Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun

Soviet D-44 85mm Field Gun. . The D-44 entered service with the Soviet Army in late 1945 as a multi-purpose weapon. It served as both a divisional field artillery gun and as a powerful anti-tank gun. Development of the D-44 began in 1943 and was derived from the gun on the famous T-34/85 tank. Also known as the D-48 and M-1945, this gun was used on towed, self-propelled mounts and as a tank gun. It has a vertical, sliding-wedge breech and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system mounted behind a splinter shield. An estimated 10,800 were produced from 1945 until 1953. With a crew of eight, the D-44 was capable of firing up to twenty rounds a minute. It is capable of both direct and indirect fire using a variety of rounds, including high-explosive and a number of different anti-tank rounds. In the 1950s, a variant called the SD-44 was introduced, which was fitted with a 14-horsepower auxiliary propulsion unit allowing the crew to drive the gun short distances at up to 15 mph on roads. The D-44 saw widespread service with Soviet satellite countries through the 1980s. This weapon was captured by the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War., Caliber - 3.35 in. - 85 mm , Weight - 3,795 lbs. - 1,725 kg , Range - 17,115 yds. - 16,650 m , Shell Weight - 21 lb. - 9.5 kg , Muzzle Velocity - 2,598 ft/sec. - 792 m/sec. , Elevation (-7 to + 35 degrees) - (-124 to + 622 mils) , Traverse - 54 degrees - 960 mils , Rate of Fire - 20 rpm , CCN# 107686