This gun was developed between 1954 and 1959 as the ZIF-67. It successfully went through extensive trials in 1958-59 and then through shipboard trials in 1960-62. Production started in 1963 with a total of 104 mounts being manufactured between 1958 and 1964.
This weapon was operated by a Fut-B control system which could control the guns against aircraft flying at speeds from 1,150 to 1,780 fps (350 to 650 mps) and at altitudes from 1,650 to 19,700 feet (500 to 6,000 m) and at ranges of up to 11 miles (18.3 km). It could also be used against ship targets at ranges up to 5 miles (8.2 km).
Used a monobloc barrel with spring receiver. The barrels were in a common cradle and the automatic mechanism operated from recoil forces. This gun is not water-cooled during the firing, but during breaks between firing sea water was pumped through the barrels. It usually took between two and three minutes to cool the guns. The turret has an unusually deep cleft which allowed the guns to be mounted aft of the center of the trunnion. This made them able to achieve high elevations.
| Designation | 76.2 mm/59 (3") AK-726 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Kiev (Pr.1143), Kara (Pr. 1134B), Kynda (Pr.58), Kashin (Pr.61), Modified Kotlin (Pr.56U), Krivak I (Pr.1135), Ivan Rogov (Pr.1174), Koni (Pr.1159), Petya I (Pr.159), Grisha III (Pr. 1124M), Mirka (Pr.35) and Dobrynya Nikitich (Pr. 97P) Classes |
| Date Of Design | 1954 |
| Date In Service | 1963 |
| Gun Weight | 1,810 lb. (821 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 176.54 in (4.484 m) |
| Bore Length | N/A |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | 24 |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | 225.8 in3 (37 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | 45 rounds per minute |
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Weight of Complete Round | AA (ZS-63): 27.34 lbs. (12.4 kg) FRAG (OF-62): 27.34 lbs. (12.4 kg) |
| Projectile Types and Weights | AA (ZS-63): 13.0 lbs. (5.9 kg) FRAG (OF-62): 13.0 lbs. (5.9 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | AA (ZS-63): 1.06 lbs. (0.48 kg) FRAG (OF-62): 0.88 lbs. (0.4 kg) |
| Projectile Length | AA (ZS-63): 13.98 in (355 cm) FRAG (OF-62): 13.98 in (35.5 cm) |
| Propellant Container Type and Weight | Cartridge: 14.33 lb. (6.5 kg) |
| Propellant Charge | 6.72 lb. (3.05 kg) |
| Muzzle Velocity | 3,215 fps (980 mps) |
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | Barrel: 3,000 rounds Automatic mechanism: 5,000 rounds |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | N/A |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| Max. Ballistic Range | 17,169 yards (15,700 m) |
| Max. Ceiling | 12,030 yards (11,000 m) |
| Lethal Radius Against Aircraft | 26 feet (8 m) |
| Designation | Twin Mount AK-726 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 25.24 tons (25.642 mt) |
| Elevation | By hand: -5 / +85 degrees With hydraulics: -2 / +84 degrees |
| Rate of Elevation | By hand: 1.2 degrees per second With hydraulics: 30 degrees per second |
| Train | -164 / +164 |
| Rate of Train | By hand: 1 degrees per second With hydraulics: 35 degrees per second |
| Gun Recoil | 17.64 - 21.06 in (44.8 - 53.5 cm) |
Data from:
- "The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1991/92" by Norman Friedman
- "Entsiklopedia Otechestvennoi Artillerii" (Encyclopedia of Fatherland [Russian] Artillery) by A.V. Shirokorad
Special help from Vladimir Yakubov
- 19 November 2008
- Benchmark
- 16 January 2014
- Added photograph of Grozny