List of USSR artillery of the Second World War. Heavy artillery of the second world war Soviet artillery of the second world war

During the first months of the war, Eastern Front The Germans captured several hundred Soviet 76-mm F-22 divisional guns (model 1936). Initially, the Germans used them in their original form as field guns and gave them the name 7.62 cm F.R.296(r).
This weapon was originally designed by V.G. Grabin under a powerful projectile with a bottle-shaped casing. However, later, at the request of the military, it was converted to a “three-inch” projectile. Thus, the barrel and chamber of the gun had a large margin of safety.

By the end of 1941, a project was developed to modernize the F-22 into an anti-tank gun 7.62 cm Pak 36(r).

The chamber in the gun was bored out, which made it possible to replace the cartridge case. The Soviet sleeve had a length of 385.3 mm and a flange diameter of 90 mm, the new German sleeve was 715 mm long with a flange diameter of 100 mm. Thanks to this, the propellant charge was increased by 2.4 times.
To reduce recoil, the Germans installed a muzzle brake.
In Germany, they limited the elevation angle to 18 degrees, which is quite sufficient for an anti-tank gun. In addition, the recoil devices were modernized; in particular, the variable recoil mechanism was eliminated. The controls have been moved to one side.

The 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) ammunition consisted of German rounds with high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing caliber and cumulative shells. Which were not suitable for German guns. An armor-piercing projectile fired with an initial speed of 720 m/s penetrated 82 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 meters. The sub-caliber had a speed of 960 m/s at 100 meters and penetrated 132 mm.
Converted F-22 with new ammunition by the beginning of 1942. became the best German anti-tank gun, and in principle can be considered the best anti-tank gun in the world. Here is just one example: July 22, 1942. in the battle of El Alamein (Egypt), the crew of grenadier G. Halm from the 104th Grenadier Regiment destroyed nine with shots from a Pak 36(r) within a few minutes British tanks.

The transformation of a not very successful divisional gun into an excellent anti-tank gun was not the result of the brilliant thinking of German designers, the Germans simply followed common sense.

In 1942 The Germans converted 358 F-22 units into 7.62 cm Pak 36(r), in 1943 - another 169 and in 1944 - 33.
The German trophy was not only the F-22 divisional gun, but also its major modernization - the 76-mm F-22 USV (model 1936)
A small number of F-22 USV guns were converted into anti-tank guns, called 7.62 cm Pak 39(r). The gun received a muzzle brake, as a result of which the length of its barrel increased from 3200 to 3480. The chamber was bored out, and it could fire shots from 7.62 cm Pak 36(r), the weight of the gun increased from 1485 to 1610 kg. By March 1945 The Wehrmacht had only 165 converted captured Pak 36(r) and Pak 39(r) anti-tank guns.

The gun in the open wheelhouse was mounted on the chassis of the Pz Kpfw II light tank. This tank destroyer received the designation 7.62 cm Pak 36 auf Pz.IID Marder II (Sd.Kfz.132). In 1942, the Alkett plant in Berlin produced 202 self-propelled guns. The self-propelled gun on the chassis of the light tank Pz Kpfw 38(t) received the designation 7.62 cm Pak 36 auf Pz.38(t) Marder III (Sd.Kfz.139). In 1942, the BMM plant in Prague produced 344 self-propelled guns; in 1943, another 39 self-propelled guns were converted from Pz Kpfw 38(t) tanks undergoing major repairs.

7.5 cm Pak 41 developed by Krupp AG in 1940. The gun initially competed (developed in parallel) with the 7.5 cm PaK 40. The anti-tank gun was initially created as a weapon with an increased speed of an armor-piercing projectile.
When creating projectiles, tungsten cores were used, which increased armor penetration.

This gun belonged to the guns with a conical bore. Its caliber varied from 75 mm at the breech to 55 mm at the muzzle. The projectile was equipped with crushable leading belts.

Due to its features, the gun had high rates of effective use - a projectile with a speed of 1200 m/s penetrated normal 150 mm of homogeneous armor at a distance of 900 meters. The effective range of use is 1.5 kilometers.

Despite the high performance, production of the 7.5 cm Pak 41 was discontinued in 1942.
A total of 150 pieces were produced. The reasons for the cessation of production were the complexity of production and the shortage of tungsten for projectiles.

Created by Rheinmetall at the very end of the war 8 cm PAW 600 can rightfully be called the first smoothbore anti-tank gun firing feathered projectiles.

Its highlight was the system of two chambers, high and low pressure. The unitary cartridge was attached to a heavy steel partition with small slots that completely covered the barrel opening.

When fired, the fuel inside the cartridge case ignited under very high pressure, and the resulting gas penetrated through the holes in the partition, held in place by one special pin, filling the entire volume in front of the mine. When the pressure reached 1200 kg/cm2 (115 kPa) in the high-pressure chamber, i.e. inside the liner, and behind the partition in the low-pressure chamber - 550 kg/cm. kV (52 kPa), then the pin broke and the projectile flew out of the barrel. In this way, it was possible to solve a previously unsolvable problem - combining a light barrel with a relatively high initial speed.

Externally, the 8 cm PAW 600 resembled a classic anti-tank gun. The barrel consisted of a monoblock pipe and a breech. The shutter is a semi-automatic vertical wedge. The recoil brake and knurler were located in a cradle under the barrel. The carriage had a tubular frame.

The main shot of the gun was the Wgr.Patr.4462 cartridge with an 8 cm Pwk.Gr.5071 cumulative projectile. Cartridge weight 7 kg, length 620 mm. Projectile weight 3.75 kg, explosive weight 2.7 kg, propellant charge weight 0.36 kg.

At an initial speed of 520 m/s at a distance of 750 m, half of the shells hit a target with an area of ​​0.7x0.7 m. Normally, the Pwk.Gr.5071 shell penetrated 145 mm armor. In addition, a small number of cartridges with HE shells were fired. The tabulated firing range of the HE projectile is 1500 m.

Serial production of the 8-cm cannon was carried out by the Wolf company in Magdeburg. The first batch of 81 guns was sent to the front in January 1945. In total, the Wolf company delivered 40 guns in 1944 and another 220 guns in 1945.
For the 8-cm cannon, 6,000 cumulative shells were manufactured in 1944, and another 28,800 in 1945.
By March 1, 1945 The Wehrmacht had 155 8 cm PAW 600 cannons, of which 105 were at the front.
Due to its late appearance and small numbers, the weapon did not have an impact on the course of the war.

Considering the excellent anti-tank capabilities of the 88-mm anti-aircraft guns, the famous "Acht-Acht", the German military leadership decided to create a specialized anti-tank gun in this caliber. In 1943, the Krupp company, using parts of the Flak 41 anti-aircraft gun, created an anti-tank gun 8.8 cm Pak 43.

The need for a very powerful anti-tank gun was dictated by the ever-increasing armor protection of tanks in the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. Another incentive was the shortage of tungsten, which was then used as a material for the cores of sub-caliber projectiles of the 75-mm Pak 40 cannon. The construction of a more powerful weapon opened up the possibility of effectively hitting heavily armored targets with conventional steel armor-piercing projectiles.

The gun demonstrated outstanding armor penetration performance. An armor-piercing projectile with an initial speed of 1000 m/s, at a distance of 1000 meters, at an impact angle of 60 degrees, penetrated 205 mm of armor. It easily hit any Allied tank head-on at all reasonable combat distances. The effect of a 9.4 kg high-explosive fragmentation projectile turned out to be very effective.

At the same time, the weapon, with a combat weight of about 4,500 kg, was bulky and difficult to maneuver; special tracked tractors were required to transport it. This greatly reduced its combat value.

Initially, the Pak 43 was mounted on a specialized carriage, inherited from an anti-aircraft gun. Subsequently, in order to simplify the design and reduce its dimensions, its swinging part was mounted on the carriage of a 105-mm leFH 18 field howitzer, similar in type to the carriage of the 75-mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. This option was designated Pak 43/41.

This gun can be called the most famous and effective German anti-tank gun of the Second World War.

The first to receive this gun were specialized anti-tank divisions. At the end of 1944, guns began to enter service with artillery corps. Due to complex production technology and high cost, only 3,502 of these guns were produced.

Based on the Pak 43, the KwK 43 tank gun and a gun for self-propelled artillery mounts (SPG) were developed. StuK 43. A heavy tank was armed with these guns PzKpfw VI Ausf B "Tiger II"("Royal Tiger"), tank destroyers "Ferdinand" And "Jagdpanther", lightly armored anti-tank self-propelled gun "Nashorn" .

In 1943, Krupp and Rheinmetall, based on the 128-mm FlaK 40 anti-aircraft gun, jointly developed a heavy-duty anti-tank gun with a barrel length of 55 calibers. The new weapon received an index 12.8 cm PaK 44 L/55. Since the carriage of a conventional anti-tank gun is such giant trunk It was not possible to establish; the Meiland company, which specialized in the production of trailers, designed a special three-axle carriage for the gun with two pairs of wheels in front and one in the rear. At the same time, the high profile of the gun had to be retained, which made the gun extremely noticeable on the ground. The weight of the gun in firing position exceeded 9300 kg.

Some of the guns were mounted on the carriage of the French 15.5 cm K 418(f) and the Soviet 152-mm howitzer gun of the 1937 model (ML-20).

128 mm anti-tank gun was the most powerful weapon of this class of World War II. The armor penetration of the gun turned out to be extremely high - according to some estimates, at least until 1948 there was no tank in the world capable of withstanding a hit from its 28-kg projectile.
An armor-piercing projectile weighing 28.3 kg, leaving the barrel at a speed of 920 m/s, ensured penetration of 187 mm of armor at a distance of 1500 meters.

Serial production began at the end of 1944. The gun entered service with the heavy motorized divisions of the RGK and was often used as a hull gun. A total of 150 guns were produced.

The low security and mobility of the gun forced the Germans to explore the option of installing it on a self-propelled chassis. Such a vehicle was created in 1944 on the basis of the King Tiger heavy tank and was called the Jagdtiger. With the PaK 44 gun, which, accordingly, changed the index to StuK 44, it became the most powerful anti-tank self-propelled gun of the Second World War - in particular, evidence was obtained of the defeat of Sherman tanks from a distance of over 3500 meters in the frontal projection.

Options for using the gun in tanks were also explored. In particular, the famous experimental Maus tank was armed with the PaK 44 in duplex with a 75-mm gun (in the tank version the gun was called KwK 44). It was also planned to install a gun on an experienced super heavy tank E-100.

Despite its heavy weight and enormous dimensions, the 12.8 cm PaK 44 made a great impression on the Soviet command. The technical specifications for post-war heavy Soviet tanks stipulated the condition of withstanding fire from this gun in the frontal projection.
The first tank capable of withstanding fire from the PaK 44 was the experimental Soviet tank IS-7 in 1949.

Assessing the German anti-tank artillery as a whole, it should be noted that it contains a large number of guns of different types and calibers. Which undoubtedly made it difficult to supply ammunition, repair, maintain and prepare gun crews. At the same time, German industry managed to ensure the production of guns and shells in large volumes. During the war, new types of guns were developed and put into mass production, capable of effectively resisting Allied tanks.

The armor of our medium and heavy tanks, which in the first years of the war provided reliable protection against German shells, by the summer of 1943 had become clearly insufficient. End-to-end lesions have become widespread. This is explained by the increased power of German anti-tank and tank artillery. German anti-tank and tank guns of 75-88 mm caliber with an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 1000 m/s penetrated any place in the armor protection of our medium and heavy tanks, with the exception of the upper frontal armor of the IS-2 tank.

All German regulations, memos and instructions on defense issues say: “All defense must be, first of all, anti-tank.” Therefore, the defense was built deeply echeloned, densely saturated with active anti-tank weapons and perfect in engineering terms. In order to strengthen active anti-tank weapons and use them more effectively, the Germans attached great importance choosing a defensive position. The main requirements in this case were its inaccessibility to tanks.

The Germans considered the most advantageous firing distances at tanks from their anti-tank and tank artillery, based on its armor-piercing ability: 250-300 m for 3.7 cm and 5 cm guns; 800-900 m for 7.5 cm guns and 1500 m for 8.8 cm guns. It was considered inappropriate to fire from long distances.

At the beginning of the war, the firing distance of our tanks, as a rule, did not exceed 300 m. With the advent of 75 and 88 mm caliber guns with an initial armor-piercing projectile speed of 1000 m/s, the firing distance of tanks increased significantly.

A few words should be said about the action of small-caliber projectiles. As mentioned above, all types of 3.7-4.7 cm guns used by the Germans were ineffective when firing at T-34 medium tanks. However, there were cases of damage to the frontal armor of turrets and the T-34 hull by 3.7-cm caliber shells. This was due to the fact that certain series of T-34 tanks had substandard armor. But these exceptions only confirmed the rule.

It should be noted that quite often caliber shells of 3.7-5 cm caliber, as well as sub-caliber shells, having penetrated the armor, did not disable the tank; light shells did lose most kinetic energy and could not cause serious damage. Thus, at Stalingrad, one disabled T-34 tank accounted for an average of 4.9 shell hits. In 1944-1945 this required 1.5-1.8 hits, since by this time the role of large-caliber anti-tank artillery had increased significantly.

The distribution of hits of German shells on the armor protection of the T-34 tank is also of particular interest. Yes, during Battle of Stalingrad out of 1308 damaged T-34 tanks, 393 tanks were hit in the front, i.e. 30%, on the side - 835 tanks, i.e. 63.9%, and in the stern - 80 tanks, i.e. 6.1 %. During the final stage of the war - the Berlin operation - in the 2nd Guards tank army 448 tanks were hit, of which 152 (33.9%) were hit in the front, 271 (60.5%) in the side and 25 (5.6%) in the rear.

If we put aside patriotism, it should be said that German anti-tank guns were the most effective during the Second World War and successfully operated on all fronts from Normandy to Stalingrad and from the Kola Peninsula to the Libyan sands. The success of German anti-tank artillery can be explained primarily by successful design solutions in the design of shells and guns, excellent training and durability of their crews, tactics for using anti-tank guns, the presence of first-class sights, the high specific gravity of self-propelled guns, as well as the high reliability and high maneuverability of artillery tractors.

Based on materials:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deckarudo/sets/72157627854729574/
http://www.telenir.net/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_oruzhie_1997_01/p3.php
http://popgun.ru/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=157182
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/8_cm_PAW_600
A.B. Shirokorad "Artillery in the Great Patriotic War"
A.B. Shirokorad "God of War of the Third Reich"

“Artillery is the god of war,” J.V. Stalin once said, speaking about one of the most significant branches of the military. With these words he tried to emphasize the enormous importance that had this weapon during the Second World War. And this expression is true, since the merits of artillery are difficult to overestimate. Its power allowed Soviet troops to mercilessly crush enemies and bring the much-desired Great Victory closer.

Later in this article, we will look at the artillery of World War II, which was then in service with Nazi Germany and the USSR, starting with light anti-tank guns and ending with super-heavy monster guns.

Anti-tank guns

As the history of the Second World War has shown, light guns, by and large, turned out to be practically useless against armored vehicles. The fact is that they were usually developed in the interwar years and could only withstand the weak protection of the first armored vehicles. But before World War II, technology began to rapidly modernize. The armor of tanks became much thicker, so many types of guns turned out to be hopelessly outdated.

Mortars

Perhaps the most accessible and effective infantry support weapon was mortars. They perfectly combined properties such as range and firepower, therefore, their use could turn the tide of the entire enemy offensive.

German troops most often used the 80mm Granatwerfer-34. This weapon earned a dark reputation among the Allied forces for high speed and extreme firing accuracy. In addition, its firing range was 2400 m.

The Red Army used the 120mm M1938, which entered service in 1939, for fire support of its infantrymen. It was the very first mortar of this caliber ever produced and used in world practice. When German troops encountered this weapon on the battlefield, they appreciated its power, after which they put a copy into production and designated it “Granatwerfer-42”. The M1932 weighed 285 kg and was the heaviest type of mortar that infantrymen had to carry with them. To do this, it was either disassembled into several parts or pulled on a special trolley. Its firing range was 400 m less than that of the German Granatwerfer-34.

Self-propelled units

In the very first weeks of the war, it became clear that the infantry was in dire need of reliable fire support. The German armed forces encountered an obstacle in the form of well-fortified positions and a large concentration of enemy troops. Then they decided to strengthen their mobile fire support self-propelled 105-mm Vespe artillery mount mounted on a PzKpfw II tank chassis. Other similar weapons- "Hummel" - was part of the motorized and tank divisions since 1942.

During the same period, the SU-76 self-propelled gun with a 76.2 mm cannon appeared in service with the Red Army. It was installed on a modified chassis light tank T-70. Initially, the SU-76 was intended to be used as a tank destroyer, but during its use it was realized that it had too little firepower for this.

In the spring of 1943, Soviet troops received new car- ISU-152. It was equipped with a 152.4 mm howitzer and was intended both for the destruction of tanks and mobile artillery, and for supporting infantry with fire. First, the gun was installed on the KV-1 tank chassis, and then on the IS. In battle, this weapon proved to be so effective that it remained in service with the Warsaw Pact countries until the 70s of the last century.

This type of weapon was of great importance during combat operations throughout the Second World War. The heaviest artillery then available in service with the Red Army was the M1931 B-4 howitzer with a caliber of 203 mm. When Soviet troops began to slow down the rapid advance of the German invaders across their territory and the war on the Eastern Front became more static, heavy artillery was, as they say, in its place.

But the developers were always looking for the best option. Their task was to create a weapon that would, as harmoniously as possible, combine such characteristics as low weight, good firing range and the heaviest projectiles. And such a weapon was created. It was the 152-mm howitzer ML-20. A little later for service Soviet troops a more modernized M1943 gun arrived with the same caliber, but with a heavier barrel and a larger muzzle brake.

Defense enterprises of the Soviet Union then produced huge batches of such howitzers, which fired massive fire at the enemy. The artillery literally devastated German positions and thereby thwarted enemy offensive plans. An example of this is Operation Hurricane, which was successfully carried out in 1942. Its result was the encirclement of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. To carry it out, more than 13 thousand guns of various types were used. Artillery preparation of unprecedented power preceded this offensive. It was she who contributed significantly rapid advancement Soviet tank troops and infantry.

German heavy weapons

According to after the First World War, Germany was prohibited from having guns with a caliber of 150 mm or more. Therefore, the specialists from the Krupp company, who were developing a new gun, had to create a heavy field howitzer sFH 18 with a 149.1 mm barrel consisting of a pipe, breech and casing.

At the beginning of the war, the German heavy howitzer was moved by horse traction. But later, its modernized version was pulled by a half-track tractor, which made it much more mobile. The German army successfully used it on the Eastern Front. By the end of the war, sFH 18 howitzers were installed on tank chassis. Thus, the Hummel self-propelled artillery mount was created.

The Rocket Forces and Artillery are one of the divisions of the ground armed forces. The use of missiles during WWII was mainly associated with large-scale combat operations on the Eastern Front. Powerful rockets covered large areas with their fire, which compensated for some of the inaccuracy of these unguided guns. Compared to conventional projectiles, the cost of the missiles was much lower, and they were produced very quickly. Another advantage was the relative ease of their operation.

Soviet rocket artillery used 132mm M-13 shells during the war. They were created in the 1930s and by the time Nazi Germany attacked the USSR, they were available in very small quantities. These missiles are perhaps the most famous of all such missiles used during the Second World War. Gradually, their production was established, and by the end of 1941, the M-13 was used in battles against the Nazis.

It must be said that the rocket troops and artillery of the Red Army plunged the Germans into a real shock, which was caused by the unprecedented power and deadly effect of the new weapon. The BM-13-16 launchers were placed on trucks and had rails for 16 shells. These missile systems would later be known as Katyusha. Over time, they were modernized several times and were in service. Soviet army up to the 80s of the last century. With the advent of the expression “Artillery is the god of war” began to be perceived as truth.

German rocket launchers

The new type of weapon made it possible to deliver combat explosive parts over both long and short distances. Thus, short-range projectiles concentrated their firepower on targets located on the front line, while long-range missiles attacked targets located in the enemy rear.

The Germans also had their own rocket artillery. “Wurframen-40” is a German rocket launcher, which was mounted on the Sd.Kfz.251 half-track vehicle. The missile was aimed at the target by turning the vehicle itself. Sometimes these systems were introduced into battle as towed artillery.

Most often the Germans used rocket launcher"Nebelwerfer-41", which had a honeycomb design. It consisted of six tubular guides and was mounted on a two-wheeled carriage. But during the battle, this weapon was extremely dangerous not only for the enemy, but also for its own crew due to the nozzle flame escaping from the pipes.

The weight of the shells had a huge impact on their flight range. Therefore, the army whose artillery could hit targets located far behind the enemy line had a significant military advantage. Heavy German rockets were useful only for overhead fire, when it was necessary to destroy well-fortified objects, such as bunkers, armored vehicles or various defensive structures.

It is worth noting that the German artillery fire was much inferior in range rocket launcher Katyusha due to the excessive weight of the shells.

Super heavy weapons

Artillery played a very important role in Hitler's armed forces. This is all the more surprising since it was almost the most important element of the fascist war machine, and for some reason modern researchers prefer to focus their attention on studying the history of the Luftwaffe (air force).

Even at the end of the war, German engineers continued to work on a new grandiose armored vehicle - the prototype of a huge tank that would dwarf all other military equipment. The P1500 “Monster” project was never implemented. It is only known that the tank was supposed to weigh 1.5 tons. It was planned that it would be armed with an 80-centimeter Gustav cannon from Krupp. It is worth noting that its developers always thought big, and artillery was no exception. This weapon entered service with the Nazi army during the siege of the city of Sevastopol. The cannon fired only 48 shots, after which its barrel wore out.

The K-12 railway guns were in service with the 701st artillery battery, stationed on the English Channel coast. According to some reports, their shells, which weighed 107.5 kg, hit several targets in southern England. These artillery monsters had their own T-shaped track sections necessary for mounting and aiming at the target.

Statistics

As previously noted, the armies of the countries that participated in the hostilities of 1939-1945 entered the fight with outdated or partially modernized guns. All their ineffectiveness was fully revealed by the Second World War. The artillery urgently needed not only updating, but also increasing its number.

From 1941 to 1944, Germany produced more than 102 thousand guns with different caliber and up to 70 thousand mortars. By the time of the attack on the USSR, the Germans already had about 47 thousand artillery barrels, and this does not take into account assault guns. If we take the United States as an example, they produced about 150 thousand guns over the same period. Great Britain managed to produce only 70 thousand weapons of this class. But the record holder in this race was Soviet Union: during the war years, more than 480 thousand guns and about 350 thousand mortars were fired here. Before this, the USSR already had 67 thousand guns in service. This figure does not include 50mm mortars, naval artillery and anti-aircraft guns.

During the years of World War II, the artillery of the warring countries underwent great changes. The armies constantly received either modernized or completely new guns. Especially at a fast pace anti-tank and self-propelled artillery developed (photos from that time demonstrate its power). According to experts from different countries, about half of all losses ground forces accounts for the use of mortars during battle.

The artillery of World War II was striking in its pace of development. The warring countries started it with old weapons and ended it with a modernized arsenal. Each state chose its own path in the development of its troops. What this led to is known from history.

What is artillery?

Before you start looking at the artillery of World War II, you should understand what it is. This is the name of the branch of the military that involves the use of firearms with a caliber of twenty millimeters or more. It is designed to hit the enemy on land, water and in the air. The word “artillery” means a weapon, shooting devices, and ammunition.

Operating principle

The artillery of World War II, like that of the early period, is based on a physical and chemical process when the energy of burning a gunpowder charge in the barrel is converted into the energy of movement of ammunition. At the moment of firing, the temperature in the barrel reaches three thousand degrees.

Only a quarter of the energy is expended on the movement of the projectile. The rest of the energy goes to unimportant work and is lost. A flow of gases passes through the channel, which creates flame and smoke. A shock wave is also formed in the channel. She is the source of sound.

Device

World War II artillery guns consist of two key parts: the barrel, including the breech, and the carriage. The trunk has the structure of a pipe. It is necessary to throw a mine and give it flight in a given direction. Interior called a channel. It includes a chamber and a leading part. Exist rifled barrels. They give the projectile rotational movement. But smooth trunks have a long flight range.

The bolt is a device that sends an artillery shot into the chamber. It is also necessary for locking/unlocking the channel, firing a shot, and ejecting the cartridge case. The shutter can be wedge or piston.

The barrel is mounted on a special machine - a carriage. It performs several functions:

• gives the trunk a vertical and horizontal angle;
• absorbs recoil energy;
• moves the weapon.

The gun is also equipped with a sighting device, a shield cover, and a lower machine to ensure immobility.

Combat properties

Artillery Second World War has become more advanced compared to previous centuries. This branch of troops was used for the following combat properties:

• The power of ammunition. In other words, this is an indicator of the effectiveness of the projectile at the target. For example, the power of a high-explosive projectile is characterized by the area of ​​the destruction zone, a fragmentation projectile by the area of ​​the fragmentation zone, and an armor-piercing projectile by the thickness of the armor penetrated.
• Range - the longest range over which a weapon can throw a mine.
• Rate of fire - the number of shots fired from a gun in a certain time. It is necessary to distinguish between combat rate of fire and technical rate.
• Fire maneuverability - characterized by the speed with which you can open fire.
• Mobility is the ability of a weapon to move before and during combat. Artillery has average speed.

Firing accuracy is also important. Artillery from the Second World War is characterized by accuracy and accuracy.

Artillery tactics

Countries with artillery used it in various tactics. First of all, when attacking. This made it possible to suppress enemy defenses and constantly support infantry and tanks at breakthrough sites.

Strategists have developed a method called forking. The first shot is fired and slightly overshoots the target. This is followed by a second shot, which misses the target slightly. If the target is captured, the gunners begin targeted shooting. If deficiencies are detected, the tactics are continued until sufficient accuracy is achieved.

Artillery fire can be used to cut off. It is used to repel attacks. Typically, cutting fire extends to 150-200 meters. Also, with the help of artillery, you can determine the location of the object.

In terms of its duration and scale, counter-battery fire is especially notable. It involves firing from guns from closed positions at an enemy who also uses artillery. A battle is called successful when the enemy's artillery is suppressed or destroyed. A feature of counter-battery fire is the distance of the target from the front line. To determine the exact coordinates, the help of scouts who work on the front lines is required. It is also possible to use aircraft, aerial photography, and radar.

The guns are fired different ways. The most destructive is the salvo. It represents the simultaneous firing of several guns. The volley creates a strong impression psychological nature, and also leads to serious damage. Such fire is resorted to if the weapon is well aimed and there is a need for such actions.

There are many other tactics for using artillery. You can also highlight the withering fire when the guns fire for a long time for the same purposes.

Artillery at the beginning of the war

Artillery has developed over many centuries. Significant changes occurred before the First World War, as well as during its battles. The changes that were made to the guns served as the basis for the artillery of World War II.

The role of heavy weapons began to increase in combat operations. They were especially used during offensive operations. The artillery perfectly penetrated the enemy's defenses. The number of guns was constantly increasing in the armies of all countries. Their quality also improved, especially power and range. To increase efficiency, an instrumental intelligence service was created.

After World War I, states worked to accumulate combat power. The artillery worked to improve tactical and technical characteristics old equipment, created new tools.

The Soviet artillery of World War II, as well as that of other countries, consisted of old, partially modernized guns. The tactics of their use were also outdated. In the USSR there were attempts to create universal field guns. At the beginning of World War II, each country had its own attitude towards artillery.

German artillery of World War II

It is no secret that Germany was preparing for war long before it began. By the beginning of hostilities, the guns of the aggressor country met the requirements of the era. However, by the end of the war there was a shortage of large-caliber guns.

The naval artillery of the Wehrmacht of World War II was created in the pre-war years. Therefore, German sailors could engage the enemy at sea, despite their numerical superiority. The fact is that other countries practically did not modernize ship weapons.

As for the German coastal artillery of World War II, it was assembled from large-caliber ship-borne artillery own production, as well as those captured from enemies. Most of them were released before the First World War.

The best during the war years was anti-aircraft artillery. It was distinguished by its quality and quantity.

In 1941-1942 the country was unable to resist heavy tanks enemy. Experts began developing anti-tank guns. By 1943, they had adapted anti-aircraft guns for these purposes. There were no more problems in battles.

The leading place was occupied by self-propelled artillery units. They were created in Germany by special projects. In the USSR, no less attention was paid to self-propelled artillery installations.

USSR artillery of World War II

By World War II Soviet Union established the production of aircraft guns, which in their characteristics met the requirements of the era. However, the aiming system remained a problem. It could not be resolved throughout the war.

The naval artillery of the USSR during the Second World War consisted mostly of medium-caliber guns created before the First World War. Large-caliber cannons have been preserved since the pre-war times of Tsarist Russia.

The Soviet World War II artillery along the coastline was insufficient. But even those few guns made a significant contribution to the defensive ability of the army at the beginning of the war. Thanks to coastal guns, it held out for a long time defense of Odessa, Sevastopol.

The country had numerous and fairly modern mobile heavy artillery. But due to unprofessional command, it turned out to be ineffective. The most backward type of weapon in question was anti-aircraft artillery. The situation changed little even by the end of the war.

Regarding the remaining guns, the USSR was able to establish production during the war. By the end of World War II, the country was competing with Germany. The army preferred guns that covered large areas with their fire. This was due to the fact that soviet soldiers They didn’t yet know how to shoot at targets. Therefore, the command gave important development rocket artillery.

British Artillery

Old copies were modernized in the country. Due to the fact that the industry was unable to establish production, Great Britain was unable to create medium-caliber aircraft guns. This led to the overload of aviation with large-caliber guns.

Also, Great Britain did not have large-caliber coastal guns. They were replaced by medium-caliber guns and ships. England was afraid of the German fleet, so it produced coastal small-caliber guns. The country did not have specialized equipment to counter heavy tanks. There was also a small number of self-propelled artillery.

US Artillery

The United States fought a war in Pacific Ocean. For this they used aircraft cannons. During the war years the country released a large number of anti-aircraft installations. In general, the country managed with the amount of artillery they had. This was due to the fact that on its territory there were no fighting. In Europe, the American military used British guns.

Japanese artillery

The country fought mainly with weapons created before the First World War or in the interwar period. Despite the fairly young anti-aircraft guns, they were obsolete and therefore could not provide significant resistance to enemy aircraft. Anti-tank artillery limited to small caliber guns. The jet branch of the military was in its infancy.

The 37-mm anti-tank gun model 1930 (1-K) was developed by the German company Rheinmetall and, under an agreement between Germany and the USSR, was transferred to the latter. In essence, it was similar to the German Pak-35/36 anti-tank gun with interchangeable ammunition: armor-piercing, fragmentation shells and buckshot. A total of 509 units were produced. TTX guns: caliber 37 mm; trunk length – 1.6 m; height of the firing line - 0.7 m; firing range - 5.6 km; initial speed – 820 m/s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; armor penetration - 20 mm at a distance of 800 m at an impact angle of 90°; calculation – 4 people; transportation speed on the highway is up to 20 km/h.

Airborne gun mod. 1944 had a shortened recoil barrel and was equipped with a specially created 37-mm BR-167P sub-caliber projectile (weight - 0.6-07 kg). The gun was disassembled into three parts: the swinging part, the machine and the shield. The two-wheeled machine had sliding beds with constant and driving coulters. The shield in a traveling position on wheels was placed along the movement of the gun. The gun was transported in Willys (1 gun), GAZ-64 (1 gun), Dodge (2 guns) and GAZ-A (2 guns), as well as in the sidecar of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. It was possible to fire from a motorcycle at speeds of up to 10 km/h. In 1944-1945 472 guns were manufactured. TTX guns: caliber – 37 mm; trunk length – 2.3 m; weight – 217 kg; projectile weight – 730 g; height of the firing line – 280 mm; maximum firing range – 4 km; rate of fire - 15-25 rounds per minute; initial projectile speed – 865 – 955 m/s; armor penetration with a caliber armor-piercing projectile at an angle of 90° at a distance of 500 m - 46 mm, with a sub-caliber projectile - 86 mm; shield thickness – 4.5 mm; calculation – 4 people; the time it takes to transfer a gun from traveling to combat is 1 minute.

The 1932 model gun was created by replacing the barrel of a 1930 model 37-mm anti-tank gun. The gun was transported both by horse traction and mechanically. In the transport position, a single-axle ammunition box was attached, and behind it the gun itself. The 19-K gun had wooden wheels. The gun, adapted for installation in a tank, received the factory designation “20-K” (32.5 thousand guns were produced). In 1933, the gun was modernized - the weight in firing position was reduced to 414 kg. In 1934, the gun received pneumatic tires, and the weight increased to 425 kg. The gun was produced in 1932-1937. A total of 2,974 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 45 mm; length – 4 m; width – 1.6 m; height – 1.2 m; ground clearance – 225 mm; trunk length – 2.1 m; weight in combat position - 560 kg, in stowed position - 1.2 tons; firing range - 4.4 km; rate of fire - 15-20 rounds per minute; armor penetration - 43 mm at a distance of 500 m; calculation – 5 people; transportation speed on the highway on wooden wheels is 10 - 15 km/h, on rubber wheels - 50 km/h.

Gun arr. 1937 was put into service in 1938 and was the result of the modernization of the 19-K anti-tank gun. The gun was mass produced until 1942.

It differed from the previous model in the following innovations: semi-automatic operation worked when firing all types of ammunition, a push-button release and suspension were introduced, and a car wheel was installed; cast machine parts are excluded. Armor penetration - 43 mm at a distance of 500 m. To improve armor penetration, a 45 mm sub-caliber projectile was adopted, which penetrated 66 mm armor at a distance of 500 m, and 88 mm armor when fired at a distance of 100 m. A total of 37,354 guns were manufactured. TTX guns: caliber – 45 mm; length – 4.26 m; width – 1.37 m; height – 1.25 m; trunk length – 2 m; weight in combat position - 560 kg; traveling - 1.2 t; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; initial projectile speed – 760 m/s; direct shot range – 850 m; armor-piercing projectile weight – 1.4 kg, maximum firing range – 4.4 km, carriage speed on the highway – 50 km/h; calculation - 6 people.

The 1942 model gun (M-42) was created as a result of the modernization of the 45-mm gun mod. 1937 Modernization consisted of lengthening the barrel (up to 3.1 m) and strengthening the propellant charge. The thickness of the shield cover armor was increased from 4.5 mm to 7 mm for better protection crew from rifle armor-piercing bullets. As a result of modernization, the muzzle velocity of the projectile increased from 760 to 870 m/s. A total of 10,843 units were produced. TTX guns: caliber - 45 mm; length – 4.8 m; width – 1.6 m; height – 1.2 m; trunk length – 3 m; weight in combat position - 625 kg; traveling – 1250 kg; projectile weight - 1.4 kg; initial speed – 870 m/s; maximum firing range – 4.5 km; direct shot range – 950 m; rate of fire - 20 rounds per minute; transportation speed on the highway – 50 km/h; armor penetration - 51 mm at a distance of 1000 m; calculation – 6 people.

The 57-mm anti-tank gun model 1941 (ZIS-2) was created under the leadership of V.G. Grabin in 1940, but its production was suspended in 1941. Only with the advent of heavily armored German tanks in 1943, mass production was resumed under a new designation. The 1943 model gun had a number of differences from the 1941 model guns, aimed at improving the manufacturability of the gun's production. The gun was towed at the beginning of the war by the semi-armored Komsomolets tractor, GAZ-64, GAZ-67, GAZ-AA, GAZ-AAA, ZIS-5 vehicles; from the middle of the war, those supplied by land were used -Lease Dodge WC-51 semi-trucks and Studebaker US6 all-wheel drive trucks. On the basis of the ZIS-2, the ZIS-4 and ZIS-4M tank guns were created, which were installed on the T-34. The gun was also used to arm the ZIS-30 anti-tank self-propelled guns. The gun was equipped with ammunition in the form of a unitary cartridge with shells: caliber and sub-caliber armor-piercing; fragmentation and buckshot. The weight of the projectile ranged from 1.7 to 3.7 kg depending on its type, the initial speed ranged from 700 to 1270 m/s; armor penetration - 109 mm at a distance of 1000 m at a meeting angle of 90°. A total of 13.7 thousand guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber – 57 mm; length – 7 m; width – 1.7 m; height – 1.3 m; trunk length – 4.1 m; ground clearance - 350 mm; weight in combat position - 1050 kg; traveling – 1900 kg; rate of fire - 25 rounds per minute; transportation speed on the highway – up to 60 km/s; height of the firing line – 853 mm; firing range - 8.4 km; direct shot range - 1.1 km; the thickness of the shield cover was 6 mm; calculation – 6 people.

Structurally, the ZiS-3 was a superposition of the barrel of the F-22USV divisional gun model on the light carriage of the ZiS-2 57-mm anti-tank gun. The gun had suspension, metal wheels, with rubber tires. To be moved by horse traction, it was equipped with a standardized limber model 1942 for regimental and divisional guns. The gun was also towed by mechanical traction: trucks of the ZiS-5, GAZ-AA or GAZ-MM types, three-axle all-wheel drive Studebaker US6, light all-wheel drive Dodge WC. The ZIS-3 gun was put into service in 1942 and had a dual purpose: a divisional field gun and an anti-tank gun. Moreover, the weapon was used more in the first half of the war to fight tanks. The SU-76 self-propelled guns were also armed with a cannon. During the war, the divisional artillery had 23.2 thousand guns, and the anti-tank units had 24.7 thousand. During the war, 48,016 thousand guns were produced. TTX guns: caliber – 76.2 mm; length – 6 m; width – 1.4 m; barrel length – 3; weight in traveling position - 1.8 tons, in combat position - 1.2 tons; rate of fire - 25 rounds per minute; armor penetration of a projectile weighing 6.3 kg with an initial speed of 710 m/s - 46 mm at a distance of 1000 m; barrel survivability - 2000 shots; maximum firing range – 13 km; transition time from transport to combat position – 1 minute; transportation speed on the highway is 50 km/h.