KS-12 KS-12A M1937/M1944

KS-12 KS-12A M1937/M1944 85mm towed anti-aircraft gun

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

Details view

Pictures - Video

Description

The KS-12 of 85mm caliber is a Russian-made towed anti-aircraft gun which was introduced with the Soviet army in 1939. Production of the KS-12 gun ended in 1944 when it underwent several major modifications which allowed the gun to fire a more powerful charge while using the same shells as the M-1939 version. The KS-12 has the capability to engage all manner of ground attack aircraft and drive bombers to heights where their bombing would be far less accurate. Large numbers of KS-12 guns were used by the North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam war. They were also used during the Arab-Israeli wars, the Yemeni Civil War, and the Iran-Iraq war. The guns were also used by the Soviet backed government of Afghanistan during their occupation of that country. Currently the KS-12 85mm remains in service with over a dozen armed forces around the world, many of whom keep it in active front line service. The KS-12 can be used against ground targets with a maximum range of around 8 km. The KS-12 is manually loaded and traverse and elevation are manual as well, resulting in a crew of 7.

Variants

- Type 56: Chinese variant of the KS-12A 85mm
- KS-12A: upgraded version with a monobloc ordnance with single baffle muzzle brake, resulting in a longer range.

Technical Data

Armament

The weapon system consisted of a 85mm caliber main gun with a large multi-baffle muzzle brake mounted on a four wheeled trailer. The 85mm cannon is mounted on a turntable which can rotate on 360° with an elevation of +82º/-3°. The KS-12 can fire 85mm fragmentation ammunition (FRAG) against aircraft and armor piercing (AP) rounds against armored vehicles.

Design

The 85mm cannon is mounted to four wheeled carriage with two axles, one at the front and one at the rear. In travelling position, the mount together with 85-mm ordnance is traversed to the rear and the ordnance is held in position by a travelling lock at the rear of the carriage. In the firing position the carriage is supported on four screw jacks, one at either end of the carriage and one either side on outriggers. An armour shield can be mounted at the front each side of the 85mm cannon. The weapon system is fitted with fire control equipment which can be used in conjunction with the PUAZO-6/12 director and the SON-9/SON-9A (NATO designation `Fire Can') A/B-band fire-control radar.

Mobility

The KS-12 85mm anti-aircraft gun is towed most of the time by military truck as the ZIL-157 or other 6x6 truck.

Operations

The effective slant range of the 85-mm M1939 is 8,382 m. Effective altitude limit with an elevation of +45º is 5,944 m. Effective altitude limit with an elevation of +65º is 7,620 m while self-destruct range is 10,516 m.

Specifications