Brief Operational History

The M-1939 anti-aircraft gun (also known as the KS-12) was developed by M. N. Loginov at Artillery Plant No. 8 as a replacement to the 76mm anti-aircraft gun in use at the time.  The weapon consisted of a 85mm main gun with a large multi-baffle muzzle brake mounted on a four wheeled trailer.  Early models of the gun were also fitted with a large gun shield to give a measure of protection to the gun crew, but this was deleted on many of the later production guns.

When towed to its firing position the gun carriage would be supported by four screw jacks (one at either end of the carriage, and one on an outrigger on either side).

Production began in 1939 at the No. 8 artillery factory in Kaliningrad.

Production was halted for a time in 1941 as the German army advanced into the Soviet Union.  During this time the entire factory was relocated to Sverdlovsk for the remainder of the war where production resumed.

Tests with the gun showed that it had exceptional anti-armor performance as well.  Soviet tank designers decided to adopt it as the primary armament for the KV-85, T-34/85, and SU-85 assault gun.  In this role the gun was designated the D-5T 85mm tank gun although it differed little from its original configuration.

Production of the M-1939 gun ended in 1944 when it underwent several major modifications which allowed the gun to fire a more powerful charge while using the same shells as the M-1939 version.  These modified guns were designated the KS-18 anti-aircraft gun (also known as the M-1944 anti-aircraft gun). xxxxx

Following the war the Soviet Union widely exported the KS-12 to the Warsaw Pact, Cuba, China (where it was known as the Type-56), North Korea, and other allied Communist nations.  Many of these guns were used against United Nations forces during the Korean War.

As the years progressed jet aircraft and surface-to-air missiles relegated the KS-12 to the local air defense role.  Radar fire control systems were added to the gun to help it engage these threats more effectively.  These systems are usually the PUAZO-6 or PUAZO-9 fire control director and the SON-9/SON-9A fire control radar (also known as the Fire Can by NATO).

Large numbers of KS-12 guns were used by the North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam war.  They were also used during the Arab-Israeli wars, the Yemeni Civil War, and the Iran-Iraq war.  The guns were also used by the Soviet backed government of Afghanistan during their occupation of that country.

During the 1990's the gun was used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War where the Iraqi military used them with no success against the United States before being driven from Kuwait.  It was also used in combat by the Taliban and Northern Alliance as they fought for control of Afghanistan.  The Sudanese also used the gun in their civil war against southern separatists.

More recently the KS-12 was used by the Taliban in 2001 during their war against the United States.  The following year the Iraqi army would again use the KS-12 against the United States when it moved to oust the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

As of 2002 the gun remains in use with over a dozen countries around the world, many of whom keep it in active front line service (ie- North Korea).  In addition to this, a number of former Eastern European nations and former Soviet republics still keep large stocks of KS-12's in reserve.  Given these facts it appears the weapon may remain in service for quite some time to come.

Tactical Use and Limitations

The M-1939 (KS-12) served as a heavy anti-aircraft gun for the Soviet air defense forces throughout the Great Patriotic War.  It had the capability to engage all manner of ground attack aircraft and drive bombers to heights where their bombing would be far less accurate.  During the Cold War the gun was used to provide local air defense for ground forces in various third world armies where it continues in this role today.

Among its advantages was the fact that it could use many types of 85mm ammunition, including those used primarily for 85mm tank guns.  This made supplying the guns much easier and enabled them to be used against tanks on the battlefield if the need arose.

Its only real limitation came about during the Cold War as high flying jet aircraft came into service.  The gun had great difficulty accurately targeting jet aircraft, even after the radar fire control system was introduced.  To make matters worse the radar system could also be targeted by anti-radiation missiles which came into service in the 1970's.

Deployment Chronology

The KS-12 appeared in the Soviet inventory just prior to the Great Patriotic War.  During that war it was followed by a more improved 85mm gun and production of it ended.  Even so the guns that remained continued to be upgraded and exported.  In this section you can see that progression and learn what weapons the KS-12 replaced and what weapons systems replaced it.  You can find out more about those artillery systems if we have them on the site by clicking on the links below.

Sources Cited

Here are some of the most informative sources that we have used in compiling this information for you.  We hope you can find them as useful as we have.

• The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, edited by Chris Bishop, published by Barnes and Noble Inc., 1998

• Jane's Land Based Air Defense 1997-1998,  Edited by Tony Cullen and Christopher F. Foss, by Jane's Information Group Inc. Alexandria, VA, 1997

• Artillery of the World, by Christopher F. Foss, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, New York, 1981

• Jane's Armor and Artillery 1981-1982, Edited by Christopher Foss, Copyright 1981 by Jane's Publishing Company Ltd, published by Jane's Publishing Co. Ltd. 1981