ZP-39 Soviet .37mm M-1939

The Soviet recoil-operated 37mm anti aircraft guns are based on a Bofors design and closely resemble the 40mm guns used in both the British and United States forces during World Mar II. Although the single mount is the most common version, a twin mount was produced and has been exported to Algeria. The Soviet Navy also employed a twin water-cooled version closely resembling the multi-mount United States 40mm guns used in World War II. The 37nm guns have hydraulic recoil buffers and spring recuperators. The breechblocks are of the rising block type. The field mobile weapon may be equipped with a shield. There is no provision for radar fire control. The 37mm  M1939 is used in Communist China where it is known as the Type 55.

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These photos and the story are from D Troop Platoon Leader LTC [ret] Robert Suchke.

A 2/17 Cav little bird spotted the muzzle flash suppressor of this weapon sticking out of a bunker opening out in the Ashau Valley. My platoon got the mission to go check it out. We went in and secured the area and then I blew the top off the bunker. We called for  a CH-47 to pull it out but they would not fly out into the valley, so blew the barrel and receiver off the carriage and we loaded it on a UH-1H. Col Molinelli was so proud of his trophy that it was mounted in front of the 2/17Cav Headquarters on a cement pad.  We hauled off a bunch of 37mm round also. It was mounted on a 4 wheel towed carriage.

SSG Kaplan with his hand on the barrel.

PFC Kerby holding the handset.

Tom Chenault with a 1st LT patch on his helmet. He was KIA on April 23, 1971 while in support of Ranger team CUBS. KCS Trung behind the barrel of the weapon.

 

M-1939 Anti Aircraft Gun Designers: L.A. Loktev and M.N. Loginov
Soviet/Russian Manufacturers: Artillery Plant No. 8 (Kaliningrad), Artillery Plant No. 4  (Krasnoyarsk), and Artillery Plant No. 586 (Kolomna)
Role: Light Air Defense Gun
Year Adopted: 1939
Weight: 2,100 kg (in firing order)
Operational Status:
 
Obsolete - Soviet Union Exported to: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, East Germany, Guinea, Iraq, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, North Korea, North Yemen, Pakistan, Romania, Somalia, South Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, and Zaire.
Armament:

1 x 37mm Main Gun

Weapon Range:
 
6,700 meters (effective vertical)
3,000 meters (maximum vertical)
9,500 meters (maximum horizontal)
Sustained Rate of Fire: 80 rnds per minute
Crew: 8 men
Shell Weight: 0.76 kg (APHE shell)
Muzzle Velocity: 960 meters per second (HVAP shell)
Length (Traveling Order):
Barrel Length:
6.036 meters
2.729 meters
Height (Traveling Order): 2.11 meters
Width: (Traveling Order): 1.94 meters
Total Traverse: 360 degrees
Elevation: -5 to +85
Common Towing Vehicles: GAZ-63 truck