The M1944 provided good long-range hitting power through its basic 100x695mmR High-Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG) projectile. This proved lethal against light targets and concentrations of enemy troops. Each HE-FRAG round weighed in at 34lbs. An armor-piercing shell was also developed as the BR-412, BR-412B and BR-412D and these managed a hefty weight of 35lbs. When utilized as a direct-fire anti-tank gun, the M1944 gave good penetration of 6 inch armor out to 1,100 yards. Projectiles were loaded through a conventional breech at the rear of the barrel assembly in the usual way.
Design of the M1944 was conventional featuring a centralized gun barrel assembly capped by a double-baffled muzzle brake. The barrel sat atop a positional mounting which, itself, was seated atop a split trail carriage fitting single or double-tired rubber road wheels across a single axle. The mounting hardware allowed for elevation values of -5 to +45 degrees and traversal of 58 degrees to either side before the entire gun would need to be turned by the crew. Due to the size of the weapon and weight of the individual projectiles, the M1944 was typically crewed by six to eight personnel made up of the unit commander, gun layer, support personnel and ammunition handlers. Ammunition was only limited by the supply on hand, typically delivered by vehicle. The M1944 was transported by vehicle itself. A trained crew could fire between eight and ten 100mm projectiles per minute in the sustained fire artillery role. Muzzle velocity was 2,953 feet per second supplying the needed penetration at range. Maximum range was approximately 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) in the arced artillery support role. Overall weight of the system was 8,050lbs with the barrel measuring 19 feet, 7 inches long. The M1944 design included a thin armored shield for basic defense against battlefield hazards. Otherwise, the crew was exposed to the elements and enemy fire.
The M1944 gave good service throughout the remainder of World War 2 (ending in May of 1945). Beyond its use in that conflict, the series saw widespread service in the inventories of many Soviet states and allied nations throughout the Cold War years that followed. Production spanned from 1944 to 1951 though its historical reach went much further than that. Many M1944s are still said to be in active circulation as of this writing (2013) owing to its excellent engineering and sound design.
The M1944 was eventually replaced in Red Army service by the 85mm D-48 model of 1955. The M1944 was also modified for use as a direct-fire tank gun and fitted to the wartime SU-199 tank destroyer and the famous T-54 Main Battle Tank.
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