Anti-aircraft guns KS-19 in Ukraine
One of the KS-19 guns at the Ukrainian base
Ukrainian formations suffer heavy losses in the material part and are trying to make up for them by any available means. Often decommissioned weapons from storage bases are used. So, a few days ago it became known that the old 100-mm towed anti-aircraft guns KS-19 would return to the artillery units. A small number of such guns are going to be repaired and returned to service. But it is already clear that the results of such a "rearmament" will not live up to expectations.
Return to service
Until recently, nothing was reported about the presence of Soviet-made KS-19 anti-aircraft guns in the zone of the Russian Special Operation. In combat operations, a fairly wide range of artillery systems is used, including very old models, but the KS-19 products, for one reason or another, were not included in it.
Only a few days ago it became known that the Ukrainian side intends to return several such guns to service. In the tenth of March, first on Ukrainian, and then on Russian profile resources, a curious video appeared. An unknown Ukrainian cameraman filmed an object that looked like a repair base, which was attended by equipment and weapon recovery.
The video showed 11 towed guns, which are easily recognizable as old Soviet KS-19 products. The voice-over claims that the guns are trophies and were captured from the Russian army. Now they are going to be used against allegedly former owners.
One row of five guns
The statement about the trophy origin of the guns, apparently, is not true. The fact is that the guns are in an unsatisfactory condition. On the parts, the paint has peeled off and peeled off in places, there is rust, some carriage wheels are deflated. All this suggests that the guns were previously in storage and have not yet been trained for operation - and could not be used in battles.
The appearance of the guns suggests an unsatisfactory condition. It is likely that the shown KS-19s need not only to be reactivated, but also to be fully repaired and restored. It is not known how long all these measures will take and whether the Ukrainian artillerymen will be able to carry them out in full.
Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that 11 KS-19 guns from storage will still be restored and transferred to combat artillery units. In what direction and for what purposes they will be used, it will become clear later. At the same time, the possibility of successful use of such weapons is questionable for a number of reasons.
historical pattern
The future 100-mm towed anti-aircraft gun KS-19 (GRAU index 52-P-415) was developed in the mid-forties at the Design Bureau of Plant No. 8 (Sverdlovsk); chief designer - L.V. Lyulyev. The aim of the project was to create a new artillery system to replace the existing 85 mm 52-K gun.
Six more items
In the autumn of 1947, according to the finished project, an experimental batch was made for testing. Within a few months, all the necessary measures were taken, and in March 1948 the gun was put into service. In the same year, plant No. 8 began mass production of KS-19 products, and also helped other enterprises with the development of production.
Already in 1951, the gun was modernized, aimed at correcting the shortcomings identified during operation. The updated gun received the index KS-19M. Later, the system was transferred to a new chassis wagon - this version of the system was called KS-19M2. In addition, other upgrade options were proposed, incl. with the transformation of anti-aircraft guns into coastal ones.
Serial production of KS-19 guns and its modifications continued until 1957. Over the entire period, about 10150 items of all types were produced. Serial guns were supplied to the anti-aircraft artillery units of the Soviet army; plans to replace obsolete systems were completed as soon as possible.
By the end of the fifties, the process of replacing anti-aircraft artillery with new missile systems began. In this regard, the KS-19 and other receiver systems began to be gradually reduced. The guns removed from duty were sent for storage, put in museums or transferred to friendly countries. In addition, in 1955, the PRC received documentation for 52-P-415. Her licensed version of the gun is known as the Type 59.
Not later than the seventies, the Soviet army abandoned the KS-19 guns in air defense. At the same time, the coastal modification of the gun was still in service, which was later also replaced by missiles. However, the operation of guns in our country has not been stopped. A certain amount of KS-19 is in service with the paramilitary structures of Roshydromet and is used for controlled avalanching.
The breech of one of the guns
According to various sources, at the time of the collapse of the USSR, about 170-180 KS-19 anti-aircraft guns of the main modifications remained on the territory of the former Ukrainian SSR. They were in storage and had no clear prospects. Apparently, some of these products were sold abroad, and some were disposed of. As follows from the latest reports, the stocks of guns were not used up, and now they are trying to make up for the loss of artillery units with their help.
Technical features
The product KS-19 (52-P-415) is a 100 mm towed artillery gun for use in air defense. The gun with a carriage and shield cover is placed on a four-wheeled cart. The total mass of the system is approx. 9,4 tons. The towing of the gun was to be carried out by an AT-T or AT-C tractor at a speed of up to 35 km / h. Firing required deployment to positions and interfacing with anti-aircraft fire control systems.
The KS-19 gun received a 100-mm rifled barrel approx. 6 m (60,7 klb) with a slotted muzzle brake and a breech designed for unitary ammunition. The long barrel provided an initial speed of up to 900 m / s. Rate of fire - up to 15 rds / min. The carriage design provided full circular horizontal guidance and elevation angles from -3° to +85°. On ground targets, the gun could fire at a distance of up to 21 km. Reach in height - 15 km.
Especially for the 52-P-415, a wide range of 100-mm unitary projectiles for various purposes was developed. There were specialized anti-aircraft shells, incl. with a radio fuse, high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing, etc. At the later stages of operation, 100-mm guided missiles of the 9K116 "Kastet" complex were introduced. In addition, the gun could use ammunition for the BS-3 field gun and the D-10 tank gun of the same caliber.
KS-19 in the Russian museum
Guns KS-19 were used as part of artillery batteries. Target designation for the unit was carried out by the SON-8 or SON-9 radar station. The calculation of data for firing was carried out by the PUAZO-6 control device. The data was individually transmitted to each gun. There were also an optical and panoramic sight for independent work on ground targets.
In modern conditions
From a technical and operational point of view, the KS-19 anti-aircraft gun mod. 1948 has long been morally obsolete. The newest products of this type were made 65-67 years ago, which also indicates physical obsolescence. In addition, the guns of this type available in the post-Soviet space have been idle for a long time, which also does not contribute to maintaining a good technical condition.
After reactivation and restoration, even old KS-19 products are capable of firing and are suitable for use. However, there are a number of specific problems. Difficulties are possible along the line of supply of ammunition, and the achievable efficiency of fire and the survivability of a design with a partially depleted resource also raise questions. All this will have to be faced by the Ukrainian units, which will receive the guns removed from storage.
How exactly the Ukrainian formations plan to use the shown KS-19 is unclear. Such weapons can enter the field artillery and be used as cannons or howitzers. In conditions of a shortage of tools, such a decision makes sense. However, only 11 guns were shown, which are not enough even to partially replenish the losses incurred.
Ukrainian formations may try to use the KS-19 in the original anti-aircraft role. Unmanned aerial vehicles and missile weapons have shown their capabilities and regularly cause significant damage to the Kyiv regime. Perhaps, with the help of reactivated guns, they will try to fight them. The benefits of such air defense are in question.
KS-19 of the avalanche service in the Caucasus
The effectiveness of anti-aircraft artillery critically depends on the means of target designation and fire control. If the Ukrainian side manages to add any radar and POISO to the KS-19 guns, it can count on acceptable fire efficiency. However, even in this case, all the characteristic problems of air defense artillery will remain. A small number of guns will also limit the hypothetical result.
With all this, KS-19 retains all the characteristic problems of towed systems. So, the wheeled chassis allows you to transport them only on a good road, and the process of deployment and transfer to the stowed position takes several minutes. The enemy gets the opportunity to determine the location of the gun / battery and strike back before it leaves the position.
Results of demilitarization
Thus, the Russian operation to demilitarize Ukraine continues successfully and leads to interesting results. Left without most of the modern artillery, the Ukrainian formations are forced to remove obsolete samples from storage. They have limited performance and other disadvantages, but now there is no choice.
It is likely that the recently shown KS-19 guns will reach the combat zone in the near future and even have time to fire a few shots. But their new service will be short-lived and will end with understandable results. What Ukrainian formations will do after the loss of old anti-aircraft guns from storage is a big question.
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