100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3)

100 mm field gun model 1944 (BS-3)

Type Field and anti-tank gun
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
Used by Bulgaria
China
Cyprus
East Germany
Egypt
Hungary
India
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia[1]
Mongolia
North Korea
North Vietnam
Poland
Romania
Somalia
Soviet Union
Sudan
Production history
Produced 1944-1951
Specifications
Weight 3,650 kg (8,047 lbs)
Barrel length Bore: 5.34 m (17 ft 6 in) L/53.5
Overall: 5.96 m (19 ft 7 in) L/59.6
(with muzzle brake)
Crew 6 to 8

Shell 100 × 695 mm. R
Caliber 100 mm (3.93 in)
Carriage split trail
Elevation -5° to 45°
Traverse 58°
Rate of fire 8 to 10 rpm
Muzzle velocity 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 20 km (12.42 mi)

The 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) (Russian: 100-мм полевая пушка обр. 1944 г. (БС-3)) was a Soviet 100 mm anti-tank and field gun. The gun was successfully employed in the late stages of World War II, and remained in service into the 1950s, being replaced in Soviet service by the T-12 antitank gun and the 85 mm antitank gun D-48 in 1955. The BS-3 was also sold to a number of other countries and in some of these countries the gun is still in service. A number of BS-3 pieces are still stored in Russian Army arsenals. Also at least 12 BS-3 cannons are active in 18th Machinegun & Artillery Division, located on the Kuril Islands, used as anti-ship and anti-landing guns (2012).

History

The BS-3 was based on a B-34 naval gun. The development team was led by V. G. Grabin.

The gun was employed by light artillery brigades of tank armies (20 pieces along with 48 ZiS-3) and by corps artillery.

BS-3 at the Israel Defense Forces History Museum

In the Second World War the BS-3 was successfully used as a powerful anti-tank gun. It was capable of defeating any contemporary tank at long range, excluding the Tiger Ausf B: to destroy that heavy tank the gun needed to shoot at less than 1600 m from the target. The gun was also used as a field gun. Though in this role it was less powerful than the 122 mm A-19, as it fired a smaller round, the BS-3 was more mobile and had a higher rate of fire.

Ammunition data

See also

External links

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