S-18 GUN SPECIFICATION
| Parameter |
Value |
Calibre, mm |
85 |
| Bore lenght, clb |
? |
| Weight of pendulous elements, kg |
? |
| Weight of recoil elements, kg |
? |
| Normal recoil length, mm |
? |
| Max. recoil length, mm |
? |
| Ammunition |
fixed |
| Ballistic |
new |
| Practical ROF, shot/min. |
? |
JS "Object 237" Tank equipped with S-18 mock-up.
SU-85-I armed by S-18.
SU-85-IV armed by S-18. |
The first Soviet 85mm tank gun was introduced in 1939. It was mounted experimentally on the T-28 and KV series tanks, but was dropped from production for a number of reasons. In late 1941 and early 1942, Soviet engineers independently designed numerous variants of the 85mm tank gun, however, it was at this time the opinion of the NKV and NKTP that this was not a practical avenue of investigation due to the greater cost of existing 85mm ammunition over similar 76mm ammunition, also there was no 85 mm HE projectile developed but only a fragmentation.
In 1943, after Germany introduced two new tanks (PzKpfw VIE Tiger and PzKpfw V Panther) to the battlefield, and insufficient effectiveness of the explosion power of the 76mm against field fortification, and interest in the 85mm weapons was reinvigorated. Projects outlined in 1941-1942 but not realized were revived. The most advanced was developed in "Kalinin" Factory #8 but it used a type of muzzle brake which considered to be inappropriate for a tank gun.
In connection with this, TsAKB began development of a project to create a new tank gun. In the winter of 1942-1943 it was completed using the S-18 tank gun, approved by the NKV, and in March, 1943, Factory #9 built two prototype models (due to the fact that the TsAKB had no production capability available at this time). Production of the gun commenced slowly, and when they were finally ready for testing, it became clear that the gun shared the design problems of previous models. Design Bureau of Factory #9 under the directorship of F. Petrov was tasked with the design of changes. The TsAKB, under the administration of V. Grabin, continued on its own. Fortunately, neither rested in their efforts. Experimental weapons turned out to function normally, but the leaders and designers of the projects began to undermine each other's efforts. As a result, the first experimental tank "Object 237" was armed with a mock-up S-18 in its turret. After this, both S-18s were finished, and mounted in two prototype models of the SU-85 self-propelled gun - the SU-85-I and the SU-85-IV.
Usage
The S-18 Gun was used to equip the following tanks and self-propelled artillery:
Production tanks and SP-Guns: none.
Experimental SP-Guns: SU-85-I, SU-85-IV. |
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AMMUNITION FOR THE D-5, S-18, S-31, S-53, ZIS-S-53 GUNS
| SHELL |
PROJECTILE |
PROPELLANT CHARGE |
| Index |
Weight, kg |
Index |
Weight, kg |
Length, clb |
Weight of a charge, gram |
Fuse |
Index |
Weight, kg |
| HIGH EXPLOSIVE, FRAGMENTATION |
| UO-365 |
15.95 |
O-365 |
9.2 |
3.4 |
0.646 |
T-5 |
G-365 |
2.48 |
| UO-365K |
16.3 |
O-365K |
9.54 |
3.4 |
0.646 |
KTM-1, KTM-1-U |
G-365 |
2.5 |
| UO-365KV |
14.95 |
O-365KV |
9.54 |
4.1 |
0.67 |
V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N |
G-365 |
2.6 |
| UO-365G |
14.95 |
O-365G |
9.54 |
4.1 |
0.741 |
KTM-1-Ó, KTM-1, KTMZ-1-U, KTMZ-1, MG-N |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| UO-367* |
14.95 |
O-367 |
9.54 |
4 |
0.703-0.741 |
KTM-1 |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| UO-367A* |
14.95 |
O-367A** |
9.54 |
4.2 |
0.67 |
KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| UO-367AV* |
14.95 |
O-367AV** |
9.54 |
4.1 |
0.67 |
V-429, KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| ÓÎ-367AG* |
14.95 |
O-367AG** |
9.54 |
4.1 |
0.67 |
KTM-1-U, KTM-1, MG-N |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| ARMOR PIERCING |
| UBR-365 |
16 |
BR-365 |
9.2 |
4.3 |
0.164 |
MD-5, MD-7 |
G-365 |
2.48-2.6 |
| UBR-365K |
16 |
BR-365K |
9.2 |
3.1 |
0.048 |
MD-8 |
G-365 |
2.48-2.6 |
| UBR-367* |
16 |
BR-367 |
9.2 |
3.64 |
0.044 |
MD-8, DBR-2 |
G-365 |
2.63 |
| ARMOR PIERCING SUB-CALIBER (HVAP) |
| UBR-365P |
11.42 |
BR-365P |
4.99 |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
G-365 |
2.5-2.85 |
| UBR-367P* |
11.72 |
BR-367P |
5.3 |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
G-365 |
2.5 |
| UPBR-367* |
11.72 |
PBR-367 |
5.3 |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
G-365 |
2.5 |
| SHAPED-CHARGE ANTI-TANK (HEAT) |
| UBK-367* |
14.95 |
BK-367 (BK-367M) |
9.25 |
7 |
0.994 |
GKN |
G-365 |
1.3 |
| ZBK2* (ZBK2M) |
14.95 |
BK2**** |
7.351 |
7 |
0.935 |
GPV-1, GPV-2 |
G-365 |
1.3 |
| CANISTER AND SHRAPNEL |
| n/a |
| INCENDIARY |
| n/a |
| SMOKE |
| UD-1 |
16.3 |
D-2 |
9.54 |
4.1 |
- |
KTM-1-U |
G-365 |
2.6 |
| UD-2 |
14.95 |
D-2 |
9.54 |
4.1 |
- |
KTM-1-U |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
| UD-367 |
15.65 |
D-3672 |
10.07 |
4 |
- |
KTM-2 |
G-365 |
1.5-1.8 |
* Developed after the end of WW2;
** Case made of cast iron;
*** Ballisctic capped;
**** Fin-stabilised.
Written by:
Translated by:
Chris Keeling
Sources:
"Artillerijskoye Vooruzhevie Sovetskikh Tankov 1940-1945" Armada-Vertical, #4, 1999 |
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