85 mm vz. 52

85 mm vz. 52
An Austrian vz. 52 on display at the Nauders Fortress.
Type Field gun
Anti-tank gun
Place of origin Czechoslovakia
Service history
Used by  Czechoslovakia
 Austria
 East Germany[1]
Production history
Designer Škoda
Designed 1952
Manufacturer Škoda[2]
Specifications
Weight 2,095 kg (4,619 lb)
Length 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
Barrel length 5.07 m (17 ft) L/60
(with muzzle brake)[1]
Width 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Height 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Crew 7[2]
Shell Fixed QF 85 × 629 mm R[3]
Caliber 85 mm (3.3 in)
Breech Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge
Recoil Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage Split-trail
Elevation -6° to +38°
Traverse 60°[2]
Rate of fire 20 rpm
Muzzle velocity HVAP: 1,070 m/s (3,500 ft/s)
APHE: 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
HE: 805 m/s (2,640 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 16 km (10 mi)[2]

The 85 mm vz. 52 was a dual-purpose field gun and anti-tank gun designed and produced for the Czechoslovak Army during the 1950's.

History

When Czechoslovakia was created with the dissolution of Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I it inherited a large and capable arms manufacturing industry. This allowed the new state to both design and produce its own weapons for domestic use and for export. After World War II this design and manufacturing experience allowed Czechoslovakia to not only produce Soviet designs under license but to produce equipment for its own use and for export to its Warsaw Pact allies. A consequence of its membership in the Warsaw Pact was that the military hardware it produced used Soviet caliber ammunition. This standardization was also pursued by NATO members, but with their own calibers of ammunition.

Design

Design and development of the vz. 52 began in 1948 at the Škoda Works in Pilsen under the company designation of A22. The vz.52 was designed to fill the same roles as the Soviet 85 mm divisional gun D-44 and used the same ammunition. Its performance was similar to that of the D44 but since it was a unique design it had different dimensions.[2]

Similarities
  • Fixed QF 85 x 692 mm R ammunition
  • Split-trail carriage
  • Muzzle break
  • Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge breech
  • Gun shield
  • Hydro-pneumatic recoil system

Differences

  • Weight
  • Length
  • Barrel length
  • Single tires
  • Elevation
  • Traverse
Ammunition
Type Model Weight Penetration
HVAP BR-365P 5 kg (11 lb) 107 mm (4 in) at 1,000 m (1,094 yd)
APHE 9.3 kg (20 lb 8 oz) 123 mm (5 in) at 1,000 m (1,094 yd)
High Explosive O-365K 9.5 kg (20 lb 15 oz) ?
High Explosive Anti-tank BK-2M ? 300 mm (12 in) at 900 m (984 yd)[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "CZK - vz. 52 (85mm protitankový kanón) : Czechoslovakia / Czech Republic / Slovak Republic (CZK/CZE/SVK)". forum.valka.cz. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Foss, Christopher (1974). Artillery of the world. London: Allan. p. 11. ISBN 0711005052. OCLC 3241835.
  3. ↑ "78- MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
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