Soviet 100mm KS-19 towed anti-aircraft gun on display in a museum in St. Petersburg.
Source: one half 3544 -
© Public domain
The KS-19 is an early Cold War era heavy anti-aircraft gun of Soviet origin. It was developed just after World War 2 to combat high flying threats, such as the mass bomber formations employed with significant impact against Axis powers in World War 2. This required an accurate long range gun paired with fire direction systems. Both were not present in the USSR at the end of World War 2, hence the development of the KS-19 and associated fire control system.
The 100mm ordnance of the KS-19 is derived from the B-34 naval gun. This naval gun was widely used by the Soviet navy and had suitable firing characteristics. The gun is mounted on a powered turntable on a four wheel chassis. A multi-slotted muzzle brake helps to reduce stresses on the gun mount and recoil mechanism. There are two outriggers and four jacks create a stable firing position. A pneumatic rammer is fitted since the gun to be loaded at a high angle. A gun shield provides a degree of protection in case the gun is used against ground targets.
The KS-19 fires 100mm fixed type shells at a cyclic rate of fire of about 15 rpm. For a system intended for used against bomber aircraft the maximum altitude is very important. The 100mm high explosive fragmentation shells can be used out to 15.4 km altitude using a proximity fuse and 12.7 km with a time fuse. The maximum range against ground targets is 21 km as an indirect fire weapon.
The KS-19 can be used as an independent mount against air and ground targets using the gunsight. However, it is intended to be used in conjunction with a fire direction system and fire control radar. Up to six guns can be slaved to a single PUAZO-6 or PUAZO-13 fire direction system. Radar input is provided by the SON-9 (NATO: Fire Can). In East German service the truck based RPK-1 fire control system was used with the KS-19M2, indicating that more modern fire control systems could be integrated.
The KS-19 is a large and heavy system. It takes some time to emplace the weapon or make it ready for travel. In Soviet service the AT-S and AT-T tracked prime movers were often issued to tow the KS-19. On suitable roads it can also be towed by 6x6 tactical trucks.
The KS-19 was produced in large numbers, with over 10.500 produced. At first these were only used by the USSR and a select number of Soviet allies. With the introduction of surface to air missiles many ex-Soviet KS-19 were exported to various Soviet allies around the world. The design was shared with China, which produced its own near direct copy as the Type 59. Nowadays the KS-19 and Type 59 are no longer in frontline service as anti-aircraft guns. In various modern conflicts the KS-19 serves as a potent direct fire weapon in defensive positions and as a makeshift artillery piece.
Side view of KS-19 anti-aircraft gun on display at the Museum of Russian Military History.
Source: Museum of National Military History -
© CC BY-SA 4.0
The KS-19 was produced in three variants: the KS-19, KS-19M and KS-19M2. The Type 59 is a direct copy produced in China using a Soviet design package provided before the Sino-Soviet split.
The AT-T is a tracked prime mover often used with KS-19 anti-aircraft guns in Soviet service.
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