Anti-tank gun. It was characterized by exceptionally favorable ballistic properties and was considered the best in its class. It was developed by General Vasily Grabin’s design team in response to the Germans introducing heavy tanks—the Tiger and the Panther—into production. The gun was introduced into service between 1944 and 1945, equipping certain anti-tank artillery regiments and brigades. Due to their high combat effectiveness, these guns remained in use for many years after the war ended.
POLAND
Polish People’s Army: ZiS-2 guns were part of the equipment of the 4th Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade of the 1st Polish Army, as well as the 9th “Dresden” and 14th “Sudeten” Anti-Tank Artillery Brigades of the 2nd Polish Army.
Versions and variants
Design
Steel protective shield. Horse-drawn or motorized traction.
Tactical and technical data
57 mm Model 1943 ZiS-2
Design specifications: caliber 57 mm; barrel length 73 calibers (4.159 m); rifled barrel; elevation angle 25°; horizontal traverse (firing arc) 54°.
Ammunition: high-explosive (fragmentation) shell 3.75 kg; standard anti-tank shell 3.14 kg; sub-caliber anti-tank shell 1.79 kg. Ballistic data – muzzle velocity: 700 m/s (high-explosive/fragmentation), 990 m/s (standard armor-piercing), 1270 m/s (armor-piercing sub-caliber); maximum range: 8400 m; effective range against tanks: 1500 m; point-blank range: 1120 m; penetration capability: 110 mm of armor at a 90° angle from a distance of 300 m (standard armor-piercing round), 165 mm of armor at a 90° angle from a distance of 300 m (armor-piercing sub-caliber round).
Operational data – rate of fire: 20–25 rounds/min.
Weights – weight in firing position: 1250 kg; weight in traveling position: 1260 kg.
Crew – 6 personnel.
