100 mm air defense gun KS-19

100 mm air defense gun KS-19 (Russian: 100-мм зенитная пушка КС-19) was a Soviet anti-aircraft gun. Initially deployed aboard ships as the B-34 during the Second World War, a ground-mounted version was introduced into service after the war as the KS-19.

100 mm air defense gun KS-19
KS-19 in Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum.
Type	Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Wars	Korean war Vietnam war
Production history
Designer	L. V. Lulyev
No. built	approx. 5000[1]
Specifications
Mass	9,550 kg (21,054 lbs)
Length	9.45 m (31 ft)
Barrel length	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)[2]
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[2]
Caliber	100 mm (3.94 in)
Breech	Semi-automatic horizontal sliding-wedge[2]
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 is a heavy towed anti aircraft gun that has largely disappeared from front line arsenals due to increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles. Being a towed weapon an external form of mobility was required, usually an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor. The 15 man crew were carried on the tractor along with ready use ammunition for the gun.[3] Ammunition was loaded as a single round into the loading tray and a well trained crew could fire 15 rounds maximum per minute.[3]

KS-19, Israel Defense Forces History Museum.

Anti Aircraft ammunition includes high explosive, high explosive fragmentation and fragmentation types. The KS-19's onboard sights can be used to engage air targets; however increased accuracy was achieved if used in conjunction with a fire control radar such as the SON 9 (NATO Reporting name 'Fire Can') and PUAZO-6/19 director.[3]

As the KS-19 is a heavy calibre Anti-Aircraft gun it also has some utility in the ground role especially against armored targets. As a result of this two armor piecing rounds were produced: the AP-T (Armour Piercing-Tracer) and APC-T (Armour Piercing Capped-Tracer) with the AP-T round reportedly able to penetrate 185 mm of armor at 1000 m.[3]

The KS-19 was used in action by communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam.

Recently Iran has built an upgraded automatic version of KS-19 named Sa'ir.[4]