WWII SOVIET T-34/76 57 TANK with gun ZIS 4M

Description

As early as 1940 the Soviets saw the need for a more powerful anti-tank gun than the current 45mm weapon. The first prototype of the 57mm gun was completed in September 1940, but manufacturing of the new gun was delayed while priority was given to the new F-34 76mm tank gun for the T-34. In December 1940 the first 57mm gun for mounting in a tank was manufactured and then spent until March 1941 in factory trials. In April 1941 it was mounted on a production T-34 obr 1941 and sent for field trials. The new 57mm ZIS-2 gun proved to have a very short barrel life and low accuracy. It was sent back to the factory for further design improvements. The new improved gun, the ZIS-4, was mounted in a T-34 and once again sent for field-testing where it was approved for manufacture. The intent was to arm some T-34s in a company with the ZIS-4 57mm gun as tank-hunters, and not the replace the F-34 76mm gun that had proved its worth as duel purpose high explosive/anti-tank weapon. Mast production started in August 1941, but after a short run had been completed it was cancelled in December 1941 because of a shortage of 57mm ammunition. 133 ZIS-4 guns had been manufactured. 21 guns were used at the Kharkov plant, 20 at Stalingrad and unknown number at Krasnoye Sormovo. T-34/57 obr 1941s were used in combat in the defensive of Moscow. 21 were used by the 21st Tank Brigade and 8 by the 8th Tank Brigade. (Scale : 1/72e)