The M-42 was a 45-mm
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
light semi-automatic
anti-tank gun
An anti-tank gun is a form of artillery designed to destroy tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, normally from a static defensive position. The development of specialized anti-tank munitions and anti-tank guns was prompted by the appearance ...
. Its full official name is 45-mm anti-tank gun model 1942 (M-42) (Russian: 45-мм противотанковая пушка образца 1942 года (М-42)). These guns were used from 1942 until the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
History
![45mm m1942 parola 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/45mm_m1942_parola_2.jpg)
The M-42 was developed by the
No. 172 Plant in
Motovilikha
Motovilikhinsky City District (russian: Мотови́лихинский район) is one of the seven city districts of the types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Perm, Russia, Perm in Perm Krai, Russia. Population: It is the second ...
as an upgrade of the
45 mm anti-tank gun M1937 (53-K)
The 45 mm anti-tank gun model 1937 (factory designation 53-K, GRAU index 52-P-243-PP-1), nicknamed the Sorokapyatka (from Russian сорокапятка, or "little forty-five"), was a light quick-firing anti-tank gun used in the first stage ...
. The gun received a longer barrel (20 calibers more than the previous one, so it was a 45 mm/L66), shells with more powerful cartridges, and a thicker shield (7 mm instead of 4.5 mm), but of hinged construction as a need for reduced profile, requiring crews to kneel while serving the weapon. Some minor changes were also introduced in order to speed up production.
These guns were used from 1942 until the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. In 1943, due to its insufficient anti-armor capabilities against new
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
tanks such as the
Tiger
The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...
,
Panther
Panther may refer to:
Large cats
*Pantherinae, the cat subfamily that contains the genera ''Panthera'' and ''Neofelis''
**''Panthera'', the cat genus that contains tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards.
***Jaguar (''Panthera onca''), found in Sout ...
and
Panzer IV Ausf H, the M-42 was partially replaced in mass production by the more powerful 57 mm
ZiS-2
The ZiS-2 (russian: ЗиС-2) (GRAU index: 52-P-271) is a Soviet 57 mm anti-tank gun used during World War II. The ZiS-4 is a version of the gun that was meant to be installed in tanks. ''ZiS'' stands for ''Zavod imeni Stalina'' (Russian ''За ...
anti-tank gun. The M-42 remained in production however, as it was quite effective against lighter vehicles and could pierce the side armour of the Panther and Panzer IV Ausf H. Fragmentation shells and canister shot gave the gun some anti-personnel capability.
Mass production of the M-42 ceased in mid-1945. The total number of guns produced is 10,843.
Ammunition
*Ammunition types:
**Armor-piercing
**Fragmentation
**Canister
**Smoke
*Projectile weight:
**AP: 1.43 kg (3.15 lbs)
**APCR: 0.85 kg (1.87 lbs)
**Fragmentation: 2.14 kg (4.71 lbs)
Performance
Notes
References
* Shunkov V. N. - ''The Weapons of the Red Army'', Mn. Harvest, 1999 (Шунков В. Н. - ''Оружие Красной Армии.'' — Мн.: Харвест, 1999.)
*
External links
45 mm anti-tank gun model 1942 ar rustrana.ru
{{SovArtyGPW
World War II anti-tank guns
World War II artillery of the Soviet Union
Anti-tank guns of the Soviet Union
45 mm artillery
Motovilikha Plants products
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1942