122 mm gun M1931 (A-19)

Infobox Weapon
name=122 mm gun M1931 (A-19)


caption=M1931 displayed in Hämeenlinna Artillery Museum, Finland.
origin=USSR
type=field gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=1927-1935
manufacturer=Barrikady
production_date=1935-1939
number=about 450-500
variants=
weight=combat: 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) travel: 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs)
length=8.9 m (29.19 ft)
part_length=bore: 5.48 m / 45 calibers overall: 5.65 m / 46.3 calibers
width=2.345 m (7.69 ft)
height=1.99 m (6.52 ft)
crew=9
cartridge=
caliber=121.92 mm (4.80 in)
action=
rate=3-4 rounds per minute
velocity=
range=
max_range=20.4 km (12.67 mi)
feed=
sights=
breech=interrupted screw
recoil=hydropneumatic
carriage=split trail
elevation=-2° to 45°
traverse=56°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=

122 mm corps gun M1931 (A-19) ( _ru. 122-мм корпусная пушка обр. 1931 г. (А-19)) was a Soviet field gun, developed in late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1939 the gun was replaced in production by an improved variant, M1931/37. The piece saw action in World War II with the Red Army. Captured guns were employed by Wehrmacht and the Finnish Army.

Development history

From late 1920s the RKKA sought to upgrade its First World War era artillery pieces. In January 1927 the Main Artillery Directorate (GRAU) initiated development of a new 122 mm gun for corps artillery. The development was initially entrusted to GRAU design bureau (led by F. F. Lender until its death in September 1927), and from June 1929 - to the design bureau of All-Union Ordnance Trust, with assistance from GRAU designers.Shirokorad A. B. - "Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery".]

On 17 June 1929 a prototype piece, along with technological documentation, was ordered from Motovilikha Plants. The piece underwent trials starting in October 1931, with two barrels of different construction, both fitted with muzzle brake. In May 1932 the gun was sent for improvements to the "No 38 Plant", where it received designation "A-19". In 1933 three more prototypes were ordered from the Barrikady Plant in Stalingrad and were completed in March 1935. The gun reached trials again in November 1935. After successfully completing the trials, it was adopted by RKKA on 13 March 1936 as 122 mm corps gun M1931 (A-19).

Production history

The M1931 was in production in 1935-1939. It was gradually improved until 1937, so late production peces differ from the early production ones. In 1939, the gun was replaced in production by an improved variant, M1931/37, which combined barrel of the M1931 with the carriage of the 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20). The exact number of pieces manufactured is not known; estimations are 450-500 pieces.

urviving pieces

The M1931 can be seen:
*In the Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow, Russia.
*In the Museum of Artillery and Engineering Forces, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
*In the Artillery Museum in Hämeenlinna, Finland.

Notes

References

*Shirokorad A. B. - "Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery" - Mn. Harvest, 2000 (Широкорад А. Б. Энциклопедия отечественной артиллерии. — Мн.: Харвест, 2000., ISBN 985-433-703-0)
*Shirokorad A. B. - "The God of War of The Third Reich" - M. AST, 2002 (Широкорад А. Б. - Бог войны Третьего рейха. — М.,ООО Издательство АСТ, 2002., ISBN 5-17-015302-3)
*Ivanov A. - "Artillery of the USSR in Second World War" - SPb Neva, 2003 (Иванов А. - Артиллерия СССР во Второй Мировой войне. — СПб., Издательский дом Нева, 2003., ISBN 5-7654-2731-6)
*Kolomiets M. - "The Battle of River Khalkhin-Gol" - "Frontovaya Illustratsiya" magazine, no. 2, 2002 (М.Коломиец. - Бои у реки Халхин-Гол. - журнал «Фронтовая иллюстрация», №2, 2002)
*Military History Journal, no. 5, 2005 and no. 2, 2006.
*Statistical Compilation No 1 - Red Army on 22 June 1941.
*Ballistic Tables for Corps Guns M1931 and M1931/37 - Voenizdat NKO, 1944.
* [http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/ARTILLERY4.htm#122K31 122 K/31 at Jaegerplatoon.net]

External links

* [http://svsm.org/gallery/122mm-A-19 Photo gallery at svsm.org]