| KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft gun | |
|---|---|
KS-19 in Russia.
| |
| Type | Anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1948-present |
| Wars | Korean War Vietnam War Iran-Iraq War Somali Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Second Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | L. V. Lulyev |
| Produced | N/A |
| No. built | N/A |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9,550 kg (21,054 lbs) |
| Length | 9.45 m (31 ft) |
| Barrel length | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Width | 2.35 m (7 ft 8 in) |
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 15 |
| Shell | Fixed QF 100×695 mm. R[1] |
| Caliber | 100 mm (3.94 in) |
| Breech | Semi-automatic horizontal sliding-wedge[1] |
| Elevation | −3°/+85 |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 15 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 900-1,000 m/s |
| Maximum firing range | Horizontal: 21 km (13 mi) Vertical: 12,700 m (41,667 ft) timed fuse. 15,000 m (49,213 ft) proximity fuse. |
The KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft gun (Russian: КС-19 100мм зенитная установка) is a Soviet anti-aircraft gun that also features efficient capabilities against ground targets.[2]
The KS-19 is a towed anti-aircraft gun that was specifically designed to excel in ground combat, particularly against armored targets and as artillery.[3] Due to its towed nature, it requires an external means of mobility, typically an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor.[3] The 15-man crew is transported on the tractor, along with readily available ammunition for the gun.[3]
This rifled gun boasts a semiautomatic horizontal sliding wedge block, a power rammer, an automatic fuze setter, and a long muzzle brake.[4] The loading tray allows for quick and efficient ammunition loading, enabling a well-trained crew to fire a maximum of 15 rounds per minute.[3] The fire control system comprises the PUAZO-6/19 directional system, along with a SON 9 (NATO Reporting name 'Fire Can') or SON-9A fire control radar.[4] While the onboard sights are adequate for engaging air targets, greater accuracy is achieved when used in conjunction with the fire control radar.[3]
The ammunition is of a fixed type and is largely interchangeable with other 100mm rifled tank and field guns.[4] Anti-aircraft ammunition includes high explosive, high explosive fragmentation, and fragmentation types.[4] The two types of armor-piercing rounds are the AP-T (Armor Piercing-Tracer) and the APC-T (Armor Piercing Capped-Tracer).[3] The AP-T round is reputed to penetrate 185 mm of armor at a range of 1000 m.[3]
The KS-19 gun was developed to replace the 85mm anti-aircraft guns that were used during World War II.[4] It was widely adopted by all of the Warsaw Pact armies and saw action with communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam.[4]
However, the KS-19 gun has largely been phased out of front line arsenals due to the increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles.[2] As a result, it is no longer a commonly used weapon in modern warfare.[2]
At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of KS-19 guns were stored in Balakliia.[5] However, the city was captured by Russian forces on March 3 and it is believed that the Russians may have used some of the guns as decoys.[5] During the Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022, Ukraine regained control of Balakliia on September 10.[6]
As of April 1st, 2023, it has been reported that Ukraine is using some of the KS-19 guns that were stored in Balakliia for indirect fire against ground targets, and possibly for direct fire as well.[7] One advantage of using these guns as artillery is that they fire older ammunition that is not commonly used by other Ukrainian artillery.[7] In fact, one of the Soviet UOF-412 rounds that was seen in use had been manufactured as far back as 1962.[8]
• KS-19 - Original production model introduced in 1948 on KZU-16 carriage.
• KS-19M - Updated model introduced in 1951. The grooves in the barrel were broadened to reduce the projectile's friction and reduce barrel wear.
• KS-19M2 - Final production model introduced in 1955. Features the heavier and more stable KZU-28 carriage, which is easier to set up as well.
• Type 59 - Chinese production model.
• Sa'eer - Iranian upgrade of either Soviet KS-19 or Chinese Type 59 with automatic targeting and reloading system revealed to the public in November 2011. Since then also observed in use in Iraq mounted on a truck.[9]
Hezbollah militia has reportedly operated a KS-19 systems mounted on 2K12E Kvadrat tracked chassis, the export variant of the 2K12 Kub anti-aircraft missile system in 2016. Hezbollah also operated multiple KS-19 systems mounted on commercial trucks.
The 241st[10] and 111th[11] TDF brigades, operated multiple KS-19 systems mounted on trucks in 2023 during the Russo-Ukrainian war in indirect fire support role.
Current
Azerbaijan – 8 [12]
Cambodia – 50[citation needed]
Cuba – Unknown[13]: 410 
Guinea – 4[14]
Iran[15]
Mauritania – 12[16]
North Korea[17]
Republic of the Congo - Unknown[18]: 444 
Romania[19]
Syria – Unknown[13]: 370 
Transnistria[citation needed]
Ukraine: The Ukrainian army started to use KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft guns in 2023.[7]
Vietnam[17]
Yemen[citation needed]Former operators
Afghanistan[17]
Albania[citation needed]
Algeria – 150 in 2018.[20]: 325 
Artsakh − Seized by Azerbaijan after the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh[21]
Bulgaria[20]: 89 
China – Produced as Type 59[17]
Czechoslovakia[17]
Egypt – 300 in 2018.[20]: 332 
Georgia – Used in ground role.[22]: 89 
Hungary[citation needed]
Iraq[citation needed]
Kazakhstan[17]
Poland – Withdrawn from service in late 1950s.[citation needed]
Morocco – 17 in 2018.[20]: 351 
Nicaragua[23]: 198 
North Vietnam[citation needed]
Russia – Used at least until 2008.[24]: 213 
Somalia – 24 in 1989.[23]: 113 
Soviet Union[23]: 34 
Sudan[23]: 114 {{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
