45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K)

Infobox Weapon
name=45-mm anti-tank gun model 1937 (53-K)


caption=45 mm anti-tank gun M1937, displayed in Finnish Tank Museum in Parola.
origin=USSR
type=anti-tank gun
is_ranged=
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is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
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design_date=
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production_date=1937-1943
number=37,354
variants=
weight=combat: 560 kg (1,234 lbs)
travel: 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs)
length=
part_length=
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=45 mm (1.77 in)
action=
rate=15-20 rounds per minute
velocity=760 m/s (2,493 ft/s)
range=
max_range=4.4 km (2.73 mi)
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=split trail
elevation=-8° to 25°
traverse=60°
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diameter=
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engine=
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45-mm anti-tank gun model 1937 (53-K) was light semi-automatic anti-tank gun used in the first stage of Great Patriotic War, created by Soviet artillery designer M.N. Loginov. Due to insufficient armor penetration it was replaced in service by more powerful 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1942 (M-42).

History

45-mm anti-tank gun model 1937 (53-K) (Russian: 45-мм противотанковая пушка образца 1937 года (53-К)) was a combination of a modified carriage of the 37 mm anti-tank gun model 1931 (built according to a documentation bought from Rheinmetall) with a 45 mm barrel. The resulting light semi-automatic anti-tank gun was adopted for the Red Army service in 1937. These guns were used in the first stage of Great Patriotic War, but their anti-armour capabilities allowed them to fight successfully only with German light tanks and armoured personnel carriers. Early models of Panzer III and Panzer IV could also be knocked out at close range but this put Soviet artillerymen into a great danger. In fact such combat was a self-sacrificial one, but sometimes it was the only way to survive and to win. Due to these circumstances, model 1937 guns were replaced with more powerful model 1942. The mass production of outdated model 1937 guns was stopped in 1943. The total number of guns produced is 37,354 pieces.

The gun was employed by anti-tank platoons of rifle battalions (2 pieces) and by anti-tank battalions of rifle divisions (12 pieces). It was also used by separate anti-tank regiments (4-5 batteries of 4 pieces each).

Ammunition

*Ammunition types:
**Armor piercing: AP B-240 / BR-240, APCR BR-240P.
**Fragmentation.
**Canister.
**Smoke.
**Armor piercing chemical.
*Projectile weight (AP): 1.43 kg (3.15 lbs)
*Armor penetration:
**AP shell, 90 degrees:
***at 500 m: 43 mm
***at 1000 m: 32 mm
**AP shell, 60 degrees:
***at 500 m: 38 mm
***at 1000 m: 23 mm
**APCR shell, 90 degrees:
***at 100 m: 88 mm
***at 500 m: 66 mm

References

* Shunkov V. N. - "The Weapons of the Red Army", Mn. Harvest, 1999 (Шунков В. Н. - "Оружие Красной Армии." — Мн.: Харвест, 1999.) ISBN 985-433-469-4

External links

* [http://www.rustrana.ru/grom-article.php?nid=17577 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1937 at rustrana.ru] ru icon
* [http://xlt.narod.ru/listgun45.html 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1937 manual at xlt.narod.ru] ru icon
* [http://www.freeweb.hu/gva/weapons/soviet_guns3.html Armor penetration table]