20 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun M1930
The 20 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun M1930 was a machine gun that was developed by Rheinmetall and produced in small numbers in the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 1930s. The Russian-language name of the weapon is 20-мм автоматическая зенитная и противотанковая пушка обр. 1930 г. , the factory index is 2-K (2-К).
development
In the early 1930s, the Red Army did not have any small-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Such weapons were not available in the Imperial Russian Army . There were also no large-caliber machine guns that could have been used for air defense. However, the increased performance of the aircraft required the development of powerful weapons that could also be used to combat low and high-speed aircraft. A similar picture emerged in the field artillery, here too there was a lack of powerful small-caliber artillery. With the participation of Vasily Alexejewitsch Degtjarjow , a modern 25-mm cannon was developed in 1929 and tested in two copies in 1929/30, but not adopted into the armament of the Red Army. Due to the lack of experience of the Soviet designers, it was therefore decided to buy appropriate weapons abroad and produce them in the USSR.
Germany was subject to restrictions on the development of weapons due to the Treaty of Versailles . German companies switched to countries like Sweden and Switzerland for weapons development. Cooperation with the Soviet Union also intensified. Rheinmetall had opened the office for technical work and research (Бюро для технических работ и изучений (БЮТАСТ)) in the USSR , through which prototypes and production documents were sold. In 1930 the company supplied two samples of a 20 mm cannon and complete technical documentation through the office. The price for a weapon was 24,000 Reichsmarks. Rheinmetall suggested installing the weapon on a motorcycle with a sidecar. The weight of the motorcycle, the cannon with 300 rounds of ammunition and two soldiers should be 775 kg.
The weapon was officially introduced into the Red Army as the 20-mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun M1930 (20-мм автоматическая зенитная и противотанковая пушка обр. 1930 г.). The series production was to take place in plant no.8, therefore the weapon received the plant index 2-K . However, the guns produced did not meet the requirements either quantitatively or qualitatively. In 1932, instead of the ordered one hundred cannons, three weapons were manufactured, and another 61 in the following year. After that, production was discontinued. The plant failed to develop a technology for series production. Every single weapon was made by hand. The quality was extremely low, in 1936 the Red Army had only 31 cannons plus eight training weapons.
In Germany, the further developed design was produced in large numbers as the 2 cm Flak 30 and used by the Wehrmacht .
construction
The weapon was a recoil loader with a locked earth bolt. The barrel with a length of 72.5 calibers had a muzzle brake . The pipe return of 60 mm was dampened by a mechanical pipe brake working with spring force. The ammunition was supplied via a magazine with 20 grenade cartridges. The straightening drive only allowed an elevation range between −6 and + 10 °; to fight against air targets the weapon had to be aimed by hand. The visor allowed combat against aircraft at a maximum speed of 300 km / h. The weapon could be placed on a slide or a wheel carriage. The wheels of the carriage were made of wood and had iron tires. A limber to which two horses were harnessed was used for transport .
variants
In November 1931, the development of a 20 mm anti-aircraft twin based on the 2-K was ordered. One variant was to be developed on a wheel carriage with a weight of 550 kg, and another on a base carriage. The height adjustment range was specified as 0 to + 80 °, the side adjustment range with 360 °. A shield with a thickness of 4 mm was provided to protect the crew.
At the same time, a self-propelled version of the gun was developed. A three-axle Ford truck served as the base vehicle. The gun was installed on the loading area. The directional range against aerial targets was 360 °, against targets on the ground due to the driver's cab it was only 270 °. A combat set of 1000 cartridges was carried. The weapon could easily be removed from the loading area and placed on the floor.
In addition, the cannons were still intended as armament for the T-27 tankette . The weapon was installed in place of the machine gun. The side straightening range was 15 °, the maximum tube elevation was 10 °. However, the weapon could not be used for anti-aircraft defense.
Technical specifications
| 20 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun M1930 | |
| General properties | |
| classification | Anti-tank and anti-aircraft cannon |
| Name of the manufacturer | 2-K |
| Manufacturer | Zavod No. 8 (Plant No. 8, Russian Завод № 8) |
| Weight | 172.2 kg |
| team | 4 men |
| Years of construction | 1932-1933 |
| number of pieces | 64 |
| pipe | |
| caliber | 20 mm |
| Pipe length | 1,450 mm (L / 72.5) |
| Height of the line of fire | 1,000mm-5 |
| Fire dates | |
| Elevation range | −5 ° to + 84 ° |
| Side straightening area | 360 ° |
| fire rate | 130-135 rounds / min |
| agility | |
commitment
The weapon was only used in very small numbers in the Red Army. On November 1, 1936, their inventory included 13 cannons on wheel mounts, 18 cannons on ZIS-6 trucks and eight training weapons.
See also
literature
- Александр Широкорад : Зенитные Автоматы in Авиация и космонавтика + Техника и оружие , edition 10/1996 (Russian)