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Against the Tigers and Panthers. Domestic tank guns

Against the Tigers and Panthers. Domestic tank guns

When is a unified T-53 uniform needed?

Form T-53 is a payroll statement and is used in cases where the same payment is made in cash from the cash register to several people at the same time. Most often, wages are paid to our own employees in this way. But there may also be group payments to persons who are not employees of this company or individual entrepreneur. For example, this could be the payment of dividends to owners or financial assistance to former employees of the enterprise, and now retirees, in connection with a professional holiday.

Payroll refers to forms that can be developed by a company or individual entrepreneur independently. However, it is easier to use the long-tested T-53 form, approved by the State Statistics Committee.

The payroll is a mandatory attachment to the cash receipt order, by which funds are issued from the cash register to make the corresponding payment. It can be formed both for the organization as a whole and for its individual structural divisions. Money can be paid directly from the enterprise’s cash desk or can be issued to a financially responsible person who will make the payment at a facility remote from the cash desk.

Where can I find form T-53 and how to fill it out?

The unified form T-53 was approved by Decree of the State Statistics Committee of the Russian Federation dated January 5, 2004 No. 1. You can download it on our website:

The first page of form T-53 contains information about the company or individual entrepreneur and the structural unit. For the company indicate:

OKPO code;
corresponding accounting account (usually account 70, but for the examples given of payments to persons who are not employees of the company, it may be 75 or 76);
limits of dates during which money must be paid (no more than 5 working days);
total amount intended for payment (in words and figures);
serial number of the payroll;
date of preparation of the payroll;
the period for which payments are made.

The page is certified by the signatures of the head of the company or individual entrepreneur and the chief accountant (if the company or individual entrepreneur has one).

The next page (or pages) is a table containing information about the recipients of money (personnel number and full name), amounts accrued for payment, as well as space for signatures and notes.

If money is received for someone by power of attorney, then information about the power of attorney is entered in the “Note” column opposite the name of the person to whom the money is intended. In this case, either the original one-time power of attorney or a copy of the power of attorney issued for a period of time, which can be used repeatedly, is attached to the payroll.

In case of failure to receive money within the 5-day period allotted for payment through the cash register, in the column intended for affixing a signature, opposite the name of the person who did not receive it, the entry “Deposited” is made.

The table ends with an indication of the number of sheets in it and the results of payments made. The total amounts of paid and deposited funds are given separately in words and figures. The signatures (with transcript) of the person who made the payment and the accountant who verified the specified data are affixed. The details of the cash disbursement order (number and date) are indicated by which the money actually paid according to this statement is issued from the cash register (clause 6.5 of the Bank of the Russian Federation instructions dated March 11, 2014 No. 3210-U).

A sample of a completed salary slip, as well as the nuances of filling it out, are given in the article “Salary slip form T-53 (download form)” .

Results

Form T-53 is used to formalize the payment of cash to employees, shareholders or participants, and other individuals. The form has been familiar for a long time and is not at all difficult to fill out, as you could see by reading our article.

A payroll is a method of processing cash payments at the cash desk of an enterprise when making payments to employees.In this case, the accrual itself is made by drawing up a payroll, which, in turn, is closely related to the form of the payroll.For example, to calculate wages, payroll sheets according to Form 49, timesheets of Form T12, etc. can be used. What exactly should be used is determined based on the characteristics of the activity of the enterprise itself.

If wages are calculated, then their payment is made through a payroll in the T-53 form. Let us remind you that you do not need to use the two above forms if the calculation and payment of salaries to staff are carried out in a universal one. Each completed payroll T-53 is entered in chronological order into the payroll register.

Filling out form T-53

Name of the organization or individual entrepreneur. If the salary is calculated for a specific structural unit, then we indicate its name; if for an entire enterprise, a dash is placed.

OKPO code. It can be viewed in the notification from Rosstat.

Corresponding account. The account is set to 70 – “Settlements with personnel for wages”.

The line “To the cashier for payment on time.” The period for which money is withdrawn from the organization’s current account is indicated. According to the rules, it is forbidden to store cash in excess of the established limit at the cash register, with the exception of Money, intended for issuing wages - they can be stored for 3 days. So it is better to indicate a 3-day period in this line.

Reflected below total salary in words and figures. The head of the organization and the chief accountant put their signatures next to it.

In the table, everything is quite simple: Last name, initials, personnel number of employees and the amount of money they should receive. When receiving a salary, each employee must sign.

Money not received by the employee for any reason must be handed over to the bank, and in column 5 the entry “Deposited” must be made.

Below the table the total amount paid is indicated in words and figures, as well as the deposited amount (if not all employees received the salary).

Also indicated at the bottom of the form:

Details of the cash receipt order on the basis of which money was taken from the cash register

Responsible person who made the payment (full name, position and signature)

Full name, signature of the accountant, as well as the date of signing the document

Payroll: sample filling

76.2 mm rifled tank gun D-56T or D-56TM installed on light tanks PT-76. The D-56TM gun differed from the D-56T mainly in the presence of an ejection device for purging the barrel bore and a two-chamber active-type muzzle brake (instead of a slotted jet-type muzzle brake). The gun barrel consisted of a monoblock pipe, breech, coupling, lining, clip, ejector and muzzle brake. The gun breech is a wedge breech with vertical movement of the wedge and semi-automatic mechanical type. The recoil devices consisted of a spindle-type hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler, which were located under the barrel. The brake and knurling cylinders were secured in the barrel holder and rolled back with the barrel when fired.

The cradle is cast, frame type. The trigger mechanism consisted of an electric trigger and a mechanical (manual) trigger. The electric release lever was located on the handle of the lifting mechanism flywheel, and the release lever was located on the fence panel. The lifting mechanism is a sector type with a release link. The compensating mechanism is spring type.

76.2 mm rifled gun D-56TS installed on the PT-76B tank. Due to the tank being equipped with a two-plane stabilizer, the D-56TS gun cradle differed from the D-56TM gun cradle in the presence of brackets for mounting stabilization system devices (gyroblock and actuator cylinder rod). To ensure barrel balancing, the receiver casing of the barrel purging device had a greater mass (due to an increase in the thickness of its walls from 3 to 4 mm) than the receiver casing of the D-56TM gun. In addition, unlike the D-56T cannon, the bolts of the D-56TM and D-56TS guns had fuses against premature firing when the bolt was not completely closed or when the bolt was completely closed. Also, in the electric trigger system of the D-56TS gun, in contrast to the D-56TM gun, instead of the VS-11 blocking device, a special automatic blocking device was installed, which was included in the stabilization system kit. For firing from 76.2 mm tank guns, unitary shots with armor-piercing, armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used.

85 mm rifled The D-58 cannon was installed on the experimental light tank “Object 906”, equipped with a two-plane stabilizer. The gun had a two-chamber muzzle brake and an ejection device for purging the barrel bore, installed in the middle part of the gun barrel. To fire the cannon, unitary shots with high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing shells were used. The initial speed of the armor-piercing projectile was 1000 m/s.

85-mm rifled tank gun ZIS-S53 mod. 1944 installed on modernized medium tanks T-44M and T-34-85. The gun barrel consisted of a monoblock pipe, a breech, a breech coupling, a lining and a clip. The shutter is a vertical wedge with semi-automatic mechanical (copier) type. The gun cradle is cast, clip type. The recoil devices consisted of a spindle-type hydraulic brake for recoil and roll-up and a hydropneumatic roller. The recoil brake was located on the left, the knurl on the right. The normal recoil length of the barrel was 280-320 mm, the maximum length was 330 mm.

Sector type lifting mechanism. The gun's trigger mechanism consisted of electric and mechanical (manual) triggers. The electric release lever was installed on the handle of the flywheel of the lifting mechanism, and the manual release lever was installed on the left shield of the fence.

For firing from a cannon, unitary shots with armor-piercing and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used. Subsequently, a shot with an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile was introduced into the cannon's ammunition load.

100 mm tank guns installed: D-10T - on the T-54 tank, D-10TG - on the T-54A tank with a weapon stabilizer in the vertical plane, D-10T2S– on T-54B and T-55 tanks with a two-plane weapon stabilizer. The D-10T gun, unlike the D-10TG and D-10T2S guns, did not have an ejection device for purging the barrel bore.

The barrel of the D-10T gun consisted of a monoblock pipe, a breech, a coupling, and a guide rod. Later, an ejection device for purging the barrel bore was introduced. The total length of the gun barrel was 52 calibers. The gun breech is a wedge breech with horizontal movement of the wedge and semi-automatic mechanical type, without a re-cocking safety mechanism. The gun cradle is cast, clip type. In the tower frame, the cradle was mounted on axles with needle bearings. The recoil devices consisted of a hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler, which were located above the barrel in special lugs in the cradle (the brake cylinder was on the left, the knurl cylinder was on the right, when looking in the direction of fire). The normal rollback length was 490-550 mm, the maximum length was 570 mm. The gun's trigger mechanism was operated by a manual trigger (on the left side of the fence) or by an electric trigger (on the handle of the flywheel of the lifting mechanism). To ensure smooth aiming of the gun in the vertical plane, a spring-type compensating mechanism was installed.

For the D-10TG gun, the cradle configuration was changed to ensure installation of weapon stabilizer units in a vertical plane. Cylinders of recoil devices were placed on top of the cradle lugs. To balance the gun at the angles of elevation and descent, appropriate design changes were made to its compensating mechanism. In addition, the configuration of the reflector of spent cartridges in the folding guard has changed, and a cutting of the tray under the cartridge case has been introduced, which eliminated the cartridges from hanging in the breech when firing from a cannon.

D-10T2S gun had changes in the design of individual components due to the introduction of a two-plane weapon stabilizer. The bolt design of both the D-10TG gun and the D-10T2S gun included safety mechanisms and a re-cocking mechanism.

For firing from 100-mm cannons, unitary shots with armor-piercing, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used. Since 1961, a shot with a non-rotating cumulative projectile was introduced into the ammunition load.

115-mm tank smoothbore gun U-5TS (2A20) installed in the T-62 medium tank. The gun barrel consisted of a pipe fastened in the chamber part with a casing, a breech with a clip and an ejector. The total length of the barrel was 52.6 calibers. The ejection device for purging the barrel bore was located at a distance of 2050 mm from the muzzle. The holes for the nozzles and for the ball valve of the ejection purge were moved back towards the action of greater pressure of the powder gases, which increased the efficiency of the purge. The shutter is a wedge type, semi-automatic, with a horizontally moving wedge. Semi-automatic mechanical, spring type. The trigger mechanism was installed on the base of the fence and consisted of electrical and mechanical triggers. The electric release was carried out by pressing the handle button of the stabilizer control panel or the release lever located on the handle of the lifting mechanism flywheel; the manual release handle was located in the window of the left shield of the fence and was mounted directly in the release mechanism. The cradle is of a cage type, of a welded structure. It consisted of two cast halves of a trough shape, welded together. Some guns had a one-piece cradle. On the right and left sides of the cradle there were bosses for installing trunnions and fastening the lifting mechanism sector. The lugs for installing the trunnions were shifted downwards by 40 mm relative to the cradle axis in order to ensure the balance of the swinging part of the gun. The cylinders of the recoil devices (a spindle-type hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic three-cylinder knurler) were placed in the breech cage, the rods were located at the bottom in the cradle boss. The design of the knurl made it possible to disconnect the working and inner cylinders from the spring cylinder for inspection. The seals in the knurl were made using rubber collars. The normal rollback length was 350-415 mm, the maximum length was 430 mm. The lifting mechanism is sectoral, with a release link and a mechanism for removing gun jamming. The lifting mechanism had a manual disconnection of the worm pair from the gear shaft when switching to a stabilized aiming of the gun.

For firing from a cannon, unitary shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used.

115-mm smoothbore tank gun D-68 (2A21) installed in the Object 432 medium tank. Unlike the 115-mm U-5TS tank gun, it was intended to fire single-case loaded rounds. The gun barrel consisted of a pipe fastened in the chamber part with a casing, a coupling, a breech and an ejection device for purging the barrel bore. The total length of the barrel was 52.6 calibers. The gun bolt was a wedge-type, semi-automatic type with a horizontally moving wedge, and had a galvanic-impact mechanism of a combined type: electric ignition and mechanical impact action. Semi-automatic – mechanical, rolling pin type. The trigger mechanism consisted of an electric ignition device and a mechanical (manual) trigger, which were installed on the base and left guard of the gun. The electric ignition was carried out by pressing a button on the stabilizer control panel or a button on the handle of the lifting mechanism. The cradle is a cage type, welded from two cast halves. At the bottom of the cradle, the recoil brake and retraction brake rods were attached. In the tank turret, the cradle was mounted on two axles with needle bearings. The recoil devices consisted of a hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler. The recoil and retractor brake cylinders were fixed in the breech and moved with the barrel when fired. The normal rollback length was 250-305 mm, the maximum length was 320 mm.

To protect crew members from being hit by the breech during firing, a gun fence was installed, which consisted of two shields connected to each other at the bottom by a base. Special weights were attached to the base of the fence to balance the swinging part of the gun with three bolts.

For firing from the cannon, separate-case-loading shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used.

122 mm tank gun D-25T was installed on heavy tanks IS-4 and T-10, 122-mm cannons D-25TA and D-25TS - on modifications of the heavy tank T-10 - T-10A and T-10B. The D-25T and D-25TA guns were identical in design.

Cannon barrel D-25T (D-25TA) consisted of a monoblock pipe, breech, coupling and muzzle brake. The monoblock pipe had a stepped cylindrical shape and was machined into a cone at the muzzle. At the muzzle end of the pipe there was a strip thread for screwing on the muzzle brake. The length of the gun barrel was 48 calibers. The shutter is a horizontal wedge with a semi-automatic copy type. A cast cradle of a cage type swung on two axles mounted in the brackets of the turret embrasure. Recoil devices (spindle-type hydraulic brake and hydropneumatic knurler) were located above the barrel. The normal rollback length was 490-550 mm, the maximum length was 570 mm. Rate of fire – 2-3 rds/min. A tray was installed on the breech of the gun to facilitate loading. Sector-type lifting mechanism, with a release link, with motor and manual drives and a switch. The target firing range reached 5000 m, the longest with the help of a side level was 15000 m.

The gun had a manual trigger mechanism. The descent was carried out by pressing the electric trigger lever, located on the handle of the gun's lifting mechanism. In addition to the electric trigger, there was a mechanical trigger lever located on the left shield of the gun fence.

Unlike the D-25T cannon, the cannon D-25TA It was equipped with a ramming mechanism, as well as a re-cocking mechanism, which made it possible, in the event of a misfire, to move the firing pin to the rear position without opening and closing the bolt wedge. When using the ramming mechanism, the rate of fire increased to 3-4 rounds/min. Subsequently, the forwarding mechanism was abolished.

Unlike the D-25T and D-25TA guns, the design of the gun D-25TS The following changes have been made:

– the barrel is equipped with an ejection device for purging the barrel bore. The breech has a larger tray cutout to make it easier for the cartridge case to fall out during extraction; the site for the control level was moved;

– the bolt has a galvanic impact mechanism, a mechanism for releasing the ejector legs and a mechanism for re-cocking the striker;

– the front and rear mounting brackets of the machine gun on the cradle were shortened in order to bring the DShK machine gun closer to the axis of the gun (in order to increase the shell resistance of the armor);

– brackets (front and rear) are welded to the bosses under the cylinders of the recoil devices on the left side of the cradle for attaching the sight - the TUP backup;

– the folding gun guard has been changed in connection with the introduction of a chambering mechanism and to facilitate the extraction of the spent cartridge case. A mechanical release lock has been introduced;

– a spindle of a more advanced design has been introduced into the rollback brake to reduce the force of resistance to rollback and its attachment to the front cover has been changed;

– all parts of the brake, except for the spindle, rod, rod nut and front cover, are unified with the same parts of the D-10T gun. A new design knurl was introduced;

– adjustment of the spring preload has been introduced in the compensating mechanism, and the shape of the bracket has also been changed due to a change in the mounting of the gun in the turret embrasure. When adjusting the mechanism, the gap between the ends of the locknut and the rod should not be more than 20 mm;

– a new lifting mechanism for the gun was used, which had a delivery link and an electric drive gearbox;

– a mechanism has been reintroduced for sending a projectile and cartridge case with a charge into the barrel when loading the gun.

For firing from the cannon, separate-case-loading shots with armor-piercing tracer and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles were used.

installed on the T-10M heavy tank. The gun barrel consisted of a pipe fastened with a casing, a breech with a guide pin, a coupling, a muzzle brake and an ejection device for purging the barrel bore. The gun bolt was a wedge type with horizontal movement of the wedge and semi-automatic mechanical (copier) type, opening to the left. The bolt was equipped with a mechanism for re-cocking the firing pin and safety mechanisms that prevented self-release when the tank with a loaded gun moved and fired when the bolt was not completely closed. The firing mechanism is galvanic-impact. The electrical circuit of the galvanic igniter was closed by pressing a button on one of the handles of the control panel of the T2S sight. The release of the firing pin during its impact action was carried out using a trigger mechanism located on the gun guard, as well as a trigger electromagnet when pressing the buttons located on the handles of the T2S sight control panel, or the button on the handle of the flywheel of the lifting mechanism, or by turning the handle of the trigger mechanism (manual descent). The presence of a special lock in the mechanism ensured the impossibility of firing a shot in any way (galvanic igniter, trigger electromagnet or manual release handle) until the loader gave permission to do so by turning the lever of the locking drive mechanism, located on right side fencing. The cradle is cast, frame type. At the bottom of the cradle there was a transverse boss in which the recoil brake and gun knurling rods were secured (knurled cylinder on the right, brake cylinder on the left). The cradle was attached to the gun frame by two axles with needle bearings.

The recoil devices consisted of a hydraulic recoil brake and a hydropneumatic knurler. The normal rollback length was 490-520 mm, the maximum length was 550 mm. The gun was equipped with an electromechanical rammer. The lifting mechanism is of a sector type with a gear-type delivery link, with a multi-disc friction electromagnetic clutch. When the stabilizer was working, the clutch was turned on automatically in all cases when it was necessary to ensure adhesion of the swinging part of the gun, removed from the stabilization, with the tank turret (during a shot for the period of rollback - rollback). For firing from the cannon, separate-case-loading shots with armor-piercing and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used. Subsequently, rounds with armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative projectiles were introduced into the cannon's ammunition load.

125 mm smoothbore gun D-81 during the period under review, it was installed on the experimental tank “Object 434”. The gun barrel consisted of a pipe, fastened in the chamber part with a casing, a coupling, a breech with a wedge breech with horizontal movement of the wedge and a mechanical semi-automatic rolling pin type and an ejector. The coupling was intended to connect the pipe to the breech. The total length of the barrel was 6350 mm, the mass of the swinging part of the gun (without stabilizer) was 2350 kg. The trigger mechanism consisted of an electric ignition device, an electric trigger mechanism and a mechanical (manual) trigger. Recoil devices - hydraulic recoil brake and hydropneumatic knurler. The recoil and retractor brake cylinders were fixed in the breech and moved with the barrel when fired. The normal rollback length was 270-320 mm, and the maximum length was 340 mm. The cradle is of a clip type, solid cast. From below, in the cradle boss (beard), the recoil brake and retraction brake rods were attached. The axis of the cradle's trunnions was shifted downward by 40 mm relative to its axis and the barrel, due to which the swinging part of the gun was balanced in a vertical plane (the center of gravity of the swinging part was aligned with the axis of the trunnions).

For firing from the cannon, separate-case-loading shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells were used.

130-mm naval rifled gun S-70 designs by V.G. The grab (NII-58 of the Ministry of Armament) was installed on experimental tanks “Object 260” mod. 1947/48 The gun had a single-chamber mesh muzzle brake, a semi-automatic wedge breech with a vertically moving wedge and a percussion firing mechanism. In addition, the gun was equipped with a system for purging the barrel bore with compressed air from air cylinders after firing. The mass of the gun was 4255 kg, the barrel length was 7440 mm (57.2 calibers). Recoil devices - two hydropneumatic knurling wheels and two hydraulic groove-type recoil brakes. The armor-piercing projectile weighing 33.4 kg had an initial speed of 900 m/s.

130-mm rifled tank gun S-26 with a wedge breech and a slotted muzzle brake was used on the first two experimental Object 260 tanks of the 1946 model. The initial speed of an armor-piercing projectile weighing 34 kg was 900 m/s. Shots of separate cartridge loading were used for firing.

130 mm rifled tank gun M-65 with a muzzle brake and ejector, stabilized in two guidance planes, was installed on experimental tanks “Object 277”, “Object 279”, “Object 770”. The length of the gun barrel was 59 calibers. The gun was equipped with a mechanized ammunition rack with an electromechanical rammer. The rollback length was 260 mm. Two hydraulic cylinders were installed in the drive of the gun's lifting mechanism (one on each side of the gun). The left hydraulic cylinder was also used as a hydraulic stop. In addition, it was equipped with a manual hydraulic lifting mechanism. The right hydraulic cylinder was intended to stabilize the gun in the vertical plane. In addition to the hydraulic stopper, there was an additional electromechanical stopper with a pin that fit into the eye on the right wall of the gun fence; it was turned on when the gun was positioned at the loading angle. When firing, separate-case-loading shots with armor-piercing, cumulative rotating and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles were used.

Table 15

Characteristics of serial domestic tank guns and ammunition

Ammunition for tank guns

In the first post-war period, tank ammunition included artillery rounds with armor-piercing (caliber), armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative, fragmentation and high-explosive fragmentation shells. According to the loading method, all shots of caliber up to 122 mm were unitary, with the exception of 115 mm shots for the D-68 smoothbore gun, which, like shots of caliber 122 mm and above, were single-case loaded.

The development and improvement of shots for tank guns was carried out by the Scientific Research Machine-Building Institute (NIMI), created in the late 1930s. It was at NIMI that the concept of a smoothbore gun was realized and its ammunition was developed, which included shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells.

Distribution of types of shots in tank ammunition during the Great War Patriotic War, as a rule, depended on the type of tasks being solved in a particular type of combat. In the post-war period, the composition of ammunition was strictly regulated and determined by relevant manuals and instructions. The distribution of ammunition in tanks by type of shot is presented in table 16.

Table 16

Distribution of ammunition in domestic post-war tanks

Caliber blunt-headed and sharp-headed projectiles:

A– sharp-headed; b– blunt-headed with a ballistic tip; V– sharp-headed with an armor-piercing and ballistic tip.

Armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles:

A– reel-shaped with different ballistic tip designs; b– streamlined shape with a ballistic tip.

Caliber blunt-headed and sharp-headed armor-piercing shells were very widely used. To facilitate adjustment of fire and target designation, all armor-piercing projectiles were equipped with tracers and, depending on the nature of the equipment, were divided into armor-piercing tracer or armor-piercing incendiary tracer projectiles.

Armor-piercing blunt-headed projectiles with a ballistic tip of 76 and 85 mm caliber were made of 35KhGSA steel. Blunt-headed 122-mm projectiles with a ballistic tip were made of KhNZM steel.

The armor-piercing tip of a sharp-headed projectile was intended to protect the head of the projectile body from destruction when it struck the armor, especially if it had a hard outer layer. In addition, the blunt armor-piercing tip helped reduce the number of ricochets. The armor-piercing tip was usually made from the same metal as the projectile body, or from a more ductile metal than the projectile body or the welded head of the body. Armor-piercing tips on projectiles were secured using tin solder and, less commonly, by rolling the lower edge or threading.

Penetration of armor by a projectile with an armor-piercing tip was accompanied by the destruction of the latter, as a result of which fragments of the tip usually remained in front of the armor. The maximum firing range of such shells at enemy tanks did not exceed 2-2.5 km. Armor-piercing shells were usually filled with TNT.

The damaging effect of an armor-piercing projectile with an explosive charge behind the armor was ensured only if its explosion occurred inside the tank. For this purpose, armor-piercing shells were equipped with bottom fuses with constant or auto-adjustable deceleration. Fuzes last type caused a projectile to explode after breaking through an armored barrier or after it stopped in a barrier.

Armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles differed from caliber armor-piercing projectiles in their relatively low mass, due to which these projectiles received high initial velocities when fired. Initially, they were not arrow-shaped, but coil-shaped. Together with high mechanical properties, high initial velocities determined the exceptionally high armor-piercing effect of these projectiles when fired at short ranges. When firing at ranges up to 500 m, the BPS had an advantage in armor penetration over the caliber projectile, but at a greater firing range it was inferior to it due to the intense loss of speed of the reel-shaped armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile. A serious drawback of armor-piercing discarding projectiles was also a sharp decrease in armor-piercing effect with increasing angle from the normal to the armor.

The armor-piercing core was the main part of the projectile. It was sintered from tungsten carbide with a small admixture of nickel, cobalt and other metals. The core material had a very high specific gravity and all the properties of superhard alloys. The core itself had a sharp-headed cylindrical-ogive shape. The armor-piercing effect of projectiles with composite cores was lower than the armor-piercing effect of projectiles with cores made of hard alloy.

The ballistic tip was made of light and soft material (plastic, aluminum alloy) or stamped from sheet iron and served only to hold the core in the pan and give the head of the projectile a streamlined shape.

When a sub-caliber projectile hit the armor, the pan and tip were destroyed and remained in front of the armor, and the core pierced the armor and, breaking into small fragments, caused damage behind the armor.

The destruction of the core in the process of penetrating the armor caused a reduced effect of armor-piercing discarding projectiles on composite armor, and the absence of a bursting charge resulted in a reduced destructive effect behind the armor compared to armor-piercing caliber projectiles.

Armor-piercing cumulative shells intended for direct fire at tanks. If necessary, these shells were used to fire at the vertical walls of defensive structures.

The shell of the cumulative projectile body was made of steel or steel cast iron, and the ballistic tip was made of gray cast iron, or ductile steel, or a zinc-based alloy. The explosive charge filled only part of the shell chamber; in its upper part there was a recess, which was a cumulative recess intended to concentrate (cumulate) and direct the action of the explosive charge gases on the armor.

The armor effect of such projectiles decisively depended on the conical shape of the cumulative recess in the bursting charge, the lining material and manufacturing technology. The shaped charges were made from powerful explosives: phlegmatized PETN * or RDX ** , as well as from alloys based on them. Instantaneous head fuses were used to detonate the projectiles at the target.

* – PETN (tetranitropentaerythritol) is a powerful high explosive with high detonation ability and sensitivity to mechanical stress, used for filling cumulative ammunition and making plastic explosives.

** – Hexogen is a high explosive, used for filling cumulative ammunition and making detonators.

Fragmentation shells were intended for firing at enemy personnel, for destroying light field shelters, as well as for making passages in wire fences and minefields. They were successfully used for firing at embrasures of bunkers and bunkers, as well as at tanks in the absence of armor-piercing shells.

Fragmentation shells caused damage mainly by fragments from the shell and, to a lesser extent, by gases from the explosive charge. In accordance with this, the main requirements for fragmentation shells were reduced to obtaining the maximum number of lethal fragments with the largest possible radius of destructive action.

Fragmentation shells were filled with TNT or hexogen-containing compositions A-IX-2 (80% phlegmatized hexogen + 20% aluminum powder) and TGA (40% hexogen + 50% TNT + 10% aluminum powder). The bodies of fragmentation shells were made of steel or steel cast iron. The number of lethal fragments depended on the thickness of the walls and the mechanical properties of the body metal, as well as the quantity and properties of explosives and the nature of detonation.

The basis of the ammunition of light, medium and heavy tanks in the first post-war period was made up of universal high-explosive fragmentation shells, which were intended to act with fragments on enemy personnel and materiel and the destructive power of explosive charge gases on structures. Moreover, in shells of caliber up to 122 mm, the high-explosive fragmentation effect prevailed over high-explosive, and in shells of 122 mm caliber, vice versa.

In terms of their overall size and mass characteristics, high-explosive fragmentation shells were an intermediate group between fragmentation and high-explosive shells. The shells of these projectiles were either solid-body or with a screw-on head. To equip these projectiles, TNT was used, as well as surrogate explosives.

To detonate high-explosive fragmentation shells on a target, head fuses with two settings for instantaneous (fragmentation) and inertial (high-explosive) operation were used.

76.2-mm unitary rounds with sub-caliber armor-piercing tracer shells for the D-56T gun (D-56TM, D-56TS):

A– with the BR-354N projectile; b– with BR-354P projectile

76.2-mm unitary rounds with armor-piercing tracer shells for the D-56T gun (D-56TM, D-56TS):

A– with the BR-354 projectile; b– with the BR-350A projectile; V- with BR-350B projectile

76.2-mm unitary rounds with high-explosive fragmentation shells for the D-56T cannon (D-56TM, D-56TS):

A– high-explosive fragmentation steel grenade OF-350; b– fragmentationsteel cast iron grenade O-350A

76.2 mm unitary shot with a cumulative non-rotating steel projectile BP-350M

For firing from 76.2 mm tank guns D-56T, D-56TM, D-56TS the following unitary shots were used: a UBR-354 shot with a BR-354 armor-piercing tracer projectile and an MD-10 bottom fuse; UBR-354A round with BR-354A armor-piercing tracer projectile and MD-7 bottom fuse; UBR-354B round with BR-350B armor-piercing tracer projectile and MD-8 bottom fuse; UBR-354P round with BR-354P armor-piercing sub-caliber tracer projectile; UBR-354N round with BR-354N armor-piercing sub-caliber tracer projectile; UBP-353M cumulative round with BP-350M cumulative steel projectile and BM fuse; UOF-354M shot with a high-explosive fragmentation steel grenade OF-350 and an MG-N or KTM-1-U or KTMZ-1-U fuse; UO-354AM shot with a 0-350A steel cast iron fragmentation grenade and an MG-N or KTM-1-U fuse. The armor penetration of the BP-350M cumulative projectile at an impact angle from the normal of 60° at any range was 70-75 mm.

In 1955, new cumulative rounds UBK-354 and UBK-354M were put into service, respectively, with cumulative non-rotating projectiles BK-354 and BK-354M with GPV-1 or GKN fuses. These shots were intended for direct fire at medium and heavy tanks and self-propelled guns at ranges up to 2000 m. The shots differed from each other only in the material of the cumulative crater. The BK-354M projectile had a copper cumulative funnel (M - copper), the BK-354 projectile had a steel funnel.

85-mm unitary rounds for the ZIS-S53 cannon:

A– with a fragmentation steel grenade O-365K; b– with an armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-367; V– with an armor-piercing tracer sharp-headed projectile BR-365K; G– with an armor-piercing blunt-headed tracer (with a ballistic tip) BR-365 projectile; d– with a sub-caliber armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-367P; e– with a sub-caliber armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-365P; and– with a practical PBR-367 tracer projectile.

For firing from an 85-mm tank gun ZIS-S53 mod. 1944 unitary shots were used: UBR-365 with an armor-piercing blunt-head tracer BR-365 projectile, which had a ballistic tip and an MD-7 fuse; UBR-365K with an armor-piercing tracer sharp-headed projectile BR-365K with an MD-8 fuse, but without a ballistic tip; UBR-367 with a BR-367 armor-piercing tracer projectile and a DBR-2 fuse; UO-365K with a fragmentation solid-body grenade 0-365 (full charge) and a remote fuse KGM-1 or KGMZ-1, UO-365K with a fragmentation grenade with an adapter head 0-365 (full charge) and a remote fuse KGM-1, UO- 367 with a solid-body fragmentation grenade O-365K (reduced charge) with a remote fuse KGM-1 (KGMZ-1). In 1949, the UBR-365P unitary round with the BR-365P sub-caliber armor-piercing tracer projectile was introduced into the ammunition load, and then the UBR-367P unitary round with the BR-367P sub-caliber armor-piercing tracer projectile. In addition, the UPBR-367 unitary round with the PBR-367 practical tracer projectile was used for firing.

100 mm unitary rounds with high-explosive fragmentation shellsOF-412 for the D-10T gun (D-10TG, D-10T2S): A– with a full charge; b– with reduced charge
100-mm unitary rounds with armor-piercing tracers shells for the D-10T cannon (D-10TG, D-10T2S): A– with a BR-412D projectile with an armor-piercing and ballistic tip; b– with a BR-412B projectile with a ballistic tip; V– with a sharp-headed projectile BR-412; G– with practical tracer PBR-412

For firing from 100 mm tank guns D-10T, D-10TG and D-10T2S unitary shots were used: UOF-412 or UOF-412Zh with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile OF-412 or OF-412Zh with a full charge and fuses RGM-6, RGM or V-429; UOF-412 or OF-412ZHU with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile OF-412 or OF-412ZH with a reduced charge and fuses RGM-6, RGM or V-429; UBR-412 with a sharp-headed armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-412 and an MD-8 fuse; UBR-412B or UBRZ with an armor-piercing tracer projectile with a BR-412B ballistic tip and an MD-8 or DBR-2 fuse, as well as a practical UPBR-412 shot with a solid armor-piercing tracer projectile PBR-412.

Since 1953, the UBR-412D round with an armor-piercing tracer projectile of improved armor penetration BR-412D (with armor-piercing and ballistic tips) and an MD-8 or DBR-2 fuse was introduced into the ammunition load.

Since 1961, the ZUBK4 round with a cumulative non-rotating projectile ZBK5 or ZBK5M with a GPV-2 head fuse and a tracer was introduced into the ammunition load.

The cumulative non-rotating projectile consisted of a steel body and head connected by a fuse. The head fuse was screwed into the head end, and the stabilizer body with six blades hinged on it using axles was screwed into the bottom part of the body. A tracer was located in the lower part of the stabilizer housing. In the folded position, the stabilizer blades were held using a latch - a silk cord. A rotating steel ring with copper sealing bands pressed into it was installed in a special recess on the lower part of the projectile body. The installation of a rotating ring prevented rotation of the cumulative projectile as it moved along the rifling of the barrel when fired (minor rotation was allowed). After the projectile took off from the gun, the stabilizer blades opened under the influence of expanding gases located in the grooves of the stabilizer, centrifugal forces arising from the rotation of the projectile and the oncoming air flow, providing the projectile with stability along the flight path. During flight, the projectile retained a slight rotational movement due to the effect of the air flow on the stabilizer blades, which had a bevel on the front edge, which contributed to obtaining the required accuracy of the fire. The tracer left a red trail, indicating the flight path.

The armor penetration of a cumulative projectile at an impact angle from the normal of 60° at any range was 180 mm.

For firing from a 115 mm U-5TS tank gun unitary shots were used: ZUBMZ, ZUBM4 and ZUBM5 with armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles ZBMZ, ZBM4 and ZBM6; ZUBKZ with a cumulative projectile ZBK4 or ZBK4M with a GPV-2 fuse and ZUOF1 with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile ZOF11 with a V-429E or V-429V fuse. The following charges were used for shooting: full special and full. The full special charge was intended for shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles ZBMZ, ZBM4 and ZBM6 and consisted of nitrodiglycol gunpowder DG-414/1, and the full charge was intended for shots with a cumulative projectile ZBK4 and a high-explosive fragmentation projectile ZOF11, consisting of nitrodiglycol gunpowder DG-3 13/1.

The armor-piercing discarding projectile consisted of a body, an armor-piercing tip, which was soldered to the body of the projectile, a ballistic tip, a driving ring, consisting of three sectors with two inclined holes in each, a sealing ring, and a six-finned stabilizer (caliber) screwed onto the bottom of the body. A tracer was inserted into the stabilizer housing.

The ZBMZ armor-piercing projectile was similar in design to the ZBM4 projectile, but differed from the latter in the presence of a hard alloy core, due to which the armor-piercing effect of the ZBMZ projectile was higher than the armor-piercing effect of the ZBM4 projectile. The ZUBM5 shot with the ZBM6 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile differed from the ZUBMZ and ZUBM4 shots in that it had a smaller projectile mass and a larger charge mass.

When the projectile was fired and moved along the barrel, the obturating ring wore out. Powder gases, passing through the inclined holes of the sectors of the leading ring, imparted a rotational movement to the projectile. When the projectile exited the barrel, under the influence of centrifugal forces and air resistance acting on the drive ring, the obturating ring broke, and the sectors of the drive ring were separated from the projectile and scattered to the sides at an angle of ±5° from the direction of fire. The range of the sectors was within 50-800 m from the muzzle of the gun. Therefore, in order not to inflict defeat on friendly troops located in front of the firing tank at a distance of up to 1000 m in a sector of +10° from the direction of fire, it was prohibited to fire armor-piercing sub-caliber shells.

Along the trajectory, the armor-piercing projectile retained the resulting rotation due to the bevels on the stabilizer feathers. The projectile rotation speed was 800-1000 rpm. The range of a direct shot with an armor-piercing discarding projectile at a target height of 2 m was equal to 1870 m, and at a target height of 3 m - 2260 m.

The ZBK4 cumulative projectile with a GPV-2 head fuse consisted of a body, a head with a point for the head fuse, and a connecting ring that connected the head to the body. The projectile body had a chamber in which a shaped charge and a detonator cap were collected. A stabilizer housing with six blades was screwed into the bottom of the housing. The stabilizer housing contained a bursting charge and a tracer. When the projectile was fired and moved along the bore, the stabilizer blades were held in the closed position by the moment of inertial force from linear acceleration, which arose due to the fact that the center of gravity of each blade was located closer to the axis of the projectile than the axis of its rotation. When the projectile took off from the barrel, the stabilizer blades opened due to a decrease in the speed of the projectile and under the influence of the oncoming air flow. Along the flight path, the projectile received rotation with a small number of revolutions, due to the presence of bevels on the blades of the projectile stabilizer.

The range of a direct shot with a cumulative ZBK4 projectile at a target height of 2 m was 990 m, armor penetration at an angle of contact with armor equal to 60° -200 mm, along the normal - 440 mm.

The ZOF11 high-explosive fragmentation projectile consisted of a body that had a chamber for a bursting charge, a bursting charge, a head fuse screwed into the body end and a six-blade stabilizer screwed into the bottom of the projectile. An additional explosive charge was placed in the stabilizer housing. The action of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile before it met an obstacle was similar to the action of a cumulative projectile.

The fragmentation effect of the ZOF11 high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 14.86 kg was 31 m along the front, 13 m in depth, the high-explosive effect was the depth of the crater - 0.6 m and the diameter - 2.2 m.

For firing from a 115 mm D-68 tank gun Separately loaded shots are used: ZVBM1 with an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile ZBM5 with a galvanic impact bushing GUV-7; ZVBK4 with a cumulative projectile ZBK8 or ZBK8M with a head piezoelectric GPV-2 fuse and tracer, as well as ZVOF18 with a high-explosive fragmentation projectile ZOF17 with a V-429E fuse.

An additional part of the charge and a detachable (pulling) ring of three sectors were placed on the armor-piercing finned projectile ZBM5. Thanks to the inclined gas-dynamic holes on the drive ring, the projectile, when moving in the barrel, received the initial rotation necessary to separate the sectors centrifugal forces after the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun barrel. The sector expansion angle was 5° (about ±2°30′ between the trajectories of the sector and the projectile). The sectors fell on the area in front of the gun at a distance of 400-800 m from the muzzle. The separated parts of the leading ring had significant energy and could inflict defeat on uncovered manpower and equipment located in the sector of their expansion, which imposed certain restrictions on its use.

The range of a direct shot at a target height of 2 m was equal to 1870 m, and at a target height of 3 m - 2260 m. The armor-piercing discarding projectile had a high armor-piercing effect and ensured penetration of armor, including frontal armor, of modern medium tanks at that time when firing from a range of 2000 m and heavy tanks - from 1000 m. The flatness of the trajectory of this projectile made it possible to use it to destroy highly mobile targets, such as light tanks, armored personnel carriers, vehicles, etc., from a range of up to 3000 m.

In their design, the ZBK8 and ZBK8M cumulative projectiles were similar to the ZBK4 cumulative projectile.

The direct shot range at a target height of 2 m was 990 m. The cumulative projectile ensured reliable penetration of the armor, including the frontal, of all modern tanks at that time at ranges up to 3000 m. However, the relatively short direct shot range and significant flight time limited the range of the most effective the use of this projectile against moving targets up to 1500 m. The cumulative projectile had a fragmentation effect and, if necessary, could be used to fire at field shelters and enemy personnel.

The ZVOF18 round included: a ZOF17 high-explosive fragmentation projectile with a head fuse; a combat charge, an igniter and a decoupler, placed in a partially combustible cartridge case with a brass tray; a GUV-7 galvanic impact bushing was screwed into the point of the tray.

The high-explosive fragmentation projectile consisted of a steel body with a sealing belt, a stabilizing device and a fuse. An explosive charge was placed inside the projectile body. A stabilizer body with four blades hinged on it using axles was screwed into the tail part of the projectile body. When the projectile exited the muzzle of the gun, due to the pressure difference of the powder gases in the grooves of the stabilizer body, a force arose, the impulse of which, acting on the blades, freed the blades from their fastening and opened them. The final opening of the blades was facilitated by the pressure of the incoming air flow. The necessary stability of the projectile along the trajectory was ensured by the over-caliber stabilizer after the opening of its blades. In addition, during the flight, the projectile received some rotational movement due to the effect of the air flow on the stabilizer blades, which had a one-sided bevel on the front edge, which contributed to the required accuracy of the battle. When a high-explosive fragmentation projectile met an obstacle, the fuse was triggered, causing the detonation of the explosive charge and the subsequent explosion of the projectile.

The partially burning cartridge consisted of a burning body (pyroxylin-cellulose fabric) and a brass pan with a flange. The main and additional charges were made from DG-414/1 gunpowder. The main part of the charge consisted of a central beam with igniters, a loose part of the charge, a copper reducer and a flame arrester. The flame arrester was a sample of potassium sulfate powder placed in a cap and used to eliminate the possibility of a backfire. The burning part of the cartridge case and the burning shell of the additional part of the charge were part of the combat charge, replacing part of the gunpowder in the charge. The arrangement of charges in partially combustible cartridge cases for shots with cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles was similar to the arrangement of charges in a partially combustible cartridge case for an armor-piercing projectile. In terms of shape, dimensions and design, partially combustible cartridges are the same for all shots. The igniters for all charges were samples of black gunpowder placed in caps made of ammianthine fabric. The copper reducer was a coil of lead wire, which was intended to reduce the copper coating of the barrel during shooting.

The difference in the charges consisted in the brand of gunpowder, in the size of the powder weight and in the design of the rammer cover (the cover in the barrel of the cartridge case), which excluded the possibility of incomplete loading of the gun, that is, the possibility of loading cumulative or high-explosive fragmentation projectiles with a charge from an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile. Charges with a partially combustible cartridge case for cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles did not have a flame arrester.

The additional part of the charge consisted of a powder charge placed on the belt part of the sabot projectile in a burning cylinder. The burning cartridge provided rigid fastening of the charge to the projectile, protected the gunpowder from moisture and mechanical damage during storage, transportation and official handling. The burning cylinder had windows for copper deposits on the stabilizer feathers. After assembly, these windows were coated with sealing grease. The cylinder on the side of the stabilizer blades was closed with a combustible lid with holes that were sealed with percale and nylon circles impregnated with a moisture-resistant and fire-resistant composition.

For firing from 122 mm tank guns D-25T, D-25TA and D-25TS separate-case loading shots were used: VBR-471B and ZBR2 with an armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-471B (blunt-headed with a ballistic tip) and an MD-8 or DBR fuse, VBR-471 with an armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-471 (sharp-headed without a ballistic tip ) and an MD-8 or DBR fuse, VOF21 and VOF1 with high-explosive fragmentation projectiles OF-471N and OF-471 with an RGM-6 or RGM fuse, as well as VP BR-471 with a practical and tracer projectile PBR-471, VS29 and VS -30 with ZS4 and S-463Zh illuminating shells with T-90 and T-7 fuses, respectively.

For firing from a 122 mm M-62T2 tank gun shots of separate cartridge loading were used: ZVBR1 with an armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-472 with a DBR fuse, ZVOF2 with a high-explosive fragmentation grenade OF-472 with an RGM-6 fuse and ZVP1 with a practical tracer projectile PBR-472. HEAT BK9 and armor-piercing sub-caliber BM11 shells were introduced into the gun's ammunition load in 1964 and 1969, respectively. Brass cartridges were equipped with GUV-7 primer bushings. The armor penetration of the BK9 cumulative projectile at an angle of impact with armor of 60° at any range was 200 mm.

For firing from a 125 mm D-81 smoothbore gun shots of separate cartridge loading were used with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells, which in their design were similar to 115-mm rounds of the D-68 smoothbore gun (indices of 125-mm shells, respectively ZBM9, ZBK12 with an I-238 and ZOF19 fuse with the B-429E fuse, were introduced when they were put into service in 1973). The armor penetration of a cumulative projectile at an angle of contact with armor of 60° at any range was 200 mm.

For firing from a 130 mm M-65 rifled gun Shots of separate cartridge loading were used: with a high-explosive fragmentation grenade OF-482M with an RGM-2 fuse and with an armor-piercing tracer projectile BR-482 with a DBR fuse. For a high-explosive fragmentation grenade, cartridges with a full variable charge ZHN-482 and a reduced variable charge ZH-482U were used, for an armor-piercing tracer - a full variable charge ZHN-428. The use of both partially burning cartridges and all-metal ones was envisaged. The initial speed of an armor-piercing projectile weighing 30.7 kg was 1030 m/s, the direct shot range at a target height of 2 m was 1230 m.

Table 17

Armor penetration of domestic armor-piercing caliber and sub-caliber projectiles

85-mm tank gun model 1944 ZIS-S-53 is an improved version of the gun S-53. The need to rearm the tank T-34 in order to increase its capabilities to combat heavy enemy tanks, have been undertaken repeatedly since 1941 (we are talking about a fighter tank T-34 with 57 mm ZIS-4 cannon). The results of the Battle of Kursk exposed the problem in all its severity. The transition to the 85 mm caliber seemed attractive, given the well-developed fragmentation and armor-piercing ammunition from the 85-mm anti-aircraft gun of the 1939 model that was well developed and mastered in production. At that time, the design bureau of plant No. 9 had already developed and was undergoing final tests 85 mm D-5 gun D-5 for installation in a tank T-34 until a special one is created 85 mm gun for tank T-34. In the summer and autumn of 1943, competitive tests of 85-mm tank guns designed for tanks were carried out T-34: LB-1, S-50 and S-53. Tests have shown that the best of them is a cannon S-53. By decree of the State Defense Committee dated January 1, 1944, this gun was adopted for service. However, already at the beginning of 1944, during field tests, significant defects in the recoil device of the S-53 gun were revealed. Through the combined efforts of TsAKB and plant No. 92, the gun was modified and put into general production, assigning it the index ZIS-S-53(“ZIS” is the index of the Stalin plant No. 92; “S” is the index of TsAKB). ZIS-S-53 installed on most T-34-85 and on T-44.

Vehicles equipped with these weapons

Main characteristics

Available projectiles

The following shells are available for this gun:

BR-365A- armor-piercing blunt-headed chamber projectile
BR-365K- armor-piercing sharp-headed chamber projectile
BR-365P
BR-367- armor-piercing projectile with an armor-piercing tip and a ballistic cap Present only on T-44
BR-367P- armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile Present only on T-44
O-365K- high-explosive fragmentation projectile

The technical characteristics of the projectiles are given in the following tables:

Projectile	Type	Weight, kg	Initial speed, m/s	Fuse delay, m	Fuse sensitivity, mm	Mass of explosive, g	The angle of contact at which the probability of a rebound is 100%	The angle of contact at which the probability of a rebound is 50%	The angle of contact at which the probability of a rebound is 0%
BR-365A	BS	9.2	792	1.2	15	164	42	27	19
BR-365K	BS	9.2	792	1.2	15	48	43	30	25
BR-365P	BPS	5.4	1030	-	-	-	24	22	18
BR-367	BS	9.2	792	1.2	15	44	42	27	19
BR-367P	BPS	5.4	1030	-	-	-	24	22	18
O-365K	OFS	9.5	780	0.4	0.3	646	11	10	9

Use in combat

A gun ZIS-S-53- a good melee weapon with a good rate of fire and effectiveness at medium distances. Yes, at long distances the gun has difficulty penetrating. If when playing on T-34-85 this does not cause any particular problems, then T-44 the gun clearly suffers from a lack of penetration against well-armored tanks.

In close combat ZIS-S-53- a very serious weapon, which benefits from a good rate of fire and a high-at-its-rank armor effect of a blunt-nosed chamber projectile. In long-range combat, the player’s behavior should be determined by the combat situation: if the enemy stands still and does not pay attention to you, then you can try to break through. If this does not work out, then it is better to change tactics - retreat to cover, or make a roundabout maneuver with the aim of entering the flank (to penetrate the vulnerable side armor).

The main projectile used should be an armor-piercing blunt-headed chambered one (due to its excellent armor-protection effect and sufficient penetration and good action on inclined armor). When meeting an enemy that is difficult to penetrate, you can try to penetrate with a sub-caliber. In the fight against unarmored vehicles (sport trucks, airplanes), a high-explosive projectile is excellent - it hits the target, usually with one shot, but does not fly through - like armor-piercing ones.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

In most cases, sufficient penetration by armor-piercing chamber projectiles, excellent armor protection.
High rate of fire.
Highly effective high-explosive projectile against unarmored targets.
Presence of sub-caliber projectile(s).
Excellent penetration of the top caliber sub-caliber projectile (T-44).

Flaws:

Sometimes the penetration of chamber shells is insufficient.

Historical reference

The need to rearm the tank T-34 in order to increase its capabilities to combat heavy enemy tanks, have been undertaken repeatedly since 1941 (we are talking about the T-34 fighter tank with a 57-mm cannon ZIS-4). The results of the Battle of Kursk exposed the problem in all its severity. The transition to the 85 mm caliber seemed attractive, given the well-developed fragmentation and armor-piercing ammunition from the 85 mm anti-aircraft gun of the 1939 model, which was well developed and mastered in production. At that time, the design bureau of plant No. 9 had already developed and was undergoing final testing of the 85 mm gun D-5, created for installation in heavy tank and self-propelled guns. Therefore, they decided to temporarily allow the weapon D-5 for installation in a tank T-34 until a special 85 mm gun for the tank is created T-34. At the end of October 1943, the TsAKB was given the task to develop such a weapon.

By November 1943, the TsAKB, together with the design bureau of plant No. 92, developed and proposed for joint testing two versions of 85-mm guns for the tank T-34: S-50 and S-53. Another 85 mm gun LB-1 was proposed for testing by the Special Design Bureau. S-53 differed favorably from its analogues in its simple design and reliability. When creating it, the group consisting of I. Ivanov, G. Shabirov and G. Sergeev somewhat departed from the usual layout of the gun F-34. Now the recoil brake and the knurl have moved under the base of the bolt, which made it possible to reduce the height of the line of fire and increase the distance between the breech and the rear wall of the turret. Metal utilization rate in S-53 was very high, and its cost was lower than F-34 and even more so D-5.

Testing the gun S-53 set to serial T-34 with a standard hexagonal turret from factory No. 112 for a shoulder strap of 1420 mm. The tests took place from December 25 to 31 at the Gorokhovets artillery range. The commission chaired by Colonel Kulchitsky stated that none of the artillery systems withstood the tests. However, after analyzing the test results, it was decided that the most preferable artillery system for installation in a tank T-34 is the gun S-53.

January 1, 1944, by GKO resolution No. 4873 tank gun S-53(taking into account the elimination of deficiencies identified during testing) was adopted for tank service T-34 with standard and extended shoulder straps.

During the first two weeks of 1944, the team of the TsAKB NKV eliminated shortcomings in the design of the S-53 gun and assisted the designers and technologists of Plant No. 92 in organizing its serial production. By January 15, the first gun was assembled at Plant No. 92, which differed from the prototype, first of all, in the cast (rather than welded) cradle design and the coupling (instead of a threaded) connection of the gun barrel with the breech.

During the period from January 16 to 17, 1944, this gun was tested at GANIOP. On the 470th shot, the recoil brake piston jammed. The gun was again sent for revision. This time, at plant No. 92, the design of the recoil devices was changed and individual parts of the gun were modified.

January 28 T-34 tank with a cannon S-53, installed in a standard 1420 mm turret, was sent for factory testing. And a little later the gun S-53 installed on "thirty-four" with an increased diameter of the turret ring up to 1600 mm (from the tank T-43). Tank undergoing factory testing T-34 with a standard turret covered 170 km, 100 shots were fired from the S-53 cannon. From a cannon installed in an extended tank turret T-34, 50 shots were fired. Then both tanks were sent to field tests, which were carried out at GANIOP from January 30 to February 2, 1944. Over two days of intensive testing, 766 rounds were fired from a cannon installed in a standard turret, 456 of which were fired with a reinforced charge. 252 shots were fired from the cannon installed in the extended turret, 50 of them with a reinforced charge.

On February 2, 1944, Kulchitsky reported to Marshal of the Armored Forces Y.N. Fedorenko that “the 85-mm tank gun S-53 mass production passed field tests, tank's combat qualities T-34 with an extended tower is significantly higher than with a conventional tower."

On February 5, 1944, with the elimination of these defects and the preparation of all necessary design and technological documentation for production, the gun S-53 went into gross production. In parallel with production S-53, until the summer of 1944, its refinement continued at plant No. 92 NKV. Firstly, the thickness of the barrel walls was increased, which necessitated the need to strengthen the slide and cradle. To improve the balance of such a weapon, its trunnions were slightly moved forward. In addition, the spindle profile in the recoil brake has changed, and the copier has been simplified. A new electromagnetic release button has been introduced. Minor changes also affected the gun's armored mask. The gun received a new index ZIS-S-53 and was put into service on October 28, 1944. In terms of simplicity of design, reliability and cost, the gun ZIS-S-53 left far behind any tank artillery system produced in the USSR during the war.

Despite all this, by mid-1944, the 85 mm caliber was no longer considered promising for arming new types of tanks; 100 and 122 mm calibers were considered more preferable. Neither the armor penetration nor the high-explosive effect of 85 mm ammunition no longer corresponded to modern combat missions. They tried to solve the problems with insufficient armor penetration of the 85-mm gun by developing the BR-365P sub-caliber projectile in 1944. However, the high cost of such a projectile made itself felt; at first it was included in the ammunition load of tanks and self-propelled guns, 4 pieces each, and was issued only to units located in tank-hazardous directions. By 1945, the situation had improved and the BR-365P was standardly included in the ammunition load of all tanks and self-propelled guns with 85 mm cannons, 8 pieces per vehicle.

In 1945, TsAKB developed a modification of the gun ZIS-S-53, equipped with a single-plane gyroscopic stabilizer. The new weapon received the designation ZIS-S-54. However, this artillery system did not go into production mainly due to imperfections in the design of the stabilizer.
After the war, more advanced projectiles were adopted: streamlined armor-piercing sub-caliber, tracer (BR-367P). And armor-piercing sharp-headed with protective and ballistic tips, tracer (BR-367).

Media

ZIS-S-53 in the T-44 tank

85 mm shells for the ZIS-S-53 cannon

Breech of an 85-mm tank gun, model 1944, ZIS-S-53

Wedge breech 85-mm tank gun ZIS-S-53

T-34-85 with a ZIS-S-53 cannon. Orenburg..jpg

Links

· Soviet tank and anti-tank guns
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57 mm

The designation T-34-85 was worn by the last generation of the T-34. This was a tank from the last year of the war and the post-war period. The number 85 denoted the new increased caliber of the gun. The place of the 76-mm guns of previous releases was taken by the new 85-mm gun D-5T or ZIS-S-53. Let us immediately note that the ZIS brand meant “Stalin Plant”, but had nothing to do with the famous Moscow automobile plant. A completely different plant with the same name, located in Podlipki near Moscow (in our time the city of Korolev), produced artillery pieces developed at SKB-38 (later TsAKB), which was led by the famous designer V.A. Grabin. The new main caliber gun allowed the T-34 crew to hit a target at a distance of up to 1.5-2 kilometers. Within a radius of a kilometer from the tank, a shell fired from a D-5T or ZIS-S-53 penetrated armor up to 100 mm thick. The sub-caliber projectile could deal with armor up to 138 mm, but only at a distance of a maximum of half a kilometer. Such parameters were included in the terms of reference, formulated on the basis of the experience gained during the Battle of Kursk, the Oryol offensive operation, and the battles for Prokhorvka - the largest tank battles of the war. Soviet tankers had to endure heavy battles with Tigers, Panthers, and Ferdinand self-propelled guns, so they needed a tank with more powerful weapons.

Tanks with the D-5T gun differed from vehicles with the ZIS-S-53 gun, first of all, in the gun mantlet: the former had it already. Instead of the TSh-15 sight (telescopic, articulated), the T-34 with the D-5T gun had a TSh-16 sight. Tanks with the ZIS-S-53 gun had an electric drive for turning the turret, which could be controlled by both the tank commander and the gunner.

For more powerful gun the tank needed a reinforced turret. The T-34-85 differed from its predecessors in having a completely new cast turret. It was necessary to make a new support for it - a stronger shoulder strap. Thus, the T-34-85 hull differed from the T-34-76 hull in the upper turret plate.

The new large turret made it possible to increase the crew by one person. The driver, the machine gunner-radio operator sitting to his right, and the loader who was on the right in the turret remained in their places. But the crew commander was relieved of his duties as a gunner. This role was assigned to the fifth fighter who appeared in the car. Now the commander could fully concentrate on his main responsibilities: observing the terrain, identifying targets, and destroying them with a cannon and machine gun.

Powerful fans were used to improve conditions for the crew. They were located in the characteristic “mushrooms” visible from the outside on the tower. The guns of that time did not yet have ejectors, and spent cartridges filled the inside of the tank with toxic gases, which killed many tankers. The crews tried to quickly throw the cartridge case out of the tank. The fans that appeared on the T-34-85 made it possible to effectively combat the concentration of harmful gases. The tanks that were produced in Gorky by Krasnoye Sormovo (also known as plant No. 112) had fungi located differently than on vehicles from the Ural factories. In the post-war T-34-85, instead of the double-leaf hatch of the commander's cupola, a new single-leaf hatch was installed.

The engine, power transmission and chassis of the "thirty-four" remained virtually unchanged. Back in the days of the T-34-76 in 1943, the tank had a five-speed gearbox instead of a four-speed one. Then in 1943, under the leadership of Chief Designer A.A. Morozov, components of T-34 tanks produced by different factories were standardized.

The T-34-85 model is considered a "1943 model". The autumn and winter months were spent designing new weapons for the T-34 through the joint efforts of artillery and tank designers. The first car of the new model was assembled at Krasny Sormovo on December 31, 1943. In January and February, new cars were produced only in Gorky, and little by little - only 100 cars in two months. And only in March 1944, their production was mastered by the parent enterprise No. 183 - Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil. And in the summer, the T-34-85 went into production at plant No. 174 in Omsk. The Nizhny Tagil tanks were the most popular - in 1944-1945 they were built at about 720-730 per month. Sormovo came in second place - the monthly productivity of the plant was approximately 315 cars. Finally, in Omsk, the production of “thirty-fours” remained at a modest level of 150-200 cars every month. The mass production and differences in technology at different factories determined the different production costs of tanks. In 1945, the Nizhny Tagil T-34-85 cost 136,800 rubles, the Gorky one - 173 thousand rubles, the Omsk one - 170 thousand rubles.

Officially, T-34-85 tanks were produced until 1946. But who replaced them new tank The T-54 was still practically not ready for production. To transfer factories to its production, it took a whole year to modernize the equipment. All this time, “thirty-fours” were assembled in Nizhny Tagil, Chelyabinsk and Gorky from the stock of components, so their production ended only in 1947. Licenses for the production of T-34-85 were transferred to the fraternal socialist countries - Poland and Czechoslovakia, where their modernized versions were produced in the 50s.

Although the later "thirty-fours" with 85-mm weapons appeared before the whole of Europe in Last year war, and then participated in post-war conflicts, until 1958 the T-34-85 officially remained a secret tank. Only after the neck was removed, old tanks began to be installed on pedestals as monuments. Most often, the T-34-85 was used for this, since much more of them survived than the T-34-76. Also, it was the late “eighty-fifths” who usually starred in feature films about the war.

But the T-34-85, even in the post-war decades, was often used for its intended purpose during various armed conflicts, because it was in service with the Warsaw Pact member countries, as well as Albania, Angola, Congo, Cuba, Vietnam, China, North Korea, Mongolia, Egypt, Guinea, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Mali, Syria, Finland, Yugoslavia. For example, during the Middle East wars that began in 1967, Arab troops fought against Israel using Czech T-34s. "Thirty-fours" took part in the Korean War in the early 50s, and in the Vietnam War in the 60-70s. The latest cases of mass use of T-34-85 were noted during civil war in Yugoslavia in the 1990s. It is interesting that in its homeland the T-34-85 was finally withdrawn from service not in the Soviet but in Russian army. The corresponding decree was issued in September 1997, that is, after the first war in Chechnya.

Technical specifications

Crew	5 people
dimensions	8100x3000x2700 mm
Ground clearance	400 mm
Engine	diesel, V-shaped, twelve-cylinder V-2-34
Working volume	38,880 cm 3
Power	500 hp
Armament	85 mm ZIS-S-53 gun,two 7.62 mm machine guns
Ammunition	56 shells, 1920 rounds
Boev mass	32 t
Armor: - forehead, side - feed - roof, bottom - tower
Maximum speed	55 km/h
Power reserve	250 km