76 mm divisional gun M1902

Infobox Weapon
name=76-mm divisional gun model 1902


caption=76-mm divisional gun model 1902 in Sotamuseo Artillery Museum, Finland.
origin=Russian Empire, USSR
type=field gun
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is_artillery=yes
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production_date=1903-1931
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weight=combat: 1,350 kg
(2,976 lbs)
travel: 2,380 kg
(5,247 lbs)
length=
part_length=30 calibers
width=
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crew=
cartridge=
caliber=76.2 mm (3 in)
action=
rate=10-12 rounds per minute
velocity=
range=
max_range=8.5 km (5.28 mi)
feed=
sights=
breech=interruted screw
recoil=
carriage=fixed trail
elevation=-3° to 17°
traverse=5°
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76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902 ( _ru. 76-мм дивизионная пушка образца 1902 года) was a Russian light field gun, utilized in Russo-Japanese War, World War I, Russian Civil War and a number of interwar armed conflicts with participants from the former Russian Empire (Soviet Union, Poland, Finland, etc). Modernized versions of this gun were employed at the early stage of World War II.

History

This gun, known as the "three-incher", (трёхдюймовка) was developed by Putilovski Works in Saint-Petersburg at 1902. The lead designers were L. A. Bishlyak, K. M. Sokolovskiy and K. I. Lipnitskiy. It incorporates many new features for that time - carriage with recoil devices, traverse and elevation tracking mechanisms, precision sight for direct and indirect firing, manual interrupted screw breech and single-piece ammunition loading.

For simplifying the mass production process designers used in gun construction cheap types of carbonized steel without or with minimal using rare and expensive nickel-, manganese- or chromium-added types of steel.

The gun has fragmentary, shrapnel and cannister ammunition. More specialized types of projectiles included smoke, incendiary and chemical ones. Many ammunition pieces were French originated.

Employment

M1902 divisional guns were the mainstay of Russian Empire artillery and were accepted well by the army. Their characteristics were at the same level with similar 75-mm French and German guns. These guns were used in the battles of Russo-Japanese War and World War I. After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 M1902 guns were employed by different factions: bolshevist Red Army, monarchist or counter-revolution White Guard, nationalist forces in Russian-minority areas, national armies of Poland and Finland and simply anarchists and bandits through all vast territories of former imperial Russia.

In some episodes the gun saw its first anti-tank usage. White Guard and intervening forces of Entente Cordiale used small number of tanks, primarily French Renault FT-17s and British Mk Vs and Whippets. M1902 gun with high muzzle velocity was quite effective weapon against targets with only anti-bullet armour protection. In 1920 Polish-Soviet War M1902 guns were again used against Polish FT-17s.

Interwar development

Poland and Soviet Union modernized their M1902 guns after the end of World War I. Polish designers made their enhancements in 1926, resulting the wz. 02/26 gun, which was rechambered for firing 75mm shells. USSR continued mass production of M1902 gun until 1931 when it was replaced by its enhanced M1902/30 variant. For Soviet modernization see 76.2-mm divisional gun M1902/30. Both variants were utilized at the early stages of World War II.

References and external links

* Shunkov V. N. - "The Weapons of the Red Army", Mn. Harvest, 1999 (Шунков В. Н. - "Оружие Красной Армии." - Мн.: Харвест, 1999.) ISBN 985-433-469-4
* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/putilov02_76mm_info.htm Russian Putilov 76.2mm m/02 Field Gun at Landships]
* [http://www.flamesofwar.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=1069 76 K/02 at FlamesOfWar]

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