MAIN MENU SOLDIERS AT WAR DOCUMENTS BATTLES TANKS ARTILLERY 
| The 76.2 mm Divisional Cannon F-22 Model 1936 |
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| MAIN MENU SOLDIERS AT WAR DOCUMENTS BATTLES TANKS ARTILLERY |
In 1934, the GVMU Design Bureau (headed by V.G. Grabin) developed a project for a new 76.2 mm gun, later named the F-22. This was the very first gun completely developed by Grabin's design bureau. In his memoirs, Grabin categorized it as a divisional gun. Actually, it was used as a divisional gun, but initially it was intended as a semi-universal field gun. It could be used as an anti-aircraft gun, although it was not suited to this task as it didn't have a special AA sight. In fact, it planned to be mound but Stalin said "Who are those fools who developing universal guns? We are no need of universal gun, we need of divisional gun!" For the time, the F-22 had excellent ballistic properties, but it had a serious disadvantage: it had separate mechanisms for vertical and horizontal aiming, and thus, two gunners were needed to operate the gun. This reduced the gun's rate of fire, and impeded combat with moving armored targets. At the beginning of 1935, the first three guns were manufactured. One of them had a muzzle brake of 30% efficiency. The muzzle brake was later removed because of de-camouflage effect (when fired, the powder gases kicked up a cloud of dust that de-camouflage the gun's fire position). From July 10, 1935, to December 16, 1935, the gun had been tested on the proving ground. In July 1935, Factory #92 received an order to produce a batch of F-22 guns (10 guns total) to be manufactured within four months. These guns were also tested, and the gun was finally accepted for service as the "76 mm Divisional Gun Model 1936," by the order #OK110/SS (May 11, 1936). That order also stipulated the new production quota: 500 guns before the end of 1936, and 2,500 guns before the end of 1937. In spite of Grabin's memoirs, the F-22 gun still contained many drawbacks, and was modified constantly during its mass production. The proving ground test report stated: "the F-22 is not maneuverable due to its great length. This gun has a limited mobility off-road because of low ground clearance (350 mm). There is too much vibration during firing which decreases the gun's accuracy. The gun has been called universal, but it is not satisfactory for any purpose at all." The gun needed a complete modernisation that was performed in 1937-38. |
| Round | Angle | Distance, m | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 457 | 915 | 1372 | 1829 | ||
| Pz.gr.39 | 90 | 133 | 120 | 108 | 97 | 87 |
| Pz.gr.39 | 60 | 108 | 98 | 88 | 79 | 71 |
| Pz.gr.40 | 90 | 190 | 158 | 130 | 106 | 84 |
| Pz.gr.40 | 60 | 152 | 118 | 92 | 71 | 55 |
| Round | Weight, kg | Muzzle velocity, m/s | Range, m |
|---|---|---|---|
| OF-350 | 6.2 | 706 | 13 630 |
| O-350A | 6.21 | 706 | 13 630 |
| D-350 | 6.45 | 706 | 13 630 |
| BR-350A (AP) | ? | 690 | 7 000 |
| BR-350B (AP) | ? | 690 | 7 000 |
| BR-350SP (AP) | ? | 690 | 7 000 |
| Pz.gr.39 (AP)* | 7.54 | 740 | 4 000 |
| Pz.gr.40 (APS)* | 4.05 | 990 | 500 |
| HL.gr.38 (HEAT)* | ? | 450 | 1 000 |
| Sp.gr.39 (Fragm.)* | 6.2 | 550 | 10 000 |
* Taken from German reports
Proof-reader:
Mark Jaremco Sources: "Artillery from Alpha to Omega" encyclopaedia. Encyclopaedia of the Weapons |
