Vickers Model 1931

Vickers Model 1931

75mm Vickers antiaircraft gun model 1936/39 displayed in "King Ferdinand" National Military Museum, Bucharest
Type Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin  United Kingdom
Service history
In service 1937-1950?
Used by  United Kingdom
 Nazi Germany
 Netherlands
 Finland
 Lithuania
 Belgium
 Denmark
 Soviet Union
Romania Romania
 Turkey
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Vickers
Manufacturer Vickers
Reșița
Produced 1931-39?
Specifications
Weight 2,825 kilograms (6,228 lb)
Barrel length 3.225 metres (10 ft 7 in) L/43

Shell weight 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) (HE)
Caliber 75 millimetres (3.0 in)
Carriage cruciform
Elevation 0° to +90°
Traverse 360°
Rate of fire 12 rpm
Muzzle velocity 750 metres per second (2,500 ft/s)
Effective firing range 5,000 m (16,400 ft) slant range
Maximum firing range 10,000 metres (32,800 ft) vertical ceiling
Bungescu M1938 Fire-control system, used for the Romanian-made guns

The Vickers Model 1931 was a British anti-aircraft gun used during the Second World War. The design was rejected by the British and Vickers exported the gun world-wide during the 1930s. Romania bought a license for 100 in 1936, although hundred more were built during the war.[1] Denmark also bought a license. Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Turkey and China bought numbers of guns directly from Vickers. Finland bought a dozen to help reduce balance of payment problems with the British in 1936. The Finnish guns were chambered in their standard 76.2 millimetres (3.00 in) caliber.[2] Those weapons captured after the German conquest of Europe were taken into Wehrmacht service as the 7.5 cm Flak M 35(h) or 7.5 cm Flak M 35(d). Similarly the Soviet Union used those guns it captured from Lithuania. Supposedly it saw limited British service with Home Defense "barrage units" 1940—43.[3]

The cruciform carriage had two pneumatic or solid rubber wheels that were removable. Two legs locked together for transport and the barrel was secured to them. The other two legs folded in half and were elevated almost vertically into the air (see the Romanian reference to see exactly how it looked).[4]

Notes

  1. Axworthy, p. 30
  2. "ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS PART 3: Heavy Guns". 23 September 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
  3. Gander and Chamberlain, p. 163
  4. "75mm Vickers antiaircraft gun model 1936/39". Retrieved 2009-05-22.

References

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