The Soviet 85-mm D-48 anti-tank gun of the 1953 model is a universal artillery system capable of fighting all types of modern armored vehicles. The gun has all the necessary tactical and technical characteristics, allowing to destroy armored vehicles, including tanks, at large distances of fire fighting.
Development and serial production of a new anti-tank gun
The 57-mm ZiS-2 cannon was the main anti-tank weapon used by the rifle divisions of the Soviet Army in the post-war years. However, in the new conditions, when the distance of fire confrontation on the battlefield increased significantly, the anti-tank gun of greater power was required. In accordance with the task of the Main Rocket-Artillery Directorate for the development of a new anti-tank gun, the team of the design bureau of Plant No. 9 was engaged. Supervised all the design work and the process of creating the first prototypes of the main designer FF. Petrov.
The basis of the new gun was the design features of the D-44 gun, which proved its high ballistic characteristics in practice. The first prototype of the new instrument was ready in 1948.
For political reasons, only in 1953 the new 85-mm anti-tank gun D-48 was adopted. Serial production was carried out at two Soviet factories: at plant number 9 and at plant number 75. In just two years, from 1955 to 1967, 819 cannons of two modifications D-48 and D-48N were manufactured.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the 85-mm anti-tank gun D-48
- Calculation - 6 people.
- Combat weight - 2.35 tons.
- Unitary loading.
- The initial velocity of the armor-piercing projectile is 1040 m / s.
- Rate of fire: up to 15 shots / min.
- The maximum firing range - 18970 m.
- Direct shot of an armor-piercing projectile - 1230 m.
- Armor penetration armor-piercing projectile: at a distance of 1000 m - 185 mm, at a distance of 2000 m - 145 mm.
- The main types of ammunition: armor-piercing, high-explosive fragmentation projectiles.
- The mass of the shot with an armor-piercing projectile is 15.5 kg.
- Transfer time from traveling to combat: 40-60 seconds.
- Mode of transportation: transported by MT-L and MTLB tractors, trucks.
The Soviet anti-tank gun of 1953, despite the limited serial production, continues to be in service with the artillery battalions of the ground forces of the Russian armed forces, units and subunits of other armies.
The gun was delivered in limited quantities abroad, to the countries of the Middle East, to Iraq and to Ethiopia. Combat use of guns was limited to minor participation in various armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th century.
A photo
