Description

The design of this gun was started in 1943 but it may have been influenced post-war by captured examples of the German 12.7 cm (5") KM40, which was a fully-stabilized anti-aircraft weapon used to defend German cities during World War II. The first prototype of the Soviet gun was completed in 1948 and after many years of testing the gun was accepted into service in 1957.

This weapon in Soviet service was controlled by Sfera-56 Fire Control Radar which had a maximum range of 24 km (13 nm). It could track targets up to 15 km high flying at speeds of up to 300 mps. It also had an automatic AA gun sight which could track targets of up to 22 km away and moving at speeds between 0 and 270 mps. The system had a radar rangefinder Shtag-B which could provide correct range for targets up to 15 km.

This weapon is triaxially stabilized and considered to be dual-purpose.

The PRC is currently manufacturing this gun which differs from the Soviet version by lacking mechanical cross-level stabilization and a range-only radar.

Both the USSR and the PRC use these guns in a coastal defense role.

Gun Characteristics

Designation Russia / USSR: 130 mm/58 (5.1") SM-2-1 Pattern 1957
PRC: 130 mm/58 (5.1") Type 76
Ship Class Used On Russia / USSR: Pr. 41 Neustrashimy and Pr. 56 Kotlin classes
PRC: Luda class
Date Of Design 1948
Date In Service 1957
Gun Weight 4.8 tons (4.99 mt)
Gun Length oa 294.82 in (7.490 m)
Bore Length 277.56 in (7.050 m)
Rifling Length 233.35 in (5.927 m)
Grooves 28
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume 1,195 in3 (19.6 dm3)
Rate Of Fire Electrical power loading
   15 rounds per minute at +3 degrees
   11.5 - 12 rounds per minute at +30 to +50 degrees

Hand loading
   9.7 rounds per minute at +3 degrees
   8.2 rounds per minute at +30 to +50 degrees

Ammunition

Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round 118.6 - 135.36 lbs. (53.8 - 61.4 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights Russia / USSR
   Semi-AP (PB-42): 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg)
   HE-FRAG (OF-42): 72.75 lbs. (33.0 kg)
   AA (ZS-42): 72 lbs. (32.675 kg)
   AA (ZS-42P): 72.9 lbs. (33.08 kg)
   Star Shell (SP-42): 56.88 lbs. (25.8 kg)

PRC
   SAP A 1: 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg)
   SAP B 1: 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg)
   HE: 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg)
   Illum: 56.22 lbs. (25.5 kg)

Bursting Charge Russia / USSR
   Semi-AP (PB-42): 3.09 lbs. (1.4 kg)
   HE-FRAG (OF-42): 5.49 lbs. (2.49 kg)
   AA (ZS-42): 5.12 lbs. (2.5 kg)
   AA (ZS-42P): 4.3 lbs. (1.95 kg)
   Star Shell: N/A

PRC
   SAP A: N/A
   SAP B: N/A
   HE: N/A
   Illum: N/A

Projectile Length Russia / USSR
   Semi-AP (PB-42): 4.68 calibers
   HE-FRAG (OF-42): 4.73 calibers
   AA (ZS-42): 4.79 calibers
   AA (ZS-42P): 4.7 calibers
   Star Shell (SP-42): 4.43 calibers

PRC
   SAP A: 24.7 in (62.73 cm)
   SAP B: 24.1 in (61.21 cm)
   HE: 25.1 in (63.8 cm)
   Illum: 22.5 in (57.2 cm)

Complete Round Length N/A
Cartridge Case Type, Size and Empty Weight Brass or steel, N/A, 28.0 lbs. (12.7 kg)
Propellant Charge Russia / USSR: 33.73 lbs. (15.3 kg)
PRC: N/A
Muzzle Velocity Russia / USSR
   Semi-AP (PB-42): 3,116 fps (950 mps)
   HE-FRAG (OF-42): 3,116 fps (950 mps)
   AA (ZS-42): 3,133 fps (955 mps)
   AA (ZS-42P): 3,133 fps (955 mps)
   Star Shell (SP-42): 2,460 fps (750 mps)

PRC
   SAP A: 2,854 fps (870 mps)
   SAP B: 3,116 fps (950 mps)
   HE: 3,116 fps (950 mps)
   Illum: N/A

Working Pressure Russia / USSR
   N/A

PRC
   SAP A: 19.31 tons/in2 (3,050 kg/cm2)
   SAP B: 22.80 tons/in2 (3,600 kg/cm2)
   HE: 22.80 tons/in2 (3,600 kg/cm2)
   Illum: 10.13 tons/in2 (1,600 kg/cm2)

Approximate Barrel Life 1,700 rounds
Ammunition stowage per gun 400 rounds
  • ^1.11.2SAP A and SAP B are my descriptions.

Range

Russia / USSR

Range with 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg) Semi-AP (PB-42)
Elevation Distance
Max Range 30,360 yards (27,760 m)

Range with 72 lbs. (32.68 kg) AA (ZS-42)
Elevation Distance
Max Range 26,000 yards (23,775 m)

PRC

Range with 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg) SAP A
Elevation Distance
Max Range 30,020 yards (27,450 m)

Range with 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg) SAP B
Elevation Distance
Max Range 29,615 yards (27,080 m)

Range with 73.63 lbs. (33.4 kg) HE
Elevation Distance
Max Range 29,615 yards (27,080 m)

Illumination round has a maximum range of 16,400 yards (15,000 m) with the flare parachute opening at 8,240 feet (14,700 m). The flare assembly provides more than 400,000 candles and burns for over 30 seconds. The average rate of descent is 33 fps (10 mps).

Mount/Turret Data

Designation Russia - Twin Mounts
   Pr. 30bis: BL-109
   Pr. 66: BL-109A (Test Mount in 1953)
   Pr. 82: BL-109A (Test Mount in 1953)
   Pr. 82: BL-110
   Pr. 41 (Neustrashimy) and Pr. 56 (Kotlin): SM-2-1 (Production Mounting)
   Pr. 56 (Pr. 66 Cruiser): SM-62 (Based on SM-2, this failed acceptance tests in 1956)

PRC
   Type 76 Twin Mount

Weight Russia
   BL-109: 56 mt
   BL-109A: 69 mt
   BL-110: 89 mt
   SM-2: 57.325 mt
   SM-62: 85 mt

PRC
   N/A

Elevation SM-2: -7.35 / +81.46 degrees
Others: -8 / +83 degrees
Rate of Elevation SM-2: 17.62 degrees per second
Others: 20 degrees per second
Train +204 / -204 degrees
Rate of Train BL-109, BL-109A: 32 degrees per second
SM-2: 18 degrees per second
BL-110, SM-62: 20 degrees per second
Gun Recoil N/A
  • Turret armor thickness as given in "Morskaja artillerija otečestvennogo Voenno-Morskogo Flota"
        BL-109: 8 mm
        BL-109A: 25 mm
        BL-110: 50 mm Front/Sides, 70 mm Roof
       SM-2 and SM-62: N/A
  • The Chinese gun house has rounded edges and lacks the stabilization and radar found on Russian mountings.

Sources

"Morskaja artillerija otečestvennogo Voenno-Morskogo Flota" [Naval Artillery of the Russian Navy] by I. Buneev and E. Vasilʹev
"Jane's Ammunition Handbook: Ninth Edition 2000-2001" edited by Terry J. Gander and Charles Q. Cutshaw
"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
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Special help from Vladimir Yakubov and Eason Lee

Page History

15 November 2008 - Benchmark
20 March 2024 - Converted to HTML 5 format, added mounting information and turret armor details