37mm Anti-Mechanization Weapon
| 37mm Anti-Mechanization Weapon | |
|---|---|
| File:IfK-37.jpg An IfK-20/37 with 8 round magazine inserted | |
| Type | Infantry Autocannon |
| Place of origin |  Dniegua |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1921-present |
| Used by | Dniegua Sieuxerr |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Husqvarna Wappen, A/B |
| Designed | 1916 |
| Manufacturer | Strossmetal Manufacture d'armes de Tulle |
| Produced | 1919 |
| No. built | 4,000,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 65.2kg 38.2kg (tripod) |
| Length | 325cm |
| Diameter | 37mm |
| Crew | 3 (Gunner, Assistant, loader) |
| Cartridge | 37x190mm |
| Cartridge weight | 680 grams |
| Caliber | 37mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Rate of fire | 250 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,120 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 4,500m |
| Maximum firing range | 6,500 meters |
| Feed system | Belt link, 28 round hopper or 8/10/12 round magazines. |
| Sights | Telescopic, iron |
The 37mm Anti-Mechanization weapon, commonly called the IfK-20 (Dnieguan, Infanphetenkannon, Infantry Mobile Cannon) is a large caliber, lightweight infantry anti-tank/anti-fortification automatic gun. Feeding from a unique hopper system in most variations, the IfK-20 saw service with Dnieguan forces actively for the majority of the 20th Century and continues to be used in vehicles, ships, fortifications and some aircraft.
One of the longest serving weapons in Dnieguan armed forces, the IfK-20 has been in continuous use since 1921 and undergone a large number of service life extensions. The official obsolescence of the IfK-20 has been declared six times in its life, the latest being in 2013 with the increased prevalence of the M26 Lightweight Infantry Autocannon.
Design
The IfK-20 was developed for use from fixed positions, intended to be pulled by horse on wheeled mount or carried by donkey or horse. The light weight of the gun and high rate of fire proved to be initially excessive for dismounted use in large bursts, later this was solved via highly efficient muzzle device made by scaling artillery muzzle devices to size. The IfK-20 utilizes a long recoil, push-though feed action fed from either a hopper system or magazine system.
The barrel is cold-hammer forged from hardened steel.
In 1937, the IFB received an upgraded with a stronger, thinner barrel, reducing system weight by 4 kilograms. Eleven years later the system was again upgraded, now utilizing stamped steel, further reducing the weight by 6 kilograms, in addition to a reduction of cost.
When designed, the IfK was intended to be able to penetrate the frontal armor of most medium tanks, relying on projectile construction and velocity as opposed to weight. Primarily a tungsten-core projectile with a copper jacket and small base charge for after-penetration effects, the AP ammunition could reliably penetrate up to 86mm of RHA at 200 meters distance at 30 degree obliquity. The HE projectile contained 68 Grams of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate with a perforated steel jacket enveloped by a cupronickle jacket and had a lethal radius of 8 meters.
Service History
The IfK entered service in 1921. An initial order of 260 guns were placed, with that number later expanding to 1,986 to arm all light cavalry and fortress units. Their first combat use saw thirty-eight tanks destroyed from two gun teams (six guns total), in addition to nine self-propelled guns and four tank destroyers. The popular success of the weapon prompted adoptin of the gun into most units, eventually becoming a company-level asset in many units.
Continued upgrades of the IfK-20 continued throughout the first half of the 20th century, mostly aimed at further reducing weight of the system.
On July 1st 1969, Dnieguan marksman Pytor Zaitsev utilized a IfK-20/67 fitted with a 12-56x68mm Swarovskii ADC-II optic to engage an infantry unit at 3,212 meters distance, eliminating six. This remains the longest distance direct fire shot on an individual man in military history.
Comparison to other Crew-served Automatic Weapons
| Weapon | Caliber | Weight (Weapon) | Weight (Mount) | Weight (Total) | Recoil impulse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37mm Anti-Mechanization Weapon (IfK-20/67) | 37x190mm | 65.2kg (143.74 lb) | 38.2kg (84.2 lb) | 103.4kg (228 lb) | 1158j (1108 ft/lbs) |
| M26 LIA | 25x60mm | 13.6kg (30 lb) | 8.5kg (18.8 lb) | 22.1kg (48.8 lb) | 339j (250 ft/lbs) |
| Browing M2 | 12.7x99 (.50 BMG) | 38.1kg (84 lb) | 20.9kg (46.1 lb) | 59kg (130 lb) | 1356j (1000 ft/lbs) |
| Mk. 19 Grenade Launcher | 40x53mm | 34.3kg (75.6 lb) | 29.7kg (65.4 lb) | 64kg (141.1 lb) | 1085j (800 ft/lbs) |
| MAC-58 | 12.7x99 (.50 BMG) | 26.2kg (57.76 lb) | 20.1kg (44.3 lb) | 46.3kg (102 lb) | 1426j (1050 ft/lbs) |
| Kord Machine Gun | 12.7x108mm | 24kg (52.9 lb) | 16kg (35.3 lb) | 40kg (88.2 lb) | 644j (450 ft/lbs) |
| AGS-17 | 30x29mm | 31kg (68.3 lb) | 18kg (39.7 lb) | 49kg (108 lb) | 850j (625 ft/lbs) |
| KsP-58 | 6.5x55 M/49 | 9.7kg (21.4 lb) | 5kg (11.5 lb) | 14.7kg (32.9 lb) | 15j (11.2 ft/lbs) |
Ammunition
- KaSy-21- Armor Piercing munition; 1920
- KaGrT-23- High Explosive Projectile; 1923
- KaSy-37- Improved Armor Piercing; 1937
- KaGrT-37- Improved High Explosive; 1937
- KaSy-53- Armor Piercing, Composite ammunition; 1953
- KaSy-87- Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot ammunition; 1987. 135mm RHAe penetration at 30 degrees at 500 meters.
- InKGrT-90- Intelligent, prgrammable airburst munition for use in Self-propelled Anti Aircraft gun; 1990.
Variants
Dniegua
- IfK-20
- Original production version made by Strossmetal for Husqvarna
- IfK-20/37
- Version utilizing a lighter weight barrel made of stronger steel. Slight machining changes to the receiver and replacement of wood handles to Bakelite further reduce weight for a total of 4 kilograms weight saving; 1937
- KFyK 37
- Antiaircraft gun with rate of fire of 550 rounds/minute; 1937
- FyK-38
- Aircraft version for mounting in fighters. Normally carried with 125 rounds; 1938
- 37mm TsK 39
- Version mounted on vehicles; 1939
- IfK-20/48
- Version utilizing stamping process. Weight reduction of 6 kilograms over the IfK-20/37;1938
- 3.7cm NvKA
- IfK-20 or IfK-20/37 for Maritime use. Preferred over IfK-20/48 for accuracy reasons over long distances; 1920
- 37mm Anti-Mechanization Weapon (AMW)
- 1956 Dnieguan re-designation of the system.
- 37mm AMW-O
- Variation with optics rail, improved recoil reduction system; 1967.
- 37mm STsK
Vehicle mounted dual-feed system with electronic firing system. Allows for rapid selection of ammunition types and higher fire rates, mounted on Light Armored Vehicles and APCs.
- 37mm AWM-2
- 1980 Variation for SPAAGs, rate of fire of 720 rounds/minute.
- 37mm Mk. 48 Gun System
- Dnieguan Naval version of the 37mm AMW-O for ship born usage.
- Guardian CIWS
- A twin-barreled version with programmable smart ammunition. Combined rate of fire of 1500 rounds per minute, can blanket an 250 cubic meter area in fragmentation in three seconds.
Sieuxerr
- Canon d'infanterie légère 37 (CIL-37)
- Sieuxerrian version, produced initially in 1924 to be used by cavalry and infantry forces. Replaced by hand-held infantry launcher weaponry in the 1950s.
- Canon d'infanterie légère 37 (CIL-37L)
- Modernized model of the CIL-37L introduced in the 1970s. Used by airborne and air assault formations. Lightened and able to be broken down into 5 major pieces.
- SA 37
- Modified model used for tanks and armored cars. Widely used on most armored vehicles during 1930s.
- SA 37E
- Model built with a heavier barrel and higher rate of fire of 450 rounds-per-minute. Also uses a dual-fed loading system to allow rapid selection of ammunition during combat. Utilized by IFVs such as the BCIV 170.
- Mle 37
- Nasalized model with a longer barrel. Used on most surface warships for small boat defense.
- MAT.42
- Aircraft model, supplemented 20mm cannons and smaller 7.5mm machine guns on aircraft. Typically loaded with 60-100 rounds of ammunition.
- MAT.43
- Developed off MAT.42. Helicopter gunpod with 150 rounds of ammunition.
- Mle 98
- Air defense variant used on both towed and self-propelled air defense models. Barrel was lengthed, along with the ROF increase to 550-600 RPM. Uses larger 37x228mm ammunition.
- NSBP Naval Système de Bouclier à Proximité
- Ship self-defense system using the 37x228mm ammunition.