Thursday 21 April 2016

AA DShK Mount


"Photo #3: Commander's hatch with the AA machinegun mount on an ISU-122s SPG (hatch open).
Photo #4: Commander's hatchwith the AA machinegun mount on an ISU-122s SPG (hatch closed).

Even though KV tanks (and not just KV tanks) came with P-40 7.62 mm AA machinegun mounts, it took until October of 1944 for the IS series to get the same luxury, but at least it came with a caliber upgrade. 

Aside from the DShK mount, this photo also gives you a good view of the folded up MK-4 periscope used in many Soviet tanks.

5 comments:

  1. Yeah and all MBTs were denied of any AA mount.

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    1. When Soviet MBTs were built, aircraft became too fast and well armoured to successfully engage with a heavy machinegun, while military helicopters weren't common yet. Once helicopters became common, the AA mount came back.

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    2. Yes T-55 got back heavy machine gun. But I meant WWII medium tanks as MBTs.

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    3. Yeah, it's weird, despite the P-40 AA machinegun mount being a well established part of Soviet production before the war, it was a rarity on KV tanks and never installed on a T-34. There were instances of the hull MG being removed and used as an AA gun, but that was just using the bipod, not a fixed mount on the turret.

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    4. Would it be terribly nitpicky to point out using the term "MBT" in a WW2 context is kinda grossly erroneous...? Also seeming to recall it only really became current once heavy tanks were abandoned as a separate class anyway.

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