130 mm/50 B13 Pattern 1936
130 mm/50 B13 Pattern 1936 | ||
---|---|---|
Breech Screw breech[2] | | |
Elevation | -5° — +45°[2] | |
Rate of fire | 5-13 shots/min (depending on mounting)[1][2] | |
Muzzle velocity | 820–870 m/s (2,700–2,900 ft/s) (depending on model and ammunition)[2] | |
Maximum firing range | 25,597 m (27,993 yd)[2] |
The 130 mm/50 B13 Pattern 1936 was a 130 mm (5.1 in) 50 caliber
Background
In 1929 design work began in the Soviet Union for a new 130 mm 45 caliber submarine deck gun that would have the same external ballistics as the older 130 mm/55 B7 Pattern 1913 gun. It was intended for the gun to use a wedge lock and fixed ammunition, but the plans were changed already before the prototype was ordered. Blueprints and a prototype was ordered from Bolshevik Plant no. 232 in 1930. The design bureau director was N. N. Magdasijev and project leader G. N. Rafalovits. Others involved in the design were S. A. Morozov, S. A. Zalazaev, B. A. Lever, V. M. Rosenberg and V. I. Kudrjashov. The gun design was changed from submarine to destroyer weapon using separate instead of fixed ammunition and in 1932 new specifications included a change from 45 to 50 calibers and a screw breech block instead of wedge block. During test firing in 1934—35 several shortcomings were found in the gun design, particularly with the breech and loading mechanism. Because the Leningrad-class destroyers that were supposed to use the guns were already under construction the 130 mm B-13 gun was accepted for mass production in 1935 and the first twelve guns were finished during the same year.[1][2]
Models
In order to match the performance of the longer barreled 130 mm/55 Pattern 1913 gun it was necessary to use a higher barrel pressure in the 130 mm/50 B13 Pattern 1936. This led to such a rapid barrel wear that the Leningrad and
Mountings
Early destroyers and coastal guns used single open mountings protected by a Gun shield. An enclosed twin turret was developed for later destroyer classes and monitors.[2]
B-13 was the earliest mounting. This was a single mounting open from the rear and protected by a 13-millimetre (0.51 in)
To fire the gun, a string would be attached to a hole at the end of the gun, as was the standard system at the time.B-2LMT twin turret was used as the armament on the monitors Sivash and Perekop and with Shilka-class monitors. Weight 90.9 metric tons (89.5 long tons).[2]
B-28 twin turret was used on the monitor Khasan, weight 83.7 metric tons (82.4 long tons).[2]
B-2-U was a planned dual-purpose universal twin turret (U = Universal'naya) that could have been used effectively also as an anti-aircraft weapon. This turret was planned to use a new 55-caliber model of the B-13 gun and to have a maximum elevation of 85° with a weight of 48.4 metric tons (47.6 long tons). Due to the war the project was stopped and neither the turret nor the guns were produced.[2]
Service in Soviet Union
130 mm/50 B13 gun was the standard armament of the newest destroyers of
Service in Finland
Finland captured several 130 mm/50 B13 guns during the Battle of Hanko. The captured guns were known in Finland as 130/50 N or 130 mm 50 kaliiperin merikanuuna mallia N (130 mm 50 caliber coastal gun model N). Soviet Union had four batteries of B-13 guns in Hanko, but they were damaged or blown up when the Russians evacuated Hanko. Valtion Tykkitehdas (State Artillery Factory) and Helsinki Naval Base ordance personnel succeeded in repairing five guns. Only a few hundred rounds of ammunition were captured, so Finns began manufacturing suitable ammunition domestically. Captured Russian ammunition included modern high explosive fragmentation shells with point and base fuzes and semi-armour piercing shells, while the Finnish produced ammunition were older style high explosive shells. Three captured guns were used for short periods of time in Pihlajasaari and Miessaari forts by Uusimaa Coastal Brigade. Two guns were used to arm the auxiliary gunboats Aunus and Viena.[1]
Three guns were converted into railway guns 130/50 NRaut (Raut = rautatietykki, railway gun) in 1964 in the Hanko Coastal Artillery Battalion. The railway wagon was attached to rails with clamps and supported from the sides by wooden planks and support beams on track sides. In 1972 the three guns were converted back to static coastal guns and installed on Glosholma fort of the Suomenlinna Coastal Artillery Regiment. Three spare gun shields were used on
Service in other countries
Two Skoryy class destroyers were transferred to the Polish Navy in the late 1950s.[6] Additionally 130 mm B-13 guns were used as coastal guns in Hel Fortified Area.[7][8] Skoryy-class destroyers were also sold to Egypt (six ships) and Indonesia (seven ships).[6] Four Gnevny-class destroyers were donated by Soviet Union to People's Republic of China as Anshan-class destroyers.[9]
Modifications
In the early 1940s an attempt was made in the Soviet Union to mount the 130 mm B-13 gun on a tank chassis. After Winter War one of the T-100 tank prototypes was refitted with a hull mounted 130 mm B-13 gun. This vehicle was known as SU-100Y and the prototype was used in action during the Battle of Moscow. The prototype survived the war and is now on display in Kubinka Tank Museum.[10]
References
- ^ ISBN 951-25-1033-2.
- ^ "Naval Guns in the Land Defense of Vladivostok". Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "FORTRESS RUSSIA". Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ISBN 952-91-9148-0.
- ^ "Helska Tawerna, Poland - Hel as a defensive fortress of Polish Seashore". 1945-1974. Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Helska Tawerna - ARMATY" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "Anshan-class Destroyer - People's Liberation Army Navy". Military Analysis Network. Federation of American Scientists. 1999-08-13. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ Potapov, Valeri (2009-10-11). "SU-100Y Self-Propelled Gun". The Russian Battlefield. Archived from the original on 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2010-02-05.