The 76 mm regimental gun M1927 (Russian: 76-мм полковая пушка обр. 1927 г.) was a Soviet infantry support gun.
| 76 mm regimental gun M1927 | |
|---|---|
76-mm regimental gun model 1927 in the Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow, Russia
| |
| Type | Infantry support gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  Soviet Union Nazi Germany Finland |
| Wars | Winter War World War II |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1928–1943 |
| No. built | 18,116[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 780 kg (1,720 lb) |
| Length | 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Barrel length | 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) L/16.4 |
| Width | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)[2] |
| Shell | Fixed QF 76.2 x 167mm R |
| Shell weight | 6.2 kg (13 lb 11 oz) |
| Caliber | 76.2 mm (3 in) |
| Breech | interrupted screw |
| Carriage | Pole trail |
| Elevation | -6° to 25° |
| Traverse | 6°[2] |
| Rate of fire | 10 - 12 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 387 m/s (1,270 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 4.2 km (2.6 mi)[2] |
The gun was developed in 1927 by the design bureau of Orudiyno-Arsenalny Trest (OAT) and entered production in 1928. A total of 18,116 pieces were built. On June 22, 1941, the Red Army had 4,708 of these guns. In 1943 the gun was replaced in production by the 76 mm regimental gun M1943, but remained in service until the end of the war. The Germans placed captured guns into service as the 7.62 cm Infanteriekanonehaubitze 290(r) (infantry gun-howitzer), while in the Finnish army they were known as 76 RK/27.
The gun was intended for destruction of light field fortifications and openly placed personnel by direct fire similarly to how 7.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz L/27 with similar weight and ballistics was used by German troops in WWI. HEAT shell gave it limited anti-tank capabilities. It was chambered for the same shell size as 76.2mm divisional guns, but with a reduced propellant charge. Since firing higher-power divisional gun ammunition could damage the gun, the shell flange was modified so that divisional gun ammunition couldn't be loaded into the chamber of the regimental gun.[3]
The M1927 was issued to rifle and cavalry regiments of the Red Army. Artillery battalion of rifle brigade included one battery of M1927. Some guns were used by anti-tank artillery battalions.
The M1943 used a modernized barrel from the 76 mm regimental gun M1927 and the split-trail carriage from the 45 mm anti-tank gun M1942 (M-42).
A variant of the M1927 with recoil length reduced from 90 cm (2 ft 11 in) to 50 cm (1 ft 8 in) was designated the 76 mm KT tank gun model 1927/32.[4]
The 76 mm KT was installed in these Soviet tanks:
