Design Bureau of Factory #9 under the directorship of F. Petrov was tasked with the design of changes. The TsAKB, under the administration of V. Grabin, continued on its own. Fortunately, neither rested in their efforts. Experimental weapons turned out to function normally, but the leaders and designers of the projects began to undermine each other's efforts. As a result, the first experimental tank "Object 237" was armed with a mock-up S-18 in its turret. After this, both S-18s were finished, and mounted in two prototype models of the SU-85 self-propelled gun - the SU-85-I and the SU-85-IV.

S-18 GUN SPECIFICATION
Parameter	Value
Calibre, mm	85
Bore lenght, clb	?
Weight of pendulous elements, kg	?
Weight of recoil elements, kg	?
Normal recoil length, mm	?
Max. recoil length, mm	?
Ammunition	fixed
Ballistic	new
Practical ROF, shot/min.	?

AMMUNITION FOR THE D-5, S-18, S-31, S-53, ZIS-S-53 GUNS
SHELL		PROJECTILE					PROPELLANT CHARGE
Index	Weight, kg	Index	Weight, kg	Length, clb	Weight of a charge, gram	Fuse	Index	Weight, kg
HIGH EXPLOSIVE, FRAGMENTATION
UO-365	15.95	O-365	9.2	3.4	0.646	T-5	G-365	2.48
UO-365K	16.3	O-365K	9.54	3.4	0.646	KTM-1, KTM-1-U	G-365	2.5
UO-365KV	14.95	O-365KV	9.54	4.1	0.67	V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N	G-365	2.6
UO-365G	14.95	O-365G	9.54	4.1	0.741	KTM-1-O', KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367*	14.95	O-367	9.54	4	0.703-0.741	KTM-1	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367A*	14.95	O-367A**	9.54	4.2	0.67	KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
UO-367AV*	14.95	O-367AV**	9.54	4.1	0.67	V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
O'I^-367AG*	14.95	O-367AG**	9.54	4.1	0.67	KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N	G-365	1.5-1.8
ARMOR PIERCING
UBR-365	16	BR-365	9.2	4.3	0.164	MD-5, MD-7	G-365	2.48-2.6
UBR-365K	16	BR-365K	9.2	3.1	0.048	MD-8	G-365	2.48-2.6
UBR-367*	16	BR-367	9.2	3.64	0.044	MD-8, DBR-2	G-365	2.63
ARMOR PIERCING SUB-CALIBER (HVAP)
UBR-365P	11.42	BR-365P	4.99	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5-2.85
UBR-367P*	11.72	BR-367P	5.3	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5
UPBR-367*	11.72	PBR-367	5.3	3	N/A	N/A	G-365	2.5
SHAPED-CHARGE ANTI-TANK (HEAT)
UBK-367*	14.95	BK-367 (BK-367M)	9.25	7	0.994	GKN	G-365	1.3
ZBK2* (ZBK2M)	14.95	BK2****	7.351	7	0.935	GPV-1, GPV-2	G-365	1.3
CANISTER AND SHRAPNEL
n/a
INCENDIARY
n/a
SMOKE
UD-1	16.3	D-2	9.54	4.1	-	KTM-1-U	G-365	2.6
UD-2	14.95	D-2	9.54	4.1	-	KTM-1-U	G-365	1.5-1.8
UD-367	15.65	D-367²	10.07	4	-	KTM-2	G-365	1.5-1.8

* Developed after the end of WW2;
** Case made of cast iron;
*** Ballisctic capped;
**** Fin-stabilised.

Translated by: Chris Keeling
Sources: "Artillerijskoye Vooruzhevie Sovetskikh Tankov 1940-1945" Armada-Vertical, #4, 1999

85-мм танковая пушка ЛБ-1

2005-09-21T21:08:09Z

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