72-K (25 mm)
Contents
Description
Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.
Available ammunition
Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.
Pros and cons
Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.
Pros:
Cons:
History
The improvements of aircraft during the Interwar period led to the Soviet Union to develop a thorough anti-aircraft doctrine where they would use rifle caliber machine guns, heavy machine guns and two difference calibers of anti-aircraft guns in the 20-25mm and 37-45mm range. Kovrov machine factory designed a 25mm gun in an attempt to meet the requirement in 1929-1930, but it was not adopted. The Soviet anti-aircraft doctrine in general suffered from significant gaps, lacking the desired heavy machine guns, 20-25mm AA cannon and their 37-45mm range weapons were obsolete equipment from World War I. Turning to the Wiemar Republic for assistance, the Red Army adopted the 20 mm automatic anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun model 1930 an early version of what later became the 2 cm Flak 30 built by the company Bütast, a shell company for Rheinmetall and received a production license for the design. The Kalinin factory attempted local production under the factory code 2-K, but the degree of hand-fitting the factory used meant they only built 3 guns and the Soviets reassigned the design for training before quietly retiring their guns from Germany.
In 1939, the Kalinin plant began work of their own 25mm anti-aircraft gun that reused multiple components from the 37mm 61-K gun that was in service already. The 25mm gun was first given the factory designation ZIK-25 before being changed to 72-K. The gun entered testing in October at the factory before engaging in field tests in April-May 1940. Despite noted problems with zinc buildup from the tracer cubs falling off and the gun vibrating, the design was adopted as the 25mm automatic anti-aircraft gun model 1940. The 72-K entered serial production in 1941, but the Red Army didn't have any in service by the time Germany invaded in June and only had 300 by the end of the year. The biggest problem for the Kalinin factory was a lack of carriages so they frequently mounted the guns on armored trains or as the GAZ-MM (72-K) where it was mounted on the truck bed. The Kalinin factory got assistance in production Plant No.4 and Plant No.172 in 1942, but it wouldn't be until Plant No.88 began production in 1943 that the Soviets got significant numbers of the gun.
The 72-K got a gun shield in 1943. During the war, the gun was used in multiple roles sometimes even replacing the larger 61-K. It was a towed anti-aircraft, a mounted weapon for armored trains, defensive weapon for buildings and in a self-propelled role. Along with the GAZ-MM by Kolohema Locomotive Works, the gun was mounted in the turret of the T-50 light tank for the T-50-2 prototype, and on the bed of the ZIS-11. Production ended after World War II, but the 72-K would remain in service until 1960 when it was replaced by the ZU-23.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
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- reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| USSR anti-aircraft guns | |
|---|---|
| 7.62 mm | Maxim's |
| 12.7 mm | DShK |
| 14.5 mm | KPVT |
| 23 mm | AZP-23 · ZU-23 |
| 25 mm | 72-K |
| 30 mm | 2A38 · ZK453 |
| 37 mm | 2A11 · 61-K · Sh-37 · Type 65 |
| 57 mm | S-68 |
