Ukrainian unit fires a 100 mm gun that took part in World War II

By Boyko Nikolov On Oct 21, 2023

A photograph has surfaced in the public domain, providing evidence that a contingent of the military, presumably part of the airborne forces, possesses a 100-mm BS-3 cannon, which was in active production between 1944 and 1951. 

The image showcasing a pristine or relatively new 100 mm shell, held by a military personnel of the BS-3 unit, authenticates the possibility of utilizing this artillery in contemporary warfare against Russian armored vehicles. The photographs in question were disseminated to the public by OSINT analyst Aloha via his Twitter account. 

As of early September 2023, the existence of the BS-3 artillery was further confirmed by the DPSU soldiers – the first official acknowledgment of such weaponry within the Ukrainian Defense Forces. 

Photo credit: Twitter

Currently, the information available does not permit a comprehensive evaluation of whether the incorporation of BS-3 cannons in the arsenal of Ukrainian defenders is a pattern or a noteworthy anomaly. However, the deployment of such a historical piece of artillery in modern warfare is notably indicative.

Need for weapons

In response to the requirement for comparably dense artillery resources, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have found themselves compelled to utilize an array of historically uncommon artillery pieces. In a case that surfaced in October 2023, there were photographs evidencing the deployment of a “gun truck” created from a 1940s KS-19 on a Tatra chassis across the Ukrainian war zones. 

An equally peculiar improvisation emerged in August of the same year, wherein the Ukrainian military personnel engineered a vehicle with both mobility and combat capabilities from an MT-LB and D-44, a move that demonstrated ingenuity under challenging circumstances

WWII and BS-3

Throughout World War II, the Soviet Army utilized this particular firearm within their light artillery brigades of tank armies, specifically with a deployment of 20 pieces paired with 48 ZiS-3s, as a part of their corps artillery. 

During the crucial period of the Second World War, the BS-3 emerged as an effective anti-tank weapon. It demonstrated the ability to obliterate any tank of its period at long range, apart from the formidable Tiger II. To diminish this heavy-duty tank, the BS-3 needed to operate within a distance of less than 1600 meters from the target. 

Concerning the Tiger II, the BS-3 proved to be competent in wrecking its turret at a range of 800-1000 meters. Besides functioning as a potent anti-tank weapon, the BS-3 was also employed as a field gun. Although in this capacity, it lagged behind the 122 mm A-19 regarding power due to its smaller ammunition size, the BS-3 compensated with greater mobility and a superior rate of fire.

About M1944 (BS-3)

The 100 mm field gun M1944 [BS-3] is a Soviet-designed artillery piece that was widely used during World War II and the Cold War. It has a barrel length of 53.7 calibers, which means the length of the barrel is 53.7 times the diameter of the bore. This long barrel allows for a higher muzzle velocity and increased range compared to shorter-barreled guns.

The BS-3 fires various types of projectiles, including high-explosive [HE] shells, armor-piercing [AP] shells, and high-explosive fragmentation [HE-FRAG] shells. The HE shells are designed to explode upon impact, causing damage to enemy personnel and equipment.

AP shells are specifically designed to penetrate armored targets, while HE-FRAG shells combine the effects of both high-explosive and fragmentation to maximize damage to the target area.

BS-3 operational range

The operational range of the 100 mm field gun M1944 [BS-3] depends on various factors such as the type of projectile used and the elevation of the gun. On average, the gun has a maximum effective range of approximately 15 kilometers [9.3 miles] when firing HE shells.

When firing AP shells, the range is reduced to around 10 kilometers [6.2 miles] due to the heavier projectile and reduced aerodynamic performance. It’s important to note that these ranges are approximate and can vary depending on the specific conditions and ammunition used.

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