The Soviet 45-mm anti-tank cannon M-42 of 1942 is a universal artillery system capable of performing a wide range of tactical tasks. The main purpose is to fight the enemy’s armored vehicles at convenient angles of attack for effective firing, support for infantry actions during offensive and assault tactical operations.
History of creation and mass production of the gun M-42
In early 1942, there was an urgent need to strengthen the technical equipment of Soviet military units. The appearance of the modernized PzKpfw-IV tanks from the enemy, the new Pz Kpfw -V medium tanks and the heavy PzKpfw -VI forced the Soviet designers to modernize the 1937 legendary forty-mm anti-tank weapons. The release of a new weapon was considered an auxiliary measure, as a reinforcement of the infantry units of the Red Army in the fight against German tanks. The main emphasis in the actions of Soviet VET was made on more powerful artillery systems ZiS-2 and ZiS-3.
The development of the new cannon took place in the shortest possible time, largely due to the well-established production of the forty-fives sample of 1937. Soviet designers significantly improved the ballistic characteristics of the tested gun, enhanced the carriage and undercarriage of the system. For these purposes, the production capacity of the plant number 172 in the city of Motovilikha was used. In 1942, the new gun, which received the GAU 52-P-243C index, was put into service under the name of the 45-mm anti-tank gun M-42 of the 1942 model.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the 45-mm gun M-42
- Calculation - 4 people.
- Combat weight - 0.625 tons.
- Unitary loading.
- The initial velocity of the armor-piercing projectile is 870 m / s.
- Rate of fire: 15-20 shots / min.
- The maximum firing range - 4500 m.
- The direct shot of an armor-piercing projectile is 950 m.
- Armor penetration armor-piercing projectile: at a distance of 500 m. - 61 mm., At a distance of 1000 m. - 51 mm.
- The main types of ammunition: armor-piercing, fragmentation shells, canister.
- The weight of the armor-piercing projectile is 1.43 kg.
- Transfer time from traveling to combat: 1 min.
- Mode of transportation: transported by horse-drawn carriage, cars and trucks.
The Soviet 45-mm M-42 anti-tank gun of the 1942 model was used on all fronts of the final stage of the Great Patriotic War. The renewed Soviet “Forty-Fang” played a special role in conducting assault operations during the East Prussian operation and in the capture of Berlin.
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