Saturday 14 September 2013

Grabin's Superguns

During pre-war ridiculousness, Grabin came up with two pretty powerful guns: the 85 mm ZiS-23 (70 calibers in length) and 107 mm ZiS-24 (59 calibers in length).

CAMD RF 81-12104-147

The ZiS-23 shot its 10.5 kg shell at 1149 m/s. This is a heavier shell at a larger velocity than the German KwK 43, made 3 years later. As a result, it gets higher penetration: 219 mm at 100 meters (according to the de Marre equation, using the ZiS-S-53 as a reference). The ZiS-24 was no slouch either. Its 18.8 kg shell flying at 1013 m/s would also be able to penetrate 219 mm of armour at 100 meters (using the 107 mm model 1910/30 gun as reference). 

This is pretty excellent penetration for 1940, but just like with those ridiculous 107 mm guns, it was too much penetration. Current 76 mm and 85 mm guns were capable of combating any enemy armour, and there was no need for overpriced super weapons. According to some sources, the guns were manufactured, but never put through a proper set of trials.

6 comments:

  1. Nice .. IMO these 107mm are fascinating ..

    more more more !!

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    Replies
    1. Do you also have sources on the only planned (?) 95mm guns?

      There is pretty much no info on english sources ..

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    2. I do, a bit. There is some info on it here http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2013/08/artillery-and-high-explosives.html

      I also have a story on how it (almost) made it to acceptance, I will probably publish it at some point.

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  2. Notice, these short range, high penetration figures are calculated and based upon a projectile quality, which was not obtainable during ww2 for the SU.

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    Replies
    1. As noted in the article, the figures use the ZiS-S-53 as a reference, which was the gun used on T-34/85 Model 1944s. This tank and gun saw combat during World War 2.

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  3. In my point of view,the ZIS-23 85mm gun at 70 caliber lengths would have been extremely lethal. Put it on a T34 or the little T43 and the Russians have a perfect Medium tank

    ReplyDelete