87061 ZiS-2 1941 Anti-Tank Gun

87061
ZiS-2 1941 Anti-Tank Gun

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In 1940, Soviet leaders have demanded of Soviet engineers to develop an antitank gun that would be able to combat thick armored tanks. The bureau of the famous soviet gun designer V.G. Grabin (chief designer at Artillery Factory No.92) has developed a new powerful 57mm F-31 antitank gun. This gun was based on experimental 76.2mm F-24 regimental gun. Main distinction between these two guns was their barrels. A new 3.14-kg armor piercing round was developed specially for F-31. It was expected that its muzzle velocity would be 1000 m/s. This round had a cartridge taken from 76mm divisional gun. In October 1940, factory #92 has manufactured the first prototype of F-31. Gun was tested on factory's trials and then on governmental trial. They were successful in both cases. In the beginning of the year 1941, gun was renamed to ZiS-2 because factory #92 received an honorably name ZiS ("Zavod imeni Stalina" -"Stalin's factory"). In the beginning 1941, ZiS-2 was accepted for service as "57mm antitank gun model 1941".
On December 1, 1941, mass production of ZiS-2 was cancelled because ZiS-2 was very expensive. It was 10-12 times more expensive then divisional ZiS-3. That was mainly due to expensive long barrel (over 4 meters long). In addition, 57 mm ammo was of poor quality. In June 15, 1943, ZiS-2 was accepted for service again. That was mainly because of appearance of German heavies such as Tiger and Panther. It is interesting that ZiS-2 was accepted under the new name: "57mm antitank gun model 1943". Several weeks later, Red Army has received first 57mm guns. In 1948, factory #235 attempted to modernize ZiS-2. New gun received a night vision sight (either APN-57 or APNZ-55) and was named ZiS-2N. Some old ZiS-2's were modernized. ZiS-2 had semi-automatic vertical lock and hydraulic recoil brake. Elevation mechanism had two sectors. ZiS-2 used unified limber model 1942 for 76mm regimental and divisional guns. It could carry 24 rounds. The whole weight (gun + limber) was about 1800 kg. ZiS-2 had optic: either PP1-2 or OP2-5 or OP4-55 or OP4M-55.
In May 1941, the development of a new 76 mm divisional gun was undertaken also by Grabin's design bureau. Construction of the ZiS-2 became the base for the new gun, named the ZiS-3. The gun consisted of a new barrel on the ZiS-2 gun carriage. The first prototype had an elevation angle of +45°. The gun had a vertical semi-automatic wedged lock, a hydraulic recoil brake, and a hydro-pneumatic reflexive mechanism. The elevation mechanism had two sectors, and the wheels were taken from the GAZ-AA truck. The gun's limber was the unified Limber Model 1942. The first experimental gun was finished in June 1941, and in July it successfully passed trials. Until the end of 1941, only a limited number of ZiS-3 was produced. Officially, the ZiS-3 was accepted for service from February 12, 1942, and named the "76mm Divisional Gun Model 1942". By that time, the Red Army already had at least 1.000 guns. The ZiS-3 was produced in two factories: #92 and #235. In fact, there were three types of ZiS-3:

1) with riveted gun carriage and lock from the 57-mm ZIS-2 and a push-button sear
2) with simplified lock and lever sear. Elevation was+27°
3) with simplified lock and lever sear. Elevation was +37°

Due to the very low cost to produce the ZiS-3, it was the first gun to be put into mass production around the world. The ZiS-3 was truly the most famous Soviet gun. It is true that the Soviet ZiS-3 was the best gun of World War Two.